Let’s Pray: Sun 17 October – Sat 23 October 2021 – First Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee

Moderator | Pray for the Moderator as he participates in the service of thanksgiving today at St Anne’s Cathedral, celebrating 60 years of the Belfast Samaritans. Pray for all those in distress or despair or who experience suicidal feelings, that they may have the courage to ask for the help they need. Give thanks for the many Samaritans volunteers; pray that they may have the necessary strength, stamina & continuing compassion in every interaction.
Encouraged by God in worship | Ask God to encourage his people in worship as we meet today, helping us look back with thankfulness for all he has been to us & look forward in hope, anticipating his ongoing presence with us.

Diane Cusick (global mission in Zambia) | Pray for the Early Childhood Development centres in Livingstone, Monze and Mazabuka – for the children not only to have fun through play, but to learn that Jesus loves them.
Zambia | Pray for CCAP Synod of Zambia as they hold their bi-annual General Administrative Committee meeting this week. Pray for wisdom as they make plans for the coming year. Pray too for Diane as she presents a report on Early Childhood Development and also assists the Synod with other presentations.

Sonya Anderson (deaconess in Shore St, Donaghadee) | Give thanks for the children’s & adults’ groups that are beginning to meet in-person. Pray that God will use these gatherings to restore a sense of community & that people will be encouraged in their faith. Pray for wisdom as the congregation seeks a new minister.
Kilkenny | Give thanks for fresh beginnings with the induction of Rev Jonathan Currie last month as minister, and a great openness to the preaching of God’s Word. As restrictions further ease, pray for discernment about what activities to restart and when to restart them.

Russia | Pray for staff and students at the Christian University of St Petersburg, for improvements in its finances and the challenges connected to new Russian legislation. Pray for strength and vision for pastors who are former students of the university as they minister.
Latvia | Pray for our partners in Latvia, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Latvia and the Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary. Pray for their work and witness through the restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Norman Harrison (hospital chaplain) | Pray for Norman as he serves as chaplain in the Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast and as lead chaplain in the Northern Trust. Pray for strength and encouragement for Norman in all he does, and that through him God will speak to many patients, relatives and hospital staff.
Limerick | Pray for God’s blessing on the work and witness of the United Presbyterian and Methodist congregation of Limerick. Pray especially for Rev Stephen Hancock, the church council & congregational leaders.

Social Witness | Pray for the managers of our homes and units as they deal with many tasks on a daily basis. There is a shortage of staff right across the care sector at present, which is affecting both the public and private sector. Pray that staffing levels rise and recruitment drives are successful.
Retail | Give thanks for those who work in retail and who have continued to provide for our daily needs in recent months. Pray for their protection in the busy run up to Christmas and that God would grant them grace, patience and stamina as they work long hours and serve customers who may be experiencing their own hassles and stress.

General Council | As the marking of the centenary of the foundation of Northern Ireland remains a sensitive issue, pray for the Moderator and the other church leaders, as they collectively lead a service of worship in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.
Linkage Commission | The Linkage Commission meets on Tuesday 26 October. Three congregations are due to ask permission to call a minister. Pray for the Commission, and its convener, James Livingstone, as it seeks to allocate resources [ministers, additional pastoral personnel, auxiliary ministers] across PCI at a time when the number of available ministers is low and falling.