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Prayer

Prayer Sheet April/May 2008

For St Cuthbert's

  • Special services - AGM Sunday (13 April); Pentecost All Age; Fellowship Sunday (18 May); Celebration (27 June); Saturday Night Alive (TBC)
  • Door 2 Door Visiting commencing Monday 12 May
  • HOPE 08 Kingsway
  • Schools Week with BLUSH, Monday 14 - Friday 18 April
  • Our forthcoming Keswick Houseparty with David Banbury


For other churches

  • St Mary's as the Upper Room is shut so that building can begin
  • The Churches of Cheadle Heath and Edgeley now entered upon life as a combined Parish
  • Kidayama Church, Tanzania as they construct their new building with support from us
  • St John the Evangelist in Pamplona Baja, Lima, where Paul and Sarah Tester are based
  • Helderberg Christian Church, Somerset West, Cape Town, where Dean and Paula Finnie are based


For individuals and those in need

  • Those preparing for Confirmation or Affirmation of faith at the service to be held here in June with Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester
  • Those preparing for their or their children's baptism
  • Those preparing for marriage including Alan Bonsall and Nicola Smith
  • The new Bishop of Stockport whose name is shortly to be announced
  • Patches as he prepares for a Bishop's Selection Panel in July
  • Next year's Careforce Workers - Greg Melia


For ourselves

  • An openness to the gifts & ministries of the Holy Spirit
  • The growth of the Spirit's fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
  • Enthusiasm and whole-heartedness in our service of God and others


Prayers for Pentecost
Give us the grace, under His divine inspiration, to have a sense of the true and a taste for the good... Anon

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit
that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy.
St. Augustine


Hope08
Hope08 is an initiative of the churches of Britain and Ireland which is helping to demonstrate Christian faith in action and to explain the meaning of that faith in villages, towns and cities throughout the UK.

Hope08 is seeking to establish good links between local churches, MPs, civic leaders. Some locations are using prayer breakfasts to foster these relationships.

Additionally, a linked organisation, Redeeming our Communities, is organising a prayer event in Manchester on June 3rd - 'Prayer and Policing in Partnership'.

Let's Ensure that 2008 is a Year of Prayer
Please pray that:
The vision for HOPE will be fully realised:

  • Many people will get involved at a grassroots level
  • All that happens will be fuelled by informed prayer
  • All ages will be involved
  • Young people will respond across the nations
  • Good partnerships will develop with the police, local community & civic leaders
  • Many people will respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.
  • That the prayer breakfasts and the Manchester Prayer Event are well supported and effective.

If you are in a homegroup or prayer partnership, why not keep Hope08 on your agenda throughout the year?

Be always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 315

Give praise for the Easter Fiesta and pray that there may be a lasting impact on those who attended.

Pray for the following proposed events:

  • Parenting Course scheduled to be run through May/ June
  • Drugs and Alcohol awareness for parents
  • Quiz Night to be organized by the Big Read
  • MBG wine or whisky tasting event (?)
  • Colour Me Beautiful event

Pray that those groups who have not yet identified an event may do so, that we reach out into every part of our local community with the gospel.

Pray too for opportunities to demonstrate our love for others through community service.

Don't forget the outreach that takes place outside the auspices of Hope08 through the Alpha Course, door to door visiting etc.

Pray that we may demonstrate the love for each other that Jesus said would be the mark of his disciples.


Father,
Thank you that in a world of despair,
You are our Hope.
In a world of darkness,
You are our Light.
In a world of sorrow,
You are our joy.
Help us to share the Hope of our hearts with one another
Enable us to give Hope to others through Your work amongst us
Use us to transform our nation and to spread Your Hope to every corner of this nation.
May our land flourish by the preaching of Your word and the praising of Your name.
Amen

Lord God, as we look out across this area we see so much that needs to be done, so many who need to be helped in body, mind and spirit.
Our time and resources are limited and often inadequate; sometimes we just don't know what to do.
But we will keep on praying to you, O Lord.
For now is the time!
You are bending down to listen.
You are ready with a bountiful supply of love and kindness.
Now answer our prayers for this place and its people, as you have promised.
Strengthen and encourage us to stand together for you as we seek to bring fresh hope to these communities where you have placed us.
We ask this in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ - Saviour, Healer and Restorer of Hope.
Amen