Prayer Diary June 2015

Monday 1st
As another new month has begun, another new week lies ahead.
God has gone into it before us and if we walk it with Him at His pace and in His strength all will be well. Believe it!

Tuesday 2nd Presbytery in Thurso St Peter’s & St Andrew’s
Presbytery meets to install its new Moderator and to share in Communion. Lord, bless and guide elder Charlie Rigg as he embarks on his new role and give thanks for Rev John Nugent’s effective year.

Wednesday 3rd
We are commanded in Scripture to pray for those who govern us. As we reflect on the outcome of last month’s General Election, let us be diligent in our prayers! Pray for our new MP, Dr Paul Monaghan. Lyall contacted him soon after his election and Dr Monaghan promised to respond. Pray that he will and ask God to use him for the benefit of all the communities in this constituency.

Thursday 4th
As this Prayer Diary is being prepared (26th May), the next Joint Meeting of our four congregations is to take place tomorrow. Discussions towards forming a union are slowly taking place and it is important that we move at God‘s pace. In the past year we have sensed a greater openness to one another. God is certainly at work!

Friday 5th
At Tuesday’s meeting of Presbytery the 6 commissioners to this year’s General Assembly will have had the opportunity to ‘report diligence’ and briefly to share their (our) impressions. What a privilege it is to represent our Presbytery and people. We have come from Edinburgh informed and enthused. God certainly answered the prayers of His people for this year’s gathering. If you prayed: thank you!

Saturday 6th Messy Church in Dunnet
Loving Lord, we pray for each child and their family throughout our four parishes. We ask You to love and protect them and give them the strength to thrive in our busy world.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18 : 16

Sunday 7th Psalm 138; Mark 3. 20 - 35
Olrig & Dunnet - Robert; Keiss & Canisbay - Myrtle
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Ps.133.1
Unity is such an important quality and we can never take it for granted, particularly in the Church. We need to work at it.

Monday 8th
Libya has been much in the news as the departure point for refugees trying to reach Europe, with often terrible consequences. There are many Christians in the country, mostly migrant workers and refugees. 21 Egyptian Coptics were recently beheaded by a group linked to IS. Let us remember in our prayers today their families and other Christians in Libya, as well as all the desperate refugees.

Tuesday 9th
Lord, thank You for Your promise that death is just a gateway to a new and better day; that we know when we part from a loved one, we will know the joy of meeting them again in the Promised Land. Thank You, loving Father, for the gift of Jesus, who died on the cross so that we can be comforted in our sorrow and secure in our knowledge of safe passage to You.

Wednesday 10th
Remember those who have received bad news recently and pray for God’s comfort and upholding. Let’s be prepared for God to use us as at least some part of His answer to our prayer!

Thursday 11th
We pray for the people of Nepal as they endure the devastation of 2 major earthquakes. Merciful God. we ask that through Your grace, You may bless and comfort Your people. For those who are afraid; bring peace. For those who are toiling to save; bring strength, and for those who are lost; wrap Your arms around them with love

Friday 12th
Give thanks for the opportunity which Lyall and Isabel have taken to enjoy a much deserved holiday and pray for them when they return and seek to catch up on what has happened in their absence. Pray for God’s refreshing and renewing for the weeks ahead!

Saturday 13th Messy Church at Keiss (see prayer 20th)
Adela and David are being married in Dunnet Church this afternoon. Pray for them and their families, and for Lyall as he has the joy and responsibility of being the Celebrant.

Sunday 14th Psalm 20; Mark 4. 26 - 34
Olrig & Canisbay - Esme; Keiss and Dunnet - Lyall
Jesus, Lord of Your Church, be present in every gathering of Your people for worship today. Fill Lyall and Esme with Your Spirit as they conduct the services today. Prompt Your people to attend and bless each of us richly. And remember Lyall as he goes to Wick to conduct the service at the Hospital Chapel at 2.15 pm.

