Sunday 1 Feb 2015

Memory Verse this Week - 5/52

Week 5 – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” - 1 Corinthians 16:13,NIV

Almighty God, help us to remember we are in a battle and to daily put on the whole armour of God.

Lord, we pray for Christians who are suffering because they believe in Jesus.  We pray for their protection and that they will have courage to stand firm in the faith.  We pray for those who are in prison for their faith and for their families that they will receive the practical help they need and know God's sustaining power in their lives.  We pray too for the Mc Arthur family who are facing legal proceedings because they took a stand for what they believe.  We continue to pray for the Christian Institute as they support them

Pray for the PW breakfast on Saturday and for Caroline Hawthorne as she speaks.  Pray that many ladies will attend and that it will be a good time of encouragement.

Pray for P7 children and their parents as they make decisions about Secondary Education.

 Pray that parents will be encouraged to send their children and young people along to our many youth activities in church.

Pray for all our leaders in church who work with our youth that they will be greatly encouraged and supported in their work.

Pray that many people will be encouraged to use the library throughout the week.

Sunday 25 Jan 2015

Memory Verse for Week 4 – 4/52 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Cor 5:17, NIV

Lord, teach us to put off our anger and replace it with loving self-sacrifice. Teach us to prefer to be wronged than to spit back angry words; teach us to set aside our interests and preferences and to put the welfare of others ahead of our own desires; teach us to long for your glory more than for our own, ... Amen.

(Prone to Wander:  Prayers of Confession and Celebration by Barbara Duguid)

Pray for those who have become new Christians (new creations) in recent months.  Pray that they will seek fellowship and grow in their love and knowledge in the Lord.  Pray for those who are participating in Membership classes and for Rev Curry as he leads this. 

Pray for P7 children and their families who will receive their transfer test results on Saturday.

Pray for our Elders as they participate in training on Saturday that they might find it helpful and be encouraged in their service in church.

Pray for Chapters which begins next week that a good number of people will attend and enjoy sharing together what they are learning.  Pray for Eileen and Louise as they lead this and for those who will share in our evening service tinight.

Pray for the people in Malawi (mostly South) who have been affected by heavy flooding. The President declared a state of disaster last week calling upon local partners and the international community to assist people who have been rendered homeless due to floods. The floods have washed away crops and houses of thousands of people. National statistics indicate that 48 people so far have died of floods and more than 690,000 people are homeless. Some roads and bridges have also been washed away making travelling quite difficult. Floods have also destroyed important infrastructure such as electricity and water supply systems. The World Food Programme (WFP) is on the ground distributing food supplies to the needy people but this will no doubt result in food shortages for many for most of the year. Pray for those who are seeking to bring assistance, that the international community will assist and that the government will have wisdom at this time of crisis. (Taken from a recent email from Letcher, translator for the Malawi team who wrote asking the people of 1^st Magherafelt to intercede for his country)

Sunday 18 Jan 2015

Memory Verse for Week 3 (3/52)

 “Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV  

Heavenly Father, Teach us to love prayer. We are invited by your promises to come to you with all our burdens and desires.  We confess our weaknesses and how our hearts and minds easily wander carelessly from thought to thought, and often we allow our anxieties to rule over us.  Draw us by the power of your spirit to pray and be persistent in prayer so that each moment of every day we are delighting in your loving presence and experiencing your power. Amen

Pray for a heart for praying together within our congregation.  As we look to this year ahead of outreach we know that all our efforts are in vain unless the Lord is at work in and through us.  Pray that all Christians in church would commit to attend at least one congregational prayer time throughout the week so that together we might seek God's leading, protection and reviving power among us.  

 Give thanks for all the books that have been donated to the church library.  Pray that many would avail of this ministry and be encouraged to read inspirational and biblical books to help them grow in their walk with God.  Give thanks too for those in church who have committed to read the Bible/ New Testament in one year and pray that they might be blessed as they do this.

Pray for Tracie, Prison Fellowship family worker, as she shares of her work with the PF prayer group on Friday night.  Pray for safety as she travels and also pray that many in this area would be stirred to come and pray for the work and witness of PF in so many difficult places.  Pray for P F family workers are now making contact with new referrals following Christmas Hope, believing many doors will be opened in 2015. Much wisdom is needed. Give thanks for the blessing the hampers and toys were to so many families.

Pray for Joe and Sadie Law as they continue to support orphans in Columbia through Mission Possible. Give thanks for how God has called them to this work and for the ways in which he has provided financially to help meet the needs.

Sunday 11 Jan 2015

Memory Verse for Week 2

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  Proverbs 3:5, NIV

Father God, forgive me for times when because of my pride I struggle to trust in you, even at times being tempted to tell you how things should be done.  Thank you that you care for me in my disappointments and difficulties.  Give me grace to accept the challenges that I face in life and lead me to have a deeper trust in your goodness, love and power. Amen

Pray for Sunday School and Bible Class children as they return today for a new term.  Pray for teachers as they prepare lessons week by week that they will know God’s help and be able to live out a life of faith in front of the children.

Give thanks for all who help with Parent and Toddlers and for the opportunities to build relationships with parents and children.  Pray that all who come along will experience God’s love.  Pray too for the Monthly Newsletter that parents will read it and be encouraged to know more about Jesus.

Pray for the Finance working Group of committee who are working hard this month compiling the accounts for the year end.  Pray too for all leaders of organisations who are writing reports for the annual report that they will be encouraged in the work that they are doing. 

Give thanks that local missionary Maud Kells survived her attack last weekend in the Congo and pray for her speedy recovery.

Continue to pray for Glenn and Julianne Cousley as they prepare to go to Australia later this month.  Pray for the children as they prepare to start new schools and for Glenn as he begins his studies as an Aircraft Engineer.

Pray for all who have been traumatised by the attacks in Paris and for the authorities as they seek to restore peace in the city.  

Sunday 4 Jan 2015

Memory verse for Week 1

"Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119v105

Give thanks to God for his faithfulness in the year that is passed.  Praise Him for his wisdom and guiding hand and rejoice in the promise of His loving presence ‘hemming’ us in as we enter 2015.

Pray that over the coming year many will respond to the gospel and receive the promise of total forgiveness and complete freedom through Christ alone. May people’s New Year Resolutions lead them to ask God’s help.

Pray for those who are ill and in hospital that they might know God’s presence and a good recovery.  Pray for medical staff who care for them.  Pray too for family who travel to visit loved ones in hospital and keep trying to keep routines at home that they will be safe as they travel and have strength and energy to support those who are ill.

Pray for Small group leaders as they meet this week to begin the studies on Jonah.  Pray that as we study this story within our congregation that we grow in our knowledge of God and love for others.

Pray for Street reach team as they go out again on Saturday evening.

Pray for families of those who lost their lives in tragedies in this past week remembering especially those who were killed on the Air Asia flight and also in recent road accidents.