Prayer Diary Dec 2014
Monday 1st World Aids Day; Joint Coffee Morning, Castletown
At 6pm there is a Light up the Highlands Service in the Hospital Canteen in Wick in partnership with Highland Hospice. This service has proved a real blessing to those who have lost family members or friends in recent months. Pray for all who have been bereaved: December can be a particularly hard month for them.
Tuesday 2nd Presbytery meets in Thurso West
Pray for this evening’s meeting and especially your own representatives as we look back with thanks and forward in faith in our never-changing God. 2015 holds many challenges and change is certain. Some of us don’t like change. Lord, help us to trust!
Wednesday 3rd Keiss Assembly; Crossroads Assembly
This time of year appears to have been the choice of some local couples for their wedding and now, 25, 50 or even 60 years on, Anniversaries are being celebrated. Give thanks! And ask God to continue to pour out His blessing on these dear folk.
Thursday 4th Cb Assembly; Northern Loops; Dunnet Guild
We give thanks for the practical work of the Church of Scotland Guild together with its Project Partners across the world. We pray at this time for the safe arrival of the Backpacks filled with school clothes, books and pencils and sent from all over Caithness to Mary’s Meals. Along with a hot meal and these tools to access education children are being helped out of poverty. Give thanks and pray on.
Friday 5th
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. (Proverbs 1.5,6)
As we think of tomorrow’s Messy Church, we remember how Jesus used stories to illustrate how His hearers should behave. Lord, give us better understanding of Your Word and how to apply it in our lives.
Saturday 6th Messy Church in Dunnet
Mairi Anne celebrates the first Birthday of her shop in Wick with an Open Day ‘Party’. Friends will be raising money and we have been offered a table to raise funds for Canisbay Church. Give thanks for Mairi Anne’s endless enthusiasm and come along if you are in Wick.
Sunday 7th Second Sunday in Advent
Olrig-Robert; Dunnet-Lyall; Keiss & Canisbay- Myrtle
There are initiatives on Facebook and elsewhere to encourage people to celebrate Christmas by avoiding the glorifying of material things. What a challenge! What if we were to spend our resources in giving time and love instead of gifts? What if?! (Tomorrow’s insert might not be required, but pray for those of us continuing as usual!)
Monday 8th
Gracious Lord, December is such a busy month! Some of us are stressed with presents to buy, wrap and send, cards to write, lists to compile and to work through… Please give us the health and strength we’ll need, and a large portion of the peace of Christmas in advance!
Tuesday 9th
Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. (Leviticus 19.32)
Loving Lord, we pray for the elderly and frail in our communities and especially those who have lost a partner. This can be a lonely time of year and as we rush around we may forget to spend a few extra minutes with our neighbour. Prompt us!
Wednesday 10th The ongoing Ebola Crisis
Gracious God, we give thanks for all the civilian and military personnel who have gone to Africa to help in the fight against the Ebola virus. Thank You for their skills and courage as well as their determination to help others. Bless them and keep them safe.
Thursday 11th Crossroads School Concert in Mey Hall
Merciful Father, there are several people of all ages in our churches and communities very unwell in hospital or at home. Keep Your loving arms around them and give them the healing they need. Strengthen those to whom they are specially dear and help them to trust. And keep us faithful in prayer for those You lay on our hearts.
Friday 12th
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephes. 4.3) Prince of Peace, do this in me!
Saturday 13th
Women from across the county are invited to Olrig Free Church Hall between 11am and 5pm for Praise and Prayer. This opportunity to meet informally for a few minutes or a significant time has been much appreciated and God always answers prayer. Give thanks and come!
Tomorrow at 6.00 pm we gather in John O’Groats Hall for our popular Christmas Carol Service for all ages. Come if you can!
Sunday 14th Third Sunday in Advent, Carol Service at JOG
Olrig & Dunnet- Myrtle; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth. Luke 1. 14 These words were spoken about John the Baptist who tends to be overlooked at this time. Thank You for John, Lord, and for the humble way in which he pointed to You!
