Prayer Sheet April/May 2006 - The St Cuthbert's Project

The St Cuthbert's Project

• give thanks for steady progress 'in house' over recent weeks.
• the outstanding work, which lies outside of our control, to be completed speedily, wisely & well.
• our financial needs to be met in terms of ongoing loans, honoured pledges & new gifts to bridge the gap between the estimated and actual cost.

Our Church

• give thanks for many new faces at church & the increased use of our premises by the local community and businesses - pray for further ideas & helpers to facilitate development.
• for important business meetings: St Cuthbert's AGM, Parish AGM & Parish Awayday. Also the proposed re-organisation of our Committee/ PCC meetings and election of new representatives.
• for continued renewal of vision around our five key purposes: Prayer & Worship, Evangelism & Social action, World Mission, Fellowship & Pastoral Care and Discipleship & Teaching.
• for special services at Easter, Ascension & Pentecost.
• for a replacement for Chris Betson, either from Careforce or elsewhere.
• for a spirit of unity, harmony, co-operation, patience & sacrificial service as we seek to grow together as a Christian family.

Our Community

• give thanks for the many joys of living in Cheadle & the surrounding area.
• for all who work here in industry, commerce & public services and those who look after our local amenities.
• for The Big Deal, especially the following events: The Big Sing (25 May) & Community Action Weekend (27 May).

Those in need

• for all who are sick, bereaved, housebound or troubled in any way.
• for the Pastoral Visiting Team as they offer practical help & support.
• those who have drifted from the church and/ or the Christian faith.

Teach Us to Pray

Lord God our Father,
Like the apostles of old we ask,
Teach us how to pray.

Teach us the power of prayer
its ability to challenge,
to encourage,
to transform all of life.
Teach us how to pray.

Teach us the blessing of prayer
its ability to teach,
comfort,
and strengthen.
Teach us how to pray.

Teach us the potential of prayer
its ability to help us express our worship,
discover your will,
and hear your voice.
Teach us how to pray.

Teach us the joy of prayer
its ability to convey your forgiveness,
to reveal more of your love,
and open up more experiences of your presence.
Teach us how to pray.

Father hear our prayer
so that all we ask and think
may give you the glory that you deserve.
In the name of Christ.
Amen

Throughout the Big Deal year in Stockport the vision is to visit every single High School for a week of mission. The Big Deal Schools team along with Blushuk and LZ7 will be working in partnership with Stockport's Christians in Schools Team who have been faithfully serving Stockport Schools for a number of years. The Big Deal Team and Christians in Schools are working hard to put together a fantastic package, which enable churches to fully engage with their local schools mission and play a key role in the follow up of the young people.
Please pray that the necessary funding will be found - £2000 per school, that many young people may come to know Jesus. Pray also that good links with local churches will provide follow up so that the new Christians will grow to spiritual maturity.

Tanzania

One third of Tanzanians are Muslim, about 45% Christian and about 22% follow traditional religion. Religious freedom is guaranteed. Roman Catholics and Protestants are equal in number, with the Lutherans the largest Protestant denomination, followed by the Anglican Church with about half a million members. The northern and western dioceses are predominantly in the evangelical tradition, whilst the coastal and southern dioceses are traditionally Anglo-Catholic.
The delicate inter-communal balance and political stability of the country cannot be taken for granted. Pray that the government may be wise and even-handed and that harmony and religious freedom may be maintained in both the mainland and Zanzibar.

Overall growth of the Church. In many areas the churches have stagnated. There are too few evangelists and church planters. Western cultural forms combined with African worship patterns leave little time for biblical teaching. There is a critical lack of trained, mature leaders with pastors caring for 20 or more congregations. AIDS continues its frightening growth and rapidly rising death rate.
Christianity in Schools. Schools must provide religious education, but there are 53 schools for every qualified RE teacher. Scripture Union has a great ministry, especially in encouraging young people to be morally pure, but it needs more leaders. Christian groups in universities and colleges are large and evangelistic but lack of staff workers is a hindrance.

Sahel crisis

People built up debts during 2005, livestock died and food prices rocketed. Reserve stocks were used up last year and many animals sold. Now they have few resources left and are still vulnerable.
Niger and Mali are worst affected. Our partners are working in these places, restocking herds and grain banks and running food-for-work schemes. In Burkina Faso partners are also providing drought-resistant seeds to help farmers improve their harvests.
The long-term aim is to help communities recover from last year's crisis and become less vulnerable to fluctuations in the climate. This will mean that future droughts or increases in food prices will not have such a detrimental effect.

• that the international community will not forget West Africa.
• that those still in desperate need will receive the help they need.
• that the ongoing work of our partners will help communities cope with future droughts.

Sri Lanka Update

A fragile peace has held since talks between the government and Tamil Tigers in February, more talks are planned for April.
Please continue to pray that a lasting peace may be built and for the work of aid agencies such as Tearfund who are currently able to work freely due to the window of peace.