Prayer Booklet 84
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Booklet 84 of reflection and thoughts for prayer from the Presbytery Prayer Promoters’ Group. As usual, let me graciously remind you that we understand that for some of you, you will have your own prayer guides and ways of approaching God, but we hope that many readers will enjoy these reflections and use them to help guide their thoughts in prayer. Please share these notes as widely as possible, especially where you know someone who has expressed that they struggle with knowing how to pray.
This has been a time of so much news focusing on the health and well-being of our planet in its tiny corner of the Universe. It has also seen continued references to Covid-19 – still very much a pandemic that is creating misery across the world. And still God continues to add His blessings to our lives. We have much to be thankful for. We all have our part to play so let us open our eyes to see the glory of God and be astonished that He still calls on us to serve Him in Jesus’ name – and to be vigilant in prayer. We will continue our meditations this week in Ephesians 3.
For a few weeks – really from now until Christmas – I invite you to join me in reflecting on passages that help us to come to God in worship and thanksgiving . (If anyone has a favourite passage you would like to share with others, if you email me a note of it, I will try to include it with a little reflection over the next few weeks.) As it is our work in Jesus’ name to pray for others, I will continue to add notes at the end of the booklet to encourage prayer for others and for situations – focusing for a while on our Mission Plans in presbytery.
If you would like to comment or have a story you would like to share then feel free to contact me: christistewart@btinternet.com Amen
Sunday, 21st November,, 2021
This Sunday (21st November), Christians across the country – and further afield – will continue to join together in prayer and reflection at 7pm in response to the pandemic.
This week’s letter:
“‘So you are a king?’ We can picture the scene as Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate asks: ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’
“In response, Jesus speaks of a kingdom ‘not from this world’ and ‘not from here’. Pilate, perhaps perplexed, asks: ‘So you are a king?’ (John 18: 33-37)
“In the exchange between Pilate and Jesus, we sense the contrasting understandings of what a ‘king’ will be and what a ‘kingdom’ will look like. We can well imagine that Pilate had a clear understanding of what these were at that time.
“However, when faced by a Jesus whose kingdom is ‘not from this world’, Pilate struggles to comprehend how he might be a ‘king’.
“Nevertheless, in time, Pilate will crucify: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’. (John 19: 19)
“The Jesus who is present before Pilate is a King whose Kingdom is to come and is already present in his life lived out in this world.
“We respond in faith to the King who is present in our midst, crowned with thorns and robed in purple, and pray that the Kingdom will come…”
We pray:
Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As a King whose kingdom is not from this world.
May we respond to His presence
With faith and trust as we pray for the kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As the One whose very life is a sign of the kingdom.
May we recognise the signs of the kingdom in our midst
And live as those who await its coming with expectation.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As a King whose reign resembles not the rulers of this world.
May we follow in His way
And seek to live in the light of His coming kingdom.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As the bearer of truth and as the light of the world.
May Christ the King reign amongst His people
And His way be known to all who seek Him in spirit and in truth.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Monday 22nd November, 2021
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
Reflect: If we look at this passage as a whole, it is a wonderful mixture of the sovereignty and glory of God, bound together in our lives by his eternal love and grace. It is also a reminder that when we choose to worship him in love and service as a response to who He is, we do so – not in our own strength – but in His awesome power. This is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is this same power that we experience by the knowledge given to us by the Holy Spirit who is God in us through Jesus.
