PRAYER PAGES

OFFICE DEVOTIONS for 27th July

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Churches

Ealing, St Andrew’s (Minister – Tony Haws):

a) the Centre and for the resulting outreach to the local community

b) the four TLS students (and for Tony as our Study Group leader) please – we seem to be a bit of a rarity (ie four students all from one church) . As we go into our second year we need all the prayers and support we can get J

Ealing Green (Minister – Jennifer Smith)

From Jennifer Smith: Please pray for wisdom and humour among the congregation, as we go into refurbishment of the church, and for joy in the nurture of new members. And for the long serving junior church leaders? Also for the work with Streetpastors, using us as a base from 24 July.

Please give thanks that our present church building is 150 years old this year and pray that our current refurbishment plans – “Change for Purpose” will be accepted by all our congregation so Ealing Green will continue to maintain a spiritual presence in the community for another 150 years!

Perivale, Holy Trinity (Interim Minister – Carole Elphick)

Please, pray for stength and wisdom to be granted to teh people of Holy Trinity Perivale in the months of change ahead and that they might be given faith and learn to truly listen to God and understand his will for their future.

Other items for prayer and praise

Please, remember Jackie Colaco, Treasurer at the Association for People with Disability ("APD")in Bangalore. Jackie has been ill and is only just returning to work little by little after a month of being unwell. Keep in our prayers also, Jackie's brother Peter, her aunt a Nun who is currently celebrating her 80th birthday and give thanks with Jackie that APD achieved the highest pledge amount at the recent Sunfest 10K run achieving a total of 39.75 lakh (1 lakh=100,000 rupees)

OFFICE DEVOTIONS for 20th July

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Churches

Bayswater (Secretary  – Elizabeth Lawson):

Roger Scopes (Interim Moderator writes: On August 1st, we plan to receive into membership Chief Dr. N.O.Nwojo and Mrs. Nancy Nwojo, who come to us with warm commendation from the minister of St. Peter's Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Umungasi, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. This is cause for great rejoicing! They have been worshipping with us for some months, and have not been put off by our small numbers.

St. Paul's is working with the Synod to redevelop its buildings to accommodate the Synod Offices and provide space for our congregation to worship, with a large apartment on two floors above, which will pay for the development. We ask for prayers that this scheme may be rightly carried forward. Please consult Fergus on how much it is appropriate to say at this stage, just as we are about to go for planning permission.

Camden Town (Minister – Uta Blohm)

Nothing sent but I think they are “ticking along” with Uta as p/time minister.

Chelsea (Secretary – David Mansfield)

Having a tough time – various plans for the future have fallen through. They really need some tlc and encouragement.

Lumen (Secretary – Geoffrey Roper)

The Moderator is inducting the members of the Interim Mission Board as Elders on Sunday 12th September.

Other items for prayer and praise

Anthony Rowells – incoming minister at Fairford Leys, having to appeal for school placements for his children – he is awaiting the result of appeals heard last week.

Margaret Sheppard – in a great deal of pain, very unhappy, spiritually very disturbed why this is happening to her.

OFFICE DEVOTIONS for 13th July

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Roding Area Forum (13th)                                            

Moderators’ (14th/15th)

Churches

Burnham (Vacant)

We will appreciate your prayers as we have been and are going through a very traumatic time Please pray for Janet, her husband Frank and daughter Katy and, too, the Elders and church familyat Burnham church.

Our church family are in good heart and attendance's have not dropped. Manygood friendshave already agreed dates to come and lead our worship and stimulate our thinking. We are heartened that Revd. David Simpson has just agreed to be our Interim Moderator and we ask for God's guidance and encouragement on the future journey Burnham will be undertaking.

Cores End, Bourne End (Minister Janet Hopewell)

Special prayers for our minister Janet, currently on holiday with her family husband Frank & daughter Katy.  May Janet now find a suitable position to complement her ministry at Cores End.

Can you also please pray that we find someone willing to take on the roll of Premises Committee Convenor?

Finally can we give thanks that our churchyardnow looks the best that it has everbeen and provides a quiet contemplative area of pleasant surroundings where relatives and friends can remember their loved ones, and that future maintenance provisions have been secured.

