SOUTHPORT UNITING CHURCH          Let’s Pray Together          Nov. 2019

Connecting to the Heart of God, Congregation & Community

Please pray each day for; Pakistani Family, Barbara C, Labrador Gardens, Margaret S, Jeanette H, Liam (9 years old Leukemia), Lynette S, John N, LizMcC, Betty F, Diana S, Thelma A, Bruce B, Billie S, Vivienne W, Glenda R, David & Pam W, John and Joan A, All our friends in nursing homes.

Fri 1 All Saints Day. Father God, we remember with thanks, the faithful who have served before us in our church and pray for those elderly now who need us caring for them.

Sat 2 Lord, hear our prayer for Rev Ian, Pastor Marty, Jill & Cheree who lead us in praise & worship day by day. Bless them with good health, inspiration & encouragement at S.U.C.

Sun 3 Loving God, we pray for the farmers plagued with drought that the encouragement we all give in many ways will support them. Lord, send the rain upon our land to replenish.

Mon 4 Lord, bless our office staff & roster volunteers as we pray for enough support to our ministry & outreach programmes into our community to reach others in the name of Christ.

Tue 5 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Gal.5:25. Lord, I invite your Holy Spirit into my life to guide & bless me. Pray for Crossroads, in our Church tonight.

Wed 6 We give thanks for those who pray faithfully for our mission. Lord stimulate us into prayer. We ask a blessing on our Nurture & Connect Group members in Jesus. Amen

Thur 7 “She began to wash his feet with her tears.” Luke 7:38. Let us serve at the feet of Christ – not forgetting what it is like on the outside. Pray for the homeless & destitute.

Fri 8 Mainly Music 10am. As the toddlers, parents & helpers meet today Lord, we ask you to bring joy & hopefulness into their lives as they share & support each other in love. Amen

Sat 9 Father God, direct us to be generous when charities are seeking our help. Direct us to where funds are needed & where we as a family & church will be generous in Jesus. Amen

Sun 10 4pm Café Church. Lord God, gather us together to share worship, praise & to encourage as we learn of you & go out renewed & refreshed to face our week ahead. Amen

Mon 11 God of comfort, we bring to you the residents of Labrador Gardens & Woodlands Lodge for blessings & support in their daily lives. Bless the staff that cares for them. Amen

Tue 12 4C’s Craft Group. We give thanks to God for Christian fellowship & shared creativity within this group & for the leaders through the years. We pray for the future leaders. Amen

Wed 13 “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke7:48. Be renewed each day in God’s love as you confess any wrongs & be forgiven. Read the story in your Bible & be blessed in Jesus Christ.

Thur 14 Chaplains. Let us together give thanks to God for the work of chaplains in our aged care homes, hospitals & schools. Lord, bless each one & those they support in Jesus’ name.

Fri 15 “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Ps.16:1. In the name of Jesus, our intercessor & support we pray for all with mental health issues. Lord hear their cries. Amen

Sat 16 We pray for our South Moreton Presbytery ministers, youth leaders & all who support our many churches, caring for young & older, from all lifestyles & diverse cultures.

Sun 17 6pm Worship. Creative God, may our congregation join to praise & thank your name & works as friends who have shared this service together over the years in love. Amen

Mon 18 We lift to God survivors of domestic violence with scars, psychological & physical, always with them. May hope, forgiveness, love & restoration bless their paths in Jesus.

Tue 19 We pray for refugees around our world seeking safe haven & new opportunities as they flee oppression in their home countries. We pray for justice & compassion for them.

Wed 20 Let us together pray for children around our world living in poverty, for a better future for them and a knowledge in their lives of our Loving Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Thur 21 Father God, show us how to show love to the unlovely, homeless, raggedy or unruly folk who come into our pathways. Bless our Community Breakfast with your love.

Fri 22 Our World. In quiet prayer, remember the areas of our world undergoing distress; pray for the peoples of Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq, Israel & Palestine. Lord be with them. Amen

Sat 23 Almighty God, we pray in the name of your Son Jesus for each member of our Church Council with important roles of guiding & implementing ministry & supporting us all.

