PRAYER DIARY 1 June 13 August 2017 Thu 1 Fri 2 Sat 3 Sun 4 Mon 5 Tue 6 Wed 7 Thu 8 Fri 9 Sat 10 Pray for the Nominating Committee as they seek God s guidance to find a new minister for Perth North Church. Pray for patience as progress is made in God s timing. Give thanks for the work of The Guild, the fellowship that is offered as well as the projects which are supported. Every week a CD is prepared of the North Church Sunday morning service. Pray for the housebound who appreciate being able to listen to the service, and pray for those who prepare the CDs. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him. Acts 2: 39 Loving Provider, you gather us in the upper room with your son, to be fed by your love. Jesus told us to "love one another" and we know that is the heart of his gift, his sacrifice for us. The Blythswood lorry will be at ASDA today, pray that it will be well supported. Pray for the work of Blythswood at home and abroad. Give thanks for the work of PACT and the opportunity it creates for the different denominations in Perth to work together. Pray for all those people affected by extreme weather from those flooded out of their homes in the UK, to farmers in Ethiopia struggling due to drought. Lord, we thank you for your constant presence, in good times and bad, in tears and laughter. Bless those who laugh and those who cry today, and enfold us all in your love every day. Pray for those in management positions who are faced with the decision of whether to make staff redundant. Pray for those facing redundancy and for the unemployed. 1
Sun 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1: 10 Pray for all who feel let down, abandoned or rejected by the Church or a church, that all will find a welcoming home somewhere among God's people where they will be cherished and nurtured. Give thanks for the opportunities we have at North Church to investigate our faith through House Groups. Pray for the on-going growth and development of our pastoral care; all who visit people in our congregation who are unable to come to church; all who are sick in hospital, or at home, and all who care for them. Pray for the homeless, for the work of CATH and the outreach team. Give thanks for the volunteers who prepare and serve a hot meal at Nosh at the North. Give thanks for the work of Street Pastors in Perth and in towns and cities around the country. Pray for their continued safety and for the people they meet who are hungry for the gospel. Give thanks for Alan Reid and Colin Caskie as they lead us during the vacancy. Pray for God s guidance as they prepare services week by week and see to our pastoral needs. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Eccl 4:10 Lord, help us to be there for people who need support. Amen Tue 20 Pray for people escaping from war-torn countries. Give thanks for countries who generously provide sanctuary for those whose lives are in danger. Wed 21 Thu 22 Pray for those who have recently been bereaved. May God comfort them in the time of their distress. Give thanks for good health. Pray for those who are unwell and frail, that the Lord will be with them and strengthen them. 2
Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 July Sat 1 Sun 2 Give thanks for the faithful service of the Boys Brigade Officers. Pray that the Christian grounding which they boys have received will stay with them throughout their lives. Pray for an end to the many crises in the Middle East and around the world that are forcing people to flee their homes. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5 Lord, we know that barbs can sting and the effects of our words can stay with other people a lot longer than we expect. Help us to stem the flow of put-downs and replace them with life-giving words. These words also resonate, sometimes for entire lifetimes. Give thanks for those who have passed the message of Jesus to us, and pray for those who are passing on the message to others today - those who work with young people, people who help those addicted to alcohol or drugs, and those caring for people with disabilities. Pray for those living without the basic necessities which we take for granted - fresh water, food, shelter, adequate sanitation, access to healthcare. Pray for aid agencies, staff and volunteers trying to help. Show us how to share our plenty with those in need. Give thanks for the ease of access that we have to our representatives in Holyrood, Westminster, and on the local council. Pray that we would be a positive Christian influence by contacting them on issues of importance, and in encouraging and supporting them in prayer. Pray for teachers, children and parents as the holidays begin. May they be kept safe and be able to relax and enjoy good weather. Pray for ourselves, that we may be sensitive to the worries of others and share Christ s loving peace with them. Many peoples shall come and say Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Is 2: 3. 3
Mon 3 God of the poor, we long to meet you yet almost miss you; we strive to help you yet only discover our need. Interrupt our comfort, touch our possessiveness with your poverty, and surprise our guilt with the grace of your welcome in Jesus Christ, Amen. Tue 4 Give thanks for the work of Blythswood. Pray for the summer activities being organising in Eastern Europe. Pray for safe travel for the driver of the lorry which will be at ASDA today. Wed 5 Thu 6 Fri 7 Sat 8 We pray for all whose lives have been touched by tragedy, whether by accident or a deliberate act. For those who mourn; immerse them in your love and lead them through this darkness into your arms, and light. Give thanks for all the healthcare workers who come from overseas, without whom the NHS could not function. Pray that they would adjust and flourish in their new environment. Give thanks for Christian TV, radio, magazines, websites and social media platforms. Pray that they would be helpful to those seeking faith. Give thanks for the opportunity which we have to support Fair Trade. Pray for good support of the stall in the hall tomorrow. Sun 9 "To answer before listening that is folly and shame." Prov 18:13 Mon 10 Tue 11 Wed 12 Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who no longer listens to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either.' Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Lord, help us to listen. Amen Give thanks for the various holiday activities that are organised for school children. Pray for all the Scripture Union Camps taking place this summer, for staff and for children. Pray for Christians in positions of responsibility in education, the media, scientific research or politics. 4
