United We Pray. United Community Church. Feb.14 th Feb. 28 th. Monthly Prayer Guide

Transcription

1 United We Pray United Community Church. Feb.14 th Feb. 28 th Monthly Prayer Guide

2 About This Guide This prayer guide has been written to help those attending UCC to better pray together for our church throughout the month. 3 Constant Prayer Requests In addition to the daily prayers in this guide below, please pray for the following prayer requests daily. 1. Espoo Location - UCC Espoo is growing and in need of a new venue in the Leppavaara region that can facilitate this growth and serve as a launching pad to better serve our community. Pray that God would open the door to the place He has prepared. 2. Sunday Services - Inspiration for the preacher For pastor Shaun or the guest preacher to be inspired in his preparation for preaching and that he would be faithful in his exposition and illustration of the text. - Preparation for those serving Each week tens of volunteers serve at our 3 Sunday services to help create an environment where people can meet Jesus and worship Him as Lord. Pray for them as they prepare and serve UCC each week. - Newcomers to feel welcome and cared for Each week we have visitors at all of our services and it is our desire that they feel welcomed and safe in their visit. It is also our desire that they can determine next steps to getting connected to UCC and be served spiritually no matter what that means. - God s presence On Sunday we do not simply want to do church, rather we want to meet with Christ and invite Him to be the Lord of our lives and be changed by Him. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit to be among us as we gather weekly. 3. Growth - Inward growth that UCC would become more like Christ and His Word would be active in our lives. - Outward growth That UCC would bold to share the Gospel and reach out to friends and neighbors by inviting them to church. - Corporate growth That UCC would model the kind of community found in the New Testament.

3 Suggestions For Praying Together 1. New Weekly Prayer Meeting - We will be starting a prayer meeting at UCC every Monday from at the UCC office. Come and pray! 2. Pray With A Friend Informally - At UCC we want prayer to not just be a program but a lifestyle. This is why we encourage you to pray not only with us in formal gatherings but together in groups informally. This might happen by you calling a friend and praying over the phone a few times each week for the requests in this guide. Or, by getting together with a friend each week and praying. Perhaps, it may happen completely spontaneously while hanging around with other Christians. Just pray! The leaders are always excited to hear stories of how this type of prayer is happening in UCC so feel free to share with them. 3. Pray on Your Own - We encourage you to use this guide to help you in praying for UCC daily on your own. These requests were written to keep you informed of key things happening at UCC during the month as well as key needs at UCC for your prayers. Print this guide out or save it to your computer desktop and use it to pray for your church. 3. Pray and Fast - Fasting is an important spiritual discipline which aids us in effective prayer. At UCC we encourage you to explore fasting as way to develop your prayer life. If you questions about fasting such as its purpose or how to do it contact a UCC leader.

4 Day 1 Feb Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141: 2 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the UCC staff and their families (Shaun, Daniel, Dirk-Jan, and Lari). Pray God will give them wisdom and strength as they serve UCC and protect them from the enemy s attacks. Day 2 Feb Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4: 2 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the needs of UCC attendees. Pray for especially for the sick, those seeking jobs, and those with marital / family struggles. Consider calling or visiting someone you know that may be struggling to pray for them personally. Day 3 Feb Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55: 6(NKJV) Today as we unite in prayer pray for the UCC men s and ladies ministries including the weekly Wednesday morning men s Bible study, mother child club on Monday afternoon, and the monthly men s and ladies breakfasts. front of this guide as well Day 4 Feb Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8(NKJV) Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the UCC small groups. Pray for genuine community and spiritual growth to take place within these groups.

5 Day 5 Feb Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141: 2 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the first UCC at Agricola Café ministry. Pray for Lari Launonen who is leading this as well as Bill Drake the guest speaker. To learn more about this ministry visit the UCC blog. Day 6 Feb Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God]. James 5: 13 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the UCC night of the Arts taking place in Helsinki at 6pm. Pray also for all of the artists at UCC that the Lord would empower them and give them opportunities to use their gifts for His glory. Keep in prayer the worship leaders training this morning from also. front of this guide as well. Day 7 Feb The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15: 29(NKJV) Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for Sunday services at UCC. Pray for our guest speaker Bill Drake and for the music, children and youth teams. Pray that UCC is receptive to the Word of God preached and responsive in worship. Day 8 Feb Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7: 15 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the UCC staff and their families (Shaun, Daniel, Dirk-Jan, and Lari). Pray God will give them wisdom and strength as they serve UCC and protect them from the enemy s attacks. front of this guide as well.

6 PRAYER QUOTE Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan - John Bunyan Day 10 Feb I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands. 1 Timothy 2: 8 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the needs of UCC attendees. Pray for especially for the sick, those seeking jobs, and those with marital / family struggles. Consider calling or visiting someone you know that may be struggling to pray for them personally. Day 11 Feb For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. Mark 11: 24 Today as we unite in prayer pray for the UCC men s and ladies ministries including the weekly Wednesday morning men s Bible study, mother child club on Monday afternoon, and the monthly men s and ladies breakfasts. front of this guide as well Day 12 Feb He will regard the plea of the destitute and will not despise their prayer. Psalm 102: 17 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the UCC small groups. Pray for genuine community and spiritual growth to take place within these groups.

7 Day 13 Feb But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer. 1 Peter 4: 7 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the development of UCC s vision. Pray God leads Pastor Shaun and the staff in developing ministry plans that bring honor and bring glory to Christ. Day 14 Feb Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice. Psalm 55: 17 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for UCC team leaders. At UCC there are many who are leading (as volunteers) teams that make our Sunday services and ministry environments happen. Pray God gives them wisdom and strength. Consider calling one of these leaders to pray for them and encourage them. Day 15 Feb Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4: 2 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for Sunday services at UCC. Pray for our Pastor Shaun as he continues the Hebrews series, for the music teams, and children and youth teams. Pray that UCC is receptive to the Word of God preached and responsive in worship. front of this guide as well. Day 16 Feb Blessed be God, Who has not rejected my prayer nor removed His mercy and loving-kindness from being [as it always is] with me. Psalm 66: 20 Today as we unite in prayer we will pray for the first UCC council / elders meeting taking place at 18:30. Pray for wisdom for our elders as they seek to serve UCC. Remember the prayer meeting at the UCC office from at the UCC office. Pray also for Pastor Shaun as he recovers from Sunday.

8 Thank You for Praying Hebrews 10: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.