Prayer Sheet October/November 2006 - Pastoral Care and Fellowship

Our God is a God of love and one who listens and cares. He showed His love supremely in sending His Son to this earth to show us how we should live. Jesus said that we are his friends if we love one another. We pray that, as a Church, we will love each other and listen to each other and also extend that love and listening to those in our community who are longing to experience God's love in their lives. Lord, we promise to follow your commandment to love one another and we pray that you, the best friend of all, we help us to keep our promise. A prayer used at the dedication of our new building

Prayer Pointers

• give thanks for all who are coming to Church Cafe and pray for ways to develop our welcome to the community further e.g. additional openings, mental health drop in etc.
• that those on welcome duty will "spot" newcomers to church
• give thanks for the new welcomers on the rota
• that the whole congregation will pray and care for each other as well as learn to celebrate our different gifts & personalities
• for new members to join the Pastoral Visiting team, especially men, as well as strength and wisdom for existing members
• for our home & small group meetings and their hosts/ leaders
• for those who visit the bereaved, particularly Alison and Nancy
• the 'Remembering Loved Ones' service on 12 November
• for the work among older people, especially Club 55+
• volunteers who work with children & young people, especially those from troubled backgrounds

Our Community

• for local churches: St Chad's, Trinity, St Mary's, Bethany, Elm Road, St James', All Hallows, Chelwood Baptist, the Salvation Army and St Augustine's
• the uniformed organisations, the Friends of Abney Hall and others who serve the local community on a voluntary basis
• the work of local schools: pupils, teachers & governors as well as those who visit to share the Christian faith. In particular, pray for Kingsway where we hope shortly to re-introduce a Christian Union group

The St Cuthbert's Project

• the rapid completion of the Project in terms of pledges honoured, loans repaid & further gifts received.
• thanksgiving, wisdom & faith for St Mary's Church as they now embark on a major project at The Upper Room.

People

• all who are ill, bereaved, housebound or troubled in any way.
• those who are searching or who have drifted from the faith.
• our Prayer Ministry and Pastoral Visiting Teams as they offer people spiritual and practical help and support.
• all preparing for Baptism, Confirmation or Renewal of Vows.
• Rose Liu shortly to marry Patrick Chi in Malaysia.

Our church

• the Lord's blessing upon the Autumn Programme of activities including special services: the visit of Paul & Sarah Tester + YFC Reflex in October; the Confirmation service in November; the Revelation series in the Evening service
• give thanks for continued growth and new initiatives in our Children's & Youth work, particularly with teenagers
• our new Careforce Workers, Hannah & Rachel as they settle into life here & at St Augustine's, Cheadle Heath
• a new monthly group for men which has been proposed

People

• all who are ill, bereaved, housebound or troubled in any way
• those who are searching or who have drifted from the faith
• our Prayer Ministry and Pastoral Visiting Teams as they offer help both spiritual & practical
• all preparing for Baptism, Confirmation/ Renewal or Marriage
• those who are away at College

A vision for St Cuthbert's
The whole congregation of believers was united as one-one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person's need. Acts 4: 32 - 35

This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
And thank you for the wonder of it.

God be with me in this Your day,
Every day and every way,
With me and for me in this Your day;
And the love and affection of heaven be toward me.
Amen.

May all be welcomed here,
Friend and stranger, from near and far.
May each be blessed and honoured as they enter.
May God the Father be guardian of this place
and bring His peace.
May His love be shared
and His will be found here,
and peace between all people.
Amen.

May the Son of God be Lord in all your ways;
May he shepherd you the length of all your days,
And in your heart may He receive the praise:
This is my prayer for you.

Fellowship with the Suffering Church
(Suffering Church Sunday at St C's is 05 November)
Heavenly Father, We lift to you your suffering children who live with so many different kinds of oppression and persecution for the sake of your name. Please help us to understand their pain. Spur us to deeper love for them, faithful intercession and swifter action on their behalf.

God of hope, while we live in a world which groans under the curse of sin, we know that the church will always have an enemy, Satan. Yet we remember the victory of the Cross. Let us not give up hope in the face of suffering, nor let our own comfort lead us into complacency. God of love, help us to have compassion on those in our Christian family who suffer. Thank you for your promise that one day your Son, the Lord Jesus, will bring justice to His people.

We pray for our fellow believers in Iraq, that you will give them hope in their desperation; for Your children in northern Nigeria, that you will strengthen them to face discrimination and violence; for Christians in Indonesia as they restore their lives following the tsunami and earthquake this year; for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, that You may be their refuge from oppressors.

Lord, we pray that You will refresh and strengthen those who are weak and weary from their struggles. May they know that even while they go through these hard times, You are with them. May we who pray also know Your nearness. Help us to learn from their example of courage, endurance and faithfulness and renew our confidence that You are the Lord of history. Amen