Prayer Diary Nov 2016

Tuesday 1st Canisbay School Assembly
Caithness Presbytery meets this evening in Wick St Fergus Church.
Among many urgent items on the agenda will be the Presbytery
Website. As numbers of members and office bearers decrease,
free flow of information is all the more important. Pray too for
God’s Holy Spirit to brood over all our discussion and decision
making.

Wednesday 2nd Crossroads School Assembly
The days are rushing past! Loving God, help us to slow up a bit,
perhaps as we take time to use this Prayer Diary at some point in
our day. May it be that when Advent comes at the end of this
month, we are ready! Thank You that each day is a gift from You.

Thursday 3rd

What is our lovely world coming to with our TV screens full of war and fighting?! Surely our Lord would like a more settled time with HOPE, LOVE, FRIENDSHIP and TRUST. Let us pray for some of this to happen in our "Special World " with a calmness to help everyone. God be with us all.

Friday 4th
Pray for the Newsletter for Pentland Parishes that Kimberly hopes
to get out, that it may be used by God to bring our congregations to
see the need to share resources as we work towards a possible
union. It is a long time since this project was first suggested and it
would be so encouraging to see it bear fruit.

Saturday 5th
Give thanks for the regular visits of the Breast Scanner Van to
Caithness, through which many have been alerted to the existence
Of hidden tumours with the result that treatment has been applied
timeously and lives saved,th your text

Sunday 6th Psalm 145. 1-5, 17-21; Luke 20. 27 - 38
Og & Dt – Ben MacGregor; K & Cb – Roger Bamfield
As Lyall and Isabel enjoy some well deserved holiday we continue to be grateful for friends such as Ben, Roger and Marcus who are willing to conduct services so that it is possible to offer a service of worship in each of our churches every Sunday. We cannot take this for granted. In the weeks ahead, two long term Locums will return to their own countries and the need for pulpit supply in other parishes will affect us. Please pray as decisions are made.

Monday 7th
Merciful Father, we pray for all carers – friends, relatives or employees – that they might be refreshed and invigorated in Your love. Remind us all to help where we are needed and give us the resources we need.

Tuesday 8th
Our Interim Moderator, Ian McCree, lives in Brora and travels each week to spend several days in Wick where he is Locum in Pulteneytown and Thrumster Parish. He writes, “I would covet prayers for myself with my travelling and also give thanks for being able to get another car when my last one packed in and was not worth huge repair costs.” As winter approaches, pray for Ian.

Wednesday 9th
In preparation for the five yearly review visit from Presbytery this month, Lyall, Ian McCree and Presbytery Clerk Rev Johnstone will meet this afternoon. Spirit of God, be present in their midst so that plans and decisions are in Your will. Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. (Psalm127.1)

Thursday 10th Parish Appraisal Visitation to Olrig and Dunnet
Loving Lord, grant wisdom and understanding to all those involved with reviewing the health of Your churches and their role in the community. Help us to learn how we can serve You better.

Friday 11th Parish Appraisal Visitation to Keiss and Canisbay
As the meetings for review continue, hold before God the Presbytery team - Ronnie Johnstone, Peter McKenzie, Marcus Cornah and Charles Findlay. In these days of extended linkages, there must be much more involved than in the past. And great wisdom is required. Only God can grant this.

Saturday 12th
We give thanks for those crops safely gathered in and ask for calm weather so that the last remnants may be brought home and the fields made ready for 2017.

Sunday 13th Remembrance Sunday Psalm 98; Luke 21. 5 – 19
Olrig & Dunnet– Marcus Cornah; Keiss & Canisbay – Lyall
As you pray for those who conduct today’s services and those who attend, remember too those who gather at the War memorials in Canisbay, Castletown, and Corsbach.
Pray that families who have lost loved ones during the First and Second World Wars and since will find solidarity and peace as the nation remembers all those who have lost their lives in conflict for our Freedom. (George Douglas, Dunnet)

Monday 14th
The appalling situation in Iraq and Syria is daily in the News. Open Doors is calling on the church around the world to join with their family in Iraq and Syria in calling for a hope and a future for Christians in the Middle Ease. Pray that many Christians will sign the One Million Voices of Hope Petition so that the voices of Christians in Iraq and Syria will be heard by leaders around the world.

