Monthly Prayer Meeting
Monthly Prayer Meeting - 6th May 2020
Normally we meet in the church office to pray together at 8pm on the first Wednesday of the month.
A message from Lynda Hubbard:
Although we are unable to meet, we can still pray. Please can I ask you to pray for the following :-
1. PRAYERS OF THANKS AND PRAISE
We open our prayer time with prayers of thanks and praise to God. As I think of the many people within and outside our church family who have shown so much kindness and done such good works through this time of Coronavirus, I have chosen a passage from James for our reading.
Though the apostle Paul clearly taught that salvation is by faith and not by good works (Romans 3), James clarifies that good works will follow true faith.
James 2 :14-24
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Please now each pray your own prayers of thanks and praise for the many things God has given us and done for us. Thanks for those working during Coronavirus :
NHS workers on the frontline, all key workers, those who have volunteered help in many areas, technology, provision of food etc. We have so much to be thankful for.
Please thank and praise God for our many blessings.
2. PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCH AND CHURCH FAMILY
Psalm 25: 4-5 “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Please pray for:-
Marcia, Rob, Richard and Jess as they continue to meet behind the scenes. They are regularly using “Zoom” so they can see and talk to each other remotely.
The interregnum & appointment of new Rector (Fiona & Richard)
The PCC
The whole church family - particularly those finding it hard coping alone at this testing time of Coronavirus.
Children and parents as they adjust to working at home; for parents who are home tutoring - for patience, resources, motivation, inspiration ......
3. PRAYERS FOR MISSION
Hebrews 6:10: "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
Please pray for:-
For Wendy Metcalf as she stays in touch with our Mission partners:-
Kondoa
London City Mission - Anya & Andrew Canon
Ruth Radley - Birmingham hospital (particularly for Ruth on the sad loss of her dad with COVID. Thanks that Ruth and her sister were able to be by his side in hospital (one of the very few hospitals that allowed family in.)
Tools with a Mission
4. PRAYERS FOR OUR QUEEN, OUR COUNTRY & WORLD ISSUES
1 Timothy 2 1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Please pray for:-
Our Queen, our Government and world leaders. For wisdom and discernment as they make difficult decisions relating to Coronavirus.
Healing for all those who are suffering COVID-19 and for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones.
For counties across the world facing famine - Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria.
For East Africa and South Sudan suffering swarms of locusts devouring their crops.
5. PRAYERS FOR SICK IN OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
James 5 14-16 “Is anyone among you sick? “Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Please pray for:-
Peggy Smith
Richard Plender
Lynda Williams
Miller Craven
Jane Thomson
Fiona Jordan’s dad - Rodney
Prue Burrlock’s dad - Peter
Helen & Phillip (Marjorie Jones’ friends with COVID)
Valerie Wholmes (for protection from COVID)
Bob and June Wilkinson
*Naomi (Mary & Richard’s daughter, working with COVID patients in hospital)
*Zoe ( Mary & Richard’s daughter - a GP)
*Erin (Lynda & Rob’s niece, working with COVID patients in hospital)
(* All 3 & families contracted Coronavirus, were very unwell though not hospitalised. All have recovered (thanks & Praise to God) and back working, but exhausted.
Residents at Cheshire Home - especially for Maureen and Pearl.
Residents at Rivermere
(Prayer Team contact numbers are on this website if anyone would like prayer.)
CLOSING PRAYER
Take this day, I ask you, Lord, fashion all that it shall bring;
help us see your hand at work, love transforming everything.
Take our lives, we ask you, Lord, through your Spirit make us new;
help us now to do your will, trusting you in all we do.
Take your Church, we ask you, Lord, Grant it strength to meet your call;
help it show through word and deed, something of your love for all.
Take our world, we ask you, Lord, may its pain and sorrow cease;
help us heal each other’s wounds, show us how to live in peace.
Amen
Thank you ALL for praying for our church family and everything related. If I have omitted anything then please include in your own prayers. During this unprecedented time of Coronavirus I pray God will protect, watch over and take very special care of each one of us. I pray He will rid us of this deadly virus.
Lynda Hubbard
