Author: southport.master

Southport Uniting Church            Let’s Pray Together               January 2019

“Connecting with the Heart of God, Congregation, Community”

Please pray for those needing ongoing prayer: Pakistani Family, Barbara C Labrador Gardens, Family of Dorothy R, Rev. Dona, Gladys P, Margaret S, Rev. Anne W, Jill M, Thelma B, David W, Lynette S, Helen, All our Friends in Nursing Homes.

 

Week 1. 1-6. Gratefulness & Thanks. By the grace of God we are entering the gate of a new year. Let us give Him thanks & enter in joyful anticipation of the blessings ahead & the challenges they bring. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen

Reflect on the goodness of God in our bounteous earth with His amazing ongoing creation, including ourselves. Give thanks for daily blessings in needs met. Amen

Father God, Thankyou for the inspirations of Scripture. Read Psalm 36 5-10 as it encourages us on our life journey. May the Lord be your shepherd (Psalm 23.)

“I will tell of your goodness. I will speak of your salvation though it is more than I can understand. I will praise your sovereign hand.” This prayer of the Psalmist in Psalm 71:15-16 urges us to lift our focus up to God & give Him the glory & honour due. May we join in praying this prayer together, through Jesus our Lord. Amen

 

Week 2. 7-13. Forgiveness & Renewal. Loving God, wash us again in the forgiveness of your Son Jesus, as we confess our failings. Touch us with your holiness – so we can be ready for your leading & call to minister. Amen

Lord of the ages – past, present & future – may we learn from our mistakes & be ready to see the needs around us with the compassion of Christ. As a church send us headlong into the wonders that this future year ahead holds, together. Amen

The promise of hope, peace, joy & love we gratefully received at Christmas warms our hearts & lives. May the Christ child’s love stay with us into 2019. We hold out our hands to receive with thanks. Pray for your own family into this New Year.

 

Week 3. 14-20. Grace in God – Guidance in the Holy Spirit. Through the mystery of the Holy Spirit, Loving God, you come to us. Make your home in our hearts to catch a glimpse of your majesty & as your servants, be part of your kingdom, here on earth.

Creator God, help me today to be satisfied where you have placed me & to brighten the lives of those around me with the love of Jesus. In His blessed name, Amen.

“O Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world.” Psalm 8:1. We thank God for cultural diversity, love shared in families & communities, human endurance & capability & for life itself. Take time to ponder on the blessings God bestows.

Loving God, some journeys this year will be familiar, some new, while some endeavours will be long & tedious. Enable us Lord, each one, to be strong in your power & love. Show us how to walk humbly through life with you. Amen

 

Week 4. 21 -27. Using Our Gifts. Pray for our Ministers, Church Council, Leaders & our Congregation.  Spend some time in prayer for what this year may bring to us as a church; where God is leading, what He asks of you & how we will work together.

Thank God for your own abilities & special gifts & talents He has given you. As we share them with each other we are blessed. In commitment focus on your own Christian walk, ups & downs of the past, how you are led now & into the future.

We pray for our ministers, Pastor Jon & Rev Ian as they lead us & preach God’s message. Lord God, give them inspiration & strength to guide & encourage us all.

Lord Jesus, our Saviour from Bethlehem, hear our prayer for a blessing on our Church Council members, Church Leaders & Elders, in their roles & positions this new year.

Father God, as a Nation we are proud of our Multi Cultural heritage, so we pray as this year’s Australia Day comes, that we may support, respect & encourage those who are different to us, all faiths or cultures, & use our resources to be generous to the needy as well as to those who are new to our country. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Week 5. 28-31. Community. Ministries in Outreach. Loving God, you have placed us in a community. We pray today for the community where we live & worship with our neighbours & friends. We pray for the community of Southport CBD, where we are.

Father God, we bring before you in prayer, the residents of our nursing homes. Touch their lives with a wholeness in their later years with healing, compassion & care in their many & varied daily needs. We pray for the elderly who are lonely & live alone.

Pray for our Outreach Ministries; Community Breakfast, 4C’s Craft, Uniting Friends, Youth Group, Mainly Music, 4pm Café Church, Crossroads, Prayer & Nurture Groups.

God of faithfulness & justice, in our plenty, we pray for those in need. We pray for those in violent situations, in poverty, homeless, in distress or persecution. Our world needs restoration & balance – show us how to play our part & reach the needy. Amen

Southport Uniting Church                Let’s Pray Together                    Dec. 2018

BLESSINGS TO ALL FOR A LOVING CHRISTMAS AS WE CELEBRATE CHRIST HERE ON EARTH WITH US. Please pray daily for: Pakistani Family, Barbara Craig Labrador Gardens, Dorothy Rae Labrador Gardens, Rev. Dona, Gladys Peck, Margaret Smekel, Rev. Anne Wright, Jill Moore.

Sat 1 Almighty God, may we together offer a hand of friendship to all, to share our ministry in the community, being your church where we’ll build each other up in fellowship. Amen

Sun 2 Gracious God, as we begin meeting for worship at new times: 9AM & 6PM, humble us to be grateful for abundant blessings & open our hearts to change, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mon 3 Together we pray for our ministers, Rev Ian & Pastors Jon & Lorin as they lead us through Advent into the glorious celebration of Christ’s birth.  Lord, bless and lead them.