Monday 15th
Summer time is here, for some enabling a break from work and a trip away. Gracious Lord, as we give thanks for the joy and happiness such a break can bring, hear our prayers for those who cannot afford a holiday; for whom every day is hard either because of lack of money or the constant daily strain of caring for some one who is ill. Make us grateful for the mercies You show to us and teach us to share all our blessings with others. Amen

Tuesday 16th Canisbay Kirk Session and Board
Tomorrow evening Caithness Guild Presbyterial Council holds its Summer Rally in Lybster. The programme is a Songs of Praise and it is hoped that Guild members and friends from all over the county will travel to support this. Warm fellowship is guaranteed!

Wednesday 17th Keiss, Crossroads and Canisbay Assemblies
This evening in Canisbay Church Hall there is an open meeting to explore setting up a theatre/drama club for all ages; a community rather than a church venture, the brainchild of Lyall, Murray Watts and Kimberley Spiers. Pray for this. It is hoped that in time this might attract financial support from the Stroubster Wind Farm Fund.

Thursday 18th
Some may remember Christine Stone working in teacher training in Nepal first with Church of Scotland and then with KISC. Give thanks that she was not injured in the earthquakes but pray for her in her concern for her Nepali colleagues who have been badly affected. Christine and her dog retire to Fort William in the next few weeks.

Friday 19th
Lord, relieve the suffering of those newly diagnosed with a disease or waiting for treatment to commence. Relieve their mental anguish and give them the stubbornness to keep on fighting and the grace to submit to your will
“Praise the LORD, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4

Saturday 20th Crossroads School Fair
Pray for Kimberley and her helpers as Messy Church takes place in Keiss Community Hall. Uphold the Crossroads staff and parents at their Fair. The staff will be weary at this stage in the term. It would be wonderful if their effort was rewarded by good results

Sunday 21st Psalm 9. 9 - 20; Mark 4. 35 - 41
Olrig & Dunnet - Esme; Keiss & Canisbay (Communion) - Lyall
At 7pm. we celebrate Communion in the open at Dwarwick Pier, followed by Nite Song in Dunnet Church, after which there is the opportunity for guided private prayer in the sanctuary. May we use this different form of worship to unite our churches and help people know Your compassion and love as we are nourished by bread and wine. What a lovely way to mark the longest day!

Monday 22nd
On Wednesday 24th the Thurso High School chaplains meet with teachers for their annual review and to plan the year ahead. Pray that God may guide chaplains and teachers for this important work.

Tuesday 23rd
A meeting will be held today in Wick to discuss the possibility of setting up an office of Christians Against Poverty. Pray for all in this county who are struggling with the burden of debt. Can we help them to break free to a new life?

Wednesday 24th Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
The Church of Scotland joins with Christian Aid and the Scottish Episcopal Church today to pray for peace in the Middle East . We pray with and for all in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory who have called for an ecumenical prayer vigil across the globe. God of justice, bless those who work for peace through justice. Strengthen their resolve in the face of seemingly endless violence. Guide the leaders of the people of the Middle East to know your will and to support a just peace for all of your children.

Thursday 25th
What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6.8
Would that others see God in us and respond

Friday 26th
Prayer is such a valuable privilege - and a necessity if anything worthwhile is to happen within our church. Of course, Jesus is with us as we pray on our own but where husband and wife or two or three friends pray together regularly, He meets with us as He promised, and grants a special blessing.

Saturday 27th
Many will attend the Canisbay Show this afternoon and it would be a bonus to have good weather for this event which is arguably the highlight of the community year. There are opportunities for God’s people to witness quietly amongst friends, neighbours and visitors.
Lord, make us willing!

Sunday 28th Psalm 130; Mark 5. 21 - 43
Olrig & Canisbay - Robert; Keiss and Dunnet - Lyall
Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thess. 5.11
Let’s do as Paul says, but first we need to pause in God’s presence, and let Him encourage us.
(Encounter with God, Apr.-June, page 72, publ. by Scripture Union)

Monday 29th
Remember P7 pupils leaving at the end of this week. Most of them are eagerly anticipating moving on to High School but some will be apprehensive. Pray for any known to you and hold them in your prayers through the summer. Give thanks too for all the benefits of their Primary School education - particularly good in our linkage!

Tuesday 30th Keiss End of Year Assembly
Taking a new step is what we fear most, yet our real fear should be standing still. Step forward into growth and development.
(Source unknown)
This is a good word for the second half of 2015 which begins tomorrow. Let’s go with God!