Sun 24 “Keep me as the apple of your eye – hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Ps.17:8. We pray for all Christians around our world who worship our God together, in Christ. Amen

Mon 25 Loving God, we pray for your call upon our new ministry agent for our church in 2020. Bring us together & lead us into the future to work together in your name. Amen

Tue 26 “Whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant.” Mark 10:42. Remind us daily Lord to be humble, grateful & to live thankfully in you. Amen

Wed 27 10am Worship on Wednesday. Loving God, give a special blessing to our small group of worshippers today who come for inspiration, hope & encouragement. Amen

Thur 28 Loving Lord of Compassion we bring to you those laid low in sickness, ongoing health issues, convalescence or recovery from surgery. As we name them, Lord bless them.

Fri 29 We remember all in our hospitals or in palliative care especially praying for those who feel vulnerable, lonely or discouraged. Lord send some joy and encouragement. Amen

Sat 30 Come to God as you are, bringing your concerns, hopes, daily needs, plans & lay them all at his throne of grace. Take time to feel & know his presence as you share. Amen

Circle me O God. Keep hope within, despair without. Keep peace within, keep turmoil out. Keep calm within, keep storms without. Keep strength within, keep weakness out. Amen

Southport Uniting Church                Let’s Pray Together                    Oct. 2019

Please pray for those needing ongoing prayer: Pakistani Family, Barbara C, Labrador Gardens, Margaret S, Rev. Anne W, Jeanette H, Liam (9 years old Leukaemia), Lynette S, John N, LizMcC, Betty F, Diana S, Thelma A, Bruce B, Billie S, Vivienne W, Glenda R, David W,  All our friends in nursing homes.

Tues 1. What does God require? Let us read Psalm 15 & seek to use our words & enact our deeds in a positive way to all we meet today. Pray today & each day this week for the selection and actions of the JNC asking God’s direction in their work here at S.U.C. Amen

Wed 2. “…the church of the living God, the pillar & support of the truth… Jesus.” 1 Tim. 3:15. Let us look to Jesus to give us strength & unity as we pray for our S.U.C. Amen

Thur 3. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” Lam. 3:26. As we gratefully focus on this, we pray for support to all in our families & our church going through difficulties, amen.

Fri 4. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love & of self discipline.” 2 Tim. 1:7. N.I.V. Loving Lord, may our lives be lived positively in love & to serve you. Amen

Sat 5. “Christ Jesus has ended the power of death & through the gospel has revealed immortal life.” 2 Tim 1:10. Let us confess our sin, seek forgiveness & grasp new life in Christ.

Sun 6. Jesus said, “If your brother sins, rebuke him & if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3. Lord, let us not be afraid of constructive criticism & open our hearts to be more forgiving.

Mon 7. Pray this week for: Church Council, Elders, Leaders, Nurture & Connect Groups. Queen’s Birthday. Let us pray for wisdom & God’s blessings in all levels of government: Council, State, Federal & our Queen Elizabeth & the Commonwealth of Nations.  Amen

Tues 8. God says to us, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity & not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” Jer. 29:11. Let us focus on this hope & encourage each other with enthusiasm & joy in our personal & church life. Amen

Wed 9. Lord, enable us to care for the elderly in our community; to visit those not able to attend at SUC & to support our neighbours & family members as we share stories & smiles.

Thur 10. “Whoever says he belongs to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”2 Tim. 2:19. Loving God, in your spirit of grace may we focus on community & reaching others.

Fri 11. “Jesus, Master, take pity on us.” Luke 17:13. May we acknowledge God’s answers to our prayers gratefully, as the 1 leper out of 10 who said thankyou to Jesus. Amen

Sat 12. “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21. Father God, ground us firmly to be living our day to day activities worthy of being in your Kingdom – already around us. Amen

Sun 13. “Praise God with shouts of joy, all people! Sing to the glory of his name, offer him generous praise.” Psalm 66: 1-2. Let us together worship & praise our loving God. Amen.

Mon 14. Pray daily this week for ministries of Rev Ian, Pastor Marty & Jill plus Cheree.

Tue 15. “There is one God & there is one who brings God & mankind together, the man Jesus Christ.” 1 Tim. 2:5. Let us affirm our beliefs, praying for our union in life, with God.

Wed 16. “As for you – continue in the truths that you were taught & firmly believe.”2 Tim. 3:14. Gracious God, we bring to you the Congregations at: 9am, 4pm, 6pm & Wed 10am.

Thur 17. “I solemnly urge you to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it.” 2 Tim. 3:2. Lord, let our lives be examples of living with Christ & our words be true to you. Amen

Fri 18. “The Lord be with your spirit. God’s grace be with you all.” 2 Tim. 4:22. Pray for believers of all generations, Aboriginal church leaders, Christian writers & mentors to us.

