Prayer bowl gold

27 May 2023

The Salvation Army traditionally does not use ornaments or objects as part of our worship services but a golden bowl, above, has become a centrepiece of the 2023 High Council meetings in London this week.

The High Council has been meeting at Sunbury Court, London, this week with the sole responsibility of electing a new world leader for the church – the General – who will be 22nd person to hold the high office.

The golden bowl was specifically created for this High Council.

Revelation 5:8 was the catalyst for the use of the bowl: "They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people." The passage created an image of intersession.

On Saturday, London time, at the welcome meeting to the High Council in the Central Hall, Westminster, prayers were collected and placed into the golden bowls provided. Many prayers have been submitted online from around the world at sar.my/hcprayers.

"Wherever you are in the world, you can imagine your prayers pouring into Heaven through golden bowls and know that God hears you," was the encouragement to Salvationists.

Prayer cards were included in the welcome meeting program and collected in a number of golden bowls which were gathered into one large golden bowl that was set in a special position in the High Council meeting room at Sunbury Court.

These prayers have been continually on display as a constant reminder to members of the prayerful support and interest of The Salvation Army glonally during High Council proceedings.