Suggestions for the mens' prayer group for Wednesday 15:7:2020
Gathering our thoughts...

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind. Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11.28
Though we are physically apart, we still gather in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we plead.

Clearing our minds...

Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1 vs 9

Lord God we have sinned against you: we have done evil in Your sight: we are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love. Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin. Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of our salvation: through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

We boldly state that...

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

And our whole church prays that...

Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity and the week following...

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Our model for prayer...

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Following the model - Praise...

Lord God, our praise is weak, our thanksgiving insufficient. Teach us how to praise you well and help us to make those words our very own. Help us to live our lives to your honour and glory that others may see Your work and love in our lives and find in their lives the love You have for all mankind. Thank you for the grace which has enabled us to hear God's Word and respond with our commitment: please give grace to those with whom we meet and talk that they may see past our sinful nature to the salvation we have unworthily gained through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that they will be prompted to enquire into the source of our peace and the direction of their soul's destiny.

Take some time to reflect on the many blessings we all have...

The country in which we live. The homes we enjoy. The wonder of the natural world. Our friends and families. Our church. The food on our tables. Try to list all the things we enjoy and for which we should be grateful.

Our daily bread...

Thank you Lord that we are so well cared for, that our physical needs are so well met. Help us to be aware of the needs of others and respond by helping them where we are able to do so.

Our forgiveness...

Lord, we know that our forgiveness depends on how we forgive others and that this is a lesson we need to be aware of every day: please help us to see if we are holding anything against others and to meet that discovery with forgiveness so we may continue in the warmth of your love.

Worldwide issues...

Countries where Covid-19 is increasing. Pray for wisdom that those in charge may see new ways to tackle the virus and that they may be motivated to do so. Pray for the USA where it seems a lack of government control and poor implementation of measures could be to blame for an exponential rise in Covid-19 cases. Pray for other countries such as Brazil where measures are weakly implemented, and all countries who are not well placed to deal with the pandemic. Pray for the rapid deployment of a vaccine since it now appears that the natural immunity gained after having the virus may only last a few months.

Pray for those areas in the world where conflict still blights everyday life - Yemen, Syria, Myanmar etc. Pray that democracy will prevail in Hong Kong and that the Chinese government will learn to take a different approach to the many cultures within its borders. Pray for Christians around the world who are being persecuted as a result of their faith: pray for their strength and resolve and safety and that they will be a bright light within their communities.

Pray that racial equality may be promoted throughout the world.

Our country...

Pray for our Government as they deal with Covid-19, the financial effects of Covid-19, and also are trying to negotiate a deal with the EU. Pray for those areas in the North of the UK and Leicester where infection rates remain higher than the norm. Give thanks that some degree of normality is returning but pray that any second wave of infections will be minimal and well controlled by test and trace. Pray that test and trace may continue to be improved and that local infections can be controlled quickly and effectively.

Give thanks for all who provide us with essential services partucularly those who work for the NHS and emergency services. continue to pray for them as we navigate these difficult times.

Pray for all those who have been furloughed and any who have 'slipped through the net' that they will soon see a resolution of their worries and a quick return to normality. Pray for those who are losing their jobs as a result of Covid-19 particularly in areas and companies where recovery may be a long time coming such as airlines and Rolls Royce.

Pray for the people of Woking and Saint John's and for our church, that we may be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus and a light in our community.

Our church...

Give thanks for all who make our worship possible, in particular for Glyn whose drive and expertise enables us to be an effective on-line prescence. Robin suggests, and I entirely agree, that we pray for 'extra strength' for Glyn and that Peter Chamberlain can move here very soon in order to assist. Pray that arrangements for accomodation for Peter and his family go smoothly - a house has now been bought but they will move into rented accomodation temporarily while the house purchase is finalised.

Give thanks to all those who are working in the church office and those who volunteer to oversee the church when it is open in the mornings, for Glyn and all who are revealing more of the Gospel to us in their sermons, Jan, Rob and Tony.

Give thanks for Mary who continues to keep young people engaged via things like decorating biscuits etc and for the extraordinary work of Robin looking after all aspects of music and for the talented musicians and singers who grace our on-line morning services.

Give thanks for the-first-communion-in-ages last Sunday and pray that the easing of lockdown will continue in our community and our church without any further intrusion by Covid-19.

Pray for our mission partners... Matt and Andrea, Sam, Ellie, Hannah, and Daniel Vaughan in Malaysia Brendan and Jo, Lydia and Elias in South Asia Josh and Cathy, Ben, Erin and Matthew Hooker in Namibia Claire Dent, UCCF working with students remotely Robbie and Lizzie, Lola, Caleb and Mia Bellis with a church plant in Belgium

Daniel Newman and his family, Pete and Nicki Matthew.

The equipment and cabling for future permanent live streaming is planned to be installed over the next few weeks - pray that all will go smoothly and that those involved will be able to work without risking infection by Covid-19. Pray that we recieve clear direction regarding the continuation of on-line services after the initial need for them passes by. We have more people joining in on-line than we could fit inside the church. Pray that we may continue in such a way that on-line participants both feel and become part of our church and that Jesus is glorified in great measure.

Pray for all those known to us who are in any need - Don, Roger and Pam, Pam Paterson, Ian and Helen Ward (Ian has been taken off the ventilator but remains critical), Cynthia Green who has been in hospital after a fall, Peter and Esther Howitt (Esther has had a fall, is now back home, but they have the extra stress of moving house), Duncan's friend Stephen as he recovers from an operation, Ray McConnell, Bob McKendrick, Audry Standing, Hein, and any not listed here but known to you. Denise is organising a shopping rota to help Don - pray for its success.

Continue to pray for each other - see the email heading for the list.

The grace...

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.