Prayer Diary Oct 2015

Thursday 1st Dunnet Guild
Jesus Christ, Head of the Church, as another month begins, we pray
for our four churches and the work done by our congregations to
help others. Help us always to be Your disciples, dear Lord.
Strengthen us.

Friday 2nd
Remember friends who have been active in their congregation,
some for decades, but are no longer able to join us. Some are
housebound or in a Care Home; others are still active but now live
many miles away. They miss us greatly! Pray for God’s comfort
and encouragement. If God can work through us, may we be
faithful!

Saturday 3rd
To be loyal in friendship, patient in suffering, and rich in laughter
is to be a good comrade in the workshop of life, and to such faithful
servants God will pay wages of peace and joy. (anon)
Work in me, dear Lord, that I may be one such faithful servant! If
You need to change me first, make me willing!

Sunday 4th Psalm 26; Mark 10. 2 - 16
Og & Dt: Lyall; K & Cb: Isabel Rennie
There are many people in our communities who used to come to
our churches regularly, but no longer do so. We need God's help to
know how we can reach them again; and we may need to change
what we do if they are to feel welcomed back. Open our eyes, Lord.
Make us willing!

Monday 5th
We pray for parents. It can be so difficult setting boundaries in this
technological age. Give them the strength and perseverance to deal
with new situations and the wisdom to give praise when it is due

Tuesday 6th

On this first Tuesday of the month there is the Joint Coffee Morning From 10.30 – 1pm now held in the Free Church in Castletown not the village hall as before. This joint initiative between the Free Church and our Olrig congregation is a welcome sign of cooperation and is surely to be encouraged. Please come if you can or at least pray.

Wednesday 7th Canisbay (am) & Crossroads (pm) Assemblies

With six out of eight charges in our Presbytery now vacant, pray today for the Interim Moderators, Kirk Sessions and Nominating Committees. Lord, grant us wisdom in our discussions, and help us to discern Your purposes in what so often we only see as difficulties.

Thursday 8th
We pray for people displaced from their homes, jobs and families often in traumatic circumstances. Many have lost everything they ever had. Grant us the grace of compassion Lord so that we will care and act as You would wish. Let us show Christ-like love.

Friday 9th School Holidays begin
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 we shall not make unreasonable demands.

Saturday 10th
Give thanks for Messy Church, now taking place in Keiss and Canisbay from time to time as well as monthly in Dunnet. Kimberley, Mairi Anne and Ruth are all very busy people with their own families, but are willing to take the lead so that this popular event involving children and their parents (or grandparents) can take place. Held now all over the country, it acts as a bridge between church and families at a time when traditional Sunday School has all but faded away. Please pray and give any support that you can. We hope to have news next month!

Sunday 11th Ps. 22. 1 – 15; Mark 10. 17 - 31
Og & Dt: Lyall; K & Cb: Myrtle

God our Saviour, help us to expect to hear You speaking as we
gather to worship You today. Some will be genuinely unable to
attend a service today. Lord, You know us and You know our
hearts. Help us to draw near to You and to hear You speak.

Monday 12th
"The beauty of life is to be found not in luxury but in simplicity; in sweat of the brow, sweat of the hands, sweat of the heart; in pride of work, without greed of gold." (anon)
In these days when so many of us set so much store by possessions, don’t we need this kind of reminder? What would Jesus say?

Tuesday 13th
Creator God, we thank You for this lovely part of Your creation in which we live. At this time we think of the technological development of tidal energy bringing benefits such as employment, environmental benefits, and economical benefits. We give thanks for this and ask You to keep Your hand on all who have responsibility.

Wednesday 14th

Pray for Christians subjected to persecution in Northern Nigeria. Thank God that many women and children have been released from Boko Haram captivity. They will need His strength and the support of other Christians to cope with the trauma they have been through. Remember the hundreds still in captivity.

Thursday 15th
Every Thursday afternoon The Gateway Cafe is open in The Free Church, Castletown to welcome any people for refreshments. This is an outreach to the village and there is always room for anyone who has time to stop for a cup of tea and (no doubt) some home baking.

