Issued on Wednesday 10th June 2015
 
Prayer requests from Presbyterian Mission in Ireland personnel and Home and Urban Mission congregations. 
 
Moderator – Rt Rev Dr Ian McNie
·       Pray for Ian at the beginning of his moderatorial year.  Pray for wisdom and guidance in all he says and does. 
·       Remember him over the next week as he speaks at Ballyalbany Presbyterian Church this Sunday, 14th June (service commencing at 12.00noon), and as he visits Friendship House in South Belfast on Tuesday, 16th June. 
 
Tracey Nicholl – Deaconess serving in St James’s Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney
·       Pray that the Lord would continue to work by His Spirit in the lives of the members of St. James congregation and that they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ.
·       Pray for the Women's Bible Study which is held twice a year in St. James.  Pray that the women who attend will know how valuable they are to the Lord.
·       Pray also that Tracey remains open to what the Lord wants to do through her and that she will glorify Him as she continues working in St. James.
 
John McCandless – Community Outreach Worker serving in Mountpottinger and Mersey Street Presbyterian Churches
·       Give thanks to God for John’s co-workers and volunteers.  John writes, “Without their support and encouragement my work would be almost impossible.”
·       Give thanks too for the people who help out in the food bank at McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian Church, and for the invaluable support they give through supplying food boxes for those John comes across who are in great need.
·       John writes, “The summer brings hard work, good fun, and new relationships with children, new leaders and visitors.”  Pray that they won’t miss opportunities or shirk the challenges.
·       Pray for the summer work with a team from USA, ‘Teen Mission’.  The team plans to stay at Mountpottinger for four weeks, working in four areas, including City Mission halls, Mountpottinger and Mersey Street congregations and on the street.  Pray for safety and for God’s blessing as they share His love with others in the local community. 
 
Rev George Moffett – Chaplain serving in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald
·       Pray for the Chaplaincy team in the Ulster Hospital.  In recent years there have been many changes in the Health Service.  Pray that the Chaplains will adapt to the changes well and continue to be a witness to the love and grace of the Lord whom they serve.
·       Give thanks for good relationships with staff and for the opportunities, when needed, to minister to them.
·       A large number of the people who are admitted to hospital have no church connection and very little interest in church.  Very often their first contact with the church is through the chaplaincy.  Pray for wisdom, sensitivity and understanding as the chaplains meet and share God’s love with them. 
·       Pray for the Sunday worship services which are held every Sunday morning in the Ulster Hospital, and that they be a source of encouragement, comfort and hope for those who attend.
 
Cootehill, Drum and Kilmount Presbyterian Churches – Rev Daryl Edwards
·       Pray for the broadcast on Sunday 21st June at 11.45am of a service recorded in Cootehill earlier in the year which will be on RTE Radio 1 Extra, available on 252LW, or on digital radio, or afterwards on http://www.rte.ie/radio1/service/.
·       Pray for the planning of the annual Discovery Club for children aged 4 to 12 years old.  This year it will be organised and run by local people.  Give thanks for the willingness and enthusiasm of those who have volunteered to lead the Club.  Pray for good attendance and for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with the children.
·       Pray for opportunities to develop relationships within the congregations through the annual summer outings and social events.
·       Pray for the teenagers and young adults in the congregations - especially for the summer events planned which include a weekend away.  Pray for the opportunities these may create for future ministry.
 
Inch Presbyterian Church – Rev Jim Lamont (Stated Supply)
Inch is a small island off the coast of Donegal and in 1831 Presbyterians there formed a congregation.  At present, 14 families claim connection to the congregation.  Inch is the smallest church building and congregation in the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal.  For over five years the congregation has been vacant, although there is now a connection with Burt congregation.
But although small in numbers we remember the words of Jesus, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them.”
·       Pray for the members of the congregation as they seek to bear witness to the Gospel in their island setting and beyond, and that the congregation will be recognised as the family of God on Inch.
·       Pray that the young people in the congregation will continue to remain faithful in worship and grow in their faith.
·       Pray for the spiritual and relational needs of each individual member of the congregation.
·       As the members of the congregation continue in their witness, pray that the final verse of the hymn by John Oxenham will be realised. “In Christ now meet both East and West, In Him meet North and South.  All Christly souls are one in Him, Throughout the whole wide earth!”
 
Westbourne Presbyterian Church – Rev Mervyn Gibson
Mervyn writes, “We have plans for a tourist project, ‘Titanic People’, that will provide opportunities to witness to the local community and overseas visitors.  We are awaiting the final grant to see the project become a reality.  The congregation is currently meeting in East Belfast Network Centre, having vacated the church building to allow work to take place to address dry rot.  It is anticipated we will be out of the church building for 18 months.”
·       Pray for the plans God has for the creating ‘Titanic People’ and that the opportunities for outreach it can provide will become a reality.
·       Give thanks that the congregation is able to meet in East Belfast Network Centre while all the work on the church building is carried out.
·       Ask God to grant the congregation wisdom as they move forward into new areas of mission and service.
·       Pray that Christian individuals and families would join Westbourne for three years, to share the vision God has given the congregation.
·       Pray for those who live around the church, that they may come to know Jesus Christ in a real and personal way.
 
Cavanaleck and Aughentaine Presbyterian Churches – Rev Alan Moore
·       Praise God for the starting of the new Toddlers group in Cavanaleck and Aughentaine congregations.  Pray for relationships to flourish and new ones to be formed.  Pray for safety and strength for all involved and that the message and love of Jesus will be shown and shared to all who come. 
·       Pray for all the summer outreach activities being arranged.  Pray for God’s leading in all they will do.  Ask the Lord to grant wisdom and stamina as they prepare to serve together in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to all ages.
·       Pray for those who have faithfully served in the various ministries through the year.  May this be a time to be refreshed and to reflect on all the Lord has been doing in and through their service and how He can continue to help them in the year to come to grow more in His likeness.