Forty years of Living Water: a celebration of faith and fellowship
On 27 September, the Living Water Prayer Group in Timperley, Cheshire, marked its 40th anniversary with praise, testimony, a Mass of Thanksgiving and a joyful gathering of friends old and new. The Living Water Prayer Group leaders reflect below on the Holy Spirit's power in the last 40 years and look forward to a future full of hope.
The anniversary was more than a commemoration of a number. It honoured four decades of God’s faithfulness: countless prayers, answered prayers, testimonies, friendships, challenges overcome and lives touched by God’s power and love.
Throughout the celebration, we thanked everyone who had shaped the group’s story: those who began it, those who carried it forward, and all who praised, prayed, served, encouraged, worshipped and witnessed to God’s goodness over the years. Those no longer present were remembered with love and thanksgiving for the part they played.
The name Living Water remained at the heart of the occasion, recalling Christ as the source of life, renewal and hope. The gathering celebrated the grace poured out upon the community across 40 years and the living faith that continues to unite it.
Praise, prayer and testimonies
The event opened with an hour of praise, prayer and testimonies. Worship and thanksgiving were joined by individual stories of how the Holy Spirit had renewed, inspired and brought faith alive, as well as bringing comfort in loss or sickness, setting the tone for the anniversary programme.
A Mass of Thanksgiving followed, offering gratitude for the past 40 years and prayers for continued blessing and guidance. The chief celebrant was Fr Ged Kelly, whose connection with Living Water reaches back to his presence in the music group at the Life in the Spirit seminar from which the prayer group was born in 1986.
After Mass, the celebration continued in the parish hall with refreshments and a time to socialise. It was an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and share memories as one family.
Whether they had belonged to Living Water for all four decades, joined somewhere along the way or were attending for the first time, everyone was welcomed as part of the anniversary story.
'We gave God all the glory for His unfailing love and faithfulness'
The day looked back with gratitude while also turning towards the future. We lifted our hearts and voices, we celebrated the group’s journey and we gave God all the glory for His unfailing love and faithfulness.
Forty years of Living Water: forty years of grace, forty years of faith and forty years of God’s goodness. Below are some examples of when the Living Water Prayer Group influenced or helped someone’s life:
Mary, a founding member of the group, shared how joining a Life in the Spirit seminar in 1986 transformed her faith and how her life has been changed forever - it has a new meaning, it is alive, she really understands the Holy Mass and prayers that she has said for years,. She is so joyous that she wants to shout it from the housetops. And over the 40 years in the prayer group, her faith has grown through shared worship, teaching, pilgrimages and strong friendships, Mary describes the group as a source of spiritual nourishment, love and belonging - a “second family.”
After completing the RCIA journey, Brenda missed the friendship and conversations of her former meetings. The prayer group gave her a new home, taught her how to pray, how wonderful it is to let the Holy Spirit lead her, and helped form the faith that has become the “bedrock” of her life.
Kath shared that, through the prayer group, her eyes were opened to the Holy Spirit, and the Bible came alive. She has learnt so much, and that has never left her. She was particularly moved by the help she received when she sustained a leg fracture and will always be thankful for the love and support given by the prayer group at that time.
Following several painful family deaths and the loss of a baby, Anastasia had left the Church. Joining the prayer group profoundly transformed her life, and provided prayer, teaching and fellowship that helped her restore her trust in God and find lasting peace.
'We are in God’s hands' Looking to the future with faith and hope
And what of the future? For Living Water, the anniversary offered both a joyful celebration and a renewed sense of purpose: to praise God, listen to, and act on, God’s word, support one another and continue a story of faith that began four decades ago. We are in God’s hands.
And we recommitted ourselves to the Lord’s work with the words when Fr Ged prayed over us. He thanked Jesus for the spiritual gifts received through the Living Water Prayer Group and asked for a renewed experience of the Holy Spirit. He affirmed that everyone has a role in the Church’s future and committed members to openness, faithful relationships, and sharing their faith.
We responded with the words “I am” to three commitments:
1. To remain open to the Holy Spirit.
2. To let the Spirit work through our lives for the benefit of others.
3. To stand by Jesus during suffering.
Fr Ged concluded by asking God to renew the group through the Holy Spirit and send them into the world with fresh strength and power.
To God be all the glory.
If anyone is interested in attending Living Water prayer group, they would be most welcome. The notice in the parish newslettter reads: "Newcomers are always welcome. If you’re new to charismatic prayer, it is suggested you come three times before deciding whether to join or leave. For more information about the Prayer Meeting and about Catholic Charismatic Renewal, please contact Eddie Drozdziak on 07947 168096 or via email at eddiedrozdziak@gmail.com "
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