Skip to main content

Prayer Column - September 2019

Image
By

Circuit Prayer Letters

For the last seven years I have been preparing and distributing by email a weekly prayer letter for those who wish to pray for Bradford North Circuit. The letters offer brief thoughts on prayer, a short prayer, and a list of prayer points: a rota of ministers, office holders and churches; and Circuit events. Some congregations are well represented on my mailing list, but most have very few and one has no intercessors at all. So, to mark the seventh anniversary I’m having another go at publicising the letters in an attempt to strengthen our joint prayer efforts for the Circuit.

I think prayer matters. I think God wants us to pray. Indeed I think we actually need to engage with him in prayer if we are ever to reach our full maturity as Christians. Prayer is one of our main means of relating person-to-person with God as our Heavenly Father: in praise and thanks, as well as saying sorry for our slips, trips and flips – and of course asking him for things. Odd though it may sound, God seems to want and expect us to ask: for the help we need with whatever tasks he has given us; and even for things he has promised. We’re to pray them into being.

All of which is why I pray, on my own and at prayer meetings. It’s why I write about prayer, to encourage it, in this monthly column and these weekly letters. If you would like to join in, email me. Or request a sample letter before you make up your mind. If you’re not on email, could you perhaps get someone who is, perhaps at church, to print them for you.

Roy Lorrain-Smith 

A prayer for each week

Heavenly Father, Jesus taught his disciples to pray when they asked him. Please teach us to pray, and to go on praying, getting to know you better, and working better for you too. Amen.

Lord God Almighty, how can you, so majestic and holy, be bothered with the likes of us? And yet you are! You created and you keep us. Please help us to respond as we should. Amen.

Great Lord of all, from the wide sweep of the cosmos to the detail of our thought life, we praise you for your power and thank you for your mercy. Please deepen our true insights. Amen.

Merciful Lord, great beyond measure yet condescending without limit, please forgive my wrongs and mend my flaws. And help me pass on your blessing, as I too forgive others. Amen.

Eternal Father, knowing the end of things from before their beginning, please draw me closer into your plans, and empower me to keep in step with your Spirit, through Jesus. Amen.

Your own prayers

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

April 2014 Prayer Column

By
Prayer for Bradford City and Surrounds What are we all doing for our contribution for the p4b Lenten prayer, on your chosen day – Monday or Tuesday 14-15 th April ? Here are some ideas Get a picture of the place, or the bit that matters most to you: ·          Look at a map: see where you are, and your neighbouring areas ·          Collect some photos: places, faces, events, memories ·          Stand at a viewpoint over the area you want to focus on ·          Take a walk through the area, or a bus, or even drive Listen to what’s going on in the area: ·          Scan the T&A or freebie local paper, Look North, Calendar, radio ·          Listen to what they’re saying  at bus stops, shop queues, etc. ·  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Trinity Methodist Watchnight Service

By
Trinity Methodist Church on Lilycroft Road, Bradford held their annual Watchnight service at 11.30 on New Year’s E ve, led by Rev. Albert Gayle, minister of the Church. These services (as in past years) are of an ecumenical nature and we are able to welcome folks from other local churches in the area and not purely from the Methodist persuasion. Following the service, fireworks and refreshments were enjoyed by all. A lovely way to celebrate both the end of the old and the beginning of the new year. Ian B Trinity 
Post a Comment
Read more

Virtual Worship - 13 February 2022

By
Welcome to worship with the Bradford North Methodist Circuit this morning. This service will be shared this morning by Rev Nick Blundell and the members and friends at Bolton Methodist Church. Service Sheet   (pdf) Call to worship We are blessed to be here today. We are blessed to be together today. We are blessed to be a family. We are blessed that God is with us. Let us enjoy God’s blessing as we worship today. Lord, thank you that we are blessed. Help us to recognise all that you have given to us. We pray that not only will we reflect on your blessings we will also seek to be a blessing to others, with your help and in your name. Amen. Hymn You might like to sing, or reflect on David J Evans’ hymn at Singing the Faith 20, Be still. for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here. Prayers Father, we worship and adore you for the light you bring to this dreary time of year, when we long for spring. Thank you for the blessing of every shoot and bud, the reminders of your...
Post a Comment
Read more