Monday 15th
Coming Lord, we give You thanks for the opportunities which Lyall has in the Christmas Assemblies this week. The children will be excited and the adults tired and grateful! Please make each Service meaningful to every single person present. Some of us still have memories from our own childhood: do it again, and again, Lord! And bless Howard Stone of Olrig Free Church in his visits to Castletown School. Thank You for using him so effectively over the years
Tuesday 16th Cb Guild (afternoon);Cb School Christmas Treat
This afternoon’s Guild programme promises Festive Fun! We are grateful for the imaginative and generous organising of our gathering! Lord Jesus Christ, Whose we are and Whom we serve, please bless us all and make this afternoon an oasis in the midst of these busy days.
Wednesday 17th Keiss School Christmas Service
Crossroads School Christmas Service in Dunnet Church
Last month we held Services of Remembrance, and rightly so. December too is a ‘Remembrance Month’ on a much greater scale.
See tomorrow’s insert and give God thanks.
Thursday 18th Canisbay School Christmas Assembly
Come, let us remember at this season of the year - the things that warm our hearts with faith, with gladness and good cheer. How God led the Wise Men with a star of burning light, and sent a choir of angels to poor shepherds in the night - to tell them of the joy and wonder of a Saviour’s Birth; the news of the salvation and redemption of the earth.
(Patience Strong)
Friday 19th
Lord Jesus Christ, in Your humble birth and in Your life on earth You knew poverty. You empathise with those in our Caithness communities who struggle to feed their families. Thank You for Food Banks: for all who donate and those who volunteer. Challenge us in our comfortable lifestyles to help, especially at Christmas!
Saturday 20th
Merciful Father, be specially near to those who are sad, anxious or lonely today - all the harder at this time of year when even the greeting ‘Happy Christmas‘ can sound hollow in another’s ears. Thank You that You know and love each of these dear people intimately. In Your own loving way, help each one to know that he or she is not forgotten.
Sunday 21st Fourth Sunday in Advent
Olrig-Robert; Dunnet-Isabel R; Keiss-Lyall; Canisbay-Esme
In the service in Keiss Church Lyall will baptise three year old Aurora who attends faithfully with Mum or Granny. Pray for God’s blessing to rest on this family and on all our church families at Christmas.
Monday 22nd
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. (Luke 2.4)
Merciful Father, we pray for all who are travelling at this time, whether by choice to visit family, or because they have nowhere to stay. You know and see them: keep them warm, fed and safe.
Tuesday 23rd
Christmas is almost here! Dear Lord Jesus, help us, help me, to be ready to welcome You in a special way this year!
Wednesday 24th Christmas Eve
Service in Olrig at 7pm. Robert and Rev Howard Stone
Watch Night Services: Dunnet-Lyall; Keiss-Esme
Coming Lord, we anticipate this evening’s services with joy! Bless those who seldom come at any other time but wouldn‘t miss tonight. Inspire us all through the words of Scripture and of the carols and challenge us again to greet You joyfully. Be near to us, Lord Jesus.
Thursday 25th Christmas Day
Christmas Day Service at 11am in Canisbay Church Hall - Lyall
100 Christmases ago, on the Western Front, all fighting stopped. Men sang ’Stille Nacht’, put up Christmas trees and buried their dead. Some soldiers had to be sent to the rear because they didn’t want to kill those they had befriended. We pray, Lord, for Peace throughout the world, friendship between all nations and the strength to resist war and terrorism. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5.9)
Friday 26th
Boxing Day can be an anticlimax! Jesus, Immanuel - be real to me today and every day. Surprise me, Lord!
Saturday 27th Friends of Achvarasdal Christmas Party, Reay
Over the years the residents have found great blessing in this event with games, food, Santa. Remember all our faithful members now in Care Homes. May the peace and joy of Christmas rest on them.
Sunday 28th The last Sunday of 2014, CGH service at 2.15pm
Olrig-Robert; Dunnet-Lyall; Keiss & Canisbay - Esme
This would be an excellent opportunity for the Church family to come together to look back on another year with God and to give Him heartfelt thanks. So often these services are poorly attended. If you have health and strength, please join us! Lord of the Church, prompt us - and comfort those who wish so much that they could be with us!
Monday 29th
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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 4.4-7)
Tuesday 30th
Finally, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4.8,9 abridged)
Wednesday 31st
God of the Years, help us to keep our eyes on You as we step forward with You into 2015.
