Thursday 21st - Ascension Day
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Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:24; Psalm 47
Praying for your five: Pray for your 5 friends to encounter Jesus in all his grace, challenge and love, that they might say with St Paul, ‘For me, to live is Christ’. Praying for St. Luke's: Online Services Give thanks for the ability to put our services online during this lockdown period and for the many people that have contributed to them during this time. Pray that people will be encouraged to continue contributing creatively beyond lockdown and that those who have been unable to contribute will know that they are still an important part of our church family. Pray for wisdom as we plan how best to maintain an online presence as the lockdown eases and we return to the church building. |
Friday 22nd
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Bible Reading: Hebrews 2:8b-10; Psalm 93
Praying for your five: Pray for your 5 to be woken up to all that they have already received from God in their lives, and all that he offers them in Christ, that they might praise him. Praying for St. Luke's: Family and Children Give thanks for all the children and families linked to St. Luke's and for all the teachers that continue to educate the children virtually. Pray for parents trying their best to home educate their children, for stamina, wisdom and patience. Pray for the children that they would not be anxious, but calm and not be bored but stimulated. Pray for wisdom for those deciding when and how children should return to school. Pray for the future children's work at St. Luke's as we seek to start that again in the coming months. May there be plenty of leaders and helpers to help the children and may the children truly grow up to love and know Jesus for themselves. |
Saturday 23rd
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Bible Reading: Romans 8:38,39; Psalm 98
Praying for your five: Pray for your 5 to recognise the goodness of God in their lives, that they would turn to God in gratitude and trust. Praying for St. Luke's: Evangelism Give thanks that we can invite friends and family who do not normally come to church or who cannot make the services to watch our services online. Pray that those who are watching the services online will be attracted to Christ and that as people think about life in new ways because of the present situation they might be open to hear the good news of Jesus in ways they were not before. Pray that we may be able to set up an online Christianity Explored course in the next couple of weeks that people might attend. Pray that as a church we would become more focussed on sharing the good news of Jesus on the frontline of our lives and encouraged seeing new people come to faith at St. Luke's. |
Sunday 24th
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Bible Reading: John 7:37-39a, Psalm 104:26-32
Praying for your five: Pray for your 5 to be led by the Holy Spirit to understand the cost of God’s love for them in Christ, that this great sacrifice would lead them to repentance. Praying for St. Luke's: Spiritual Growth Give thanks that we can still read the Bible and pray during this time of lockdown. Give thanks too that some Growth Teams have been able to meet on Zoom during this time, sometimes with new members. Pray that God will use this time to help us grow in our faith as we learn to rely on him through the added concerns and pressures of life, but also as some of us have more time to think and reflect away from the normal busyness. Pray for St. Luke's as we come out of this lockdown period, that we may able to encourage people more effectively in their own personal Spiritual growth and growth through small groups and the church community. |
Monday 25th
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Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-end; Psalm 21:1-7
Praying for your five: Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring an understanding of life in all its fullness that will be theirs as your 5 put everything they have at the disposal of God. Praying for St. Luke's: Older People Give thanks for the older people linked at St. Luke's and for all they have done to keep the Christian community and gospel message alive over the years. Give thanks that so many are still able to access our services through YouTube or DVD, even at this time. Give thanks too that none at St. Luke's have been badly affected by the virus. Give thanks also for the offers of support from friends and family for so many in need. Pray for those who are feeling isolated or missing seeing family, that they may have God's patience and peace through this difficult time. Pray for wisdom for each one as the lockdown eases that they may still be rightly cautious, but not too afraid to engage with what is safe. Pray for those who are in ill health that they may receive the care, support and treatment they need. Pray for St. Luke's ongoing ministry, support and outreach with older people through groups like Tuesday Friendship Club. |
Tuesday 26th
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Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Psalm 29