Chesham (Bridget Powell)

                        Please could you remember 'Backpackers', an ecumenical Christian children's holiday club week. Please also give thanks for the unanimous call to Revd. Bridget Powell to return as a stipend minister. Please also pray for the development project at Chesham URC, aiming to improve outreach and mission to the town.

Other items for prayer and praise

Moderator preaching at Chesterfield Road, Barnet on 18th July

Anthony Rowells – incoming minister at Fairford Leys, having to appeal for school places for his children.

From Jane Weedon: when you meet for prayers this week please could you pray for my Mum? She is having a lumpectomy (breast cancer) on Thursday and is very nervous about it all. She is almost 86. Thanks very much.

29th June, 2010

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Mission Initiatives Group on Thursday

General Assembly and Children's Assembley 2nd to 6th July

Churches

Barking

23rd June, 2010

Churches

Muswell Hill (Minister – Kate Hackett):

Mill Hill East (Minister – Peter Cooper)

Trinity Church Mill Hill (Minister – Ann Jack)

You will know that we have been in the process of redeveloping our
Eversfield and Broadway sites for several years now and that process
continues. Please rejoice with us that in the first year of our outreach
from Eversfield we have built up joint working relationships with
Britsom- a British Somali Muslim group - and together we run a homework
club, creche and ESOL classes 2 afternoons a week. We are working with
Age Concern and have dance and other classes for the older age group.
There are increasing numbers of statutory and voluntary groups using the
premises eg Alzheimers Society, Community Barnet. We have been able to
equip the general office as an IT suite and from September hope to be
offering IT courses in particular for the older age group. Our
congregation is maintaining numbers and we are encouraged at the number
of members and designated friends who volunteer to help with the
outreach activities. But we are always seeking more volunteers! We have
much to be thankful for.
But please pray for our redevelopment and the development of our vision
for the Broadway site. Building work has begun there and should be
completed next summer. We shall be seeking to clarifyour vision during
the coming few months and to graspthe opportunities that God may be
offering us. It is quite daunting to envisage worship and outreach from
2 sites but we are seeking to be faithful and to keep the congregation
united during this period of yet more changes. We hope to draw in more
younger people and please pray for the young people who will be
contributing their ideas and vision during morning worship on 27 June.

We are grateful for your support and for your prayers. Thank you.

Leyton, Grange Park

We ask for prayers for our children and young people please. [We have a lot
of children on Sunday mornings] a crèche, then a group of 3-5s and 6-10/11
(with committed leaders) and a really good group for the teens and early
20’s [led by an enthusiastic non-serving elder.] However, there is a need
for the afternoon (Twi-speaking) congregation to take seriously the need for
a programme for children and young people. As ever, we need leaders and
space, (a real dilemma). For all the young ones, there are issues of
identity, and belonging of course to address, as well as ongoing
Bible/Christian teaching.

There are some really positive things happening here, not least we have 27
new members being received on 27 June in the morning worship! We are
at last getting some new blinds and curtains to shield us from the sun (and
the comings and goings in the car-park!!); but you will appreciate that
wonderful though these things are (specially membership) there are
problems of administration and maintenance of the building, with a
comparatively small number of people dealing with those things. So prayers
for the leadership please; and for both morning and afternoon congregations
to more fully function and understand ourselves as one body of people.

Other items for prayer and praise

Margaret Sheppard

8th June, 2010

Partnership Forum today

ADCO tomorrow

Lumen Elders (fomrerly, Interim Mission Board) tomorrow

Churches

Hemel Hempstead, St George's (Minister - Jane Wade)

Thank you for asking for prayer requests. Do you have anything you would like us to pray for?

1. Please, give thanks for the new folk who have started to come along in recent months. May they feel welcomed, accepted and loved. Help them to feel part of the church family and discover God;s love, forgiveness, joy and epace in their lives.

2. Please, give thanks for teh successful Alpha course and the recent adult baptisms of Kevin and Josh and the reaffirmation of baptismal vows by Lucy and Adam.

