Prayer Sheet December/January 2005/2006 - Faith in action

The St Cuthbert's Project

• for the final stage of work, undertaken by us, to be completed on time.
• for the opening programme which includes special services, an open week, a community day and visits by Love n' Joy and Roger Murphy.
• for guidance regarding the future use of the newly extended premises and for the running of the new church centre.

Our Church

• give thanks for generous giving and costly service during 2005.
• for our Christmas & New Year services, especially all who will visit.
• for our Alpha Course which already has a good number signed up.
• for more leaders & helpers across a range of activities, but especially work amongst older children & youth.
• for St Mary's as they seek to develop their vision & premises.

Our Community

• for all young people, particularly those who are on the margins.
• for those, particularly single parents, who struggle to bring up families. as wells as those who care for elderly or sick relatives.
• for a renewed interest in the Good News & the life of the local church.

Individuals

• Chris Betson, preparing for a Bishop's Advisory Conference.
• those at College, especially those living away from home.
• for all who are sick, bereaved or housebound or troubled in any way.

A Prayer for the local church

We pray for our local community here in Cheadle, that we may show our love through our respect for each other and for our environment, gladly sharing what we have with those in need. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, Amen.

What can I do to get involved?

Find out more about these...
The Wellspring provides food, clothes and shelter to Stockport's homeless. They also offer health care, education and training.

The Furniture Station accepts donations of furniture from people - and distributes it to people and families in need.

The Stepping Stone is a Christian support project for drug and alcohol users. They offer friendship, support, a place to go for a cup of tea and prayer if needed.

Social Services need gifts of toys and games for children in Stockport who otherwise won't get Christmas presents this year (including children in the Women's Refuge.) The pet fostering team need people who love animals to look after the pets of people who need to leave home in an emergency. Nightstop need volunteers to look after homeless young people for a night. Someone living near you might need visiting, or help with shopping, or need prayer.

The Big Deal

At the heart of the Christian message is the commandment of Christ to love your neighbour as yourself.

The Big Deal is a means of putting this into practice, but doing it in such a way that it encourages mass participation and ownership.

From March 06, Stockport's churches will link up and work on projects of kindness across the borough. The whole process of preparing projects is all about creating or developing local partnerships. The projects themselves will range from environmental improvements to sports, crime reducing efforts to children's activities, old age help to arts and drama activities.

A Prayer for the world church

We pray for the Church throughout the world, that she may be a voice for those who lack even the basic necessities of life, tirelessly serving them and calling for change. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, Amen.

• Of the six billion people who live in the world, 1.6 billion people earn less than 70p per day.
• Every day, 30 000 children die from poverty.
• 1.2 billion people do not have a local supply of clean water.
• 70 per cent of the world's population have never owned a telephone, let alone a computer.
• The 200 richest people in the world between them own as much as the poorest 2,500,000,000.
• Africa is home to more than 26 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Yet only about one per cent of Africans who need them are receiving antiretroviral drugs.

I was hungry, and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger. I was in prison, and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release. I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God. I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me. You seem so holy, so close to God. But I am still very hungry. And lonely. And cold.'
John Stott

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25: 37-40

A Prayer of Dedication
You asked for my hands, that you might use them for your purposes. I gave them for a moment then withdrew them for the work was hard.
You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice. I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.
You asked for my eyes to see the pain of poverty. I closed them for I did not want to see.
You asked for my life that you might work through me. I gave you a small part that I might not get "too involved".
Lord, forgive me for calculated efforts to serve you only when it is convenient for me to do so, and only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only with those who make it easy to do so.
Father,forgive me, renew me, send me out as a usable instrument, that I may take seriously the meaning of your cross.