For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
1. As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, give thanks to God and celebrate his goodness as we count our blessings - how he sustains us day to day, and most of all, for the gift of himself born as a baby in order to live and walk among human beings, showing us how to live in tune with our heavenly father, and going to the cross to pay the price for our sin. Praise God for forgiveness and eternal life through his Son! Pray that as we enter another Christmas season every one will see the Lord revealed by his Son.
2. Please pray for the ESC Adult Sunday School classes:
December - The Old Testament Book of Ruth is being taught by one of our own ESC brothers. Please pray for his preparation and our hearts to learn.
January - A New Testament book will be taught in the month of January.
February - TBA
Please pray for confirmation of teachers and subjects for February and March, 2010.
3. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:
- Please pray for CY's preparation for work in South Asia to begin early in the new year. Please pray for E & B in South Asia, R & M, and E in East Asia, and others around the world.
4. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
5. Please pray for the church building project:
- Praise the Lord for the results of recent church bazaar fund-raising events. Please pray for the "Piggy Bank" coin-saving project beginning this Sunday, which will be run through the year in 2010.
- The Building Committee is still in discussion with banks about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." One bank is very interested and moving quickly with the process, indicating that a letter of commitment may be issued this month.
6. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
7. Please pray for the ESC Christmas Service on the evening of December 20. The Choir has been practicing for the service, which will be a mix of drama, spoken word, singing, and choir presentation. Pray for all who will take part in the presentation. Ask God to allow a strong message of the evening's theme that we need to recover the centrality of Jesus in our celebrations to come through, especially since he has been "stolen" out of the world's holiday observances.
8. Please pray for the ongoing effect of the "Growing Leaders" leadership training course which has just concluded at the end of October. Ask the Spirit to guide each participant keep growing in understanding what it means to be a servant of Christ, and to fulfil each person's calling in God's kingdom purposes. Pray for good feedback from the course so that the next cycle of training can build upon what has been learned.
9. Please pray for the church's budgeting process for 2010 ministries. Each Ministry Group must review its spending and plans for 2010 so that we have a reasonable and God-honouring budget.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
2009 Week 47
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 40:5 (NIV).
1. Give thanks to God and celebrate his goodness as we count our blessings - how he sustains us day to day, and most of all, for the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Pray that as we enter another Christmas season every one will see the Lord revealed by his Son.
2. Please pray for the ESC Adult Sunday School classes:
November - During the 1st four weeks of the month, the subject is "Dreams in the Bible and Today" with a guest teacher who is a professor at Tyndale Seminary. Topics to be covered include: the prophetic aspect of dreams, dreams and transformation, dreams and healing, dreams and self-awareness.
November 29 - "ESC Town Hall," an ESC update and social event.
December - The Old Testament Book of Ruth will be taught by one of our own ESC brothers. Please pray for his preparation and our hearts to learn.
3. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:- Praise God for a meaningful commissioning service for CY on recent Sunday afternoon. Please keep praying for CY's preparation long-term work in South Asia to begin early in the new year.
4. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
5. Please pray for the church building project: The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." There are a number of meetings this month with decision-making bank officers. It seems that the bank requires us to have a fairly large cash reserve in place before we draw for the first time on a loan. Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
6. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
7. Please pray for the Christmas Choir which has already begun practices for the ESC Christmas Worship service, "Stolen Jesus." on the evening of Sunday, December 20, 2009. Pray also for others who will take part in the presentation. Ask God to allow a strong message of the evening's theme that we need to recover the centrality of Jesus in our celebrations to come through, especially since he has been "stolen" out of the world's holiday observances.
8. Please pray for the ongoing effect of the "Growing Leaders" leadership training course which has just concluded at the end of October. Ask the Spirit to guide each participant keep growing in understanding what it means to be a servant of Christ, and to fulfil each person's calling in God's kingdom purposes. Pray for good feedback from the course so that the next cycle of training can build upon what has been learned.
