This morning we welcome Christine Craig, a ministry student, to our church. Pray for Christine, not only as she leads worship but as she studies and prepares for ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Pray also for Thomas Black who continues his placement with us and takes part in today’s service.
Monday 20th November
This morning Michelle will be taking the nursery – primary 4 assembly in the school. Pray for Michelle, the children, teachers and all who work in the school. Pray that the current planned industrial action can be resolved and that children will not be adversely impacted.
Tuesday 21st November
Kirk Session is meeting tonight. Pray for our Kirk Session as they seek to give leadership and provide pastoral care within our congregation. Thank God for each elder and continue to pray for Helen, Samantha, and Julie as they prepare for the congregational meeting and vote on Sunday.
Wednesday 22nd November
We continue to be blessed with more children being born in our congregation. Thank God for Allistair and Samantha Nicholl’s baby daughter Esme Poppy who was born on the 5th of November. Pray for Esme, Samantha, Alistair, and Riley. Ask God’s blessing and protection over them.
Thursday 23rd November
Our community coffee time continues today between 2 and 4 pm. Pray for all who make this happen and for the people who come in and use it. Ask God that this would be a time when new friendships are formed.
Friday 24th November
Stuart and Joe continue to visit those who are sick and bereaved as well as routine pastoral visits. Pray for Stuart and Joe. Pray that their visiting would bring comfort and encouragement. Above all pray that God would be honoured and glorified through those visits.
Saturday 25th November
Another busy church week ends with the Blaze and Chill youth clubs. Pray for the children and young people who come along to both these clubs. Pray that among the fun and games they would see something of the love and grace of God.
Thomas Black is a candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thomas will be joining us for a short placement as part of his application process. Please pray for Thomas.
Thank you for taking the time to pray with us this week.
Sunday 12th November
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 kjv) This morning we give thanks to God for the sacrifices of so many in the defence of freedom and justice. Pray for the families of all those who mourn the loss of loved ones because of man’s inhumanity to man.
Monday 13th November
This afternoon our after schools’ clubs meet in Portstewart Primary School. Pray for this important work among the children attending the local primary school. Pray for the school, teaching and non-teaching staff. Pray also for the children and their families that they would know how much they are loved and valued by us as a church, but also by God their creator and Jesus their saviour.
Tuesday 14th November
PW meets tonight. Give thanks to God for this important ministry among the ladies of our congregation. Thank God for all the women who do so much to ensure the life and witness of this church is maintained.
Wednesday 15th November
Last week our GB packed over 20 shoeboxes. Thank God for all the boxes that will be sent not just from this congregation but from across to the church to families who have little in comparison to us. Thank God for the real expressions of joy on so many children’s faces when these gifts are handed out.
Thursday 16th November
Our world continues to tumble further and further into turmoil. Pray for the many places where suffering seems to reign, and misery dictates how people live their lives. Thank God for his sovereignty and the promise that he will bring all suffering to an end. Pray for that day to come.
Friday 17th November
Stuart is convenor for Ballywillan while they are vacant. Pray for Ballywillan, and the many other vacant congregations across our denomination. Pray for especially for those congregations who are enduring or facing long vacancies.
Saturday 18th November
Joe Fell continues to faithfully visit in our congregation. Thank God for Joe, pray for him as he ministers among us. Pray also as he does this while facing illness within his own family.
Each Sunday morning we publish a prayer diary which is designed to help us pray more regularly throughout the week. We would be delighted for as many people as possible to join us in prayer.
Sunday 5th November
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 nlt) Take time this morning as we come to the Lord’s table to remember what he has done for each of us, as individuals and a collective.
Monday 6th November
As the weather turns colder and people begin to make decisions as to whether they can afford to heat their homes, pray that our society would become fairer. Pray for our local economy remembering Jeremiah’s words to the exiles, that if Babylon prospers, they will prosper.
Tuesday 7th November
This evening there is a special meeting of Presbytery to discuss how the Presbyterian Church in Ireland responds to the fact it cannot provide ministry in the way it always has to many of our congregations. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity in these discussions. Pray also for those congregations who have been vacant for a long time and have little prospect of calling a minister of their own.