Tuesday 15th Crossroads School Assembly
“John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary, is extremely positive about the contribution of the Church and the Christian Faith to Scottish education. Give thanks for this positive attitude and pray for a continuation of the current openness towards SU groups (and chaplains!) in schools.” (Scripture Union

Wednesday 16th Canisbay School Assembly
Loving Lord, we pray for strength and guidance for all those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Sometimes it seems so very hard and unfair but we trust that You have a reason and that one day, we will understand.

Thursday 17th Canisbay Board and Session
There seem to be so many evening meetings happening this month and as darkness falls early and frost comes, it is hard to anticipate having to go out again. Jesus, Head of the Church, give us strength, vision, determination. If we don’t keep going, where will Your Church be in a generation’s time? You are faithful and You look for faithfulness in Your servants. And You are no-one’s debtor!

Friday 18th
The steering Group of representatives from our four congregations is due to meet this evening in Canisbay Church Hall at 7pm. Pray for a willingness to accept the need for change at this difficult time for our congregations. Pray for our Interim Moderator, Rev Ian McCree, as he chairs the meeting.

Saturday 19th
To mark Guild Week, Caithness Presbyterial Council has arranged a gathering this afternoon in St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Thurso. Mrs Pat Weir of Wick will present recitations from the writings of David Kossoff. This is well worth hearing – and good fellowship is guaranteed. Come and bring a friend. (2.30pm.)

Sunday 20th Psalm 46; Luke 23. 33 - 43
Olrig & Dunnet – Guild Team; K –Lyall; Cb-Esme & Guild
(Communion at Keiss and Canisbay)
We give thanks for the work of the Church of Scotland Guild and their commitment to serve others, both in Britain and abroad. We ask that You be with Guild members striving to help in their parishes, at times by leading worship in the absence of a minister.

Monday 21st
Father in Heaven, You have told us that we are Your children and that You will care for us, whether we know You or not. Please grant peace and mercy to all terrorists; let them know Your love and protect those living around them.

Tuesday 22nd Canisbay Guild
The Guild theme for 2016 - 17 is GO IN JOY and this evening’s title is “JOY Be Wi Ye A”. Fun and laughter are guaranteed! There is also a Bring and Buy Sale – a good opportunity to purchase one or two Christmas gifts. Friends from all four congregations are always welcome – and friends of friends. The Guild is for women and men, so this meeting, and all our meetings, are open to all. See you there?

Wednesday 23rd
Thank you, gracious and loving God, for those divine acts which have answered our pleas over this last year.

Thursday 24th Joint Meeting in Canisbay
Steve Aisthorpe is the Highland Development Worker for the National Church. He travels up to Canisbay from Kincraig to meet with as many of our office bearers as possible We pray that Steve’s visit to Caithness and our four churches will help us learn how to reach out to others so that all may hear Your word. Pray too that this meeting will be of great help as we move forward in our Pentland Parishes.

Friday 25th
Living Lord, as the review panel comprising Myrtle Gillies, David Malcolm and Ronnie Johnstone meet with Lyall, Heather Stewart and Esme, for our annual Ordained Local Minister Reviews, give wisdom as each one involved seeks Your will for the year ahead.

Saturday 26th
Forgive me, Lord. I try not to do selfish things – yet I still fall short – in my thinking, my speaking and my actions. Give me strength, I pray, to try harder!

Sunday 27th First Sunday of Advent Psalm 122; Matt. 22.36-44
Og & Dt – Lyall (Communion); K & Cb – Marcus Cornah
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat, this is my body.’ (Matt.26.26,NIV
Risen Lord Jesus, as Your people gather today to celebrate and receive the Sacrament, give to each one great joy. May no-one take this for granted.

Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th
The Serenity Prayer - to memorise and say slowly over and over..
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

Wednesday 30th St Andrew’s Day
Happy St Andrew’s Day! Our Patron Saint has always been a great example of the type of person Jesus is looking for in His followers today - friendly, approachable and imaginatively looking for opportunities to introduce others to their Master. Pray that each of us may be more like Andrew, attracting others to Jesus.