Sunday 1 October
- Moderator | The Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Samuel Mawhinney, will be touring the Presbytery of East Belfast. Please pray for good pastoral conversations with ministers and members, opportunities to share a vision of a Confident Christianity, genuine engagement in the public square, and the ability to listen well to local concerns.
- Worship: Stillness before God | ‘Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalm 46:10. Give thanks to God that he reigns over all things and ask that in your worship today you might know the peace and calm of his presence and power.
Monday 2 October
- St Petersburg Christian University, Russia | Pray that the new students commencing theological studies would adapt well, many needing to continue in part-time jobs to fund their studies. Pray also that donor funding would reach the University and that it would continue to know God’s provision.
- Zomba Theological University (ZTU), Malawi | Pray for Rev Dr Takuze Chitsulo, Principal, together with his staff team, that they might know God’s guidance and encouragement as they share in the training of ministers for churches throughout Malawi and beyond.
Tuesday 3 October
- Eleanor Drysdale, deaconess, Wellington, Ballymena | Pray for all the leaders and helpers in the organisations as a new session begins. Pray that they will have sufficient leaders and helpers. Give thanks for God’s faithfulness to them and pray that Eleanor and the team would lead well.
- Lisbellaw, Lisnaskea, Maguiresbridge & Newtownbutler | Give thanks to the Lord and pray for Helen, Anita and Grace, asking that as they share the good news of Jesus with the children and young people at Sunday school, that the seed of the gospel would take root and bear much fruit in the lives of the children and young people to the glory of God.
Wednesday 4 October
- Diane Cusick (global mission worker, Zambia) | Pray for Diane as she settles back into life in Zambia. Pray that she would know God’s love and protection over her as she starts working again in early childhood development.
- The Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT), Indonesia | Pray for preparations underway for GMIT’s General Assembly due to take place next week from 10th-20th October, especially that all those gathering would know God’s discernment and unity as a new leadership team is elected.
Thursday 5 October
- Carol Reid, children’s worker, South Belfast Friendship House | Pray for all those who will come through the doors of Friendship House, that we will have opportunities to share the gospel with them and they will respond to this. Pray for opportunities and wisdom as we seek to expand the ministry to different age groups in Sandy Row.
- Howth and Malahide | Pray for Howth and Malahide congregations, that they would grow deeper together in fellowship and faith in Christ. Pray that they would sense God’s presence each week as they gather.
Friday 6 October
- Safeguarding | Pray that adults and children who may be at risk will feel safe and secure in their own homes and within the wider community. Pray that as a Church we may be more aware of seeking out the lonely, vulnerable and abused, to ease their feelings of isolation. Give thanks for Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin, Head of Safeguarding, and John Steven, Safeguarding Training and Development Officer, as they both raise awareness and seek to make our Church a safe place.
- Policing | Pray for those who serve in the PSNI and An Garda Síochána seeking to keep communities safe. Amidst unique challenges pray for protection as they put themselves in danger for the sake of others, and pray too that officers who have been injured while on duty would recover quickly.
Saturday 7 October
- General Council | Pray for the ongoing work of the IT Department based in Assembly Buildings, led by Steve McMurray. Pray for wisdom as they seek to protect PCI’s computer networks from increasing cyber-attacks, viruses etc. Pray also for guidance as they prioritise the department’s ever-increasing workload.
- Training in Ministry | The teaching of Union College is very ably supported by staff who deal with academic administration, finance, reception, maintenance, cleaning & other operations. Give thanks for these staff, who are essential to the running of the College & a blessing to faculty & students. Pray that the Lord would bless & encourage them in their important roles.