Pray: Thank you God. You will enable us to do what you ask of us. May we trust you more and more each day. Amen
Tuesday 23rd November, 2021
“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Reflect: Can I suggest lovingly that you pause and meditate on these words? ‘…this love that surpasses knowledge’. If you don’t fully understand it, that’s okay. After all it is a love beyond anything we can know as human beings, just as we have a very incomplete understanding of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
However, at the very least we are able to rejoice in the fact that God does love us, and Jesus carried our sins to the cross as evidence of such love – so that we could have a relationship with God as his sons and daughters. Jesus knew this. Remember His words in John 10:10 & 11, “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The Love of God is about giving us a new and more complete dimension to our lives. May we learn to live life to the full with Christ Jesus as Saviour and Friend and let us give Him thanks…
Pray: God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we thank you that you are divinely three in one and truly we cannot separate you. Help us to respond with gladness to your awesome love, which was given to us when we did not deserve it and to know that as Jesus is our Saviour and Friend, so the Holy Spirit is our Helper in all aspects of worship, life and service. Amen
Wednesday 24th November, 2021
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,”
Reflect: I wonder if the best way to help us to understand this is to share other verses of scripture that demonstrate the truth of these words. Please take time to draw them into your heart and soul and rejoice in God who loves us. There are many hundreds of such verses:
- “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
- Great is our Lord and mighty in power;his understanding has no limit. (Psalm 147:5)
- God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
- The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)
- So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10
Pray: Sovereign Lord, we confess that sometimes the mysteries of faith are daunting. Help us to simply trust you. Help us to have faith to believe what is revealed in your word and in Jesus and to know that we are never alone. Amen
Thursday 25th November, 2021
“…according to his power that is at work within us,”
Reflect and pray: I think I already mentioned that we are being blessed to run two Alpha courses at the moment in Church at Dundonald. One is on-line and one is as a group that actually meets in person. It occurs to me that we are very dependent on the power of electricity and the internet to keep the on-line course running smoothly. I know because my lap-top keeps buffering. I now sit in the hall where my router is and this lessens the risk of that happening. In other words I have to stay close to the source to manage the Alpha course properly.
The same is true in our walk of faith through life.
We really do need to stay close to the source of the Power that guides and guards us. When we do, we can achieve wonderful things in His name. Often, we don’t even realise what we achieve when we are faithful to his call on our lives. I know there have been occasions when I have heard years later after a situation that it has had an impact for good on someone’s life. I am sure that means there are other situations that I never hear about.
When we obey the Lord in response to His voice, the outcome of the work is in His hands.
Pray: Father God, we thank you that we find in you all that we need. You love us, you comfort us, you teach us and you call us. Grant us your help by the Holy Spirit within us to understand that the power to worship and serve is rooted in the salvation given to us by Jesus, your Son. Amen
Friday 26th November, 2021
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ”
Reflect and Pray: On Saturday the 13th November, I suggested you take time to ponder the words with which Jesus closed the prayer we know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. “For thine is the kingdom, The power and the glory, For ever and ever.” AMEN
Look at how closely the conclusion to Paul’s prayer resembles this. Perhaps this encourages us to take heart about all that we do in worship and service of our Lord. It is for his glory. We are his people, his church and working to bring Him glory is in our hands… We may feel inadequate for the task; we may know we are imperfect human beings; we may sense at times that we fail but God never fails, and He has chosen us. Let us remember the words of Jesus to His disciples and to all those who would follow after: “20 ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – “ John 17:20-22
Pray: Gracious God, thank you for your endless patience with us. As part of your church we cannot see how you can find any glory in the Church, save that of the salvation freely given by Jesus. Help us to put you first in all things that we might show you to those around us, and that many might be drawn to worship you, in Jesus’ name and for His sake. Amen
Saturday 20th November, 2021
SOME CHURCH DETAILS FOR PRAYER PURPOSES (Repeated)
I have written the churches in their groupings mainly as assigned by plan A in the Mission Development Plan, simply for a way of assigning them to prayer. (Some are still linked as they are currently -as I used the yearbook. Also, I have no intention to pre-empt decisions still to be made). In each group I have named the Area Grouping Convener/Secretary. Please pray for them and everyone involved in discussions. I suggest we all pray the Lord’s Prayer over them plus other words of scripture. Take time and make your requests fervently and earnestly to God for His will to be done in these very difficult days for the church and the Testimony of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power and the glory,
For ever and ever. AMEN
- Pray for the Convener and Secretary of each area group that they will find God’s grace to them sufficient for the task.
