Prayer Diary Feb 2015
Sunday 1st Psalm 111; Mark 1. 21 - 28.
Olrig & Dunnet – Isabel Rennie; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
Today is the first day of Spring, the new season already heralded by snowdrops in our gardens and hedgerows. May we, as God’s people, also show clear signs of faithfulness as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ in ‘doing to others as we would have them do to us (Matt.7.12)
Monday 2nd
Members of Presbytery will be preparing for tomorrow’s meeting. Pray for those with special responsibility and for those carrying extra loads at the moment. Remember Rev Gordon Oliver of Latheron who is currently signed off and pray for renewed health and strength.
Tuesday 3rd Presbytery meets in Wick St Fergus
This morning the Joint Coffee Morning held in the Drill Hall, Castletown, resumes. Parish Church and Free Church ladies work together to raise money for Charity. Pray for the continued success of this monthly venture and come along to enjoy fellowship if you are or could be in the area.
Wednesday 4th Assemblies at Keiss and at Crossroads
Last month a Memorial Service was held in Wick for the seamen lost when their boat capsized in the stormy waters of the Pentland Firth. Continue to uphold the families who grieve so far away and remember to pray regularly for all who have to be at sea at this time of year.
Thursday 5th Assembly at Canisbay; Dunnet Guild
The darkest hour is just before the dawn. Be encouraged – the sun will shine again: God won’t fail you. If you are encouraged by the reminder above, be grateful – and share it with one or two others. Perhaps it is just what they need!
Friday 6th
Do you think that God who sent his Son to save his people won’t finish the job in every one of us? *K
When it comes to finishing a task properly, so many of us fail, and perhaps as we grow older we fail all the more. Our God is a perfectionist and He continues to work in us while we have breath!
Saturday 7th Messy Church, Dunnet
We sometimes forget that all young children are observing everything we do and say! Our words and actions are taken as a standard to be copied. Lord, be our conscience. Give us the gift of patient teaching so that all Your young ones may grow up knowing You through us.
Sunday 8th Isaiah 40. 21 – 31; Mark 1. 29 - 39
Olrig & Dunnet – Lyall; Keiss, Canisbay, Pulteney House - Esme
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Ps.146.1,2
We can be confident that God holds us and our loved ones in His hands, so whatever your circumstances: Praise the Lord!
Monday 9th
Last month’s violent winds and power cuts were a huge challenge for many in our communities and we are grateful that the damage sustained was not worse. On the whole we are good at looking out for one another but there is evidence that we cannot afford to be complacent. When power was restored I heard of a man in our village who spent three days in cold and darkness sustained only by tinned peaches and biscuits. I didn’t think to offer a lift to the hot food van!
Tuesday 10th
Over recent weeks, Church Treasurers have been working hard to prepare their congregational accounts. These are all volunteers and some are quite inexperienced. Lord of the Church, encourage these people and grant the skill and patience to complete the task. Prompt us to add our thanks: these words cost nothing but mean so much!
Wednesday 11th
Every Wednesday afternoon a Scrabble Club meets in the committee room of Keiss Community Hall. The Editor has no further details but feels sure that involvement is a good way of keeping the brain cells active! How important it is that as we grow older, we make use of these opportunities and have fun with others in our community!
Thursday 12th
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isa.54.10
As we give thanks for those who worked in difficult and dangerous conditions to restore power during the January storms, we are challenged to treat God’s world with greater thought and prayer!
Friday 13th
All-knowing God, only You can see into the minds of Your dear ones who live with dementia. Hold them close and bring Your peace of mind and body. Break through the barriers of this terrible affliction with Your love which is both gentle and strong.
Saturday 14th St Valentine’s Day, Schools Half Term Holiday
In the Church we talk a great deal about LOVE and some of us pride ourselves that we are good at showing love for those around us. It is challenging when we remember that the man whose Saint’s Day is celebrated today gave his life for his faith. How strong is my commitment? God of Love, keep reminding me that real love took Jesus to the Cross.