9. Please pray for the annual Leadership Retreat that will take place on Friday evening, Nov 27, and Saturday Nov 28. This retreat is for all church leaders of all ministries so that we may consider together under the Spirit's guidance a vision and direction for the new year. Please pray for the special speaker, a pastor who has had years of leadership of a North American Chinese church. Pray also for our senior pastor as he lays out the ministry vision for 2010. Ask the Lord to guide our discussion as individual congregations and together on that day. Pray for the ESC leaders to discern together the Spirit's leading of our community and what we should commit ourselves to doing in the new year.
1. Give thanks to God and celebrate his goodness as we count our blessings - how he sustains us day to day, and most of all, for the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Pray that as we enter another Christmas season every one will see the Lord revealed by his Son.
2. Please pray for the ESC Adult Sunday School classes:
November - During the 1st four weeks of the month, the subject is "Dreams in the Bible and Today" with a guest teacher who is a professor at Tyndale Seminary. Topics to be covered include: the prophetic aspect of dreams, dreams and transformation, dreams and healing, dreams and self-awareness.
November 29 - "ESC Town Hall," an ESC update and social event.
December - The Old Testament Book of Ruth will be taught by one of our own ESC brothers. Please pray for his preparation and our hearts to learn.
3. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:- Praise God for a meaningful commissioning service for CY on recent Sunday afternoon. Please keep praying for CY's preparation long-term work in South Asia to begin early in the new year.
4. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
5. Please pray for the church building project: The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." There are a number of meetings this month with decision-making bank officers. It seems that the bank requires us to have a fairly large cash reserve in place before we draw for the first time on a loan. Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
6. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
7. Please pray for the Christmas Choir which has already begun practices for the ESC Christmas Worship service, "Stolen Jesus." on the evening of Sunday, December 20, 2009. Pray also for others who will take part in the presentation. Ask God to allow a strong message of the evening's theme that we need to recover the centrality of Jesus in our celebrations to come through, especially since he has been "stolen" out of the world's holiday observances.
8. Please pray for the ongoing effect of the "Growing Leaders" leadership training course which has just concluded at the end of October. Ask the Spirit to guide each participant keep growing in understanding what it means to be a servant of Christ, and to fulfil each person's calling in God's kingdom purposes. Pray for good feedback from the course so that the next cycle of training can build upon what has been learned.
9. Please pray for the annual Leadership Retreat that will take place on Friday evening, Nov 27, and Saturday Nov 28. This retreat is for all church leaders of all ministries so that we may consider together under the Spirit's guidance a vision and direction for the new year. Please pray for the special speaker, a pastor who has had years of leadership of a North American Chinese church. Pray also for our senior pastor as he lays out the ministry vision for 2010. Ask the Lord to guide our discussion as individual congregations and together on that day. Pray for the ESC leaders to discern together the Spirit's leading of our community and what we should commit ourselves to doing in the new year.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
2009 Week 42
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 103:19 (NIV).
1. Give thanks to God and celebrate his goodness as we count our blessings - how he sustains us day to day, and most of all, for the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!
2. Please pray for the October adult Sunday School classes. We have a professor of counselling from Tyndale Seminary as a guest teacher for four weeks. The topic is "Keeping our Balance as Christian Parents in a Multicultural Environment." A key teaching point will be to understand from a biblical perspective what it means to be consistent in outward behaviour and inner attitudes, and how to nurture this in our children.
3. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:- Please pray for R & L as they transition from ministry overseas to settling down in western Canada. Ask the Lord to provide new ministry for them, and also precious time to spend with their grown children and grand-children.- Please pray for CY who is preparing for long-term work in South Asia to begin early in the new year.- Pray for Jamie Mo who has completed a first term of work in Lima, Peru. In her second term, her mission agency is relocating her to Mexico City, where she will get involved in publishing work.
4. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
5. Please pray for the church building project:- The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church. Praise God for good support and results of recent fund-raising events such as the ESC-sponsored Golf Tournament. Pray for upcoming events such as the goods and food bazaar in mid-November.
6. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
7. Please pray for the Ministry Group Member nomination process at our church. Ask the Spirit to lead the nominated members hearts and minds as they decide whether or not to serve in those positions in the new year. Ask the Lord to provide his choice servants so that his household will run smoothly, and our witness to our community and the world will be enhanced.
