UPDATE 20th December

Are you ready?  Cards written & posted? Presents bought & wrapped? Christmas tree decorated? Turkey & mince pies bought? In the busyness of this advent season do you have time to spare a thought for what it’s all about?

Our focus for prayer for a day this month has been on the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that only Jesus can bring.

Love came down at Christmas time!  Let us sit at the manger scene and ask:

What can I give Him poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him, give Him my heart.

ADVENT PRAYER

Circle us, Lord

Circle us with the light of your presence, bright within this dark world.

Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation.

Enable us to become victors over sin and despair.

Enable us to become that which you would desire.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle us with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms.

Protect them in each moment of their daily lives.

Protect them in the decisions that they face.

Protect their homes and relationships.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle our families with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle this nation with Advent love and hope.

Create a desire to listen to the Advent message.

Create a willingness to understand and respond.

Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle our nation with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation.

Where there is sickness and disease bring healing.

Where there is hunger and despair bring hope.

Where there is torture and oppression bring release.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle this world with the light of your presence.

Update 6th December 2012

Apologies for the lack of updates on the prayer blog – but be assured we are still praying!  We have continued to pray for those who need healing in a special way & trust that God will answer our prayers.  We give thanks for the unity that continues to grow in our Christian community. We praise God for His continued blessing and provision.

In the busyness of this Advent season, we commit to putting aside time to kneel before our Lord, to wait in His presence, to listen to His voice, to be filled with His Spirit and then to go out and take His light to our needy world.

Scriptures to meditate on:

             In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  (John 1 : 1-5.)

            The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; ….For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.             (Isaiah 9: 2 & 6.)

UPDATE 26th OCTOBER 2012

We continue to praise and thank God for answered prayer – for another successful Kids Alive, more folk at Messy Church, special conversations & prayers with our Quest youth.  God is good and His Spirit is moving in this place.  We continue to pray for healing for so many & again give thanks for answered prayer. We thank those of you who cover our backs with prayer.

This coming week we plan to prayer walk the streets of Pill, on Halloween, with the other churches in the village.  There is strength & power in unity. On Thursday evening we meet again with the other churches to pray for the persecuted church.

As you go about your daily tasks, walk through the streets of your town or city, pray for the Holy Spirit to hover over the area, for God’s protection,  particularly for the night of 31^st October.

Two scriptures to meditate on:  Isaiah 60: 1 – 3: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Deuteronomy 31: 6 :  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Latest News Pill Prayer Beacon 16th October 2012

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases ….                                                                                                   Psalm 103: 1-3

This month on our prayer day, we focussed on our corps and community, specifically on healing. The Lord affirmed in many ways that this was His planning.  Folk in great need of prayer were made known to us, as well as those we were aware of.  We give to God glory and praise. What a privilege it is to carry requests to the Lord in prayer.

On Saturday a small group of Salvationists were obedient to God’s call to walk the streets of Bristol, to pray at certain places – prayers of blessing, forgiveness, repentance.  The first steps towards reclaiming the cities of this country for our Lord.

Sunday saw us, as part of Pill churches together, sharing our morning worship at Pill Memorial Club, where the annual music festival is taking place.  The gospel was preached, prayers said, hymns sung – the name of Jesus lifted high!  Again we give God all the glory, and thank him for the opportunity to take his word into our community.  Halleluiah!

O Lord. Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Beautiful e-mail from our Corps Sergeant Major Brian Dunn

Subject: Prayer day

I am so sorry I could not be there in Pill today. But my prayers and thoughts have been with you all. I found this evening by working through our Corp prayer list and reading each name very slowly each name brought a face and a word to each one that I know personaly. For those I don’t know our Lord knew each one by name long before I even read it out.

While reading the Daily Bread October 12th title a WORKING CHURCH 

I quote “What a privilege we have if we’re part of a local body of believers where we can grow and serve our Lord “ Also may we be a shining light of Your love to our communities and the world.

We are an international body, we are a family, praying throughout the world for healing and peace. Which can only come through a united family

 

Father I give thanks for all those times when you have been with me in moments of weakness and suffering.

More than ever before,your love seemed all about me and beneath me.

I remember with gratitude the encouragement of friends and the care of those who were closest to me.

May the remembrance of your goodness fill all the coming days with confidence and with hope.  Amen

(from the everyday Prayers)

 

I pray for healing so that I can face the future in which ever our Lord God requires of me.

