Thursday 1^st  As a new month begins, let’s pause to reflect on the

month which is behind us. Gracious Lord, thank You for Your

Presence and for answering our prayers, not always as we have

wished, but in line with Your will and purpose for us. Keep us

close to You in the days ahead.

Help us, dear Father, to put You first in our lives. So often we don’t

do what You ask, and this takes us away from all that You have

planned for us. Help us to obey Your commandments.

Thank You for the gift and privilege of prayer, Lord. As a few of us

gather this morning to give You thanks for Your faithfulness and

bring before You the needs of our Church and community, give us

believing hearts and deepen our fellowship.

Richly bless too Gail and Jamie who will make their marriage vows

in our Church this afternoon. May the service be specially

meaningful to all who gather.

Jesus, Lord of Your Church, be present in every gathering of Your

people for worship today. Fill our friend Rev Ivan Warwick                                             

with Your Spirit as he takes the services in Keiss and in Canisbay

today. Prompt your people to attend and bless each of us richly.

Merciful God, we cry to You for the people of Somalia in their    

deep need. We have seen their faces on our TV screens and have

been moved. How much more must their plight cause You grief!

Please give to each of these Your children comfort, courage, help.

Strengthen those who give practical help. Help us not to forget!

Almighty Father, please give to Esme all needed help as she

moderates the meeting this evening. Thank You for the honour this

position bestows on our own congregation. May the worship and

the business be pleasing to You and for the benefit of the Church in

Caithness

 Gracious God, we pray for Lyall and Isabel as they enjoy a well

 

God of Nature and all beauty, thank You for our Flower Festival

which was again such a success. We praise You for the skill and

commitment of Carol, Helen and Rosemary and for Christine’s

leadership of the whole event. Thank You for all who were blessed

by memories of crofting days and by the beauty of the displays.

 

Serving Lord, we thank You for Jean and her team who worked so

hard and cheerfully to provide refreshments for such a large

number of visitors each day and for the help given by the members

of our Youth Group. Thank You for the generous giving in Church

and Hall to support the designated Charities.

Glorify Your Name, Lord! Bless Your people as we gather in Your

house today. Grant a special blessing on Rev John McPhee as he

conducts our service. May every thought be pure and wholesome

and glorifying to You.

 for granted, and to use our lives for Your service, even in the little

 

 Heavenly Father, so often it is not the big problems in our lives that

 cause us to lose sight of You, but rather the irritating things

 which bother us. Help us to trust You to deal with these too.

 We thank You, Lord, for Your written Word. Help us to have more

 understanding of the Bible and to live by its teachings. As we seek

 to form a group for study and discussion, give us wisdom to choose

 subject matter which will attract those who have previously

 indicated interest.

 Lord of the Harvest, thank You for good growing seasons and the   

 produce that You provide. Thank You for health and strength so

 necessary for those who work so hard to bring in the harvest. Help

 us all to share the good things You give us.

As Lyall and Isabel soon resume meetings with the Youth Group, please bless the plans for the Premier of their film, ‘The Prodigal Daughter’. Thank You for the gifts and enthusiasm of these special boys and girls.

 

 

Merciful Lord, so often we fail to follow Your way. Please forgive us for all that we do that is not within Your will. We need Your Spirit to prompt us, pointing out when we are getting it wrong again. Thank You that Jesus died to open the way for each of us to be right with You.

 

Living Lord Jesus, You welcome us to Your house today and we know that You will bless us in the service, speaking through Isabel as

she leads us in worship. We long that more should gather with us to receive Your blessing. Show us how to be used to answer this prayer and help us to act!

 

As another working week starts for so many, we thank You, Lord, for all who serve us in any way within our community. Help us sincerely to show our appreciation to encourage them in their work. ‘Thank you’ is such a little phrase, but it can mean so much, and not saying

it can leave people disappointed and frustrated. Prompt us!

 

Merciful Father, so often we can’t understand why You allow hard things to happen. Sometimes our prayers seem to be unheard. Yet we remember that even Jesus’ prayers were not answered exactly as He desired. Help us, with Him, to pray: ‘Not my will but Yours!’

Loving God, we pray today for the staff and children of our school. Give skill, strength and patience to all who teach, and open minds and hearts to all who learn. Bless each home represented. Thank You that You know and love every single person.

Gracious God, enable us as we meet as office bearers of our church to deal with some urgent and important matters. Give us Your wisdom that the decisions we make may all be pleasing to You. Give us too humility and faithfulness in our service.

Heavenly Father, we pray for our Armed Forces continuing to serve in such dangerous situations. Give courage and strength to each of them, and comfort when they suffer loss. Be specially close to their families and friends at home.

Merciful Father, be specially near to those who are sad or anxious today. Thank You that You know and love them intimately. In Your own loving way, help each one to know that he or she is not forgotten.

Heavenly Father, we pray that You will bless Heather Stewart, and possibly Peter too, leading worship today. Fill Heather with Your Spirit and speak to our hearts opening Your Word to each of us. Help us then to take action in the week ahead so that others may share the blessing which we have received.

Another Monday, Lord! You know us intimately. Sometimes it is hard to focus on anything other than how we feel at this particular moment. Help us to be still in Your Presence. Grant us peace in place of stress. Flood us with Your Spirit. Help us to walk - or sit - with You.

 

Hopefully the Guild will resume regular meetings with a meal in a hotel this evening. Thank You, Gracious Lord, for the fun and fellowship which we have enjoyed in past days. As some of our former members are now unable to join us, show us how to keep in contact with them, and help us to reach new members!

 

Heavenly Father, we pray for the elderly folk in our community. Many face difficulties because of age or disability. Be near to them today, and to those who lovingly care for them. If it is possible, prompt me to follow my prayer with a visit or a phone call.

When we compare ourselves with Your constancy, Lord, we have to confess that we are so fickle. Give us a deep longing to be more like You and work in us by Your Spirit to change us.

As another month ends, dear Lord, give us strength in weakness and courage to face problems which may lie ahead. Help us to be a light to any with whom we have contact who don’t yet know You as their Friend.