Sunday 23rd Sept 2012 Prayer Focus

Pray for the First night of MAD tonight (23^rd) Pray for all the leaders in their preparations.  Pray too for the first joint “Rock Solid” cube night on Saturday 17th November.  Pray that a good number of young people will come along especially those who had attended the coffee bars over the summer. Pray too that through fellowship, prayer and Bible study young people might grow in their walks with God, and that those yet to know Him might be saved.

Pray for the committee who meet on Tuesday night that they will have wisdom and guidance in the practical and financial matters in church.  Pray for a greater willingness in our congregation to give to the Lord generously out of obedient and thankful hearts.

Continue to pray for Maureen Stevenson in her teaching programme in Livinstonia.

Pray for Glenn and Julianne Cousley in Uganda.  Pray for Julianne as she has taken on a full-time teaching post.  Give thanks that the children have settled back into Africa quickly. Pray for their continued health and that they might grow up in the Lord.  Pray for Glenn in his busy schedule of Dangerous Goods training and especially as he travels to Kenya  and South Sudan in the next few months to carry out training there.  Pray for safety in travel and for Julianne and children left behind.  Pray that God might use them to be an encouragement to others in His service.  

Sunday 16th Sept 2012 Prayer Focus

Give thanks for an encouraging start to Parent and Toddlers with several; new Mums attending as well as many familiar faces returning.  Give thanks for the dedication and hard work of all the helpers and pray for God’s blessing as they seek to be a blessing to others.  Pray that many parents will avail of the Gospel literature and library and that God might use this opportunity to draw people to Himself.  Pray for the circle time that parents will join in and for an opportunity to tell Bible Stories to the children.

Pray for Maureen Stevenson who is due to arrive today in Lilongwe, Malawi this morning.  Pray for safety in travel up to Livingstonia on 18^th and for fuel as shortages continue. Maureen also asks for prayer for:

• Safe arrival of luggage as she is carrying quite a lot of hospital equipment.
• Lyn and Johnny Dowds, Cody and Suni who she will be staying with - that a good friendship will develop.
• Her work at the hospital which will be mainly teaching - pray that this would be useful for the staff.
• A good opportunity to visit Ballykajoni, the nursery school and the Church.
• Malawi and their Government as the country copes with poor harvests and political instability until the next elections over a year away.
• Her safe return on 8^th October

Pray for all who are suffering from mental illness: anxiety, depression, neurotic and psychotic disorders, self-harming and behaviour problems. Pray that they would know God’s healing peace and comfort.   Pray about the worsening problem of self-harm. Ask God to reveal the underlying causes for each case and grant the strength and wisdom needed to follow the paths to recovery. (Care for the Family report one in four adults are likely to suffer from mental illness at some stage in their lives. One in ten - 850,000 - children and young people in the UK, have been diagnosed with a mental health problem.) 

Sunday 9th Sept 2012 Prayer Focus

Pray for Girl’s Brigade as it resumes on Wednesday.  Pray that girls will settle in quickly especially those who are coming for the first time.  Give thanks for those who have committed their time to be leaders in this organisation.  Pray for energy and strength for the incoming year especially for the captain Heather Palmer.  Pray for officers and sub-officers going through their training this month that they will be encouraged in this work.  Pray for the girls as they learn about women in the Bible who God has used to influence others that they will be encouraged to take a stand as a Christian and live for Jesus.

Pray for wisdom for political and church leaders in our land that they will have wisdom in the way they lead the people.  Pray that tensions in Belfast will settle down and a peaceful outcome will be achieved.  Pray for a speedy recovery for the policemen who have been injured this week.

Pray for young people heading off to University that they will settle in quickly and make friends that are helpful for them.    Pray for parents who are adjusting to the ‘empty nest’. Give thanks for the work of Christian Unions and pray that Christian students will find fellowship and support through this organisation. 

Sunday 2nd Sept 2012 Prayer Focus

Youth and Children’s Ministry.  As weekly youth activities begin we are working towards much closer cooperation between our different organisations.

Pray for those have been asked to lead this process.

 Children’s Ministry Coordinator (Primary) – Anne Crossett

 Youth Ministry Coordinator (Yr8+) – Keith Hibbert.

In June Jackie Smyth stepped down as Sunday School Superintendent and we thank for his work over the years. We have realigned our Sunday School and Bible Class with Youth and Children. Deborah Campbell has agreed to lead our Junior Sunday School (Primary), Wesley and Heather continue with those who are Yr8+

Give thanks for all the children who started Sunday School today and pray that they will settle in quickly.  Pray for the teachers as they prepare their lessons that they will know Gods help and that through this ministry children might come to know Christ as Saviour and grow in their faith.  Pray for wisdom, vision and strength for all leaders.

