Prayer

Pray Without Ceasing

February 5th 2012

This week please remember:

as we observe Education Sunday, we give thanks for teachers in all our schools, pre-schools and colleges; for their enthusiasm and the hard work they invest in the young people they teach: praying that with God's help they may transform their place of work and their relationships through the way they teach
to praise God for Christian parents and grandparents who nurture the next generation, praying that they may love without condition, set boundaries with wisdom and find support and encouragement along the way
the blessing we received at the Vision Day on Saturday; praying that we may take on board the insights and encouragements offered and the invitation to wait on the Lord trusting him to lead us forward, "onward and outward", to share his grace and generosity
peoples in nations in turmoil - Syria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan and in the Middle East - praying for protection for Christians and wisdom for church leaders, seeking reconciliation and peaceful political solutions
that "the pursuit of love and justice should set the political, economic and social agenda" for Government: please pray that Christians and other Members of wisdom and compassion in Parliament may yet effectively persuade a "morally disabled" Government to accept proposed amendments to its Welfare Reform Bill and so safeguard the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our society ( see www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16218)
to give thanks for and support the quiet steady work of those who offer a welcome and hospitality in our Church Centre, attend to the maintenance of the building and its facilities, enhance worship with flowers, visual aids and music; and to ask "Lord, what can I offer....?"

January 29th 2012

This week please remember:

how God graciously guides the life and work of this worshipping community, praising Him for wisdom given those who explore and respond to His vision and plan for our future work and witness; where He leads may we all follow with humility, courage and joy
the victims of "ethnic cleansings" that have been perpetrated on millions of our fellow human beings in recent years and even now; praying that hearts and minds may be cleansed of all hateful prejudice and filled with God's all-inclusive love and compassion
to give thanks for every sign of God's generosity and kindness and everyone through whom these blessings come to us: "name them one by one" and give Him the glory and praise
giving thanks for our dedicated Health and Social Services, to pray for all who are trying to make them more responsive to the needs of the sick and needy in a true spirit of loving service
all entrusted with keeping our community safe - from flood (planning new defences) or disease (securing clean water supply) or accident (maintaining streets and roads) or crime (policing our localities) giving thanks for all working professionally or voluntarily for the common good
Our local preachers and worship leaders faithfully proclaiming God's Word and leading his people week by week in our Area's churches; we give thanks for their dedication and delight in so doing to the glory and praise of God and the building up of the Church

January 22nd 2012

This week please remember:

with joyful thanksgiving, God's faithfulness to His covenant with us (the New Covenant in Christ) and our renewal of promises to trust and gladly obey Him in every aspect of our personal and church life; praying for clear Vision of where He is leading us as we review Our Calling on Vision Day 4th February
our Family Committee meeting on Monday evening reviewing the work and witness of all our organisations and activities and their healthy development this new year
The Methodist Church in Fiji where the Government is still restricting freedom of worship and association of many congregations (see RECORDER 19/01/12)
several friends recovering from or enduring illness or therapy; pray that they may know God's peace and put their trust in him
Christian Aid, MRDF, Tearfund and their partners responding to emergencies in India (Cyclone Thane in Tamil Nadu), Haiti (rebuilding Haiti a year after the catastrophic earthquake) and the needs of 1000s of refugees from famine and war in Somalia and Southern Sudan (see RECORDER 19/01/12)
to give thanks for the courage and persistence of Nigerian Methodist Church leaders and their Muslim colleagues seeking reconciliation, peace and justice in the face of violent Islamist terrorism; pray too for the NHCP Trustees visiting Nigeria next month (see RECORDER 19/01/12)
to praise God for "Messy Church" and the keenness of both the ecumenical steering group and children/families taking part
advocates for fairness for all in receipt of benefits who may be seriously penalised by the Welfare Reform Bill now being debated in Parliament; praying that the widespread Christian concern (reported in the RECORDER 19/01/12) may guide our law-makers to act justly and compassionately.

January 15th 2012

This week please remember:

throughout the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to give thanks for fellowship and working with all Christians in our town and area, showing that in Christ we are a new creation and that change is at the heart of our Christian faith
many local communities here facing serious problems of employment (closure of Alcan compounds the distress of closure of Ellington Colliery 7 years ago!): pray for churches responding in practical ways to present need and future opportunities
to reflect deeply upon our Vision and upon how our Aim "To Make Christ visible in the world" can better be achieved in and by Morpeth Methodist Church
the parliamentary Welfare Reform Bill debate about changing from Disability Living Allowance to "Personal Independence Payment": the Government's response to the DLA consultation is highly misleading and enactment of the Bill could lead to impoverishment of 1000s of genuinely sick and disabled people
to give thanks for new willingness of the military government of Fiji to talk with the Methodist Church in Fiji: pray that the severe restrictions laid upon the MCF may be speedily lifted and freedom of worship, fellowship and service restored to the Church
to share this prayer with Revd Peter Barber (Methodist Prayer Handbook Day 11):
Gracious God whose ways are not our ways,
whose measure of success is not who comes first, second or third,
but how the bereaved, the parentless, the poor and the stranger fare,
teach us to see with the eyes of your kingdom,
to value all as made in your image and likeness,
and to seek to live, not according to the criteria of the world,
but by the ways of your kingdom of love and justice for all, Amen.

January 8th 2012

Pray without Ceasing....through 2012

This is the METHODIST RECORDER (05/01/12) headline for the New Year Message of the President of Conference Rev Leo Osborn :

"MAKING THE CONNECT(X)ION"

"It seems to me," he writes, "that connectedness is one of the geniuses of Methodism.....Many have discovered how they feel part of something bigger, in which their particular contribution is valued and affirmed and from which they receive insight and wisdom from others......."