Tue 4 Our Father God, forgive our sins & foolishness as we acknowledge our sinfulness.   Re- shape us in your love & forgiveness, through Jesus your Son, our Redeemer & Lord. Amen.

Wed 5 Humbly we pray for our Uniting Friends Group, meeting today, that friendship, care & shared fellowship will permeate each one attending, being  blessed in the Holy Spirit.

Thur 6 Father God, encourage us to give generously towards the gift bags being packed for our Community Breakfast recipients to receive later this month. Bless the leaders choosing & preparing items for them.  We give thanks for the many volunteers & helpers there.

Fri 7 Lord Jesus Christ, our loving Saviour, we bring in prayer all families in Mainly Music, their leaders & helpers, for a blessing of Christmas Joy, peace & love, in your blessed name.

Sat 8 Let us together pray for the elderly residents of Labrador Gardens/Woodlands Lodge. May the joy of Jesus lift their spirits as they celebrate this happy season with Christmas love.

Sun 9 Loving Father God, strengthen & bless our chaplains in Aged Care, especially Rev Afu  & Thelma at Labrador Gardens /Woodlands Lodge. We give thanks for their ministry. Amen

Mon 10 Pray today for our Christmas & New Year services & celebrations, with thankful hearts for our gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ. May we generously support the Christmas Bowl Appeal through Act for Peace, to help communities around our world who are underprivileged or in need. Lord give us generous hearts & bless the projects. Amen.

Tue 11 “Now remains Faith, Hope & Love, but the greatest of these is Love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13. Loving God, whatever we give & share this Christmas, enable it to be in Christ’s love.

Wed 12 Holy Spirit, hear our prayer for all who mourn or are sad at the thought of Christmas. May your touch of love be a comfort & bring hope to them. Pray for the Blue Christmas gatherings held today at 1pm & 6.30pm. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Thur 13 Together we thank God for the ministry & mission here at Southport Uniting. We are grateful for opportunities to share in worship, fellowship & prayer & for our leaders.

Fri 14 Father God, we lift in prayer all the teenagers finishing school this year & facing the future to work, study, train or support others. Lord guide & bless them with support. Amen

Sat 15 Lord, hear our prayer for children at risk; may better & safer pathways be mapped out & also for other vulnerable folk in our society. We pray for healing & care for the future.

Sun 16 Loving God we ask a blessing on foster parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles plus neighbours who support families in their parenting roles. Give thanks for your own family.

Mon17 We praise & thank God for the joy of music & the talents of those who sing or play. Inspire us as we enjoy the loved Christmas songs & carols, sharing Christmas messages.

Tue 18 In prayer we bring to God our hospital staff who at this busy time are constantly in demand. Lord sustain them. Bless our police on duty in our communities, keeping us safe.

Wed 19 Thankyou God for the generous sharing & caring of our dedicated Community Breakfast team offering support to the needy each Thursday morning. Bless each worker, seeing the hungry renewed, needs filled & love in the name of Jesus being shared. Amen

Thur 20 Community Breakfast Christmas Party. Father God, bless each one attending today as your Holy Spirit works among the group enjoying a Christmas Breakfast, gifts to share & fun to join in with others. Thank you for the relief of loneliness & for friendships made.

Fri 21 Let us give thanks for the blessings of having young people in our congregation. Father God, bless our Youth Group members & their leaders in the name of Jesus Christ.

Sat 22 Childrens’ Christmas Pageant. Creative Loving God, bless each young person presenting tomorrow at 5pm, this modern take on the Christmas Story. Bless all attending.

Sun 23 As we approach Christmas Day let us pray for our world – that God’s peace will replace turmoil & hurt brought about by war, terror or racism. Lord show me to care, amen.

Mon 24 Thankyou Almighty God for Jesus, sent from his Heavenly home to give himself humbly for us  Celebrate His birth day with His love, joy, peace & hope for our world. Amen

Tues 25 “There is born to you this day in the City of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord…. Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:11, 14. May our attitudes, speech & actions today reflect the joy of welcoming Jesus into our lives. Amen

Wed 26 Creative God, we pray for all families holidaying here on our Gold Coast as well as local families enjoying school holidays. Keep them safe on the roads, beaches & parks.

Thur 27 Let us pray today for those having difficulties in daily life, especially those with dementia, mental health issues, Disabilities or estranged from family & friends. Amen

Fri 28 May our Church make a difference for Christ in our community as we learn to be good listeners & use our spiritual gifts within our church and in our homes & neighbourhoods.

Sat 29 Lord, bless our church congregation as we share our faith walks. We pray for Uniting Care, Wesley Mission Qld services & staff in our South Moreton Presbytery. Amen

Sun 30 Let us together give thanks for our year of 2018; for provision of food, shelter, clothing, social gatherings, friends & family. Give thanks for the gift of salvation in Jesus.

Mon 31 As our year concludes reflect on Jesus’ words, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind & heart. And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives, so don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27. Blessings for a Happy New Year to share with loved ones.