Back to School. Give thanks for all who are involved in education.  Pray for encouragement for students and teachers especially those who re starting in new place.  Give thanks for the many opportunities to bring Christian influence in school.  Pray for RE Teachers and Scripture Union leaders as they seek to bring the gospel truth to young people so that they might have a strong spiritual foundation.

Paralympics 2012.  Give thanks for the Paralympics which helps raise global awareness of what people with disabilities can do.  Pray for encouragement and strength for carers and those living with disabilities.  Pray for those living in countries such as Uganda where a disabled child is seen as a punishment or a curse.  Pray for Christian Organisations such as Leprosy Mission and other Tear Fund partners who seek to support those with disabilities and advocate to governments on their behalf.

Prayer Diary Summer 2012

Summer 2012

First Magherafelt Summer Outreach 11-19^th Aug

Pray for the young people you are inviting to come along.

Pray about the particular way you will be involved during the week.

Pray for Section leaders and helpers as they prepare for the week.

Pray that PCI team who come to helps us will feel welcome.

Pray for Unity among all who help in this Special week

Pray for good attendance at the Children’s club in the morning.

Pray for the Outreach work in Sandy Braes in the Evenings.

Pray for Coffee Bar Outreach in the Evenings.

Pray for practical support from the congregation eg craft, catering etc.

Pray for Evening Prayer times throughout the week at 8pm.

Pray that all who are involved in this work will experience God’s blessing and grow in their faith as they depend upon Him.

Above all, pray that God’s word would speak into young people’s lives and lead them to faith.

            Team and Section Leaders                                          

PCI Team Leader                      - Laura Crossett

First Magherafelt Team Leaders - Ann Crossett & Keith Hibbert

Section Leaders 4-6yrs             - Caroline Hogg & Elaine Crossett

Section Leaders  7-10yrs          - Philip Crossett & Lauren Finlay

Youth Section Leaders             - Jacki Hamiliton, Nicola Clark & Laura Crossett

Sandy Braes Outreach              - Maureen Stevenson & Lorna Curry

Other Summer Outreaches in Church

Market Day Coffee MorningsU (Weekly From 28^th June)

Pray that all who come along will be blessed through the friendship and fellowship. Pray for more helpers. 

Streetreach (Saturday nights in August)

Pray for safety and opportunities to share the gospel.

Pray for more Volunteers.

PCI Summer Teams

Pray for all PCI Outreach Teams being held this Summer that God would bless and protect all who go on them and that through this ministry people may come to trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord.

July Newry, Scrabo, Letterkenny and Trenta, Mullingar, Ballieborough, Cavanaleck and Aughentaine, Aghadowey, Orritor and Claggan, Donegal Town, Magherahamlet,

August Urban Eyes, Craigy Hill, Magherafelt, Friendship House, Faughanvale, OCRandalstown, Ballyholme

Give thanks for our own young people who will be serving on these teams and pray for them.

Philip Crossett (Section Leader) and Richard Brown Aghadowey 21 – 28 Jul

Mark Walker (Leader) Letterkenny and Trenta - 30^th June – 8^th July

Pray for all other Summer Outreaches and Camps through organisations such as CSSM, Beach Missions, Faith Mission, SU, CEF etc.  Pray especially for those from our congregation who are attending camps this summer.

Abigail Hibbert                 SU Camp Castlewellan 7-14 July

Jenna Brown                    CEF Camp Portstewart 8-14 July

Joanna  Gorman               Faith Mission Camp  9-13 July

Cara Brown                      CEF Camp Portstewart 15-20 July

Caroline and Sian Hogg    Guide Camp 16 -20^th July

Stephen Hogg                   BB Camp 21-28 July

John Curry                       Faith Mission Camp 30 July-03 Aug

Rachel Curry                    Faith Mission Camp 6-10 August

Deborah Curry                 New Irish Choir Residential 6-10 Aug

Samuel Curry                   SU Football Camp 20-24^th August

Pray for young people from N Ireland going on PCI Missions Teams that they will be blessed through their service and encouraged in Mission.

·       A young adults team to Romania, from 30th June to 12th July., to assist PCI missionaries, Csaba and Ilona Veres, in the running a Confirmation Camp. 

·       An all-age team to Transcarpathia, Ukraine, from 19th to 31st July, to help lead an English Teaching Camp for ethnic Hungarians. 

·       A young adults team to London, from 28th July to 12th August, to share in evangelistic activities amongst children and young people from the Kenyan and East-African expatriate community, during the time of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

·    An all-age team to Northern Italy, to assist in outreach from 1st to 10th September, working alongside Coram Deo and members of Sola Grazia congregation.