Moncreiff Parish Church

Prayer Diary

‘But the Lord says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.  Watch for the new thing I am going to do.”’

Isaiah 43 v 18 and 19

Eternal Father, we thank you for your gifts to us in times past and put ourselves firmly into your hands for all that the coming year may hold.

Amen

January 2020

1^st        Father God, help us to walk on your path of love, tolerance and patience with others.  Guide us in your way and forgive us when we fall short.

2^nd        We thank you, Lord, for those whose presence lifts us up, whose conversation encourages us and leaves us feeling better than before.

3^rd        Almighty God, we pray for those who lead the nations of this world.  May they seek peaceful solutions to their problems and come together in negotiation rather than with violence.

4^th        Open our eyes, Lord, to the opportunities that lie ahead and strengthen us for the disappointments.

5^th        Lord, of the present and the future, our congregation of Moncreiff is in your hands.  Bless our locum, Bill, and our Interim Moderator, Kevin, as they guide us through the months ahead.

6^th        “Love is a candle whose light makes a circle,

            where every face is the face of a friend.

            Widen the circle by sharing and giving –

            God’s holy dare: Love everywhere.”                            Richard Leach

7^th        We hold before you, Lord, the leaders and helpers of our Young Church in thanksgiving for the work they do with our children.

8^th        We pray today for those in our town and elsewhere who are struggling to heat their homes and feed their families.  May they receive the help they need.

9^th        Loving Father, come close to all who are grieving as they face the coming year with an empty space in their lives.

10^th      Today, Lord, we pray for ourselves, as mother, daughter, sister; as father, son, brother; as spouse, partner and friend.  Bless our relationships.

11^th      May all who live in difficult circumstances find a way through their problems.

12^th      We remember today all who are not able to come to worship, whether because of ill-health, caring responsibilities, severe weather or for other reasons.

13^th      Dear Lord, as a child you too were in a family of refugees, fleeing from danger, be especially close to all who are fleeing from a life we really cannot imagine, and bring them to a place of safety and security.

14^th      “Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teaching of the prophets.”

            Matthew 7 v 12

15^th      Caring Lord, come close to all who feel isolated from the warmth of human love.  May their loneliness be relieved.

16^th      Lord, you have taught us that deeds without love powering them are not your will.  Strengthen us to love more and therefore do more.

17^th      Thank you for those agencies which work to assist those who are unable to find work or accommodation.

18^th      As our lives settle into their normal routine, we ask you to keep us open to others and friendly towards those we meet.

19^th      Bless all who work with Loaves and Fishes and other such organisations.  Hasten the day they are no longer needed.

20^th      We thank you for the ongoing work of CAP (Christians Against Poverty) and ask that you continue to bless those who deliver the service and those who benefit from it.

21^st      MINI MEDITATION:  Lord, you know me: who I am, what I am, where I am, what brought me to this moment.  I rest in your knowledge of me.

22^nd      Almighty God, we ask that the light of your presence may shine on all who live without human rights, social justice, dignity and respect.

23^rd      We pray for all who are living with ongoing health problems.  Strengthen and uphold them.

24^th      “I am weak and helpless; come to me quickly, O God.  You are my saviour, O Lord – hurry to my aid.”                                Psalm 70 v 5

25^th      Loving Father, I bring those I love before you.  I name them in the silence and ask your blessing on them.

26^th      As we come to worship this morning bring us together in unity of purpose to make Moncreiff a beacon of light in our community.

27^th      We thank you, Lord, for authors, actors and all who help to stage performances which give us so much pleasure.

28^th      May all who work in the field of researching cures for our illnesses find success in their endeavours.

29^th      “Lord, when I am feeling tired and strained help me not to take it out on other people.”                                                               A. Ashwin

30^th      Bless the members of our Congregational Board and Kirk Session as we go forward in this time of vacancy.

31^st      As the daylight hours begin to lengthen, we thank you for the spring flowers and the growth that is happening under the earth.