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 103:19 (NIV).
1. Give thanks to God and celebrate his goodness as we count our blessings - how he sustains us day to day, and most of all, for the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!
2. Please pray for the October adult Sunday School classes. We have a professor of counselling from Tyndale Seminary as a guest teacher for four weeks. The topic is "Keeping our Balance as Christian Parents in a Multicultural Environment." A key teaching point will be to understand from a biblical perspective what it means to be consistent in outward behaviour and inner attitudes, and how to nurture this in our children.
3. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:- Please pray for R & L as they transition from ministry overseas to settling down in western Canada. Ask the Lord to provide new ministry for them, and also precious time to spend with their grown children and grand-children.- Please pray for CY who is preparing for long-term work in South Asia to begin early in the new year.- Pray for Jamie Mo who has completed a first term of work in Lima, Peru. In her second term, her mission agency is relocating her to Mexico City, where she will get involved in publishing work.
4. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
5. Please pray for the church building project:- The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church. Praise God for good support and results of recent fund-raising events such as the ESC-sponsored Golf Tournament. Pray for upcoming events such as the goods and food bazaar in mid-November.
6. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
7. Please pray for the Ministry Group Member nomination process at our church. Ask the Spirit to lead the nominated members hearts and minds as they decide whether or not to serve in those positions in the new year. Ask the Lord to provide his choice servants so that his household will run smoothly, and our witness to our community and the world will be enhanced.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
2009 Week 33
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:19 (NIV).
1. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is entering this summer's final week of ministry. Ask for perseverance and discernment for the counselors to lead the children in a fun time, and as opportunity arises, to lead them to Jesus. Pray for the children's enjoyment and learning - may seeds be sown for a lifetime of receptivity to the Lord. Remember also the families represented by each child.
2. Please pray for the August adult Sunday School classes. August 9: Paul Zung will will teach about a how a socialogist looks at the church to gain a better understanding of how the world perceives us, and be more able to share the good news about Jesus. August 16: the Rancourts will be sharing with us about their life's work, and where the Lord is leading them from this point forward. August 23 and 30: James Lam will teach about leadership and counselling.
3. Please pray for missionaries who are or will be visiting with us this summer. Please pray for the R & L as they transition from ministry overseas to Canada. Pray for the Whitbournes who will visit at the end of August. Pray for the Walls who are in town this and next month. Keep the various workers from a number of fields in East, South and Central Asia in prayer also as they spend time with us and prepare for future work.
4. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team), Pi and Seraphs (Junior Teams) are all active now. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
5. Please pray for Anita Cheng currently on an 8-week medical mission to Galmi, Niger, leaving on July 28, 2009. She will be working in paediatrics at the Galmi Hospital during the busiest season of meningitis, malaria, and malnutrition. A special and challenging focus will be researching and teaching newborn resuscitation. Pray for Anita's spiritual perseverance. Ask the Spirit to prepare patients,parents, and others to hear the Good News of Jesus, to create receptivity in the hearts of locals to newborn resuscitation, and to give Anita wisdom as she works and ministers in Christ's name. Please pray also for peace and increasing faith for Anita's parents.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:- The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up the remaining initiatives before the Lord: golf tournament (October 3, pray for people to sign up); "donate a day's pay" event (soon); other intiatives are still being planned.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for the five young people who are getting baptized later this month (August 23). Ask the Lord to guide them as they prepare their testimonies, and as they get ready to witness to the Lord Jesus by way of baptism.
10. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
11. Please keep praying for 5-month old Anissa. This following is from her parents, Winnie and Marvin: Anissa just had another visit with the cardiologist, Dr. Musawe on July 16. During this latest visit, Dr. Musawe said that he was encouraged by Anissa's weight gain during the past couple of months. He now is taking a wait-and-see approach to Anissa's condition to see if the hole between the ventricles will close. He did emphasize that if the hole does not close by itself, then surgery will be necessary. It is encouraging that Dr. Musawe has changed his assessment of immediate surgery to wait-and-see and the appointments have changed from monthly to 6 weeks. So for the near future, there is no surgery.Thank you all for your prayers and love for Anissa.
1. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is entering this summer's final week of ministry. Ask for perseverance and discernment for the counselors to lead the children in a fun time, and as opportunity arises, to lead them to Jesus. Pray for the children's enjoyment and learning - may seeds be sown for a lifetime of receptivity to the Lord. Remember also the families represented by each child.
2. Please pray for the August adult Sunday School classes. August 9: Paul Zung will will teach about a how a socialogist looks at the church to gain a better understanding of how the world perceives us, and be more able to share the good news about Jesus. August 16: the Rancourts will be sharing with us about their life's work, and where the Lord is leading them from this point forward. August 23 and 30: James Lam will teach about leadership and counselling.
3. Please pray for missionaries who are or will be visiting with us this summer. Please pray for the R & L as they transition from ministry overseas to Canada. Pray for the Whitbournes who will visit at the end of August. Pray for the Walls who are in town this and next month. Keep the various workers from a number of fields in East, South and Central Asia in prayer also as they spend time with us and prepare for future work.
4. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team), Pi and Seraphs (Junior Teams) are all active now. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
5. Please pray for Anita Cheng currently on an 8-week medical mission to Galmi, Niger, leaving on July 28, 2009. She will be working in paediatrics at the Galmi Hospital during the busiest season of meningitis, malaria, and malnutrition. A special and challenging focus will be researching and teaching newborn resuscitation. Pray for Anita's spiritual perseverance. Ask the Spirit to prepare patients,parents, and others to hear the Good News of Jesus, to create receptivity in the hearts of locals to newborn resuscitation, and to give Anita wisdom as she works and ministers in Christ's name. Please pray also for peace and increasing faith for Anita's parents.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:- The Building Committee is still in discussion with a bank about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up the remaining initiatives before the Lord: golf tournament (October 3, pray for people to sign up); "donate a day's pay" event (soon); other intiatives are still being planned.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for the five young people who are getting baptized later this month (August 23). Ask the Lord to guide them as they prepare their testimonies, and as they get ready to witness to the Lord Jesus by way of baptism.
10. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
11. Please keep praying for 5-month old Anissa. This following is from her parents, Winnie and Marvin: Anissa just had another visit with the cardiologist, Dr. Musawe on July 16. During this latest visit, Dr. Musawe said that he was encouraged by Anissa's weight gain during the past couple of months. He now is taking a wait-and-see approach to Anissa's condition to see if the hole between the ventricles will close. He did emphasize that if the hole does not close by itself, then surgery will be necessary. It is encouraging that Dr. Musawe has changed his assessment of immediate surgery to wait-and-see and the appointments have changed from monthly to 6 weeks. So for the near future, there is no surgery.Thank you all for your prayers and love for Anissa.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
2009 Week 29
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NIV)
1. Please keep the Vacation Bible School (VBS) in prayer. Ask for perseverance and discernment for the counselors to lead the children in a fun time, and as opportunity arises, to lead them to Jesus. Pray for the children's enjoyment and learning - may seeds be sown for a lifetime of receptivity to the Lord. Remember also the families represented by each child.
2. Please pray for the July adult Sunday School classes. Walter Chan will be teaching “An Uncommon Approach to Work-Life Balance,” a fourweek series exploring why well-being is unattainable by many and providing insights into alternatives by looking at Biblical principles and using relevant assessments. The series will use a common sense approach to link balanced life to one’s identity, how one handles stressful situations, one’s way of using time and concepts of project management in order to achieve more control, value, confidence and self-esteem.
3. Please pray for missionaries who are or will be visiting with us this summer. Please pray for R & L (R's mother recently passed away). Pray for the Whitbournes who will visit at the end of August. Keep the various workers from a number of fields in East, South and Central Asia in prayer also as they spend time with us and prepare for future work.
4. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team), Pi and Seraphs (Junior Teams) are all active now. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
5. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. Please pray for safety in travel, good camaraderie, and spiritual readiness. Pray also for the residents of Steubenville who will receive their ministry. May they feel God's love to them through the team and respond to the work of the Spirit in their lives.
