 | Prayer |
Prayer | Helen Allan is St John's Prayer Promoter and can be contacted for prayer matters via the feedback form here or catch Helen at church. |
 | What is the Prayer Meeting Like? |
| Our prayers are short and simple. There is no pressure on anyone to pray aloud. God knows the silent prayers in our hearts. Simply saying “Amen” after someone else’s prayer means we are agreeing in prayer. Most exciting of all - Jesus is with us!. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 |
TEARFUND'S PRAYER DIARY
WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY
At Tearfund, we believe that God is calling us to a moment at the end of
February where those of us who love him and love the welfare of our world
will come together to cry out for those who are suffering. Are you ready?
Ask God what he expects from you.
THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY
One Voice isn't a programme to "sign up to": it's a movement to belong to.
And those who respond to the call are committed to two things: firstly,
practical service and action; and, secondly, to dive into the heart of God
and see his Spirit empower all we do. Take that dive in prayer.
FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY
We want you to belong to One Voice and to commit to pray with renewed vigour
during the week of prayer. So ask God to give you a vision of how you could
make space and pray. A prayer concert? A night of prayer? A room set aside
to pray? Listen to God's call for you and your church.
SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY
Lord, help us to prepare our hearts, and take practical steps as we get
excited about how you will move through One Voice. Gather your people
together across the world, Father, and inspire us to pray in unity for
your creation. Amen.
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Welcome to the weekend - what you can do
This year, our One Voice prayer week runs from 26 February to
4 March - that's just under a month away. You'll need energy, passion,
commitment and inspiration to push deep into prayer that week.
Visit www.tearfund.org/onevoice to plan a prayer event or motivate
others to pray about issues of poverty.
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5-11 FEBRUARY - CONNECTIONS WITH BRAZIL
Brazil is a country of extreme size and extreme economic potential - and
one with more people living in extreme poverty than anywhere else in
Latin America. We connect in prayer with Brazil this week.
SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY
Church will probably feature in your plans today, and so it seems fitting to
pray for our brothers and sisters in the evangelical church in Brazil.
The church there is growing faster than ever, yet divisions are rife - as
is corruption. Pray for the role that Tearfund can play in serving and
uniting the body of Christ in Brazil.
MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY
Our Global Poverty Prayer Movement unites Christians across the world,
praying about injustice and preparing to act as a result. For Christians
in Brazil, knowing that people like you are praying for them makes all the
difference. Thank God for the unifying power of prayer.
TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY
One of our partners - A Rocha Brasil - does amazing work helping people to
respond to a changing climate. But their efforts are under pressure, and our
prayers are vital. Join us as we pray for their new executive director, their
continued fundraising efforts and for the good health and protection of their staff.
WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY
Use of the drug crack cocaine is endemic in some of Brazil's largest cities. It
snares young lives and cripples opportunity. Join us and pray for the work
of our partner, Radical Project, as they prepare to support and invest in
the lives of those caught up in drug misuse.
THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Lifewords - another Tearfund partner carrying out great work in Brazil - is
making a profound impact on local communities: they have counselled 631
children and adolescents, teaching them from the Bible and sharing the gospel.
Thank God for their work and pray for those they have met with, asking that
God will continue to be at work within them.
FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Jesus challenged the notion that being "spiritual" meant being "indifferent"
to the world of need around us. Instead of retreating, he engaged - calling
us to do likewise. Tearfund partner Renas is one of the largest evangelical
networks in Brazil, with several organisations in the country. Pray that God
will bless their work as they champion justice, protect children at risk
and mobilise local churches.
SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY
This year, churches in Brazil have chosen to take part in Tearfund's
Carbon Fast, which encourages individuals to reduce their carbon
consumption during Lent - and stick with it. Give thanks for Christians
in Brazil concerned for this earth, and for God's people who depend
upon it.