Wednesday 8th November
At the time of writing the events in Gazza and Israel show little signs of improving with more and more civilians caught up in the fighting on both sides of the war. It’s hard to believe this is a land where Jesus demonstrated so much love and compassion. Pray for all who have been caught up in the fighting, pray for the day when God finally beats the swords into ploughshares, breaks the shield and burns the spear.
Thursday 9th November
Robin Gawne, our treasurer, has been reporting an improving picture for the church finances, however the church still operates at a significant deficit. Pray for our finances, pray that God would provide not just for the church to keep going, but for the means that we would be able to continue to reach our community for Christ.
Friday 10th November
Thomas Black is a candidate for the ministry from 1st Coleraine. Thomas will be joining us for a four-week placement on Sunday as part of his application process. Pray for Thomas, pray that he would know God’s blessing and presence, but also that he would know God’s leading as he continues to explore God’s call on his life.
Saturday 11th November
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent. Thank God for the ending of wars, pray for those who still suffer the effects of war, and pray for those who have been caught up in war.
Each Sunday morning we publish a prayer diary which is designed to help us pray more regularly throughout the week. We would be delighted for as many people as possible to join us in prayer.
Sunday 22nd October
This morning we read the names of Helen Davies, Samantha McPeak and Julie Watters for the second Sunday as we continue the process of electing new elders. Please pray for Helen, Samantha and Julie as they have allowed their names to become part of a very public process. Pray they would know God’s blessing and presence in the coming days and weeks.
Monday 23rd October
Can these bones live? (Ezekiel 37:3) When Ezekiel was presented with the valley of dry bones, he was asked Can these bones live? As part of the process of bringing the bones to life God told Ezekiel to Prophesy, to speak God’s word to the bones. Take time this morning to remind yourself of God’s word to us, the church today. Read Colossians 3: 1-17 and pray that God would lift our eyes to Christ and everything he has done for us.
Tuesday 24th October
Kirk Session is meeting tonight along with Burnside elders to hear a presentation from an organisation called Safe Families Safe families aims to help families who are in crisis for one reason or another. Pray for both Kirk Sessions, pray for the families in our community who find themselves in a difficult situation and pray that we as a combined Presbyterian witness would make a difference in our community.
Wednesday 25th October
On Sunday morning we welcomed our Girls Brigade into the church for their enrolment service. Thank God for the girls, the leaders, officers and captain of the GB. Pray that the GB would be a place where girls find friendships, love and above all that it would be a place where they see the love and faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ.
Thursday 26th October
Karen Elliot sends birthday cards to every child connected to the church, be that through baptism, Treasure Hunters, GB, Youth Club or the schools club. Thank God for Karen and this important work. Thank God also for the approximately 100 children that we as a church have weekly contact with. Pray that God would bless this work and that it would become a stepping stone to bring more families into our church family and faith in Jesus Christ.
Friday 27th October
The congregations of Moneydig and Second Kilrea where Stuart was minister are still vacant almost 2 and a half years since he moved to Portstewart. This is a story repeated many times over throughout our denomination. Pray for Moneydig and Second Kilrea, pray also regarding the difficulty are church has in finding new ministers and for the new ways it is trying to find to provide stable ministry for many small congregations.
Saturday 28th October
Blaze and Chill (Youth Clubs) meet tonight. Thank God for the work Michelle is doing among our young people. Pray that as she adjusts to working on her own over these next weeks that she would know encouragement and support from us as a congregation, but also that she would be encouraged through the work she is carrying out.
Mums and tots meets on Wednesday mornings from 10am – 12 noon, in our church hall. It’s open to anyone (parent, childminder, grandparent, male or female) who is caring for a pre-school age child or children.
Adults have the opportunity to make friends over a cup of tea or coffee whilst the children learn to play with each other. The children also sit down together to enjoy a snack and a drink.
Come along and get to know others in the community who have kids at the same stage as yours. Make friends, share how you raise your kids and learn what others do differently. Above all have fun- you and your baby.
