Prayer Diary Jan 2017
Sunday 1st Psalm 8; Matt. 25.31-46 Happy New Year! Olrig – Combined Service (Pentland Parishes) at 11am. - Lyall
Merciful and Gracious God, You have brought us safely to the beginning of another year. As we worship with our family and friends or on our own, lift our hearts in praise and trust to You. 2017 is in Your hands, each moment known to You. Whatever lies in it for us, You promise to walk with us. Thank You, Lord!
Monday 2nd
Scripture teaches clearly that suffering and threat are real. But it also teaches that we can trust that God is always with us, even if we go through harrowing experiences. We can trust God that no-one can snatch us out of His hands. We can trust God that our destiny is secure. The message of Revelation is simple but profound: Jesus wins! In Him we trust. He is the best life insurance. (Cornelis Bennema, Encounter with God Jan.’17 Scripture Union)
Tuesday 3rd
I’ve learned that whatever you lack in life God will give you a substitute and that can usually take the form of a wonderful friend. Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God’s Best Gifts.
Wednesday 4th
Gracious God, thank You for the New Year ! The worst of the dark time is over and by the middle of the month , we will be noting the longer days. May You fill each of us with Joy!
Thursday 5th
Whoever is happy will make others happy too. Anne Frank When we consider what Anne Frank endured, it is amazing that she could write so confidently about happiness. This little comment puts me to shame! Lord God, as I delight in living for You today, make my happiness infectious!
Friday 6th Messy Church at Dunnet
We are sincerely grateful for the hard work and long hours given so freely to us in Caithness by our Ministers and Locums, Ordained Local Ministers, Readers and Office Bearers. Support and strengthen them, dear Lord, in their difficult and often wearying work and please help us to help them to the best of our ability.
Saturday 7th
As a new year has begun, the challenges facing persecuted Christians have never been greater. Pray for wisdom for Open Doors workers and partners as they seek God for how best to strengthen the persecuted church in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America – and wherever faith costs the most. (Open Doors – prayer adapted)
Sunday 8th Ps.72.1-7,10-14; Matt.2.1-12 Season of Epiphany Dunnet & Olrig- Marcus Cornah; Keiss & Canisbay - Lyall
In this Season we remember how the Wise Men came to worship the Infant Jesus, bringing their gifts. 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 9th
With the departure of Rev Godwin Osiakwa for Berwickshire, Central Caithness is left without Locum support. Pray for Charles Rigg as he arranges ministerial cover. How involved should and can Esme be? Pray for Divine wisdom!
Tuesday 10th
It is three years since a service was held in Olrig Church to mark and celebrate the linking of Canisbay with Dunnet with Keiss with Olrig Churches! Lord of the Church, much has happened since then and friendships continue to be forged, but there is much to be done. Help all of us to be faithful in prayer. May Your will be done!
Wednesday 11th
As our schools have opened after the holidays, please continue to pray for Lyall as he conducts regular assemblies in Canisbay, Crossroads and Keiss Schools. Remember too Howard Stone at Castletown.Thank God for the open doors in our local Primaries.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 12th
Remember the people of America as their new President takes his place around this time. We cannot know what lies ahead in these uncertain times, but we know without a shadow of doubt that God is sovereign and that nothing can happen without His knowledge. Almighty God, may Your will be done. Keep us faithful in prayer for all who hold power!
Friday 13th
Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words! This modern rendering of Paul’s prayer recorded in 2 Corinthians 9.15 reminds us that we walk through the first days of 2017 in the glorious light of Christmas. If only this joy might attract others!
Saturday 14th
Almighty Father, we pray for friends and family members facing difficult situations today. Help us to know how to help, and also when to remain silent, talking about them only with You. Thank You that You always know what is best.
Sunday 15th Psalm 40.1-11; John 1. 29 - 42 Dt & Olrig–Ian McCree; Keiss & Canisbay – Marcus Cornah
Ian McCree writes: ‘I think we need a lot of prayer for the four congregational meetings that we plan to hold at the close of morning service to discuss the anxieties and concerns about the prospect of a union and that the steering group would be listening to and seeking to allay any fears or misunderstandings. Pray that all might be open to explore the possibilities of a Union.'
Monday 16th
Schools have resumed and hopefully everyone is refreshed following the Christmas break. Loving Lord, help us not to take for granted the good education which our children receive. Strengthen the staff in what can be a hard term with unpredictable weather.
Tuesday 17th
Light of the world you stepped down into darkness, Opened my eyes, let me see. Beauty that made this heart adore you, Hope of a life spent with you. May the blessings of Jesus, the Light of the world, be with you. (Fiona Rennie on behalf of the Parliamentary Prayer Team Scotland) This evening there is a time of prayer organised by this team. Join in?
Wednesday 18th
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.
Thursday 19th
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.
Friday 20th
As our congregations face the ever-increasing cost of Ministry and of utilities in addition to the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of our buildings, please pray with us that those who can will consider increasing their giving. Give thanks for the dedicated service given by those who serve as our congregational treasurers.
Saturday 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 me.
Sunday 22nd Psalm 27.1,4-9; Matt.4. 12 - 23 Dunnet &Olrig – Ben MacGregor; Keiss &Canisbay - Lyall
A Week of Christian Prayer starts today and in 2017 the theme is Reconciliation. Living Lord, we pray for the Unity of all Christians, no matter which part of Your church they belong to. We are sorry and ashamed of the bigotry that has caused us to hurt others and pray that You will forgive us for ignoring Your prayer that “they will all be one” (John 17. 21)
Monday 23rd
Dear Lord, walk alongside all those suffering misery, loss or grief. Open our eyes to the needs of others and open our hearts so that we may, in some way, be Your hands to help them.
Tuesday 24th Canisbay Guild Pot Luck Supper
Lord Jesus Christ, when You walked on this earth, You delighted in fellowship around a table. As the Guild meet this evening, be as real to us as one another. We pray that nothing may prevent the success of what has traditionally been our most successful gathering.
Wednesday 25th Robert Burns’ Birthday
We hope to hold a Burns’ Supper on Saturday evening in Canisbay Village Hall as a joint celebration for church and community. A great deal of organisation is involved: pray for those at the sharp end. A successful gathering could play a huge part in breaking down barriers which are real or imagined. As we seek move forward through 2017, may God grant success!
Thursday 26th M&M Committee in Wick; Australia Day
Many of us have friends and relations living Down Under. Let’s remember them specially today as they enjoy the glorious heat of their summer season.
Friday 27th
Forgive us , Merciful God, for all those occasions when we became angry, irritated and stubborn and thought ill of others. We know it is not what You would want; rather it shows our foolishness. Help us to be more temperate, wise and kind in our thoughts of others.
Saturday 28th Burns Supper in Canisbay Village Hall
Merciful Father, we all know folk who are anxious about their health today; waiting for the date for an operation or treatment; or for the results of tests. Keep us faithful as we pray for them and for their families and friends. Thank You that You hold us all in the palms of Your hands.
Sunday 29th Psalm 15; Matt. 5. 1 - 12 Dunnet&Olrig – Worship Team; Keiss&Canisbay - Ian McRee
Almighty God, already it is the last Sunday of this first month of the New Year! 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 30th
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop It is a considerable time since I meditated on Aesop’s Fables but being directed to this one just now is timeous. Jesus lived out this wise statement and He looks to us to do the same as we live for Him.
Tuesday 31st
And so another month draws to a close. 2017 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.
The Editor apologises that it was necessary to prepare this issue for printing before the preaching rota was finalized. Those who receive hard copies might like to add the information when they have it! EFD