- Pray for all who attend any meetings that each will look on the other with understanding, and that anger and bitterness will have no place as people honestly strive to understand the issues and present their situation honestly and openly.
- Pray that all will seek God’s will to fulfil the commission given by Jesus to reach out to others in His name
- Pray that care will be taken to keep the light of Christ shining brightly and strongly across our Presbytery
- Pray God’s grace on all who serve on the Mission Committee
- Pray that ministers currently in service will not be driven from their calling by sheer physical exhaustion; that they will not be over-extended; that they will not be in a situation where they are forced to withdraw from mission activities already in place where these are successfully reaching and touching the lives of many and drawing them to Jesus.
- Pray that people will keep their eyes firmly focused on the Lord, and that congregations will still choose to worship even where there could be sadness about the effect on their area, and the ‘fate’ of church buildings
- Let no-one make decisions for the sake of man’s approval – only to fulfil God’s will.
- Pray for the Mission Development Committee – that they will be able to focus on helping churches to build Mission and Outreach with new initiatives; new additional posts and new funding ideas.
- PRAY FOR REVIVAL ACROSS OUR NATION.
North Area Grouping (Rev Dr S McKenna/Mrs L Rankin)
“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
“As for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
Craigie Symington/Prestwick South
Minister: Rev Kenneth Elliott; OLM: Rev Tom McLeod; Session Clerk: Mrs Doreen Tait (CS); Alan Moir (PS)
Dundonald
Minister: Rev Lynsey Brennan; Session Clerk: Bob Stewart
Monkton & Prestwick North – Locum: Rev Stewart Birse; I.M. Rev Brian Hendrie; Session Clerk: Pending
Prestwick: Kingcase
Minister: Rev Ian Wiseman; Session Clerks: Alastair McIntyre & Libby Syme
Prestwick: St Nicholas
I.M. Rev David Gemmell; Locum: Rev Fraser Aitken; Session Clerk: Margaret McIntosh.
Troon: Old
Minister: Rev David Prentice-Hyers; Session Clerk: Andrew Fell
Troon: Portland
I.M. Bill Duncan; Locum: Rev Mary Elizabeth Prentice-Hyers; Session Clerk: John Reid
Troon: St Meddans
I.M. Rev James Hogg; Locum: Rev Andrew McGurk; Session Clerk: Elaine Rodger
May God sustain them and enable them to work in harmony to the glory of His name.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” John 14:27
Central Area Grouping (Rev Mandy Ralph/Paula Lennox)
“Trust in the Lord forever…the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:4
Alloway: Minister: Rev Neil McNaught;
Session Clerk: Eric Ness;
Ayr: The Auld Kirk
Minister: Rev David Gemmell; Session Clerk: Kate Lockhart
Ayr: Castlehill
Minister: Rev Paul Russell; Session Clerk: Douglas Owens
Ayr: Newton Wallacetown
I.M. and Locum: Rev Rona Young; Session Clerk: John Bell
Ayr: St Andrews
Minister: Rev Stanley Okeke; Session Clerk: Ian Lamberton
Ayr: St James
Minister: Rev Barbara Suchanek-seitz; Session Clerk: Bill Mackie
Ayr: St Columba
Minister: Rev Dr Scott McKenna; Session Clerk: Robert Bartholomew
Ayr: St Quivox
Minister: Rev John McCutcheon; Session Clerk: David McMahon
Ayr: St Leonard’s/ Dalrymple
Minister: Rev Brian Hendrie; Session Clerk: David Murdoch (St L) David Cottrell (D)
May God sustain them and enable them to work in harmony to the glory of His name.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
East Area Grouping (Rev Paul Russell/Dr David Lewis)
“… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Annbank/Tarbolton
Minister: Rev Mandy Ralph; Session Clerks: Mrs Audrey Brown (A) and Mrs Maureen McNae (T)
Auchinleck/Catrine
Minister: Rev Stephen Clipston; Session Clerk: Molly Sunter (A) Pending (C)
Coylton/Drongan
Minister: Rev Dr Alwyn Landman; Session Clerk: Anne Howat (C) Margaret Clarke/Anne Hope (D)
