“Gracious and Loving Heavenly Father we give thanks for all that you are too us, your love and compassion to us is in abundance, your are a light unto our path.” Ps119v105
Give thanks to God for the many blessings we receive daily, the greatest of these being the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and friend and may Glory be to His name. Pray that those who have difficulty in committing their lives to Him may be given encouragement to take that step of faith.
We give thanks Lord to our Congregation for the continued financial support to the Mission Awareness Group. In particular for support for orphans at the nursery at Ballykajoni. Pray for the 4 women teaching at the nursery that they will help the children develop through play as they themselves understand more about child development. Also remember Penjani at Livingstonia as he leads the DGMH hospital. Pray for the World development fund that they will continue to fund treatment for AIDS in Malawi so that all those getting ARVs [395 patients @ DGMH] will continue to get this lifesaving treatment.
Continue to pray for the Seamans Christian Friends Society and all that they do within those seafaring communities but in particular in Cork and the work of Colin & Sunbwa Jenkins.
Pray :- (i) The Lord will be with them as they minister to
many from different backgrounds and nationalities.
(ii) For the Distribution of literature.
(iii) For Christians on board the ships,
sometimes only one believer and the rest Muslims.
(iv) For the sailors who were sometimes away at sea,
parted from families, for up to 1 year to 18 months.
We pray for prayerful participation in the forth coming election to a new congregational committee. We pray that God will identify those who have the desire to maintain His church property. We thank God for those of past committees and congregational financial support and pray that this will continue for the support of the new committee.
As the organisations, schools etc. resume after mid term break we just pray for all our children that they have had a revitalising break and that they return to school full of enthusiasm and that continued will to learn. We for the Principals, teachers and Leaders of organisations pray Lord that you will be with them all as they deliver the curriculum, or give of time and talents in support of the Youth within our church.
Pray for the Girls Brigade as they study for scripture exams be with the Captain, Officers and girls as they prepare also for the annual display.
We remember in particular those bereaved within our congregation in recent days, Derek Quinn and Ingrid Cowden and their family circle on the loss of their Mum, Dougie Finlay on the Death of his Father Ronnie and Dinah Meharg on the loss of her husband William, Lord we just pray at this time that you will be close too them comfort and guide them in their time of grief and sorrow. “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”. Pray that they may experience God’s special blessing at this time of their loss and sadness.
We think and pray for the many who are sick within the congregation, may you place your healing hand upon them, we think of those in Hospital, convalescing at home or indeed awaiting results of tests or undergoing treatment at this time. Lord be with those who care for the sick give them wisdom and strength to care for them. We pray that God may draw them close to himself and that His Spirit of peace may be their special blessing. We pray for the relief of stress for their family and that doctors and medical assistance will create the right conditions for God’s blessing of recovery.
Lord we give thanks for Rev Ivor Smith for his ministry too us on Sunday past in particular his sermon from Acts Chap 7.
Bless Keith Hibbert too Lord as he continues in service with us be with him as he continues his studies be with Diane and the children Lord support them at this challenging time.
Heavenly Father we give thanks in particular for Rev Curry, we pray that you will be with him as he continues to minister too us, give him leadership wisdom and that ability to continue to deliver your word Lord, we pray Lord that as he returns from mid term break that he has had opportunity to re-charge those batteries and has enjoyed a well earned rest with Lorna and the children.
Pray for the Kirk Session as they Meet on Tuesday 22nd February
Pray for the Sunday School. There have been some changes in teaching arrangements with Cherith McCreedy and Cheryl Gourley having to take some time out from their teaching commitments. We thank them for their work in the Sunday School and ask you to pray for Diane Hibbert and Jacki Hamilton as they take the respective classes.
Give thanks for the opportunity the library provides each Sunday Morning and for those who have volunteered to help with this ministry.
Tearfund Bowling Tournament Tues 22nd Thurs 24th and Friday 25th that all would go well and profile of Tearfund would be enhanced.
Pray for the new PW Committee and Leader Jacqueline Currie
Pray for the protection of the family unit as financial crisis continues. Pray for families affected by stress and / or the concern of unemployment, that these families may know God’s nearness and Spiritual calmness at this time in their lives and that doors of opportunity may open for them. Jean Gibson from Care for the Family coming to speak on Sunday evening 6pm march 6th re encouraging our young families. Pray that many families would come out and enjoy the fellowship.
We give thanks for Open Doors in their campaign to raise the issue of religious discrimination. We pray especially of Christians in countries who cannot share their faith with their children until they are old enough to understand the dangers of unguarded speech. We pray for God’s Blessing and support for all who find themselves under such persecution.
Pray for the Christian families through out Islamic countries at this time of unrest. Those who have lost loved ones due to acts of terrorism, those who cannot openly practice their Christian faith. We pray that the civil disorder may not be directed at them. Pray that God will strengthen their faith and reliance on God’s grace and Spiritual comfort will be their resolve.
We pray for Christians who have difficulty in complying with the current Equality legislation. We pray for God’s support for sensible legislation and that governments may be challenged to uphold Christian values. We pray for the Christian Institute that they may be successful in their endeavour to challenge legislation that “discriminates” against the Christian faith.
Prayer Requests from the Moderator
With such an important election next week (25 Feb) in the Republic, Pray for the sovereignty and providence of God in the outcome – just as we must pray for that too in the upcoming election in Northern Ireland in May. As Presbyterians we do want to play our part - North and South - for the sense of disillusionment, and sometimes despair, amongst ordinary people is profound. Let’s pray for people to turn to the living God, and for public leaders to be open to a thoroughly Biblical world view, whether they govern from Dublin or Belfast.
Pray for all those so seriously affected by the PMS, and for all who are still working to have all the outstanding issues fully resolved – and don’t forget to uphold Stafford Carson in his pivotal role.
Pray for the church of Jesus Christ in other lands too. Ongoing prayer for all our missionary personnel serving overseas – and up to date info available each week on prayerline. http://www.pcimissionoverseas.org/prayerline/
Pray for the church of Christ in the whole of the Middle East following on the dramatic events in Egypt. There is a great deal of civil unrest in many other countries in the area, and wisdom and courage will be much needed by our brothers and sisters there. There is an excellent set of reports on this BBC web site http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12480844
The ongoing need to remember people and places devastated by the huge ‘natural’ disasters in Haiti and Pakistan, which we in PCI have responded to in our recent church wide appeals. Thank you again for helping us to raise over £1.25 million in total for these two disasters. Christian Aid and Tear Fund have updates on their web sites – with PowerPoint and video resources available for you to use. For example, Tear Fund have a recently updated PowerPoint on Haiti on their site, and the Christian Aid ‘Emergencies’ section of their web site has resources on both catastrophes.
Finally, for personal prayer. I have a hugely demanding March, which includes trips to Westminster, Coventry, Dun Laoghaire, Leitrim, Dublin and Monaghan, plus major public set piece talks / addresses to do in the City Hall, Belfast on 3 March; with Armagh City Council on 16 March and in Downpatrick Cathedral on 17 March. I am so aware of the need to prepare properly, and to try to honour the Lord in these very public events with a Biblical and God honouring world view. Thank you very much indeed.