3. Please, pray for one of our Church members, Miss Valeria Clark undergoing a course in chemo.

4. Please, pray for those within our fellowship going through a rough patch especially for those whose marraiges are undergoing difficulaties and strain.

5. Pelase, pray for the World Cup outreach we will be involved in that we may make some lasting connections with those who koin in.

6. Please, pray for our two new Elders, Penny Crosswell and Dave Greenwood as they join the eldership team.

7. Please, pray for the preparations for our Summer holiday club.

8. Please, pray of the new initiatives we are trying to start

A drop-in after-school club on a Friday nightts for those at Senior School

A town-wide monthly Praise service (Saturday night with different churches hosting it on different months

9. Please, pray that the difficulties over the financial settlement with our contractors, Jarvis and an unexpected legal bill of over £4,000 will be sorted and St George's will not be penalised as "piggyin the middle" of legal battle between Jaarvis , Thames Water and the Trust Office.

10. Please, pray for the current financial difficulties we face as a fellowship. For creative fundraising ideas. And for a long term weekly hall hirer either for Monday during the day or Wednesday evenings to help pay the bills.

11. Please, give thanks for the volunteers to continue to offer to clean the Church buildings.

12. Pray for our new Treasurer as he continues to grapple with the church accounts.

Letchworth Free Church (Minister - Jeanne Ennals)

Give thanks fot eh girls and boys Brigades especially the GB COmpany which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

Preparations for the vacancy (JEanne retires at the end of July) for wisdom, strength and encouragement.

For the Moderator preaching at the retirement service and for the entire service that the church will be happy to release Jeanne (she will continue to live in the same house at least for teh time beaing as it is her own property.

Hemel Hempstead, Adeyfield (Minister - Pete Blackband)

Other items for prayer and praise

Margaret Sheppard

Vivi Randles Manse search

1st June, 2010

Welwyn Garden Free Church (Minister: Jane Weedon)

From Jane: As we move into the 3rd phase of our vision process (appreciative inquiry) and begin to find new ways to move towards our vision we pray that people will continue to come forward and commit themselves; prayers for YMCA student youth worker who arrives from Germany on June 8th to work with us and YMCA that we can support and provide a mutually beneficial year.

Thanksgiving for the success of Growing Space - students working on the garden, plants growing, Plant Sale to raise awareness and funds.

From Church Secretary: Thank you for your letter regarding prayers for our church. As you are probably aware we have been workng very hard since last September on Appreciative Enquiry which Jane has given the name "Collecting the Stones." Many in our congregation didn't warm to the correct title. We are now entering the second phase which we have called "Laying the Foundations for an Exceptional Future." At last, the process appears to be gaiing momentum and support from the congregation is growing. Jane is on holiday at present so I am taking the intiative. Could you please pray for God;s help and gidance and for Jane as we work together to build a church for teh future in our local community.

Welwyn Garden City, Woodhall Lane (Minister - Jane Weedon)

From Jane: explorations over building sharing iwth another church; vision building as we look for little ways to plan for the future; Thanksgiving for this faithful, generous, positive church community.

From Church Secretary: Growth of the congregation.

From Margaret Brisby: Thank you for notifying us of prayers to be offered omorrow on our behalf. We need all the support we can get. Jane, our minister, has huge demands on her time and strength. We really appreciate your care and concern.

Welwyn Garden City, Panshanger (Minister - Jane Weedon)

From Jane: The vacancy process and Vision building throughout June for a clear picture to present to prospective ministers.

Other items and prayer and praise

Margaret Sheppard

Viv Randles who is manse-hunting

Gayle James as she becomes new Church Secretary at Stamford Hill

27th May, 2010

Prayers from The Association for People with Disability ("APD")

Remember in our prayers Jackie Colaco, Treasurer of APD that she might continue to have the strnegth to reach out in service wherever she is able, to her family as to the APD family, to give many hope that it is possible that adversity can be tackled and overcome with God's help and through the determination He gives His people.

