There are many varied occasions and events being remembered or celebrated today across the globe, which include: National Kids & Pets Day (USA), an International Prayer Day, Bowel Cancer Awareness (UK) & Remembering the Chernobyl disaster on this day in 1986. We will all come to this secluded place with differing concerns, sadness & joy, so let's bring all our burdens to the Lord in prayer, whatever is pressing on our hearts today.
Let's remember and pray for all the individual churches and Christian groups in our cities, towns and villages and Christians everywhere who are working hard to sow seeds, demonstrate God's love and make Jesus known across our 4 nations of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland. And in particular, may we pray today for our CF churches and partnerships in all the many and varied forms of service, outreach and mission to our communities. We can cover in prayer all the babies' & toddlers' groups, Messy Church activities, coffee & tea groups, craft groups, prayer groups, Bible studies, men's, women's & young people's groups, financial and lifestyle advisors, committee members, Fresh Expressions and everyone who gives their precious time to serve in any way.
Let's remember our Ministers, Deacons and all who give their time to serve on committees locally and in the CF Areas.
As the time for the May Assembly approaches let's pray God's blessing on everyone involved in the planning and delivery of this important event and pray that all will go smoothly without problems. Pray for good fellowship and relationships, safe travel and successful online streaming that we might all share together and be guided and directed by the Holy Spirit.
Finally, let's pray for our own needs and then bring to the Lord our families and loved ones and any for whom we have responsibility and pray for God's blessing upon them and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our neighbourhoods and places of work.
We used to pray this lovely prayer sometimes in my school assemblies (a long time ago in the 1960s) which we could revisit in this quiet moment:
“Teach us good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give, and not to count the cost, to fight, and not to heed the wounds, to toil, and not to seek rest, to labour, and not to ask for any reward, except that of knowing we do your will”. Amen.
(Prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola)
Ruth Leeming
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