Prayer Notes

This will be updated from time to time with the latest prayer news. "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence."

 St. Paul’s Prayer Notes

  • GENERAL PRAYER SHEET 

PSALM 8 : O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.   From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him.  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour.  You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet, all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

 

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

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CHURCH SERVICES :

 

Morning and Evening Services throughout the coming months

Pray that the Lord will, even now, be leading someone to become our Minister of Word and Sacrament so that the ministry of St Paul’s and Baldernock will continue for many years to come and that the congregation, through the Holy Spirit, will be a ‘Light in our Dark World’.

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Lorna Ferguson – our Prayer Partner with OMF.  Lorna is involved in various areas of OMF’s work in Japan – personal, administrative, and spiritual and each of these areas requires different responses and actions from her – pray for Lorna in each of these areas - these can be quite time consuming - pray that she will be given guidance, insight and help to help those who need it most. 

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Our world for many people is in flux with unexpected and frightening events which make living a normal life very difficult.   This can be because of natural disasters, drought, famine, oppression and war and the people are overwhelmed because they cannot control their own or their family’s future or welfare.  Pray for all who are struggling with things outwith their control.   Below are just some of the countries and peoples to pray for.

 

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY PEOPLES OF OUR WORLD

  • LEBANON : The UN says more than 2,000 people have been forced to flee violence between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. The clashes between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist groups left 11 people dead, the UN says. A ceasefire has now been agreed although gunfire was still being reported on Monday.  The UN says it houses more than 63,000 registered refugees, but some estimates say the population is higher.  The camp, situated near the southern city of Sidon, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese security forces.  It is left up to rival factions within the camp to maintain its security, but factional disputes are common.  The director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, said all the agency's operations in the camp had been suspended.  She called on "all parties to immediately return to calm and take all measures necessary to protect civilians, including children".  More than 479,000 refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon.   About half live in the country's 12 refugee camps, which have "dire" living conditions.
  • NIGER : Niger is a key part of the African region known as the Sahel - a belt of land that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. The area is plagued by jihadists and beset by military regimes. Western nations had looked to Niger as a bulwark against further disorder and spreading Russian influence in the region. But that turned out to be short-lived. In recent years, politically it was seen as an example of relative democratic stability, while its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso had already succumbed to military coups.  Strategically, it hosts French and US military bases and is seen as a key partner in the fight against Islamist insurgents.  Economically, it is rich in uranium.   However, Niger's people consistently rank as having the lowest standards of living anywhere in the world.  Adding to the instability in the region, climate change is causing desertification to spread southwards from the Sahara into the Sahel. Experts say temperatures in the Sahel are rising faster than anywhere else in the world. 
  • UKRAINE : A Russian drone strike has hit Ukrainian port facilities at Izmail on the River Danube, a short distance from Nato member state Romania. A grain warehouse and an elevator for loading grain were damaged. Almost 40,000 tonnes of grain destined to African countries, China and Israel were damaged, Ukraine said.  Russia began targeting Ukraine's ports after abandoning a UN deal that enabled the safe grain export between both countries across the Black Sea.  "These are the very ports that have become the foundation of global food security today’.  According to data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, Somalia relied on Ukraine and Russia for 90% of its wheat.  More than 50 million people across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan are in need of food aid because of successive years of failed rains.
  • According to the UN, under the grain deal Ukraine shipped 625,000 tonnes of food as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Link this to the current ban of rice exports from India and there will be many people who will go without or pay exorbitant prices for scarce basic food sources.

 

 

PRAY FOR OUR PEOPLE IN OUR TOWNS AND CITIES

  • KESWICK CONVENTION : Pray for everyone who attended the Keswick Convention this year. During the Convention, well over 1000 young people will have heard and participated in activities as they explored the Word of God.   Many of them will have made a profession of faith.   Continue to pray for those who are of School age and will come across other pupils who are hostile to Christianity and the teachings of Jesus Christ.   Help them to remain resilient and steadfast in the face opposition etc.  
  • SCRIPTURE UNION : A number of SU School Groups have attended weekends or longer stays at the various SU Centres. SU also put on a Convention called ‘Magnitude’ at Lendrick Muir at the end of July. Again, pray for them as they go home to their families as well as start back at School in mid-August.  
  • Loved ones who are grieving – Many in our Church Family of St Paul’s have suffered bereavement – some so suddenly and unexpectedly and they are finding it hard adjusting to their situation. Some don’t have family close by – pray for their friends in church and for their neighbours as they offer their support and friendship. Pray, too, for the elders and ministers who are visiting each of the bereaved, seeking to bring the love and grace of Jesus at this time. 
  • Family members who are sick – some with challenging illness as well as with dementia. Others have just had devastating news about a loved one or a family member of a friend. Pray for both the person who is not well and for the carer who is feeling exhausted and at their wits end; and not quite sure what to do and how to cope.  Pray for extra strength, patience and resilience. 
  • People in Care Homes – there are members of St Paul’s who are now in Care Homes. Pray for the loved one still at home – that they won’t feel ‘guilty’ about the decision; helping them readjust to their new routine.
  • Jumping Jacks – Outreach in Maryhill (we were given information about this Outreach at the Holy Week Services). The Group meets each Friday at 8 pm where the Gospel message is shared and people who are hurting and in need are met by God. This outreach is particularly suitable for anyone seeking to be free from addictions. 
  • Mission Aviation Fellowship, Barnabas Fund, Christian Aid, Tearfund - as they seek to bring help and comfort to the most sick and needy.
  • Street Pastors, Glasgow City Mission, Lodging House Mission – continue to pray for everyone involved in each of these areas of mission. Pray that the organisations continue to have the necessary resources so that they can reach out and provide a welcome and chat.
  • Blythswood Trust – both here and abroad – as they seek to help the most-needy and provide a caring environment for the most vulnerable.

Countries and peoples of the World – who lack basic food items, running water, medicines, healthcare and covid vaccines to fight the virus.   They may also be living in countries where there is a severe shortage of proper housing, sanitation and education.  Pray for all the aid agencies who seek to bring them comfort and relief.  

GIVE THANKS FOR AS WELL AS PRAY FOR

  • Our families and friends and for the love, support and encouragement they give us as well as any special issues they have and need prayer for.
  • Everyone who is working to keep us fed, safe, warm and cared for - giving thanks for their work and their abilities, keeping our lives fed, watered and warm.
  • Medical Staff in our Hospitals, Clinics, and Nursing/Care Homes – our NHS does a great work but is under pressure. Pray that they will be able to find ways to cope with the demands placed upon it. Pray that they will remain well so that they can continue to bring healing to the sick.  Pray too for the medical researchers who work tirelessly to bring cures for deadly diseases, and those who work to give comfort and relief to the sick and distressed.
  • Emergency personnel – Police, Fire, Paramedics - who keep us safe, sheltered and warm.
  • Fellowship and Friendship with family and friends as well as our Church family
  • Sunday worship – Pray for each of the services before we go – that the Lord will bless the one preaching the Word as well those who may take part.
  • Hobbies, books, films, music etc. – which enrich our lives and give us pleasure.