 

God bless you all

 

Brian    (Dunn)

Prayer Beacon Update 8th October 2012

We praise and thank God for answered prayer this week – 

14 youngsters at our newly reformed Kids Alive; also for special moments in our prayer area with our Quest teenagers (nearly all “unchurched”!).  To Him be the glory.  The Lord is at work in this place.  Thank you  too, to all who join with us in prayer.  This Friday, our “Pray for a Day” focuses on our corps and community – we have many folk who require physical healing.  Next Sunday we have a fantastic opportunity when the churches in the village meet together for a service in the Memorial Club in the village, as part of Pill music festival.  Last year (the first time this was held) the place was packed.  Join us in praying that hearts and minds will be open to God’s word. We long to see revival! Thank you.

With every blessing.

PRAY FOR THE DAY
FRIDAY  12TH OCTOBER
9am - 9pm
Focus on CORPS & COMMUNITY

Wembley Prayer Celebration 2012

 I was privileged to stand with more than 32,000 Christians at Wembley stadium on Saturday 29^th September - an awesome day when we were all of one accord – regardless of denomination, culture, colour, age.  A day where the programme was based on the Lord’s prayer, a day of worship to our mighty God, a day of repentance, thanksgiving, standing in the gap for our nation, praying for children who have not heard the name of Jesus, a day of confession, prayers for our government and those in authority, celebrating the greatness of this country this year with the Queen’s diamond jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics.  So many powerful and precious moments, scriptures shared (read Psalm 85) – hundreds of young folk in red hoodies circling the stadium as they committed themselves to being Christ’s servants in this country – faith in action….  There was some amazing worship – famous worship leaders, the army band, children’s choir, incredible dancing, flags, passionate speakers, but to God be all the glory! 

I came away with a great sense of responsibility – where do we go from here? God is calling His people to transform our communities, to take the message to the streets.  One of the ways we can do that is by committing to pray for & pray walk our villages, towns and cities – as individuals and as churches together. Prayer is a powerful effective weapon – let’s use it.   Another challenge to each one of us is to join with many Christians daily at 12 noon saying the Lord’s Prayer – set the alarm on your watch or phone!  Pray His kingdom in.

 Some scriptures to meditate on: 2 Chronicles 7:14 – if my people… will humble themselves & pray …. then I will hear… forgive & heal their land;    Matthew 21:22 – If you believe, you will receive what you ask for in prayer;    Ephesians 6:18 – And pray in the Spirit on all occasions;    Psalm 85 – Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.  ….. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest;    Isaiah 60: 1- 2 – Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…..

May God bless and speak to you as you spend time in His presence and in His word.

Latest Update

As part of our ongoing prayer commitment, a group of us meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7.45 to 8.30 to come before our God, to bow down in His presence, lift our praises to Him and bring prayer requests to the throne of grace.

This week our thoughts have naturally turned to the untimely deaths of the two police officers, Fiona and Nicola.  We pray for their families, friends, colleagues and all who seek to uphold the law.

We give thanks to God for His faithfulness and provision, for answered prayer and continue to intercede for those who have entrusted us with their requests.

We ask you to join us in praying for our young folk, particularly Quest and the soon to be re-launched Kids Alive; for back to church Sunday, for the National Day of Prayer at Wembley next Saturday 29^th September.

Matthew 18:19 – Again I tell you, that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

God bless.

Patsy

Pray for the Day - 14th September 2012

Our theme for this month is letting go & new beginnings.  We have two prayer areas, one in the “upper room” and one in the corner of our main worship hall.  Both areas are set out in similar ways.  As you enter, you are invited to spend time (on your knees, spiritually and /or physically ) coming into the presence of the blessed Trinity – to “Be still and know that I am God”; to write a prayer or scripture on a heart . Then, when you are ready,  to move onto a prayer station where dirty stones are used to help you let go of things in the past, by symbolically washing a stone & then placing it to build an altar to our holy God.  Written prayers for forgiveness, healing and grace are there to help you. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”. At the next prayer station there is opportunity to meditate on where you have come from, where God is leading you, what doors He is opening for you, scriptures, prayers for new beginnings, footprints to write on, butterflies to colour in, play dough to mould – all the time conscious that “I know the plans I have for you.....”.  Finally you are invited to “Stand in the gap” and lift the territorial prayers we have received to the throne of grace. A real privilege and blessing.

God bless

Patsy