Issued on Wednesday 3rd June 2015
Prayer requests from Presbyterian Mission in Ireland personnel and Home and Urban Mission congregations.
General Assembly
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is meeting this week, concluding tomorrow, Thursday 4th June. The Council for Mission in Ireland’s report will be presented tomorrow morning, (4th) at around 11.30am.
• Pray for God’s leading for the Assembly and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all its deliberations, and that the decisions reached will bring glory to God, enabling our Church to be effective in its life and witness throughout Ireland and in the wider world.
• Pray for wisdom and grace for the incoming Moderator, Rev Dr Ian McNie, as he chairs proceedings, and for the Clerk, Rev Trevor Gribben, as he provides guidance on procedures and the business before the house.
· Pray for wisdom and guidance as important decisions are made regarding the work of the Church and Mission in Ireland.
· Pray for an increasing passion for God’s mission across our Church; and a willingness to be Christ’s witnesses.
· Pray for PCI’s home mission congregations, and for PCI Mission in Ireland personnel including deaconesses, Irish Mission Workers, Community Outreach Workers and Chaplains and staff in the Mission Department in Assembly Buildings.
Lynda McFaul – Deaconess serving in First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church
· Pray for all involved in planning and implementing the summer programmes for the congregation’s youth and children’s activities, holiday Bible club for primary school children and youth week for teenagers. Pray for relationships within the team to be developed and nurtured.
· Pray for all those who will come along to the Holiday Bible Club in July and especially for the outreach opportunities to the parents, grandparents, childminders, etc. Pray too for the outreach team as the share tea / coffee and share the love of Jesus to all who come along to drop off the children.
Philip Whelton – Irish Mission Worker serving in Arklow
Philip writes, “We are so thankful for another wonderful year for the Children’s Bible Club, Youth Club and Teens Club, which have all been very well attended throughout the year. Many people use the church throughout the week and this is proving to be a great place to meet new people and develop friendships and to share God’s love in various ways.”
· Pray for the congregation which is vacant at present, and that God in His time would send the person of His choosing to serve Him there.
· Pray for the Church elders and Committee as they have that extra responsibility in pastoral work during the vacancy.
· Pray for the final preparations for the Holiday Bible Club from 3rd to 7th August and for the children and leaders who will be taking part.
Rev Paul Erskine – Chaplain serving in Musgrave Park Hospital
Paul writes, “Hospital chaplains have the privilege, for which we give thanks, of being members of staff. This means we're part of the hospital team and thus able to provide pastoral support to other staff and conduct services of worship. It means also that we meet patients from different backgrounds: some are faithful church members, some are on the fringe, some have no contact with the church.”
· Pray that chaplains will use all the opportunities open to them.
· Pray for the hospital staff as they fulfil their duties despite difficulties and that patients will receive the help they need and know the presence of the Lord.
The Living Room (Cliftonville Church Plant) – Rev Dario Leal
· Give thanks for the witness of the Living Room in the Cliftonville, New Lodge and Antrim Road areas of North Belfast, and for the people who are coming to the Sunday gathering, and the different meetings during the week.
· Pray for more volunteers to come help in the outreaches, and especially for volunteers to lead the children’s programme on Sundays.
· Pray for the Cliftonville area, where there is a high level of suicides, depression, addictions and prescribed medication.
· Pray that Dario and his colleagues will be equipped to serve the local community and be effective in bringing the Kingdom of God.
· Pray for a new location to be found for the Sunday gathering, a place where people can be effectively reached and which can become a base for ministry.
Howth and Malahide Presbyterian Church – Rev Alastair Dunlop
· Give thanks for increased numbers in Howth. Average attendance has gone from about 25 people last year, to about 40 people this year. Pray for continued numerical growth.
· Pray for the congregation’s Holiday Bible Club (‘Going Bananas’) taking place in August. The congregation is expanding it a little this year and a team from Portadown will be coming to help lead it.
· Pray that God will enable the congregation to develop its youth ministry. Last year, the congregation’s youth work benefited from having a PCI VIP worker, but a replacement for the coming year has not yet be secured.
Tullamore and Mountmellick Presbyterian Churches – Rev William Hayes
William writes, “The last ten years of ministry in Tullamore and Mountmellick churches have been both difficult and rewarding. Despite some early challenges we have been able to reach the two towns through work in schools, on local radio and amongst the local Muslim community. Both congregations have grown in numbers and in closeness to God, but there are still many challenges. The development of local leadership is very much an issue.”
· Pray that the congregations will grow in maturity and will begin to take on both the practical and spiritual roles that are needed to enable a church to grow.
International Meeting Point - Belfast
· Give thanks for the Bible Studies at the International Meeting Point and the opportunities they provide to share the Gospel. Pray for all who attend, some of whom are reading the Bible for the first time.
· The Meeting Point is putting together a new Bible Shelf with Bibles in as many languages as possible. Give thanks for the donations received which is making this possible.
· Pray for the very first visitor to the Meeting Point in 2010, who sadly has incurable cancer. Pray that she will give her life to Christ.