He goes on to recommend as "one of our better New Year resolutions" a regular prayer-slot every day, providing an opportunity to connect and share that connectedness with all the thousands of others doing the same - "the best antidote to feeling you're on your own there is!.........not least because we have the resources at our fingertips in our own excellent METHODIST PRAYER HANDBOOK."

So here's a NEW YEAR RESOLUTION worthy of all our commitment as we make our Covenant with God today. Along with daily Bible reading, let the Methodist Prayer Handbook be our regular aid to prayer for the Church at home and around the world. It's prayer that makes and maintains our "Connexion" with God and all that He loves.

Bind us together, Lord, in love, peace and trust.

Build us together, Lord, in spirit, faith and truth.

Unite us, so that together in your strength

and following your Holy Spirit,

we may work for your Kingdom

as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

from the Methodist Prayer Handbook 2012, page 5.

December 25th 2011

In this darkest time of our year (or our life)

we give praise and thanks to God for the Light of the world, our Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom is life - life that is light to be lived by: the light that shines in the darkness but the darkness has never overcome it (John 1.4,5)
we pray for Christians in Syria and exiled Iraqi Christians there too, suffering violence at the hands of both government and protesters; by God's grace may they be apostles of peace and agents of reconciliation
we give thanks for the release on bail from prison of the teacher from Kamuzinda High School and pray with the church there that a fair trial may justly acquit him
we rejoice in the bright faces and voices of young and old alike raised in grateful, wondering praise of "our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man" (Charles Wesley)
for light welcoming homeless people from the cold streets of our cities into the warmth and hospitality of churches, night shelters and even some homes to share in a Christmas feast
we welcome news that the Prime Minister of Fiji has said his (military) Government is willing to talk to the Methodist Church; pray that the long stand-off in relations may end and the rights of Fijian Methodists to practise their faith freely may be respected and protected according to law
at the gate of a New Year we hear the invitation to "put your hand into the hand of God; that shall be better than a light and safer than a known way" (M. Louise Haskins 1875-1957)

December 18th 2011

This Advent season we remember:

Jim Kirsopp and family mourning the death of Emma, giving thanks for her long life of Christian faith and witness
friends undergoing medical or surgical treatment - Jim and Mike among them - and others confined to Nursing or Care Homes: that all may know the presence and healing power of Jesus coming through the hands and hearts of all who love and serve them, especially over the Christmas Season
Pastor Daniel's feeding and poor relief programme at Kamuzinda, Uganda, giving thanks that we were able this month to contribute towards meeting the essential needs of these neighbours of ours; praying too for generosity towards families in need in our own communities
as in imagination and worship we travel to the Holy Land we can make this our prayer: (Day 15 in Methodist Prayer Handbook 2011-12)
Lord Jesus Christ, you lived under Roman occupation; we pray for all who live under occupation today.
You had nowhere to lay your head; we pray for all who have lost their homes through demolition or eviction.
You prayed for your oppressors; we pray for soldiers and police, for administrators and those in government, that they may dispense justice with mercy.
You preached the gospel of peace and justice; we pray for Israeli, Palestinian and international peace keepers and peace makers, especially the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.
We pray that all who live in the Holy Land - Israeli, Palestinian, Christian, Jew and Muslim - may learn that it is only through sacrifice that peace will come. Amen. (Elizabeth Burroughs, ecumenical accompanier 2006 and 2008/2009)

December 11th 2011

This Advent season we remember:

joyfully to praise God for the light that has come into the world, the Light of life, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and that He calls us to be witnesses to that Light - at home, at work, in our everyday life - shining in the world's darkness like beacons pointing to "the Son [who] is the radiance of God's glory.....His being......His word" (Hebrews 1.3)
several members who are or have been in hospital; giving thanks for the skill of medical and nursing staff and the support of family and friends in anxious times
the promises made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, praying that rich nations will repent of their self-interest and respond to the imminent threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in poorer countries
with thanksgiving all who work for peace in Central Africa, especially in the political aftermath of the D.R. Congo elections and the repression of human rights in ostensibly stable nations like Uganda and Kenya
Barnabas Safe and Sound bringing help and hope to young people in need of friendship, focus and a fresh start in life: and pray that God will provide the resources needed
to give thanks for all who make our church a warm, welcoming place for everyone who enters - a beautiful sanctuary resounding with all kinds of music, fragrant with the incense of prayer and the attractive and appetising aroma of hospitality!

December 4th 2011

This Advent season we remember:

that this is a time of preparation for Christmas, yes, and also for Christ‘s coming again as King and Judge, for he said, "Look, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay everyone for what has been done" (Revelation 22.12). Lord, have mercy.
dear friends recently bereaved, especially Maureen Robson and family; and Peter Gardner; and others known to us, that they may all find deep solace in the all-encompassing love of God
that 1st December was World AIDS Day and we give thanks for progress in research and treatment of HIV/AIDS bringing hope and healing to millions of sufferers throughout the world; and pray that good nutrition, community hygiene as well as retroviral drugs may be available to all through campaigns by e.g., LEPRA and the Nigeria Health Care Project (NHCP) [Please read about NHCP on back page of the RECORDER 1/12/2011]
the Citizens Advice Bureau and Northumberland Credit Union helping anxious clients manage their finances and avoid debt at a time when employment is uncertain and spending may be unwise as basic family needs take priority
people in countries where the "Arab Spring" brings even more repression - as in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - especially Christian communities often misunderstood for their advocacy of peaceful, not violent, protest
all the joyful Carol Services and celebrations of the Coming of Jesus in schools as well as in church; praying that the amazing truth of God's love may come home to us all, His Spirit preparing the way for Him in our hearts.