Mauchline/Sorn
Minister: Rev Allan Vint; Session Clerks: Mrs Kirsty Murray (M) and Mrs Christeen Dunlop (S)
New Cumnock
Minister: I.M. and Locum Rev Ken Yorke; Session Clerk: Morag Ferrans
Ochiltree/Stair
Locum and I.M. Rev George Fiddes; Session Clerk: Isabell Montgomerie (O); Mrs Ghislaine Kennerly (S)
Muirkirk/Old Cumnock Trinity
I.M. Rev Alwyn Landman; Locum: Rev Scott Daily; Session Clerk: Sylvia Gallacher (M) Kay Mitchell (OCT)
Old Cumnock: Old/Lugar
Minister: Rev John Paterson; Session Clerk: Ian Ronald (OC); Pending (L)
South Area Grouping (Rev Dr A Vint/Mr Gordon MacDonald)
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Ballantrae/ St Colmon
Minister: Rev Theo Corney; Session Clerk: Claire Strain (B) Lynne McIlwraith (St C)
Barr/Dailly/Girvan South
I.M. and Locum: Rev Edgar Ogston; Session Clerk: Sharon Trotter (B) Ronald Turnbull (D) Ken Johnstone (GS)
Girvan North
I.M. James Anderson; Locum: Glenn Ronald; Session Clerk (acting): Ian Fitzsimmons
Crosshill/Maybole
Interim Moderator: Rev Paul Russell; Locum: Rev John Lochrie; Session Clerk: Pending (C) Lynne Rankin (M)
Fisherton/Kirkoswald
Locum and I.M. Rev David Hume; Session Clerk: Elspeth Carter (F); Elizabeth Veitch (K)
Dalmellington/Patna Waterside
Interim Moderator: Pending; Pastoral assistant: Barbara Jenkinson Session Clerk: Jean Barclay (D); Gordon McCrone (PW),
Kirkmichael/Straiton
Minister: Rev Gerald Jones; Session Clerk: Janet McFadzean (K); Margaret Logan (S)
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 AMEN
Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.” Corrie Ten Boom
Other prayer Points might include:
- Thanking God for all those who surrounded the COP 26 talks with prayer and praise.
- Thanking God for peaceful protests and almost two weeks of calm and commitment to being heard in a largely peaceful way
- Wisdom that has been shared and positive negotiations already in place
- Pray against meaningless rhetoric and disruption and false promises
- Pray that more will recognise and own that God is Sovereign
May we also pray for all delegates, that they will return from the conference with goodwill and determination to take care of God’s creation – whatever their spiritual or secular beliefs.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7
COVID 19
Continue in all your many prayers for God to assist humanity in finding a cure for this awful, devastating illness Amen
- Father we thank you for all knowledge revealed to our scientists and medical people who have worked tirelessly to find ways of controlling and preventing this pandemic of Covid-19. Continue to open their understanding to find new and more complete answers.
- We thank you for all doctors and nurses who are by now exhausted but still striving to bring healing to those who suffer. Comfort them in those dreadful occasions when they ‘lose’ someone they have been nursing.
- We pray that room will be found in hospitals for all those who need urgent help for other conditions. We also pray that they will be kept safe and free from the virus whilst in hospital.
- Sovereign Lord, you know that the virus is rife in schools and that it spreads like wildfire there amongst staff and pupils – and then into the community around. Lord grant knowledge, understanding and appropriate behaviour patterns to reduce the impact of this illness.
- We pray for all those with decision-making powers in government. Grant them wisdom and grace to make the best decisions; help them to know when to take stronger action to promote safety and well-being.
- Lord God, show those with authority how to make wise financial decisions without bad impacts on those who seriously need support to find basic shelter, food, and heating.
- Compassionate God, comfort those who have lost loved ones, not only through Covid but also other illnesses. Thank you that there is a day coming when we will all be together in your presence. Amen