6. Please pray for Ken and Anita Kwan who will be going to Guatemala from July 18-25, 2009 to minister to children with the Arms of Jesus Mission (AOJ). They will be teaching VBS for half days, and spending the other half on work projects (e.g. building, food distribution). The location is Pampay, a small, poor town about 30 minutes from Antigua. Please ask the Spirit to help them establish a good connection with the children, and opportunities to interact with parents so that they may witness Jesus among them.
7. Please pray for Anita Cheng as she prepares for an 8-week medical mission to Galmi, Niger, leaving on July 28, 2009. She will be working in paediatrics at the Galmi Hospital during the busiest season of meningitis, malaria, and malnutrition. A special and challenging focus will be researching and teaching newborn resuscitation. Pray for Anita's spiritual readiness and perseverance. Ask the Spirit to prepare patients,parents, and others to hear the Good News of Jesus, to create receptivity in the hearts of locals to newborn resuscitation, and to give Anita wisdom as she works and ministers in Christ's name. Please pray also for peace and increasing faith for Anita's parents.
8. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and the two brothers who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
9. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
10. Please pray for the church building project:
- The Building Committee is in discussion with banks about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the banks. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Fund-raising activities: multi-member parking lot rummage sale and BBQ (July 11); golf tournament (September 12, registration begins July 12); "donate a day's pay" event (end of July); other intiatives are still being planned.
11. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
12. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
13. Please pray for couples and families within our faith community. There are some who are having relationship struggles and facing hard times. Pray for persevering faith, adequate care from others during trials, solutions to difficulties, and marriage endurance. May the sufficiency of Christ become a reality to those in need.
14. Please pray for the election of deacons in progress right now. Ask the Lord to help us discern his choice of leaders from among us, so that his house may be smoothly and beautifully run for his glory.
15. Please keep praying for 5-month old Anissa. This following is from her parents, Winnie and Marvin:
Anissa just had another visit with the cardiologist, Dr. Musawe on July 16. During this latest visit, Dr. Musawe said that he was encouraged by Anissa's weight gain during the past couple of months. He now is taking a wait-and-see approach to Anissa's condition to see if the hole between the ventricles will close. He did emphasize that if the hole does not close by itself, then surgery will be necessary.
It is encouraging that Dr. Musawe has changed his assessment of immediate surgery to wait-and-see and the appointments have changed from monthly to 6 weeks. So for the near future, there is no surgery.
Thank you all for your prayers and love for Anissa.
1. Please keep the Vacation Bible School (VBS) in prayer. Ask for perseverance and discernment for the counselors to lead the children in a fun time, and as opportunity arises, to lead them to Jesus. Pray for the children's enjoyment and learning - may seeds be sown for a lifetime of receptivity to the Lord. Remember also the families represented by each child.
2. Please pray for the July adult Sunday School classes. Walter Chan will be teaching “An Uncommon Approach to Work-Life Balance,” a fourweek series exploring why well-being is unattainable by many and providing insights into alternatives by looking at Biblical principles and using relevant assessments. The series will use a common sense approach to link balanced life to one’s identity, how one handles stressful situations, one’s way of using time and concepts of project management in order to achieve more control, value, confidence and self-esteem.
3. Please pray for missionaries who are or will be visiting with us this summer. Please pray for R & L (R's mother recently passed away). Pray for the Whitbournes who will visit at the end of August. Keep the various workers from a number of fields in East, South and Central Asia in prayer also as they spend time with us and prepare for future work.
4. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team), Pi and Seraphs (Junior Teams) are all active now. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
5. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. Please pray for safety in travel, good camaraderie, and spiritual readiness. Pray also for the residents of Steubenville who will receive their ministry. May they feel God's love to them through the team and respond to the work of the Spirit in their lives.