Praying for your five: Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of your 5 now, as you pray for specific things that you know they face. Praying for St. Luke's: Food Bank Give thanks for the local food bank and especially the one based at the Salvation Army. Give thanks for all the help and practical support this has offered so many who are particularly struggling with poverty at this difficult time. Give thanks for all the volunteers, providing food, raising money, organising the food bank and distributing the food. Pray that God would continue to protect them all during this time. Pray for wisdom in maintaining this ministry in the post-lockdown period when less volunteers may be available and there may be greater levels of poverty. Pray that those who receive food support at this time may come to look to Jesus as the bread of life. |
Amazing Grace (with lyrics) from sonderseen on Vimeo. |
Wednesday 27th
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Bible Reading: Joel 2:28,29; Psalm 46
Praying for your five: Pray for your 5 that they would know that they never have to face anything alone, but that in their need they would call on God for help. Praying for St. Luke's: Workers Give thanks for the 'furlough scheme' and other government initiatives that have made it possible for many people to continue to be paid at this time and not be made redundant. Give thanks for those who are finding new ways to work from home and the positive changes that that can bring. Pray for those who are facing the possibility of redundancy that they will soon find new work and may know that there is still purpose and meaning in life through Christ. Pray for those who are worried about returning to work, either through fear of infection or the return to what had been stressful before, that they may know peace from God and learn to trust Jesus one day at a time. Pray for those who are likely to be spending more time working from home on a permanent basis, that they may be able to remain connected with work colleagues and continue to be a witness in their workplace - even remotely. Pray for us at St. Luke's that we may be a church, which sees life in the workplace as an integral part of our worship and mission. |
Rock of Ages (with lyrics) from sonderseen on Vimeo. |
Thursday 28th
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Bible Reading: Luke 11:9-13; Psalm 84
Praying for your five: For the eyes of your 5 to be opened to all that Jesus offers them and that they would turn their faces to him and enjoy the warmth of his love. Praying for St. Luke's: Money Give thanks that we live in a society, where there is some level of financial support available for all. Give thanks for the generosity of many giving to charity at this time and particularly to the work of St. Luke's. Pray for those who are facing financial worries at this time because of the effects of the present crisis on savings or earnings of whatever kind. May they find peace through Christ and trust him to provide for our every need. Pray for the church finances, that we will be able to deal with the loss in hall bookings, fund the need for a new church boiler and pay our general running costs this year. |
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Friday 29th
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Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:20-22; Psalm 28
Praying for your five: Pray for yourself and those others the Lord sends to help show your 5 their route home to God, that they would know the loving father running to greet them. Praying for St. Luke's: Youth Give thanks for the young people linked with St. Luke's, either as members of church families or through Fusion. Give thanks that many more young people have been connecting with church nationally online. Pray for them at this time as their education has been disrupted and their future prospects made more uncertain. May they know the peace of God and trust that he is still in control and that their future is in his hands. Pray that this time will make them more open to hear the Christian message and see their need for Christ. Pray for wisdom as lockdown is eased at how best to connect with the youth as we review our Friday night youth work and consider best how to maintain an online presence. |
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Saturday 30th
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Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:17,18; Psalm 43
Praying for your five: Pray for the Holy Spirit to put on your heart the desires of heaven for your 5. Praying for St. Luke's: Buildings Give thanks that our buildings provide a safe place for us to gather and meet in person as we miss our normal gatherings. Give thanks for those who paid for them to be built and have maintained them over the years. Pray for wisdom as we think about whether and how the buildings can serve us into the future and how we might best maintain them. Pray especially that we are able to make the right decisions about replacing our present church boilers. |
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Sunday 31st - Pentecost
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Bible Reading: John 20:21,22; Psalm 87
Praying for your five: Pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’ for your 5 friends, that they may joyfully enter the Kingdom of God and find themselves used by God to pray and act ‘Thy Kingdom Come'. Praying for St. Luke's: World Mission On Pentecost Sunday give thanks that we are part of a worldwide family of many different languages and nations. Give thanks for those who are willing to live in different parts of the world to offer support, care and training to build God's church. Pray especially for the different organisations and people St. Luke's is linked with: - TearFund - Compassion (and for John, the child supported by our Sunday Club) - Dick and Caroline Seed (CMS) - Greg and Sylvia Venables - Church Pastoral Aid Society |
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