Prayer Sheet June/July 2006 - Evangelism and Social Action

Our Community

• The impact of The Big Deal events, especially: The Big Brew (24 June) and The Kingsway Schools Week (3-7 July)
• those in Cheadle Heath being visited by our Door2Door team
• the staff, pupils and governors of Meadowbank school

The St Cuthbert's Project

• give thanks for further progress on the building over recent weeks: lower lounge store room built, gardens re-developed, prayer room painting imminent, guttering renewed etc.
• our financial needs in terms of ongoing loans, honoured pledges, and new gifts to bridge the gap between the estimated and actual cost. Also our final appeal 25 June-31 July

Our Church

• give thanks for a spirit of unity and co-operation within the fellowship and a sense of God's presence in our services. Also for new faces at church, both on Sunday's and during the week e.g. at the Church Cafe (shown below)
• guidance and direction for the re-organised Committee / PCC and a renewal of vision around our five key purposes.
• all who visit our church premises or our web-site
• special services & activities: Pentecost, BBQ's, SAMS visit, Safari Supper, Holiday @ Home week
• a replacement for Chris Betson.

People

• all who are sick, bereaved, housebound or troubled.
• Those whoe are searching or who have drifted from the faith
• our Prayer Ministry & Pastoral Visiting Teams as they offer help

Using the Church Building:
We thought we had some gaps in what we did and that we could try and meet those gaps by:

• Holding regular craft events
• Having a Church Cafe
• Holding more lunch time services
• Having the building open for prayer

Let's praise God we have monthly 'In Stitches' craft breakfasts and the Church Cafe has been up and running for a month. And let's pray that we can look at completing the other two tasks soon.

Going Out
We said that we wanted to:

• Keep running Alpha
• Keep going with door to door visiting
• Hold events, e.g. Carol services for the community
• Develop a 'welcome pack' for newcomers to the parish
• Develop/improve contacts with the local community

Again, let's give thanks for the Alpha Course, for those who go visiting. Let's thank God for the Pop Connection and thank God for our new links with the Friends of Abney. Let's pray for help in improving links with the community and pray for volunteers (could this be you?!) to help put together a welcome pack, with information on St C's and the Cheadle area.

There's more to do - there are still plenty of things left for us to achieve in the Development Plan. And the Development Plan still needs developing! As a church, we need to pray that we can impact our community for Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote that we should 'shine like stars in the universe' - that our lives should make a difference.

Let us pray that people in Cheadle will see a difference in our lives; that the work we do here on earth will have eternal purpose.

Prayer Points

• Pray for Alpha and Door to Door Visiting
• Pray for the Church Cafe
• Pray for the Dev. Group/ Committee as we meet & plan what we can do in these areas
• Pray that we will be committed to being a Fairtrade church
• Pray for all the Big Deal events taking place
• Pray for confidence in telling people about

Creator God,
As we journey through this world, give us the grace to allow your Holy Spirit to work through us. Help us to speak, think and work with honesty, and compassion, to celebrate all that is life-giving, to restore hope where it has been lost, and to bring about change where it is needed. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our companion. Amen

There is so much more we can do

"...what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8

Tearfund is part of Micah Challenge, a global Christian campaign working to mobilise Christians against poverty and to make sure the Millennium Development Goals are met by 2015.

• 2.1 billion people live in absolute poverty
• 6 million children die every year as a result of hunger
• 1.1 billion people lack access to sanitation

Let's pray for:

• Debt relief
• Fair trade and trade justice
• For a greater awareness of how our behaviour (e.g. our shopping habits) affect people in the developing world.

We pray for the Church, that it may be a strong voice crying out for change and against the injustices which keep people poor.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for world leaders and for all who hold positions of responsibility and authority, that they may recognise and actively seek opportunities to tackle poverty and bring about greater equality, so that all may enjoy the possibility to achieve their potential and live their lives to the full.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves, that we may take any opportunities to look at our own lifestyles, and to make the world a better place by learning to share what we have.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.