Thu 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Pray for all the babies and children being cared for in hospices and children s hospitals. Ask God to bless the staff, volunteers, families and all who are looking after them. Remember those who work in the press, broadcast and online media. Ask God to help them to be discerning, thorough, and fair especially when working to tight deadlines and under pressure to adopt a certain viewpoint. Lord, we pray that peace will come to our world through giving strength and wisdom to the leaders of all countries so that we can all live in harmony. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Ps 102: 17 Loving God, in your house there is room for everyone but in our world so many have nowhere to stay and nothing to eat. Help us to respond to this need with grace and compassion. Give thanks for the ministry of Open Door. Pray that there would always be volunteers to bake and volunteers to serve so that this valuable outreach may be continued. Pray for child labourers, child soldiers and children exploited in pornography. For girls and women exploited on the streets. For all men, women and children enslaved, betrayed and abandoned. For the righting of wrongs, and justice and freedom for all. Thank you Lord for accepting us as your children and for sending your Holy Spirit to guide us every day. Please forgive our faults and give us your strength to forgive and accept others. Remember those facing times of stress, hardship and pain. May those who offer comfort be blessed with God s guidance, take strength from knowing that they do his bidding, bringing hope to those in despair and showing love to all they meet. Every Sunday we are welcomed into the building by a friendly welcome-team member. Give thanks for friendship shown to regulars and visitors, and pray that we would continue to welcome all into our midst. 5
Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 August Tue 1 Wed 2 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 Holy God, Father and Mother of us all, thank you for the beauty of creation. As a mother tenderly gathers her children, so may we care for and respect all creation. Give thanks that God can empower and equip all people to be disciples and use our gifts and talents to build a kingdom of justice, peace and joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Nominating Committee, as they seek God s guidance in the appointment of a minister. Pray for the person who God has appointed to lead Perth North Church. Pray for an end to famine, particularly in countries where struggling economies mean the people are less able to respond to crisis. Give thanks for the agencies working to alleviate hunger. Give thanks for those who have been married for decades, sharing their love, wisdom and faith with children, extended family and friends. Pray that their example of following your ways will cascade down through the generations. Give thanks for our Church leaders and pray that they might know God s wisdom as they seek to encourage congregations to live as true disciples of Christ. Come. Follow Me, Jesus said. I will make you fishers of people. Mark 1:17 Holy God, thank you for calling us to be disciples. Help us daily to take up our cross and follow you, that our whole lives may be lived to your glory. Give thanks for the team who prepare North News, those who deliver it and for those who work behind the scenes making sure that everything is organised efficiently. Pray for families during the school holidays. Pray that parents have enough money to be able to fund the extra meals and activities. 6
Thu 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun 12 Give thanks for the lives of people we have lost this year, and give thanks that we have been honoured to be part of their lives. Lord Jesus, pour your blessings on all women today, especially those who face discrimination and violence. Reveal to them their worth and dignity before you. Give thanks for the work of volunteers, both within our church and throughout our community, and worldwide. May those who are volunteering and those who benefit feel the love of God. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5: 14-16 Give thanks that, despite difficulties, Christians are able to share God s love by reaching out in their local community. Pray for God s help as we do this. Pray for the outreach of the church worldwide to those who have not heard the Gospel of Christ, that all may come to know and love him. Heavenly Father, we thank you for people who communicate the truths of the Christian faith in ways that people of all ages can understand. We pray for those who write for a living, that you will give them fresh inspiration and creativity. Give thanks for the church gardening team who keep the church garden bright and colourful. Pray for those who have recently been diagnosed with a serious or terminal condition. Pray for those caring for them. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Dan 2: 20,21 7
Prayer points for inclusion in the Prayer Diary can be handed to the Church Office or sent to ncprayerdiary@gmail.com 8