Meetings

M & M Meeting Thursday

Moderators' Meeting this week-end

Churches

Golders Green (Minister: John Danso)

Please, pray for us as we face a change of pastorate as our Minister will be leaving us in August. Please, also pray for John as he continues to search for a new pastorate and share in our prayers for teh new Methodist Ministyer who is coming to Golders Green.

Hampstead Garden Suburb (Minister: Ian Tutton)

Please pray that the church would conitnue to be faithful to the ideals of its founders, seek out new ways to be relevant and never compromise its essential purpose as a witness to Jesus Christ in thought, word and deed.

Highgate Pond Square Chapel (Minister Julian Templeton)

1. Please, pray God will bless and direct our mission and outreaach, especially the bi-monthly Open Door Gathering for the less mobile;

18th May, 2010

Office devotions

Committee meetings in next seven days: GLP Committee tonight, St Albans Area Committee, Wednesday, also on Wednesday, our Moderator, the Revd Dr Andrew Prasad will speak at Christians Together in Bedfordshire. MIG on Thursday

Churches

Stamford Hill (Lay Leader: Brian Smith)

Please pray for

1. Our Church Leader, Brian Smith

2. Pray for the future of the church and those looking into this

3. Pray for God's guidance for growth, and for all of us at this time.

4. Prayer of praise thanking God for His great salvation, his love and continual provision for us.

May God richly bless you all

Yours in Christ

The congregation of Stamford Hill

Upper Clapton (Minister: The Revd John Macaulay)

Greetings and many tanks for thinking about us at Upper Clapton URC.

Sepcific Prayer requests are as follows:

for Hackney Council to give us plannin permission for our new church

for us to have money to employ a full-time youth worker

for our church to continue to grow and increase by 20% by 2012

for our church's bicentenary celebration in 2012.

Tottenham High Cross (Vacancy Interim Moderator - Donald Elliott, Secretary - Eleaor Boateng.)

Pray that we shall soon receive a mnister.

Other items for prayer and praise

Continued prayer for Miss Margaaret Sheppard

Pray for our Training Officer, The Revd Anne Sardeson and Pastoral Consultant, Miss Lesley Trenkel and all the family as they move home on Wednesday 19th. We wish them every blessing in their new home.

17th May, 2010

Global Village Powerpoint to make you think!

Philosophy for All Ages! to make you think!

11th May, 2010

Please hold in your prayers the Association of People with Disability (APD) as they aim for 1 lakh (100,000 Rupees) in the Bangalore Subfest 10K Marathon on 23rd May, 2010 in support of all their good work at the main APD unit and at their horitcultural centre in K'Halli. To read more about their work in and around Bangalore click here

OFFICE DEVOTIONS for 11th May

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Leadership Development Group

Chiltern Area

West London Area

Christian Aid Week

Churches

Christchurch, Hitchin (Minister – Philip Turner):

We would value prayer for the members of Christchurch Hitchin as together we are seeking to grow more like Jesus. We ask for God's help in the following areas:

As a church, as we learn how to live with a passionate Christ-centred spirituality in all that we do, through practising the spiritual disciplines.
As we explore how to engage in connected worship, joining with each other to praise Father, Son and Spirit in all aspects of life, and in harmony with those around us.
In all our activities, as we strive to work together and to support each other in small, holistic, groups, through which we respond to the whole ministry of Christ's love for each other and the world around us.
As we are led to function as Christ's body in Hitchin, with Christ as the head and each member playing their part, under focussed leadership.
Through all these means, we hope that our faith will grow ever deeper, and that we will bear more fruit."

Bushey (Minister was David Lawrence)

Please, pray for the congregation of Bushey Church whose doors slocsed for the last time on 4 April 2010 after 200 years' worshiping on that site. Pray for the Minister that he might be granted wisdom and guidance as he supports the former congregation through the emotions they are encountering at this difficult time and that God will find the way forward for them all as the continue to follow in His footsteps in faith.

St Thomas, Watford (Minister – David Lawrence)

We should be grateful if you would pray for discernment over the future of our building, which is both a church and large community centre. It is becoming more and more expensive to maintain. Should we refurbish it, redevelop it or try to share it? This seems to us to be the largest issue confronting us at present.

Other items for prayer and praise