Prayer Diary Jan 2015
Thursday 1st Happy New Year!
Some of us still make resolutions at this time. Loving God, help us to persevere, particularly in keeping those which will benefit Your Kingdom. We give You thanks that Your resolution never to leave nor forsake us always holds. (Deut.31.6) We enter 2015 with our eyes on you.
Friday 2nd
We are grateful that several people in our communities, young and old, who have gone through operations and treatment in the latter part of 2014 got home for Christmas. God has certainly answered prayer! Pray for their continued recovery.
Saturday 3rd
Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. (Rom.12.10)
We pack parcels and send them to distant places – presents, for relief, for the needy. Open our eyes, Lord, to the needs of people in our own county. Inspire us who are able to volunteer and to help at least one new person in 2015. And keep us faithful in prayer.
Sunday 4th Psalm 147.12 – 20; John 1. 10 - 18
Olrig & Dunnet – Robert; Keiss – Lyall; Canisbay - Esme
Aurora’s Baptism at Keiss is rescheduled for today. Remember Lyall as he conducts this Sacrament for the first time and ask God to give both him and Aurora’s family great joy in this new beginning.
Monday 5th
Schools re-open this week. At this time of new beginnings, ask God to bless and keep each child. And remember the adults – teaching and support staff - as they give so much to ensure a solid foundation for our children.
Tuesday 6th Epiphany
God of all, You revealed Your only-begotten Son to all nations by the guidance of a star. Richly bless the parishioners of Canisbay, Dunnet, Keiss and Olrig, and all who visit here. Fill each of us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect Your love.
Wednesday 7th
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst: ‘Fear not.’ Lamentations 3.57
In January 1955 the UK was hit by the first of many severe snowstorms and in the Scottish Highlands and elsewhere, ‘Operation Snowdrop’ was activated to supply food by air for people and animals. Many still remember seeing helicopters for the first time! Our God saves!
Thursday 8th Dunnet Guild
Jesus said: Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (Matt.10.40,41)
Tonight the Guild in Dunnet meets to celebrate its post-Christmas Dinner. Loving God, bless all who grow, produce, cook and serve food. We give thanks for the priceless gift of hospitality.
Friday 9th
Lyall is grateful for your prayers and your support. He has a busy programme of visiting, as well as preparing for worship, school commitments and a large number of meetings in four congregations!
Ministry also involves being ready for the unexpected. Please pray on! And pray too that unreasonable demands will not be made.
Saturday 10th
Lord, guide me carefully on this uncharted sea of a new year as I daily seek You in Your Word. Then use me mightily as Your servant this year as I boldly proclaim Your word in leading others. Amen. (Tozer on Christian Leadership by A.W.Tozer, 2001)
Sunday 11th Psalm 29; Mark 1. 4 – 11
Olrig & Dunnet - Robert; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
Can this really be the second Sunday of this New Year?! Living Lord, bless those who come to worship You today. May Your Word find soil ready to receive it. May our praise rise to You.
Monday 12th One year since the Joint service at Olrig held to mark the new linking!
It is hard to believe that we have been together for a whole year following the Service on 12th January 2014. Progress is slow, but it can be seen. This Prayer Diary helps! Pray that we will see challenges as opportunities and move forward as God leads.
Tuesday 13th
Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words! Is Christmas a fading memory? This modern rendering of Paul’s prayer recorded in 2 Corinthians 9.15 reminds us that we walk through these early days of 2015 in the glorious light of Christmas. Pray that this joy might attract others!
Wednesday 14th Assemblies at Keiss and at Crossroads
Merciful Father, we pray for Carers, the unsung heroes who look after a spouse or family member at home, day after day and month after month. Help them to know that they are appreciated, watched over by You Who hold them and their loved one in Your arms.
Thursday 15th Assembly at Canisbay
Loving and faithful God, You promised that You would not leave Your flock without shepherds. Grant a spirit of wisdom, courage and perseverance to all who hear Your call. Show them we need them in Caithness! Clearly call a Minister to look after Canisbay, Dunnet, Keiss and Olrig. We want our churches to survive and grow as You would wish. Give us the courage to take that responsibility!
