Social Witness

Pray for all who continue to provide Health & Social Care in all settings during these ever-challenging days and increased outbreaks. Pray for all CSW managers as they prepare for the increased pressures that the winter months bring to the care of older and vulnerable residents. Give thanks that more normal routines are returning to homes and units and that families and visitors are respecting current restrictions.

Elected Representatives 

Give thanks for those elected representatives who serve our communities at local councils, the Oireachtas, UK Parliament, NI Assembly and the European Parliament. Pray for safety and protection for them, and their constituency and case-workers, as they go about their business.  

David Boyd (Irish mission worker in Adelaide Road, Dublin) 

Pray for a meeting this Sunday (31 October) to look at ways to resume in-person events at the International Café, and as they meet up with students for a walk. Pray too for the kirk session as they meet to discuss future outreach initiatives. 

Maynooth

Give thanks for a return to face-to-face services and as they share their worship space with a new Irish school. Pray for continued progress on the congregation’s new building project.

Stephen & Angelina Cowan (global mission workers, Kenya) 

Pray for Stephen and Angelina as they serve in the Tuum area of northern Kenya. Pray for an end to cattle raiding and for wise and courageous leaders to rise in the community and for an openness to new thinking. 

Pakistan

Pray for leaders and members of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan as they live out their faith in Christ. Pray for strength and protection for Christians suffering persecution. 

Paula Burrows (deaconess in Ballygrainey, Co Down) 

Pray for the women’s and children’s ministries that Paula is involved in. Pray for Paula as she continues to build relationships and for opportunities to share God’s love with others.

Lisbellaw, Lisnaskea, Maguiresbridge & Newtownbutler (Co Fermanagh)

Pray for the work and witness of these home mission congregations. Pray for wisdom and guidance for Rev Rodney Beacom and the kirk sessions.

Steve & Rosie Kennedy (global mission workers, Romania) 

Pray for the Cluj Christian Fellowship English service. Pray for Steve as he prepares the preaching schedule and monthly worship. Pray for the ongoing discussions and planning for the student ministry. 

Brazil

Pray for the work and witness of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and especially for all efforts to reach out with God’s love and care to those living in deprived areas.   

Let’s Pray For Social Witness
Pray for the managers of our homes and units as they deal with many tasks on a daily basis. 
There is a shortage of staff right across the care sector at present, which is affecting both the public and private sector. Pray that staffing levels rise and recruitment drives are successful.


Retail 
Give thanks for those who work in retail and who have continued to provide for our daily needs in recent months. Pray for their protection in the busy run up to Christmas and that God would grant them grace, patience and stamina as they work long hours and serve customers who may be experiencing their own hassles and stress.


General Council
As the marking of the centenary of the foundation of Northern Ireland remains a sensitive issue, pray for the Moderator and the other church leaders, as they collectively lead a service of worship in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.


Linkage Commission  
The Linkage Commission meets on Tuesday 26 October. Three congregations are due to ask permission to call a minister. Pray for the Commission, and its convener, James Livingstone, as it seeks to allocate resources [ministers, additional pastoral personnel, auxiliary ministers] across PCI at a time when the number of available ministers is low and falling.

Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ.
Numbers Summary


https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/numbers-summary

Covid:
Why boosters for richest countries could leave many of world's poorest without a first dose.
‘We pray to God to put off the Covid’. But what’s really testing Africa’s faith in the vaccine?
A report from Kenya on ITV News at Ten.
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-10-21/why-booster-jabs-for-richest-countries-could-leave-poorest-without-a-first-dose

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

​Janice 1:46
Jean 2:48
Eddie 3:25​

​Play the "Causeway Friday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=155af43aa0cf

​Let’s Pray For Norman Harrison (hospital chaplain) 
Pray for Norman as he serves as chaplain in the Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast and as lead chaplain in the Northern Trust. Pray for strength and encouragement for Norman in all he does, and that through him God will speak to many patients, relatives and hospital staff.  


Limerick
Pray for God’s blessing on the work and witness of the United Presbyterian and Methodist congregation of Limerick. Pray especially for Rev Stephen Hancock, the church council and congregational leaders.

Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ.
Leviticus Summary


https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/leviticus-summary

Service of Reflection
Service of Reflection and Hope to mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland will take place in Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, 10:30 today Thursday, 21 October 2021. On BBC1 & RTE1

The Bible In 30 Minutes
What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead? In this episode, Phil examines the days surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Listen now to hear about the greatest rescue in history! ​

https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21332/255460

​Let’s Pray For Russia
Pray for staff and students at the Christian University of St Petersburg, for improvements in its finances and the challenges connected to new Russian legislation. Pray for strength and vision for pastors who are former students of the university as they minister.


