Prayer for Monday 12th May 2014

Today from our church family we pray for Rebecca Humphries.

The Archdeacon’s Visitation to the Walsall Deanery is taking place at St Martin’s tonight. As part of the service we will be swearing in our new Church Wardens. We pray for our wardens David and Julie, and for our deputy wardens David, Jackie, Mike and Peter. Help us all to support them in their work for our church over the coming year. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer for Sunday 11th May

Today from our church family we pray for June Hughes.

Collect for the 4^th Sunday of Easter:

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today is the start of Christian Aid Week. We pray for all those who are involved in fundraising events and services this week, as we seek to build a better world. We pray for everyone who takes envelopes for distributing around our parish. The envelope campaign raises an average of twelve million pounds each year to support Christian Aid’s work among the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world; work which depends on thousands of volunteers taking the time to deliver and collect envelopes. If each of us takes one street, the work will soon be done.

“Only many hands will move the rock (Sudanese proverb).

Come friends let us worship together: only many hands will move the rock. Come friends let us work together: only many hands will move the rock. Come friends let us walk together: only many hands will move the rock. Come for Christ calls us: only many hands will move the rock. Our world is weighed down with oppression. Our sisters and brothers bear a heavy yoke. The way is blocked from fullness of life. Come for Christ calls us: only many hands will move the rock.” (Christian Aid resources) Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer for Saturday 10th May

Today, from our church family, we pray for Rita Hooper

In our Saturday prayer for Walsall, we focus today on the many churches and religious groups who do so much to support the poor and vulnerable in our town.  We thank you, Lord, for the support the churches provide to the Glebe Centre where Hi’s ‘N Lows is now situated.  Many churches provide food, clothing and support to those who use the centre.  Many people from St. Martin’s have been, and continue to be, amazingly generous.  Thank you, Lord, for the Big Feed which is church financed and the food banks which the churches have set up.  The Sikh temple provides a free lunch every Tuesday at the Glebe and on Wednesday another Asian group provides free food.  There are so many faith groups working together to help those less well off than themselves.  Thank you, Generous Lord, for each and every person who thinks of others first.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer for Friday 9th May

Today, from our church family, we pray for Paula Homer.

Next week sees the start of Christian Aid Week.  We pray for all who will take out and collect the Christian Aid envelopes for the street collection.  May the bright red Christian Aid logo, on the carrier bags the collectors use, shine out as a symbol of our Christian faith as we go around our local community.  The envelopes which flutter through the letter boxes show our friends and neighbours that we care about the poor and underprivileged in our world.  Loving Lord, may this week of events raise sufficient money to enable Christian Aid to do its valuable work amongst the poorest people in the world.
Prayer for Christian Aid week:
“Lord Jesus,
for journeys home;
for determined steps to peace;
for hope overcoming fear;
for kindness against violence;
for goodness and mercy.
Even through the horrors of war;
for the breaking of bread and for prayers;
for sharing what we have; for all these things,
give us glad and generous hearts.  Amen.”
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer For Church Growth

Prayer for Church growth, produced by the 'Leading Your Church Into Growth' team:

God of Mission
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer for Thursday 8th May

Today, from our church family, we pray for David Holmes.

Today Simon is attending a training event in Stafford entitled, “Leading Your Church into Growth”.  Loving Lord, we pray for Simon as he takes part in this training day.  We pray that it is an informative and helpful day and that it will   inspire him with lots of ideas that we can use here at St. Martin’s.

Continuing his busy schedule, Simon will be chairing the Standing Committee, which meets together tonight to discuss some important issues about the future of St. Martin’s.  We thank you, Lord, for all who serve on this committee.  Their combined wisdom has helped to move the Building for the Future agenda forward and inspired us to look ahead to exciting new ideas.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer for Wednesday 7th May

Today, from our church family, we pray for Sue Holmes.

The “Worship Matters” course is beginning today when one will be able to explore the many ways one can worship and discover how to engage in worship more deeply.

At the Lent Lunch Talks at St. Paul’s church last month, Dr. Esther Waterhouse spoke on the topic, “Is All Life Worth Saving?”.  Dr. Waterhouse is the consultant in charge of palliative care at the Manor Hospital.  After her very interesting talk about the challenging nature of her work, she asked if we would all pray for her and her team.  Dear Lord, we do not know what difficult situations Esther and her team face daily, nor the emotional cost of dealing with end of life issues.  We ask you to bless all the palliative care team with love, patience, wisdom, courage, tenderness and understanding.  Be with them when they are exhausted and emotional drained, we pray.  Please give them your peace and tranquillity so that they can cope with all that challenges them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.