Every week pray for our Church Officers, Elders, all who lead worship, those who provide and show the PowerPoint and work the camera and microphones, those who provide music during times of worship, those who prepare the flowers and those who provide welcome and hospitality.

Prayer for Growth: God of Mission,  who alone brings growth to your church,  send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions,  joy to our worship  and power to our witness.  Help our church to grow in numbers  and in spiritual commitment to you  and in service to our local community.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

To ponder: so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:25-26, NIV)

• Give thanks that each of us is unique and uniquely loved by God.
• Pray for anyone who feels excluded because the world sees them as different; the disabled and neurodivergent.
• Lord of all creation, touch our hearts and help us to accept everyone we meet.

To ponder: The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7, NIV)

• Give thanks for all people who are determined to be obedient to God as they stand firm against all the wrong things that are being said and done.
• Pray for those who have the power to change the world that they will hear the cries of the poor and hungry.
• God of all power, we place ourselves in your hands.

To ponder:  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

• Give thanks for each member and adherent of our church and those who have been part of our church fellowship over the years.
• Pray for all in leadership roles that they may continue to lead with compassion and integrity.
• Pray for those considering standing for eldership in the forthcoming election.
• Lord of love, grant that our church may be a blessing to all in our neighbourhood, so that more and more people may come to love and trust you.

To ponder:  Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ (Luke 14:12-14, NIV)

Prayer for CAP Sunday by Nick Jowett

• God of unending love and pity, your servant Luke told the stories of Jesus, stories of healing, compassion and good news for the poor, stories to intrigue, inspire and invigorate. May we, his readers, keep telling those stories, in our thoughts, our words and our actions, and your Spirit guide us in new vistas of hope, for Jesus’ sake. Amen

To ponder: Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8, NIV)

• Give thanks for those who show the love of God in their work with the young and the old.
• Pray for Messy Church that takes place on Monday, 26th – for each of the families who attend and all the leaders and helpers.
• Lord, thank you for children, for their trust and dependence; for their sense of wonder; for their insight into truth which has escaped us; for their sheer enjoyment of living.