Prayer Sheet December/January 2008/2009

An Advent Prayer
To a world in turmoil, peace from Christ.
To a searching world, love from Christ.
To a dying world, hope from Christ.
Amen

For St Cuthbert's

• give thanks for God's goodness, patience and mercy during the course of another year.
• give thanks for a significant increase in church membership these last 12 months
• also for the provision of all of our needs as well as many of our aspirations
• pray for special services and events - Church Cafe Carols (11 December); A Pie, A Pint and A Purpose Men's Evening (17 December); All Age Nativity and Carols by Candlelight (21 December); Carols at Edinburgh Close and The Printers Arms (22 December); 'Its Ok' Carols' / Around the Crib / Midnight Communion / Christmas Day Communion (24/25 December)
• Mike's sabbatical - for renewal and refreshment for him and for new life and enthusiasm for the church family, especially those who will bear the load.
• for the planned building work at No.4 which has been significantly delayed.

Partners in Mission

• the people and Wardens of All Hallows and St Philips as they appoint a new Vicar
• St Mary's as Tesco move in and The Upper Room is closed
• Paul and Sarah Tester (SAMS), esp. wisdom for Sarah to know how to best support the student centre and the children in San Patricio.
• Paul, Grace and Isobel Robinson (OMF) in Cambodia following Paul's visit home.
• Dean and Paula Finnie (Crosslinks) as proposals for a new church partner are considered shortly by their sponsoring Council.
• Shemil and Becky Matthew (CMS) as they prepare for ministry in Sri Lanka.
• Adam, Matty and the Locdown team as they take on another volunteer.

For individuals and those in need

• for the homeless and those who minister to them locally - Wellspring in Stockport, City Centre Ministries and Hope '08 team in Manchester.
• for those who find this time of year particularly difficult and depressing.
• for all who suffer and those who seek to care for them, particularly members of the Pastoral Visiting Team

The Persecuted Church
Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the city of Mosul in northern Iraq after a campaign was launched to remove the Christian community from the city in early October. At least 14 Christians, including a 15-year-old boy, have been murdered, many of them killed execution-style by gunmen. Other estimates suggest that as many as 25 or even 40 Christians might have been killed. Five Christian homes have been blown up after the families had been told to leave.

Earlier in October leaflets were distributed in Mosul, threatening Christians with death unless they convert to Islam or pay the Islamic jizya tax that marks them as second-class citizens. The leaflets, which are an effective tactic used before in Baghdad and elsewhere, were condemned by the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq and by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. One source reported that on Thursday, 9 October, extremists drove around the Mosul neighbourhood of Sukkar, shouting through a loudspeaker that Christians would be attacked unless they left the city. Others reported that false checkpoints were set up in the city to stop cars and check IDs. Christians were told to leave the city within 24 hours.

Pray for an end to the deadly campaign against Christians in Mosul. Thank God for Muslims who have condemned the attacks. Pray that the people of Mosul will stand together with the Christian community against the extremists so that they will not succeed in their attempt to drive out all Christians from the city.

Pray that the government will hold true to its promise to put a stop to the ongoing violence. Pray that it will be able to create an Iraqi state to which Iraqi Christians can return, and where Christians and Muslims can live together peacefully.

How to Pray for Persecuted Christians

• Praise God that he is all-knowing, that in Christ he himself experienced shame, pain and agonising death. Thank him for his promise: 'I will never leave you or forsake you.'
• Pray that all governments will work for justice and righteousness.
• Pray that leaders of the liberal democracies will use their influence to find ways to reduce, if not end, persecution in countries where it occurs.
• Pray for growth of the Church where persecution exists, remembering that 'the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church'.
• Pray for strength and courage for those experiencing persecution, and for the peace that only God can bring. Thank him that his grace is sufficient for their needs. Pray that their faith will not fail, but that their suffering will instead increase their faith and bring them closer to Jesus.
• Pray that persecuted Christians will, following the example of Jesus, be able to forgive and to show love to their persecutors, and that this response may be a powerful testimony to the power of the gospel.
• Pray that God will be at work in the hearts of the persecutors that they may come to faith themselves.
• Thank God for the privilege of entering into the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, remembering that 'if one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it'.
• Pray that former persecutors who have come to faith may be accepted and welcomed into the church.
• Pray that we in the U.K. may be prepared to suffer for our faith should persecution arise here.

Advent Praise
Loving God,
we rejoice in this season of good news and goodwill,
we celebrate once more the birth of your son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
the Prince of Peace,
the Lord of lords,
the word made flesh,
and we praise you for the assurance of his final triumph.

For coming among us through Jesus.
for bearing our flesh and blood,
for living our life and sharing our humanity,
for entering our world,
loving God, we praise you!

For suffering and dying among us,
for your victory over death,
for your triumph over evil,
and your promise that your kingdom will come,
loving God, we praise you!

For the wonder of this season,
for its message of love and forgiveness,
its promise of peace and justice,
and the gift of life everlasting of which it speaks,
loving God, we praise you!

Loving God,
we rejoice in this season of good news and goodwill,
and we look forward to that day
when the Jesus of Bethlehem will be Lord of all.
Amen