Friday 16th
Lord, You have given us good news to share. Help us to remember not just the message, but the people You want us to share it with, and so may we speak the words You would have us say in the way You would have us say them.
(found on an Intimation Sheet in an Edinburgh church last summer)
Saturday 17th
Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. (Song of Solomon 2.12)
It’s possible to see the days lengthening at last. Despite the cold and the dark, the first snowdrops are unfolding in sheltered places. Thank You for keeping us safe through the winter, Lord.
Sunday 18th Psalm 139.1-6, 13-18; John 1. 43 – 51
Olrig & Dunnet – Lyall; Keiss & Canisbay - Myrtle
Remember those travelling to early services on potentially icy roads! God certainly honours those who honour Him, but He expects us to be sensible. Lord of the Church, keep Your people safe today – and grant us sanctified common sense!
Monday 19th
God of the whole world, every year is marked by suffering and loss in so-called natural disasters and in war, terrorism, racial hatred… Your heart must have broken so many times because each person involved is known to You by name and loved by You. Enlarge our vision to care more and to do what we can, even if it seems so little.
Tuesday 20th
This evening there is a meeting at the Haven in Wick for new volunteers helping in the Food Banks. Give thanks for the generosity of so many in our county, with church affiliation and none, who give donations of food and money, time and energy, for this vital cause.
Wednesday 21st
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. Ps.23.1
Thank You, Good Shepherd, that You will definitely provide for us, no matter what. Perhaps I could share this with someone else…
Thursday 22nd Ministry and Mission Committee in Wick
Probably there will be items on this evening’s agenda which will affect our four congregations. Pray for Heather Stewart, Convener, and for Ruth and Esme representing Canisbay, but also all of you.
Friday 23rd
Pray for those who are unwell in body or mind. Some are recovering, some anxiously await test results and some are coming to terms with an altered self. Lord, be especially near those who are preparing to die. Let them know of Your great mercy and the joy which awaits them.
Saturday 24th
Tomorrow is Burns’ Night. Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the talents You give to people which in turn bring enjoyment to others. Thank You for the poetry of Robert Burns and the pleasure very many find in it. Bless the social gatherings which take place over this weekend. Particularly give an uplift to lonely folk who find a Burns’ Supper a great blessing.
Sunday 25th Psalm 62. 5 – 12; Mark 1. 14 – 20
Olrig & Dunnet – Robert; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
Almighty God, on this last Sunday of January, please bless the services in all four churches today and in the churches of every denomination in our county. May preachers and worshippers know Your Presence in a real way and may glory rise to You.
Monday 26th
Loving Lord, I don’t always find it easy to trust You completely. Sometimes I hold a little back in case You let me down. Forgive me!
Tuesday 27th Canisbay Guild Pot Luck Supper
Lord Jesus Christ, when You walked on this earth You delighted in fellowship with Your people at a meal. As the Guild enjoy this special time together this evening, make Your Presence as real as that of one another. We pray that nothing may prevent the success of what has traditionally been our most successful gathering.
Wednesday 28th Assemblies at Keiss and at Crossroads
Please pray for Lyall as he conducts regular assemblies in our three local schools. Thank God for the open door that there has always been here in the north. Pray today for schools which are closed to Your servants and for children who have no easy opportunity to learn about the things of God.
Thursday 29th Assembly at Canisbay; Canisbay KS and Board
Please pray for Howard Stone, minister of Olrig Free Church, Castletown, who conducts regular assemblies in Castletown School and who, with his wife Christine and other helpers, runs an After School Club for the village children. There is a harvest field right across our four parishes but workers are few. Jesus said, ‘Pray …’
(Luke 10.2)
Friday 30th
Thank You, dear Lord, for the joy and privilege of Christian Fellowship. Please teach us to show more of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - so that others will be attracted to You in us and want to know You too.
Saturday 31st
And so another month draws to a close. 2015 is well established and some of our plans for this year are taking shape. Thank You, Jesus, that You have gone ahead of us, and that we can trust that what we attempt in Your Name will bring results for the extension of Your Kingdom.
