Our interim minister is Gordon McCracken. You can call him on 01387 253877.Prayer sheet
What this is...
The idea for a monthly prayer sheet came from the elders' conference on Faith First. It's designed to help us focus our thoughts so each and every member of St Mary's-Greyfriars' congregation can make a contribution to activities - in our homes, our church, our region and internationally.
Our members are also asked to pray for a particular congregation/ministry within the presbytery each week. For details, click here.
December 2008
Dear Lord Our God,
At this time of year we think of new life and the everyday wonders of our universe – and especially the one miracle which changed our whole world, the arrival of Jesus Christ on our earth.
At this time we think of presents and the many wonderful things that we have in the Western world. And especially the gift that you gave to us at Bethlehem all these years ago.
At this time of giving and sharing, we think about all we have and yet our desire is to have more.
We are sorry for our greed and spending our time and money on temporary riches – and for much of the season, pushing the real meaning of Christmas to the side.
At this time of goodwill, fill our hearts and minds with generosity especially towards those who have very little – people who are hungry and homeless. Let us share our wealth by giving something to others in Your name.
You have given us this world to live in, and Your Son for our salvation.
Let us be worthy of these very special gifts this Christmas morning and throughout the coming year. Amen
At this time we think of presents and the many wonderful things that we have in the Western world. And especially the gift that you gave to us at Bethlehem all these years ago.
At this time of giving and sharing, we think about all we have and yet our desire is to have more.
We are sorry for our greed and spending our time and money on temporary riches – and for much of the season, pushing the real meaning of Christmas to the side.
At this time of goodwill, fill our hearts and minds with generosity especially towards those who have very little – people who are hungry and homeless. Let us share our wealth by giving something to others in Your name.
You have given us this world to live in, and Your Son for our salvation.
Let us be worthy of these very special gifts this Christmas morning and throughout the coming year. Amen
November 2008
‘Remember, remember’ … so the rhyme goes
But what we reflect on are hard times and woes
The things that we’ve known that were hurtful or sad
The people we see who are nasty and bad But let us keep to the fore of our heart and our mind
Many ordinary people who are brave, true and kind.
For all those lost lives, in wars that are past
That gave us our freedom and a peace that does last. Take that foundation and add to it ‘grace’
And life everlasting for the whole human race
Our Father in heaven is what we will see
Whose Son came to earth to save both you and me. Remember, remember … so the rhyme goes
That with God on our side we can conquer our foes
And let us take time to think on what’s good
Like our church and our friends, our warm homes and food Remember, remember … every week, every day
We should worship our Lord, serve Him and pray.
But what we reflect on are hard times and woes
The things that we’ve known that were hurtful or sad
The people we see who are nasty and bad But let us keep to the fore of our heart and our mind
Many ordinary people who are brave, true and kind.
For all those lost lives, in wars that are past
That gave us our freedom and a peace that does last. Take that foundation and add to it ‘grace’
And life everlasting for the whole human race
Our Father in heaven is what we will see
Whose Son came to earth to save both you and me. Remember, remember … so the rhyme goes
That with God on our side we can conquer our foes
And let us take time to think on what’s good
Like our church and our friends, our warm homes and food Remember, remember … every week, every day
We should worship our Lord, serve Him and pray.
October
This month’s prayer is inspired by the alpha (α; first) and omega (Ω; last) symbols that are on the rear wall of the church behind the choir.
Dear Lord our God,
You are the beginning of the world, You are the beginning of all life.
You are the most wondrous creator and loving Father to all mankind.
Let us seek a new beginning with you at the centre of our world.
Let us seek to know you better through our Bible and Christianity Explored.
Your love is the ultimate goal for us as we live out our lives.
You are the one that meets us when our time on earth ends
Let us share our belongings and love through our actions – sharing our harvest gifts and coming together at Communion.
Let us focus on our Faith and fellowship – focussing on the future for our Mission and people at the Congregational Board meeting and at the Buzz, Guild and Gardening Club events.
We bring this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our guide, to you our Father, our beginning and our end. Amen.
You are the beginning of the world, You are the beginning of all life.
You are the most wondrous creator and loving Father to all mankind.
Let us seek a new beginning with you at the centre of our world.
Let us seek to know you better through our Bible and Christianity Explored.
Your love is the ultimate goal for us as we live out our lives.
You are the one that meets us when our time on earth ends
Let us share our belongings and love through our actions – sharing our harvest gifts and coming together at Communion.
Let us focus on our Faith and fellowship – focussing on the future for our Mission and people at the Congregational Board meeting and at the Buzz, Guild and Gardening Club events.
We bring this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our guide, to you our Father, our beginning and our end. Amen.
September
Dear Lord our God
We are blessed with a safe and secure place to live – we ask for your support for these areas around the world like Russia and Georgia where there is conflict and war.
We are blessed with friends and family and fellow Christians with whom we share our thoughts and activities – we ask that China learns from the countries present at the Olympic Games about freedom of speech and freedom of worship.
We are blessed with good health services with professionals and volunteers who care for us at every stage in our lives – we ask for your love to help those who face illness and disease.
We are blessed with enough food and a plentiful supply clean water – we ask for your blessing on the organisations like Christian Aid who work towards everyone having these things.
We thank you for the summer holidays that have refreshed us physically; for all our social groups like the Buzz Club and Gardening Club that sustain us mentally; and for the coming events at the Guild and Christianity Explored that will develop us spiritually. Let us be open to your Spirit working within us.
Lord, hear our prayer in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, our strength and our Redeemer.
Amen