Sat 19. “Always pray & never become discouraged.” Luke 18:1. Let us reflect on the seasons of nature & how God is able to focus our wants & wonderfully supply our needs. Amen

Sun 20. Lord, “You answer our prayers. You give us victory & you do wonderful things to save us.” Ps 65:2, 5. Let us live today truly grateful for God’s blessings to us. Amen

Mon 21. Pray each day this week for the homeless, mentally ill & the abused in society.  “Things that are considered of great value by man are worth nothing in God’s sight.” Luke 16:15. Let us discriminate today in the choices we make to think & say & do & follow up.

Tue 22. Read Gen. 32:22-31. Father God, as Jacob wrestled with God, expressing anger, we look to you in difficulties, in our desires & hopes as a church & with the homeless situation.

Wed 23. Spirit of God, show us as a church how to serve the needs of the desperate homeless around us with your compassion & wisdom for now & for a long term solution.

Thur 24. Give thanks for the supply of our Community Breakfast, generous givers, willing organizers & helpers, as we pray for those in need who attend or support in any way. Amen

Fri 25. “I cry out to you Lord, because the pastures & trees are dried up.” Joel 1:19. Father God, forgive our misuse of pasture & pollution of our earth. Show us how to manage better.

Sat 26. “The Lord lets me rest in fields of green grass & leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.” Ps 23: 2. Let us thank God for nurturing our earth, for sunshine, water & needs met.

Sun 27. “Your commandment is with me all the time.” Psalm 119:98. Let us today affirm we are all in the hands of God. Pray for those having changes of home abode or lifestyle. Amen

Mon 28. Pray this week for our Children’s Ministries: Mainly Music & Kids Families 4pm.

Tue 29. “By the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:24. Lord Jesus, focus us on your grace, forgiveness & enable us to live humbly.

Wed 30. “Let the children come to me & do not stop them because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” Luke 19:16. Pray for children in your family or neighbourhood.

Thurs 31. “What is impossible for man is possible for God.” Luke 18:27. Amazing, wise God, I place you in the highest place as I look to live fulfilled in every way, living with you. Amen

 

 

29^th September 2019

 

HORIZONS OF HOPE – BEGINNING IN OCTOBER

 

Dear Friends,

 

Since commencing here in June 2018, I have been greatly encouraged by the wonderful generosity of so many of you – the most recent instance being the raising of $5000 to provide for our new music system Hymnal Plus.  The thought that God wants to grow us in our generosity to others and to his church, is often avoided in the church’s preaching and teaching.  Against this reluctance, the Bible reminds us again and again of the generosity of God towards us in Jesus Christ.  Out of that sense of God’s generosity towards us, I write to you to invite your participation in our forthcoming Program “Horizons of Hope”.

 

Horizons of Hope is a 3-week program over consecutive Sundays in October, whereby we explore together a theme rich in possibilities each Sunday in each of our 3 Sunday Services.

Week 1 – Sunday October 6                         Open Hands

                              Week 2 – Sunday October 13                       Open Hearts

                              Week 3 – Sunday October 20                       Open Horizons – Special Guest David Busch

 

We will conclude our Horizons of Hope program with a special THANKSGIVING SUNDAY on October 27^th.

I hope we can celebrate in each of the above services the good things God has done, is doing and will do!

 

We will be conducting the program over 3 consecutive Sundays for these 2 important reasons, namely:

 

1. Firstly, we need time to pause and consider our giving to the Church and its mission, to consider prayerfully something as personal as giving to God takes time, and 3 weeks gives us the time.

 

2. Secondly, three weeks gives us the opportunity to explore together different aspects of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in today’s world, serving with our hands, hearts and minds. By offering a 3-week program, we hope everyone hears the exciting things God has in store for our Church.

 

Many of us in the past have been part of expensive Stewardship programs with teams visiting every household. Horizons of Hope is not that sort of program!  It is a worship-based program, conducted entirely by us, emphasising what it is to live out the Gospel in today’s world.  I conclude with this thought:

Early this year we named 2019 as the Year of Reconstruction.  I am giving 100% of myself in October, to ensure it becomes not just a Year of Reconstruction – but more importantly the Year of Consolidation.

 

In joy and peace,

Reverend Ian Lord