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Welcome to the weekend - creative prayer idea
When we are really hungry, it's not just the stomach that lets us
know: heads get dizzy, mouths water and thoughts turn to food. We
don't have a body: we are a body - created by God to feel, to
worship, to serve with all that we have. For today, why not fast
and let your body join you as you pray for the work of our partners
in Brazil?
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12-18 FEBRUARY - CONNECTIONS WITH MALAWI
When Tearfund launched our ten-year vision in 2007, we used the example
of Fombe village in Malawi - which was experiencing extraordinary
transformation thanks to the local church. For many years, until mid-2011,
the country had been making real progress in achieving economic growth.
Sadly, the government has since turned its attention to holding on to power
and siphoning off the wealth for itself. As the church in Malawi suffers,
so do we as Christ's body.
SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Praise God that, despite the political turmoil, Tearfund partner Eagles
is doing amazing work. Shaibu and his wife, Mercy, from Govala village
are both living with HIV, and Eagles supported them to grow better, more
nutritious vegetables. "Our lives have been utterly transformed,"
says Shaibu.
MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY
"In simple terms, poverty is increasing because the economic gains that
Malawi, accumulated in the last five years are being eroded by poor
economic management by the government," says Vincent Moyo, Tearfund's
representative in Malawi. Lift up this country in crisis, and pray that
the downturn will be reversed.
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY
In his assessment of how his work has been affected by the worsening crisis,
Vincent Moyo, Tearfund's representative in Malawi, says, "There is erratic
fuel supply in the country which means it is very difficult for us, and our
partners, to monitor projects effectively since this involves a lot of
travelling." Pray for Vincent and the partners he works with, that they
will find transport solutions.
WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY
At the end of last year, fuel shortages, power blackouts and increased
taxes provoked much anger. In response to these pressures on the
population, opposition parties and churches in Malawi - supported by
civil society organisations - staged demonstrations. Pray that their
voices will be heard by those in power.
THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY
Malawi used to be an African success story. Over the last three years,
the economy was growing by about 7.5 per cent each year but in 2010 it
slowed down to 6 per cent and economists predict growth figures will
reduce even further this year. Lift up those who are suffering because
of this economic downturn, particularly small business owners
struggling to provide for their families.
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY
Lawyers from the Southern African Development Community have drawn
comparisons between Malawi and Zimbabwe, where the government and
president wield power solely for their own benefit. Pray that Malawi's
leaders and president will resolve to put the needs of the poorest first.
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY
Lord God, we ask you to work through your church to reverse the
direction that Malawi is taking. We pray that churches in Malawi
will be united as a prophetic voice - challenging corruption. Amen.
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Welcome to the weekend - creative prayer idea
Think back to a time in your life when everything seemed to be
going against you. How did you feel? How did you react? Use
your memory of that experience to pray for the people of
Malawi who are struggling right now.
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19-25 FEBRUARY - CONNECTIONS WITH CREATION
Lent is the time when we connect with Jesus, reflecting on
the 40 days and nights he spent alone in the desert. This week,
we pray earnestly, lifting up people in the poorest parts of the
world who are hungry because of drought exacerbated by climate
change - and for Tearfund's Carbon Fast, which challenges us to
change our carbon-hungry lifestyles.
SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY
Last October, Niger's government declared a state of crisis - fearing
that continued drought would devastate livestock and lead to lean
ood production. As Prayer Diary went to press, it seemed inevitable
that many deaths would result in early-2012. Pray for protection
for farmers and pastoralists struggling in Niger right now.
MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Pray that Tearfund's annual Carbon Fast will spur the global
church on to continue responding to climate change, taking
action to reduce carbon emissions and helping protect poor
people who suffer from irregular weather patterns, floods
and drought.
TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY
Last year, about 12 million people in East Africa faced severe
hunger and some areas experienced the worst drought in 60 years,
estroying crops and livestock. Take time today to pray, as Jesus
did in the wilderness, and ask for the rains to fall - and a
rich harvest to result - in East Africa this year.
WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY
Give thanks for churches across the world seeking to respond
humbly to climate change because of their love for the God who
created the earth. Thank God for local churches who are
challenging climate change by speaking up for government action
and helping communities to adapt and build resilience.
THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Late, irregular and low rainfall in Chad in late-2011, with wide
variations in the development of crops in different areas, also
indicate that a poor harvest is likely this year. Pray for Tearfund's
partners in the many countries struggling due to drought this Lent.
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY
One Voice, our annual prayer week for global poverty, launches this
Sunday. Across the world, individuals and churches will come
together to cry out to God on behalf of poor and struggling people.
Ask the Lord what he expects of you this week.
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY
Pray for grace to live differently from the culture around us,
and for perseverance to keep challenging poverty and injustice
through action, prayer and changing the way we live - as we
stir up our hearts for Tearfund's One Voice prayer week,
which starts tomorrow.
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Welcome to the weekend - what you can do
Explore how you and your church can live differently in a
changing climate this Lent by taking part in the Carbon Fast:
daily actions and prayers to reduce your emissions and help
protect poor people who are hit hardest by climate change.
For details, visit www.tearfund.org/carbonfast
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26 FEBRUARY - 3 MARCH- ONE VOICE - REFLECT, PRAY, ACT
The urge to reflect on the world around us, to pray and act as
a result, has been one of the defining characteristics of the
Christian church since its earliest days. That's what defines
Tearfund's Global Poverty Prayer Movement: a group of people who
show their love of God by embracing the timeless challenge of
combining prayer and deed. This week, Christians and churches
across the world will come together for One Voice, a week of
dedicated prayer for people living in poverty.
SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY
Father God, as we choose justice, would you give local churches
like ours opportunities to act? As we choose mercy, would you
how us those to whom we can turn? As we choose humility,
would you guide our steps towards a better destination? Amen.
MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY
Lord, you made us to know what hunger is, but also to know the
goodness of your provision. We pray for those who share this
earth with us, but for whom hunger is a crippling,
life-threatening danger. We pray for those who have nothing and
those who have too little to eat: would you help them and allow
us to be part of the solution? Amen.
TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY
Creator God of this amazing world, how can we not be in awe of you?
Thank you that today we had enough water to drink, to wash and to
stay clean and healthy. But we know that there are many others on
this earth who cannot say the same. We remember them and ask that
their lives will be improved. Use us, Father - weak as we are. Amen.
WEDNESDAY 29 FEBRUARY
Lord and Father, we remember the nearly 33 million people living
with HIV today. We remember their partners, their children, their
communities. Give us compassion and wisdom to know how to pray and
how to act. Lord, please strengthen local churches across the globe
as they respond to this crisis. Amen.
THURSDAY 1 MARCH
Lord of all the earth, we thank you for this glorious home you have
created for us. We pray for those who are affected by the changing
climate - those who are hungry and whose futures are uncertain.
Thank you, Father God, for your creation. Amen.
FRIDAY 2 MARCH
Father God, you never let go, you never fail and you never grow tired
of our prayers. We pray for the work of the local church, remembering
Tearfund's Church and Community Mobilisation programmes - particularly
those in Uganda, Nepal and Peru. Thank you that you are blessing them,
and that we can play a part too. Amen.
SATURDAY 3 MARCH
Lord, the power of your church is perhaps far greater than we could
imagine, yet we know that you are using our brothers and sisters in
incredible ways, both at home and abroad. Show us how to nurture both
spiritual and material transformation - following the lead of Tearfund
partners Warmis in Peru and Tikapur Christian Church in Nepal. Amen.
Welcome to the weekend - what you can do
Set a date in your church calendar to pray during the One Voice 2012 prayer week,
26 February to 4 March. You could also encourage others to be part of this Global
Poverty Prayer Movement.
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| Prayer ministry is available after the morning service, If you would like to be prayed for go to the screened area behind the pulpit where someone will be waiting to pray with you. |