Sunday 15th Psalm 30; Mark 1. 40 - 45
Olrig – Robert; Dunnet – Lyall; Keiss & Canisbay - Myrtle
At the service at Dunnet, Lyall will baptize the third granddaughter of Chris and Lyn Hobson. Pray for God’s special blessing on this family and on all the families of our linked congregations.
Monday 16th
As the children enjoy time away from School, it would be good if the weather were suitable for out of door activities. Some families will be off on a short holiday. Gracious God, keep Your hand on each one, giving safety and real enjoyment.
Tuesday 17th Shrove Tuesday
A Craft Group meets each Tuesday morning in the committee room of Keiss Community hall. Good fellowship is assured! Some of us will be making pancakes today, realising that Easter falls early this year and it is not too early to start preparing!
Wednesday 18th Ash Wednesday
Remember farm workers affected by too much or too little water and extreme weather. We don’t understand the sharp increase in virus and bacteria strains in man, and the devastating effect when little children are left without parents. Lord, give wisdom too to stop the unnecessary culling of animals – we can ill afford to throw away meat. Forgive, Lord and change us!
Thursday 19th Ministry &Mission C’tee; Assembly at Canisbay
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains….. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. Ps. 107.10,13
Across the world, prices are rising, debts increasing and jobs are taken away. Loving Lord, give courage to all those in need, relieve their worries and let them know the gift of Your peace.
Friday 20th
Gracious God, we pray for the group who are planning the World Day of Prayer Service to be held this year in Dunnet Church hall on Friday 6th March – two weeks today! This year the material has been prepared by Christian women of the Bahamas. This is always an afternoon of precious fellowship. Plan to join us if you can
Saturday 21st
Bring to our troubled minds, uncertain and afraid the quiet of a steadfast faith, the calm of a call obeyed. O Lord, we beseech You to deliver us from the unknown future: from the fear of failure, from the fear of poverty and fear of sickness and pain, from the fear of age and the fear of death. Help us, O Father, by Your grace to love and fear You only. Fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in You.
Sunday 22nd Psalm 41; Mark 2. 1 – 12 First Sunday in Lent Olrig & Dunnet – Robert; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
Almighty God, on this THINKING DAY, members of the worldwide Guide and Scout Movement will take time to remember one another. Richly bless each member and all whose dedication enables units to thrive. Many of us give thanks for what we learned in our earlier days as we strove to keep our Promise. Children in our community would benefit so much from this opportunity but where are the leaders?!
Monday 23rd
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Ps.141.3
If we are inclined towards gossip, we must make a conscious effort to speak well of people. *K
Tuesday 24th Canisbay Guild
We are very grateful that a prayer in our January issue has been answered: Scots nurse Pauline is recovering from the Ebola virus. Pray on. In West Africa and globally fear is fuelling stigmatization. Many survivors do not feel welcomed in their communities and some are not even allowed to return to their homes.
Wednesday 25th
The days are longer and the sun is stronger. Thank You, Creator God for signs of Spring and the promise of new life to come. But Winter is not yet over so help us to persevere. Comfort those people who find it particularly hard to cope with adverse weather
Thursday 26th
Our prayers may be awkward.
Our attempts may be feeble.
But since the power of prayer
is in the one who hears it
and not in the one who says it,
our prayers do make a difference.
Max Lucado
Friday 27th
O God our Father, so often with the passing of years we begin to feel that we do not matter. It gladdens our hearts to remember that Jesus still had use for the bits left over after He had fed the 5000. We are grateful that He still feels the same about us – sharing our memories, blessing our forgetfulness, our poor eyesight and all our varied life experiences. We admit that we do not find our frailties easy to cope with and ask for Your grace to help us and give us a stronger sense that You still have a place for us and a task for us to do. Lord, take us into today knowing that in Your hands we may still be of use to You and to others.
Saturday 28th Dunnet Soup and Sandwiches
For we are fellow workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Cor. 3.9)
Loving Lord, we ask your blessing on those who work tirelessly in the community on Your behalf – feeding and nourishing, maintaining buildings and fabric and quietly being Your disciples. We are so blessed to live in our close communities.
The quotations marked *K are taken from a collection made by a friend of the Editor from quotations from the talks of speakers at the Keswick Convention 2014