Latvia
Pray for our partners in Latvia, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Latvia and the Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary. Pray for their work and witness through the restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ.
Exodus Summary


https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/exodus-summary

​Food of the soul”
“Food of the soul”: Iraqi Christians receive Bibles through Open Doors, Pray for Iraq.
​Read more here:
https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/iraq-bibles/

Open Doors - World Watch List
Open Doors has released the World Watch List. The list of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian in 2021. 
The full list can be found here
https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/


This week the focus is on The Central African Republic the 35th most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian. Read about it here 


https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/central-african-republic/

Christian Unions Ireland
The prayer points for this week.


22 – 28 October
Praise God for the growing International Student Ministry team in Belfast, including new ISM Staff Worker Andrew, and Olivia, Reach trainee. Pray for new connections made with international students and good relationships with churches and CUs as they partner in ministry.
Many freshers came to Stranmillis CU events at the beginning of the year. Pray for them as they seek to integrate into CU and campus life. Praise God for increased integration with the Students’ Union (SU) at Stranmillis too, including the CU international coordinator being asked to speak at an SU event about the light and dark at Halloween.

The consequence of false worship
When we worship anything or anyone other than God, we sacrifice our full humanity
​https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-consequence-of-false-worship

​Let’s Pray For Sonya Anderson (deaconess in Shore Street, Donaghadee) 
Give thanks for the children's and adults’ groups that are beginning to meet in-person. Pray that God will use these gatherings to restore a sense of community and that people will be encouraged in their faith. Pray for wisdom as the congregation seeks a new minister. 


Kilkenny
Give thanks for fresh beginnings with the induction of Rev Jonathan Currie last month as minister, and a great openness to the preaching of God’s Word. As restrictions further ease, pray for discernment about what activities to restart and when to restart them.

​Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ.
Genesis Summary
https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/genesis-summary

Maturity - Psalm 13 - How To Despair Well
Emotional maturity means leading our feelings to God, not letting our feelings lead us away from him. The question in David’s heart in Psalm 13 is the question in the hearts of many in times of testing: How long, Lord? Have you forgotten us? Have you left us? When will this end? Will it ever stop?


https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/despair-well/

New church facility for Magilligan Prison officially opened by Justice Minister
Justice Minister Naomi Long has officially opened a new House of Worship in Magilligan Prison.
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Rev Dr David Bruce, Rev Dr Sahr Yambasu, President of the Methodist Church, Vicar General of the Derry Diocese Fr Michael Canny, and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster attended the official opening and dedication of the new building.


https://news.causewaycoastcommunity.co.uk/new-church-facility-for-magilligan-prison-officially-opened-by-justice-minister/?fbclid=IwAR3eMZ_2FKYMBIYrJ-etbdBcu9SUSIh-ToCH5yos3m4gP0X6-e3gbQajAoo

​The Larger Westminster Catechism
The Larger Westminster Catechism was completed 347 years ago this week. Here are nine things you should know about catechisms and catechesis.


https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/should-know-catechisms/

Let’s Pray For 
Encouraged by God in worship  
Ask God to encourage his people in worship as we meet today, helping us look back with thankfulness for all he has been to us and look forward in hope, anticipating his ongoing presence with us.


Diane Cusick (global mission in Zambia) 
Pray for the Early Childhood Development centres in Livingstone, Monze and Mazabuka – for the children not only to have fun through play, but to learn that Jesus loves them. 


Zambia
Pray for CCAP Synod of Zambia as they hold their bi-annual General Administrative Committee meeting this week. Pray for wisdom as they make plans for the coming year. Pray too for Diane as she presents a report on Early Childhood Development and also assists the Synod with other presentations.

Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ.


https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/bible-study-is-war

Service of Reflection and Hope to mark the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland.
A Service of Reflection and Hope to mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland will take place in Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Thursday, 21 October 2021. It will be broadcast on BBC1 and RTE1 at 10:30am on Thursday
The service is being organised by the Church Leaders Group, as part of their wider programme of collective engagement around the 1921 centenaries, with an emphasis on their common Christian commitment to peace, healing and reconciliation.
​
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2021/Church-leaders-service-of-reflection-and-hope.aspx

​Ashes To Gold
A Letter of thanks for the food donations.