Now available to order though our online bookshop are…
Click here to go to our online bookshop where you’ll find them on the top shelf.
£7.00 each, or ring our bookshop on 0161 747 5672 to order 10 or more (for which discounts apply).
The Lord’s servant, our beloved Leader of the Maranatha Community, Dennis Wrigley, completed his final journey, received the call “Well done, good and faithful servant” and went to be with Our Lord this morning (9th November 2015). In recent weeks he had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try to shrink the secondary cancer in his lungs, and up till his final hours he was praising God and ministering to hospital visitors, patients and staff.
Dennis co-founded the Maranatha Community with Fr Michael Buckley in 1981, and over the past 34 years he dedicated his life to leading our community with love, vision and a servant heart. He has been a guiding light to many people and in recent years recorded a series of videos so that the inspiration God has given him will be received by many in years to come. These videos can been seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/dwrigleyministries
We are reminded of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
His funeral was held on Monday 23rd November at The Avenue Methodist Church, Wincham Road, Sale, M33 4PL, followed by a reception at The Life Centre, Washway Road, Sale, M33 4BP.
You can read a full (2 page) tribute to Dennis here, which includes information about his early life and career and the founding of Maranatha.
On Sunday 15th November Linda Stalley was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester about Dennis. Click below to hear this interview.
This year four young people have been listening to God for three months on behalf of the Community to prayerfully consider these four questions:
After a period of 3 months, they met together on 8th March 2014 at The Ark to share with the Community what they believe God is saying. The notes from that time of sharing are available here.
Summary word – “Our generation needs to be equipped to use the Sword of the Spirit”.
This call is made in the name of many thousands of members of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Salvation Army, United Reformed, New and Independent Churches right across the UK
It is urgent that, as Christians, we take our positions as members of the Body of Christ and PRAY earnestly for the United Kingdom.
The current riots across the land hold up a mirror to the moral and spiritual sickness of our nation. The issues facing us today are not primarily political or social but spiritual. This is yet another manifestation of the consequences of our nation turning its back on God and His ways. It follows the exposure of corruption in the banking system, the Parliamentary expenses scandal, the phone hacking inquiry and corruption in the police.
We believe that God, in His mercy, is shining the light of His Truth on to the ugly wound of our nation which is in need of cleansing and healing. The riots are the fruit of our betrayal of our younger generations whom we have robbed of hope and purpose.
The police, politicians and others in positions of worldly authority are desperately searching for ways to bring the rioters under control. In this situation it is the mandate of the people of God to exercise spiritual authority through united prayer.
WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO JOIN WITH CHRISTIANS FROM OTHER CHURCHES IN YOUR AREA TO PRAY FOR THE NATION:
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THOSE WHO ARE PRAYING ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITIES DURING THE DAYTIME AND GATHERING IN CHURCH BUILDINGS AND HOMES TO PRAY AT NIGHT
These reflections, thoughts and prayers, by Dennis Wrigley, the Leader and Co-Founder of the Maranatha Community, will bring comfort and healing as God leads us out of our darkness into His light. It is illustrated by Christian artist, Christine Garwood, and is available to download as an ebook here (for £3.50), and you can purchase a printed copy for £7.99 +p&p from the Maranatha online bookshop here.
In the face of our national situation we have decided to call the whole Maranatha community to a Week of Prayer. We are urging all Maranatha Groups and Prayer Cells to gather during this week and also urge individual members to arrange times of prayer to which friends and church members may be invited.
God’s Word makes it clear that the future of a nation can be changed by the humble prayer of God’s people in that land. We, as the people of God in the United Kingdom, have the opportunity and the power to make a difference to the future of our nation. Therefore, let us, as little brothers and sisters of Jesus, take God at His Word and humble ourselves and pray and seek His face in repentance for the sake of our children and all the future generations of this land.
During this Week of Prayer there will be evening gatherings 7:30 – 10pm at ‘The Ark’ (26 Ambleside Road, Flixton, Manchester, M41 6PH) each day from 18th-24th September. Each gathering will consist of worship and prayer which will be led by different people each evening. All are welcome.
Click on the following links for the programme of prayer and resources:
A Prayer for each nation of the United Kingdom
A declaration over the United Kingdom from Pastor Jonathan Oloyede
SPECIAL INVITATION – ‘Walking with God’ book will be launched at the Wesley Owen Prayer Breakfast.
Wesley Owen Bookshop, Deansgate, Manchester, Saturday 1st November 2008, 9.15 a.m.
(Croissants, Tea/coffee provided free of charge)
This book is jointly written by Dennis Wrigley, the Leader and Co-Founder of the Maranatha Community and Sister Elizabeth Tuttle PBVM, who has also played a leading role in Maranatha for many years. It is a fusion of the inspiration given to a Catholic Nun and a Protestant layman.
“For its inspiration this remarkable book of prayers draws on two Christian traditions – and it is all the more powerful for that reason…..Sister Elizabeth and Dennis Wrigley are two people who have experienced the full power of prayer and this lovely collection of their meditations and prayers reflects the intimacy of their relationship with God. ‘Walking with God’ will be an immense inspiration to many.” Professor the Lord Alton of Liverpool
“As the title suggests, this book will take you on a journey. The prayers, reflections and meditations will draw you more deeply into the beautiful mystery of the Trinitarian God. By allowing the words to become your own, you will indeed walk with God and also come to realise more fully that God is present in every aspect and moment of life…” Rt. Rev. Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds
ALL WELCOME
Please ring 0161 748 4858 to let us know if you are able to be there.
Sunday 2nd November 2008, 8pm, Christ Church, Lostock Road, Davyhulme, Manchester
Christians of all churches walking together
Over the past 18 months we have experienced a powerful sense of the movement of God’s Spirit amongst us. Countless messages have been received from many who have experienced profound healing and a radical deepening of their faith. We have been blessed by countless visitors from overseas and those engaged in special ministries in this country. Over 300 believers in all traditions have shown their commitment to ‘First Sunday’ and to the vision of Maranatha. Many of them exercise leadership in the churches and therefore some cannot attend every month, but the fruit of ‘first Sunday’ is rich. Countless new initiatives have been instigated.
We now believe God is calling us to spread the net wider in the area around Manchester. We have not heavily publicised these meetings but we have now reached the point where, clearly, we need to ask where is God leading us as a prophetic Community. What is He asking of us? In the face of the huge collapse of the banking system, the whole issue of trust and security has been raised. How far do we trust God? What is He saying to us in this economic crisis? As the Maranatha Community moves forward we are coming to terms with the central question of what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century. Please pray for ‘First Sunday’. Do please endeavour to pass on to others an invitation to be part of this loving and growing fellowship.
Our theme on Sunday is “Our yearning for revival of faith in our land and our yearning for growing oneness in Christ.”
“Our society is tired and sick. It seeks but does not find. It drinks but its thirst is not quenched. Our society demands of us Christians – Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans – a common witness, a unified voice”.
Archimandrite Ignatios Sotiriadies of the Orthodox Church of Greece addressing the Synod in Rome last week.
Maranatha Community (Archive News) 