Try Praying: An Invitation to Go Deeper and Wider

In a few weeks’ time, St Paul’s will be taking part in a simple but powerful mission initiative called Try Praying. We’ll be launching this together on Sunday 8th February, and over the weeks that follow we’ll be inviting one another – and those beyond our church – to explore prayer.

At its heart, Try Praying is exactly what it sounds like: an invitation to try praying. Not to have all the answers, not to get the words right, not to suddenly become “good at prayer”, but simply to take a step and see what happens.

On Sunday 8th February, everyone at St Paul’s will receive a Try Praying booklet, there are kids and youth versions as well. It’s a beautifully simple resource that guides you through prayer for seven days, with short reflections, prompts, and space to be honest. Each day takes just a few minutes, and it’s designed for people who are new to prayer as much as those who have prayed for years. There’s no jargon, no pressure, and no assumption of prior faith – just an open door.

We’re encouraging everyone to use the booklet themselves for a week. Think of it as an opportunity to pause, to listen, to reflect, and to reconnect with God in the midst of busy lives. Whether prayer feels familiar or awkward, deep or dry, this is a chance to approach God with openness and curiosity.

But Try Praying doesn’t stop there.

After you’ve used the booklet, we’ll be inviting you to give it away. Perhaps to a friend, a neighbour, a colleague, or a family member. Someone who’s exploring faith. Someone who’s going through a difficult season. Someone who’s never prayed before – or who hasn’t prayed for a long time. The invitation is gentle: “I tried this – would you like to give it a go?”

This reflects something at the heart of St Paul’s vision to be a Growing Community, Shaped by Jesus. We long to grow deeper in discipleship, becoming people of prayer who are attentive to God’s presence. At the same time, we want to grow wider in influence, sharing our faith in ways that are generous, hospitable, and rooted in real relationships.

Try Praying helps us do both. It shapes us as we pray, and it equips us to share something simple and meaningful with others. It reminds us that mission doesn’t always begin with big events or perfect words, but often with small acts of trust and invitation.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be talking more about Try Praying in our services and church life, offering encouragement and space to reflect on what we’re experiencing. It is something that we are joining in with as  a number of churches in this part of the city are taking part in January and February. So our hope is that it will have a wider impact as churches put up "Try Praying" banners across the area and give out the booklets together. We’re praying that God will use this in ways we can’t predict – in our own lives, and in the lives of those we give the booklet to.

So, as Sunday 8th February approaches, be curious. Be prayerful. And be ready to try praying – and to invite someone else to do the same.