Friday 16th
Pray for the refugees from across Asia and the Arab World who are trying to get to Europe. Pray that they will find compassion and fair treatment, for protection from those who want to exploit their situation and find fresh hope for themselves and for their families.
(Interserve Scotland and Ireland Prayer Letter, September)

Saturday 17th
As we prepare for tomorrow’s Harvest Festivals, we pray for people helping to feed us - growers, pickers, processors and transporters. There is enough food for us all if we learn to share our harvest of flesh and grain. Merciful Lord, instil in us the wisdom to know the difference between need and greed, we pray.

Sunday 18th Ps.104. 1 – 9,24,35c; Mark 10. 35 - 45
Og:Robert; Dt: Lyall & Messy Church; K:Lyall; Cb:Robert

Harvest services will take place today. This has been a difficult year for farmers and they urgently need our prayers. Lord of the Harvest, give us thankful hearts and open our eyes to pray and to go on praying with sanctified imagination for all who are in need today.

Monday 19th
Loving God, we think today of those who put their life in danger in their daily job – Firefighters, Lifeboat Crews and many others. We give thanks for their professionalism and willingness to put others before themselves. Keep them safe, and look after their own loved ones.

Tuesday 20th
Be strong and of good courage. (Joshua 1.9)
That phrase is repeated four times in Joshua chapter 1. God was emphasizing the need for complete trust and obedience with the assurance of His abiding presence. Whenever God calls to a task He supplies the enabling. (Clifford Hill)

Wednesday 21st
We ask for your blessing, Lord, on all who are lonely - whether they be young, old, at work or retired. Help us to see past the mask hiding their pain. Prompt us to become better befrienders.

Thursday 22nd Ministry and Mission Committee in Wick
Ruth and Esme hope to attend this evening’s Committee Meeting, representing our linked charges. Ask God to give wisdom to Heather Stewart, Convener, and to all who gather, as important decisions are made which will affect all our congregations.

Friday 23rd
Loving Father, today we pray for Your blessing on all those who have suffered the loss of a close friend or family member. Give them the strength to carry on with the support of Your love.

Saturday 24th Car Boot Sale in Dunnet
"Do to others as you would have them do to you" ( Luke 6:31 )
Today’s Initiative is in aid of Blythswood Transport Costs. Merciful Father, we give thanks for all those who are working to raise money or gifts to send Christmas presents to those in need. May this and other similar efforts be particularly successful!

Sunday 25th Psalm 34. 1 – 8; Mark 10. 46 - 52
Og & Dt; Robert; K & Cb: Lyall
On this last Sunday of the month some will gather at Freswick Castle at 6.30pm for informal worship followed by light refreshments and fellowship. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with others from across the county. As God’s people we need increasingly to be connected! Join us in body or in spirit through prayer!

Monday 26th Schools return
Pray for each one for whom this is the first day of a new term, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, for this includes family members as well as the staff of our schools. Loving Lord, You know each one as we picture them and name them. Thank You!

Tuesday 27th Canisbay Guild
Gracious Lord, make the door of each Church of Scotland the
gateway to Your eternal kingdom. Grant that all who worship You
within Your house be witnesses for You in the wider world. May
they also consider becoming members of this great organisation: The
Guild. (Prayer used at Caithness Presbyterial Council Meeting)

Wednesday 28th
Pray today for single parents bringing up a child or children on their
own. In our communities there are often grandparents who give
valuable help, but not all have this blessing. Some will have
encountered difficulties during the recent school holidays and will be
grateful now for the new term begun. But unexpected problems can
arise – heavy snowfall, illness …. These parents need support!

Thursday 29th
Now that the clocks have changed, the days are increasingly shorter
and the hours of darkness longer. For some of us that thought alone
can tip us into a depression. Let’s be alert to remember any whom we
know who struggle to cope with winter. Jesus, Light of the World,
shine into the hearts and homes of those who need Your Presence in a
special way at this time.

Friday 30th Keiss School Assembly
Last month we asked you to pray for Alastair Gray, Fiona and their
family as they moved to Keith. A month has passed since Alastair’s
Induction. Gracious Lord, work by Your Spirit in minister and
congregations as they get to know one another; help them to
overcome any difficulties and multiply Your blessing on them all.

Saturday 31st Messy Church Dunnet
We pray for the patience, enthusiasm and skills of youth leaders that
they may pass on values to our young and enable them to become
worthy members of Your Church, Lord.