Intercessions 31/1/09

Heavenly Father, creator of a universe full of wonder and many still-hidden mysteries. Help us in our modern, sometimes confusing and fast changing world to pause and reflect on your glory and unending grace and in the stillness to listen for your voice speaking to us alone. We bring to you now our prayers and concerns for others confident in the knowledge that our prayers will be both heard and answered. As we pray for your Church both far and near we remember the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Help us through our services, community outreaches, study groups and other organisations to be bold in professing our faith and that we may all be one, united in love of you and in service to your world. We pray for our fellow Christians throughout your world, thinking particularly of all those for whom worshipping will lead them into dangers and difficulty. Be near them and give them courage and strength in their witness. Make them aware at all times that you are with them.
We pray for all who share in the church’s mission in this community. Help us to move forward in faith trusting in the guidance of your Holy Spirit and in your divine purpose for us all. Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’We continue to pray for peace in your world, and especially for those involved in the process of reconciliation and bridge building between peoples, cultures or nations.
We pray for the leaders of the countries of the world. Help them so that together they may pursue the search for peace. Above all we pray for those parts of this world where life is a continual struggle and where peace is too often a dream.
Bring peace to Israel and Palestine, to Sri Lanka, and to the many strife torn countries of Africa. Help us to be peacemakers in our neighbourhoods, with those we meet.

We give thanks for the continued cessation of hostilities in and around Gaza but pray for those for whom it has come too late. We pray for all innocent victims of violence and disease in Zimbabwe, we ask that at this critical time you provide hope for the future to those who are needlessly suffering.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’We pray for our own nation, for Elizabeth our Queen, her ministers and for all who serve the people at all levels of government and responsibility. The current and deepening financial crisis creates uncertainties and hardship at all levels of our society and we pray for careful and considered leadership that transcends party politics and works for the betterment of all sections of our diverse society. As we see the jobless total rise and the increase in the reality of house repossessions on our TV screens, we pray for all charities who work to improve the lives of those blighted by misfortune and earnestly pray that our nation will still maintain its levels of giving.We pray for our armed forces overseas and their families back home and that their time ‘in theatres of conflict’ is brought to a timely conclusion. Help us all to play our part in creating and maintaining a just, equitable and loving society with Christ at the centre of our lives.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’Lord, we turn our thoughts and prayers to those who are in physical, mental or spiritual need. And let our prayers extend to those who faithfully and lovingly care for them in whatever location or capacity. We pray for those who reach out to those in need to help them to know that they are not forgotten.We bring before you now those who have been made known to us

SICK - PEW SHEET

Let those for whom we pray feel your healing touch in their lives and that through your unfathomable grace they come to know your peace in their lives.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’The loss of a loved one brings many questions, doubts and mixed emotions which are difficult to express and so we give you thanks Lord for the opportunities in the life of our church to offer support and comfort to those bereaved. And so as we remember and pray for now those who are having to face the future without the physical presence of a loved one we are reminded that as Christians we find comfort in the full and certain knowledge of eternal lifeToday we remember: - PEW SHEET
And those who’s anniversaries fall at this time. PEW SHEET

We pray that we too may come, by your grace to share the life which has no ending.Merciful Father, “Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen”.

Prayer Bulletin

Please include in your prayers this month:
Pray for;

1. Those caught up in the needless suffering in Zimbabwe.
2. Continued cessation of hostilities in Gaza
3. The current and deepening financial crisis creates uncertainties and hardship at all levels of our society and we pray for careful and considered leadership
4. Pray for those who are in physical, mental or spiritual need and known to you personally
5. Area's of strife in Africa - War in Congo, Khat (Drug) problems in Ethiopia,
6. CTiS Lent course - support and fulfilment from the course
7. Those suffering from substance abuse
8. The homeless in Trafford
9. Give thanks for family and friends
10. Those who are lonely
    
    More to follow.....

John - Homeless 3

A quick update on John.

John is currently in hospital due to an infection. This is much better than being out in this severe weather conditions we have had recently. He is getting treatment and social services are now involved so fingers crossed he keeps to his regime and gets better.

I took him one of our homeless shoeboxes and he was over the moon with the contents and was very excited about having as have and putting on some smelly before his mum came to visit.

Till next time....

Christmas to remember..

Christmas 2008, has been one to remember. None of the usual stress, no building work going on. Christmas Eve was spent with family watching TV and getting ready for Midnight Mass, we had an excellent service and once done went home to bed to wait in anticipation of how the kids will react in the morning. First up was Rebecca, then Beth and then Luke (we didn't expect Luke to be up too early :o)). Has Santa been???? "Santa's been" we heard shouts of delight from Beth. Downstairs in five seperate piles were presents left by Santa and guess who's was the biggest pile.............. yes Mum's. I think she was very surprised with the gifts she had to unwrap. By 7.16am all the presents were opened and it was time to return to my nice warm duvet, I think it could still be warm from when I got up :o). Everyone was very happy with their presents, no complaints from anyone. Luke always complained about not having a musical instrument so this year he got one - a Triangle waiting to ting that triangle at the right time was a musical masterpiece.
After the presents we had breakfast and got ready to attend the Parish Christmas Day Service at 10am and from there go and see some of the family gathered at Grandads. presents exchanged, Santa visits every house and leaves presents their for other people, it's amazing how he does it.
Today we have only 11 for Christmas lunch, Grandad, Linda, Rose, Harry, Esther and Bea joined us to celebrate this Christmas. Everyone helped by doing something, peeling spuds and sprouts, getting starters and puddings ready, washing up which was very good. Then sometime around 3.30pm Lunch was served, we always have lunch between 2pm and 6pm so every year were on target - portion control is not one of Jackie's forte's so I dished the grub up. The plates were only half as high but everyone enjoyed it just the same and there was seconds if needed. Fit for busting pudding time, Christmas pud, brandy sauce, mince pies, apple pie, ice cream, fruit what delights mmmm............ I can't eat another thing, I'll have some apple pie no please haha. That's why we sleep during the James Bond film. Mum came in the evening and more gifts. More sleep, more TV and oh I have to do this all again tomorrow.
Boxing Day, we have to organise a buffet today for those who want to attend the Trivial Pursuits Evening to day. What a laugh we had, not sure who won but aren't those kids questions hard. teams as follows; T1 Julie, Steve and Linda T2 Caz, Brian, Rose T3 Jackie, Beth, Rebecca and Heather. Not that I'm competitive or anything but I think T1 won I'm sure.

Anyway a brilliant couple of days, always goes too fast and if you're Christmas was pretty much the same I think we need to count ourselves very lucky. Not everyone has had as good a time as we have this year.

Happy New Year

Perry and Victrix models arrived safely.
A busy Christmas time................

LOTR Troll & Fell Beast complete.
LOTR Morannon Orcs complete.
LOTR Arogorn King MTD and Standing complete.
Napoleon French Light Infantry in progress.

Pictures will follow when I can charge the camera up, the charger is still in the Lake District.