Prayer requests from Presbyterian Mission in Ireland personnel and Home and Urban Mission congregations.
General Assembly
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is meeting this week, concluding tomorrow, Thursday 4th June. The Council for Mission in Ireland’s report will be presented tomorrow morning, (4th) at around 11.30am.
• Pray for God’s leading for the Assembly and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all its deliberations, and that the decisions reached will bring glory to God, enabling our Church to be effective in its life and witness throughout Ireland and in the wider world.
• Pray for wisdom and grace for the incoming Moderator, Rev Dr Ian McNie, as he chairs proceedings, and for the Clerk, Rev Trevor Gribben, as he provides guidance on procedures and the business before the house.
· Pray for wisdom and guidance as important decisions are made regarding the work of the Church and Mission in Ireland.
· Pray for an increasing passion for God’s mission across our Church; and a willingness to be Christ’s witnesses.
· Pray for PCI’s home mission congregations, and for PCI Mission in Ireland personnel including deaconesses, Irish Mission Workers, Community Outreach Workers and Chaplains and staff in the Mission Department in Assembly Buildings.
Lynda McFaul – Deaconess serving in First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church
· Pray for all involved in planning and implementing the summer programmes for the congregation’s youth and children’s activities, holiday Bible club for primary school children and youth week for teenagers. Pray for relationships within the team to be developed and nurtured.
· Pray for all those who will come along to the Holiday Bible Club in July and especially for the outreach opportunities to the parents, grandparents, childminders, etc. Pray too for the outreach team as the share tea / coffee and share the love of Jesus to all who come along to drop off the children.
Philip Whelton – Irish Mission Worker serving in Arklow
Philip writes, “We are so thankful for another wonderful year for the Children’s Bible Club, Youth Club and Teens Club, which have all been very well attended throughout the year. Many people use the church throughout the week and this is proving to be a great place to meet new people and develop friendships and to share God’s love in various ways.”
· Pray for the congregation which is vacant at present, and that God in His time would send the person of His choosing to serve Him there.
· Pray for the Church elders and Committee as they have that extra responsibility in pastoral work during the vacancy.
· Pray for the final preparations for the Holiday Bible Club from 3rd to 7th August and for the children and leaders who will be taking part.
Rev Paul Erskine – Chaplain serving in Musgrave Park Hospital
Paul writes, “Hospital chaplains have the privilege, for which we give thanks, of being members of staff. This means we're part of the hospital team and thus able to provide pastoral support to other staff and conduct services of worship. It means also that we meet patients from different backgrounds: some are faithful church members, some are on the fringe, some have no contact with the church.”
· Pray that chaplains will use all the opportunities open to them.
· Pray for the hospital staff as they fulfil their duties despite difficulties and that patients will receive the help they need and know the presence of the Lord.
The Living Room (Cliftonville Church Plant) – Rev Dario Leal
· Give thanks for the witness of the Living Room in the Cliftonville, New Lodge and Antrim Road areas of North Belfast, and for the people who are coming to the Sunday gathering, and the different meetings during the week.
· Pray for more volunteers to come help in the outreaches, and especially for volunteers to lead the children’s programme on Sundays.
· Pray for the Cliftonville area, where there is a high level of suicides, depression, addictions and prescribed medication.
· Pray that Dario and his colleagues will be equipped to serve the local community and be effective in bringing the Kingdom of God.
· Pray for a new location to be found for the Sunday gathering, a place where people can be effectively reached and which can become a base for ministry.
Howth and Malahide Presbyterian Church – Rev Alastair Dunlop
· Give thanks for increased numbers in Howth. Average attendance has gone from about 25 people last year, to about 40 people this year. Pray for continued numerical growth.
· Pray for the congregation’s Holiday Bible Club (‘Going Bananas’) taking place in August. The congregation is expanding it a little this year and a team from Portadown will be coming to help lead it.
· Pray that God will enable the congregation to develop its youth ministry. Last year, the congregation’s youth work benefited from having a PCI VIP worker, but a replacement for the coming year has not yet be secured.
Tullamore and Mountmellick Presbyterian Churches – Rev William Hayes
William writes, “The last ten years of ministry in Tullamore and Mountmellick churches have been both difficult and rewarding. Despite some early challenges we have been able to reach the two towns through work in schools, on local radio and amongst the local Muslim community. Both congregations have grown in numbers and in closeness to God, but there are still many challenges. The development of local leadership is very much an issue.”
· Pray that the congregations will grow in maturity and will begin to take on both the practical and spiritual roles that are needed to enable a church to grow.
International Meeting Point - Belfast
· Give thanks for the Bible Studies at the International Meeting Point and the opportunities they provide to share the Gospel. Pray for all who attend, some of whom are reading the Bible for the first time.
· The Meeting Point is putting together a new Bible Shelf with Bibles in as many languages as possible. Give thanks for the donations received which is making this possible.
· Pray for the very first visitor to the Meeting Point in 2010, who sadly has incurable cancer. Pray that she will give her life to Christ.
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