Prayer Sheet December/January 2006/2007 - Teaching and Discipleship

Our Church

• the Christmas & New Year programme, including: Carols by Candlelight; special services for ACORNS & The Old School Nursery; the visit of Roger Murphy = Carol singing at Edinburgh Close & in local pubs/ Church Open Day/ kid's Christmas film, Crib Service/ Nativity; Midnight Communion; Christmas Day and The Lord of the Rings day
• our new Alpha Courses: Evening Alpha commencing 18 January/ Afternoon Alpha commencing late Feb/ early March
• our Church Cafe as numbers grow & further plans are considered
• for the new initiatives in our Children's & Youth work, particularly with teenagers e.g. Bag of Chips, Kingsway CU, LOST?

Other Churches

• St Mary's, as The Upper Room Project reaches a critical deadline and the Project starts to take shape
• St Chad's, as Father John, their new priest, settles in
• Trinity, as Geoffrey Clarke, the minister, continues to care for his mother, Sylvia, who has had a serious accident
• St Augustine's, for further growth in depth & numbers and for a continued spirit of co-operation with St John's Methodist. Also for Rachel, Hannah & Brian as they help out in various ways

People

• all who are ill, bereaved, housebound or troubled in any way
• those who are searching or who have drifted from the faith that it might be renewed this Christmas & into the New Year
• our Prayer Ministry & Pastoral Visiting Teams as they offer help both practical & spiritual
• all preparing for Baptism or Marriage, among the latter Winsome & Brian, John & Lisa, Debbie & Matt, Annameika & Ian
• those preparing for parenthood: Catherine & Ronnie Johnson, Mark & Kate Cookson (again!)

Teaching and Discipleship
Jesus calls people to follow him; to put him first in their lives. He doesn't promise it will be easy. But he does promise to be with us always.

• Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19
• Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
• By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35
• And surely I am with you always. Matthew 28:20

Praying for ourselves
As disciples of Jesus we need to learn from him, but do we often "play truant"?

• in our private prayers and bible study
• in our meetings for worship and fellowship
• in the many other opportunities we have to grow as Christians (eg books, videos, home groups, prayer partnerships, etc)

As disciples of Jesus are we following his example and serving others? Ask God:

• to give us fresh enthusiasm to help others in the activities we are involved in
• for a renewed sense of his presence with us day by day
• to show us what gifts and skills we have and how we can use them in his service.

Praying for others

• for our Sunday and midweek worship, and for those who lead it in word and music
• for the three home groups and the other midweek bible study groups
• for the newly started monthly men's group
• for the planning for the 2007 Lent course to be held at St Mary's and St Cuthbert's
• for Roger Murphy's visit to us at Christmas
• for the work of the Diocese, particularly in its provision of training programmes
• for our witness to the many visitors to church over the Christmas period
• for the impact of "St Cuthbert's Calling" as it goes to the homes of the parish in December
• for the contacts made through the Church Cafe, In Stitches, Club 55 and Men's Breakfast
• for our neighbours and work colleagues
• for our friends and other social contacts.

Praying for young people
As we think about our own discipleship, let us remember all the work that St Cuthbert's does with young people:

• our Careforce workers, Rachel and Hannah, and Brian from the Nazarene College, as they work with young people at St Cuthbert's, St Augustine's and in the schools of the area
• the large team of volunteers who staff all our midweek and Sunday youth activities (from Acorns and the Old School Nursery to Covies)
• the new initiatives: Bag of Chips (Years 7-9) on Thursday teatimes and the Sunday evening older youth group
• the newly started Christian Club at Kingsway School on Fridays

Nick and Gillie Hall
Pray for their safety and good health travelling in Central Asia as Nick produces gospel videos and DVDs in local languages.

From London to Beijing, people are plugged into the media; North African teenagers watch MTV on satellite, young men in Kabul surf porn sites in cyber cafes, men and women of every age watch videos. Most have not rejected the Christian faith - they've simply not had the chance to understand it. Christian videos and DVDs are an ideal way for them to hear Jesus in their own language.

Pray too for Gillie, that she may give a clear message about Jesus, as she teaches in local schools.

Crosslinks Prayer Partners - Dean & Paula Finnie
Dean is primarily working with Chris Nissen Park, a predominantly Cape Coloured community which is struggling with many social problems, particularly alcoholism and it's attendant problems of domestic violence and child abuse. Dean's aim is to see key men in the community saved and discipled enabling them to positively impact their own families and their community for Christ.

Pray not only for Dean's work in the community but for times of refreshment for the family.

OMF - Japan
The sincere, polite, hard-working Japanese are too busy to give heed to the gospel. Pray that the many Japanese working abroad may be open to Jesus and 'gossip the gospel' on their return home.
Pray for the Japanese Church:

• Christians are a tiny minority in a society where consensus is important. Few families come to faith; individuals feel exposed.
• The lack of men in the churches. The drive for success and demands of employers make it hard for men to break free.
• Pray that the Japanese Church may demonstrate God's love through increased social awareness.