6. Please pray for Ken and Anita Kwan who will be going to Guatemala from July 18-25, 2009 to minister to children with the Arms of Jesus Mission (AOJ). They will be teaching VBS for half days, and spending the other half on work projects (e.g. building, food distribution). The location is Pampay, a small, poor town about 30 minutes from Antigua. Please ask the Spirit to help them establish a good connection with the children, and opportunities to interact with parents so that they may witness Jesus among them.
7. Please pray for Anita Cheng as she prepares for an 8-week medical mission to Galmi, Niger, leaving on July 28, 2009. She will be working in paediatrics at the Galmi Hospital during the busiest season of meningitis, malaria, and malnutrition. A special and challenging focus will be researching and teaching newborn resuscitation. Pray for Anita's spiritual readiness and perseverance. Ask the Spirit to prepare patients,parents, and others to hear the Good News of Jesus, to create receptivity in the hearts of locals to newborn resuscitation, and to give Anita wisdom as she works and ministers in Christ's name. Please pray also for peace and increasing faith for Anita's parents.
8. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and the two brothers who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
9. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
10. Please pray for the church building project:
- The Building Committee is in discussion with banks about obtaining a loan and getting a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the banks. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Fund-raising activities: multi-member parking lot rummage sale and BBQ (July 11); golf tournament (September 12, registration begins July 12); "donate a day's pay" event (end of July); other intiatives are still being planned.
11. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
12. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
13. Please pray for couples and families within our faith community. There are some who are having relationship struggles and facing hard times. Pray for persevering faith, adequate care from others during trials, solutions to difficulties, and marriage endurance. May the sufficiency of Christ become a reality to those in need.
14. Please pray for the election of deacons in progress right now. Ask the Lord to help us discern his choice of leaders from among us, so that his house may be smoothly and beautifully run for his glory.
15. Please keep praying for 5-month old Anissa. This following is from her parents, Winnie and Marvin:
Anissa just had another visit with the cardiologist, Dr. Musawe on July 16. During this latest visit, Dr. Musawe said that he was encouraged by Anissa's weight gain during the past couple of months. He now is taking a wait-and-see approach to Anissa's condition to see if the hole between the ventricles will close. He did emphasize that if the hole does not close by itself, then surgery will be necessary.
It is encouraging that Dr. Musawe has changed his assessment of immediate surgery to wait-and-see and the appointments have changed from monthly to 6 weeks. So for the near future, there is no surgery.
Thank you all for your prayers and love for Anissa.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
2009 Week 26
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)
1. Please pray for those who are sick among us, especially for parents with young children. Ask the Lord to bring loved ones around to help, and also for speedy recovery.
2. Please pray for the June adult Sunday School classes. Four missionary families affiliated with our church will be sharing over the month. Pray for our growth in missions awareness and commitment to global mission, especially by way of prayer and support of our missionaries. May our response be an encouragement to our missionaries.
3. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team) season has already started and they have played three games. The Seraphs season begins the last Sunday in June, and Pi begins in July. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
4. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. The youth will be having a "purchase a student" event on Father's day (June 21) to raise money by doing spring cleaning or yard work. Pray for good results and encouragement for the team.
5. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and brothers and sisters who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- Thank God for the amazing results of the May 3, 2009 fund-rasing banquet. It is expected that by mid-summer, the total raised by offerings and promissory notes will be $4 million, close to the $4.5 the bank has said we would need in order for them to extend a building loan.
- The Building Committee is planning to meet with the bank soon to discuss the situation and ask for a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the bank. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Some ideas being worked on: golf tournament, multi-member church parking lot rummage sale, classical music concert, "under-the-stars" movie night.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
10. Please pray for 4 month-old Anissa, and her parents, Winnie and Marvin. Anissa has a hole in the wall of her heart and may need surgery. The surgeons have advised Winnie and Marvin that they will hold off on the surgery for now, and will observe Anissa a bit longer before they operate. Winnie and Marvin thank God for his protection because Anissa doesn't show any signs of being sick. They request prayer for their trust in the Lord for Anissa's health since they believe he knows best.
1. Please pray for those who are sick among us, especially for parents with young children. Ask the Lord to bring loved ones around to help, and also for speedy recovery.
2. Please pray for the June adult Sunday School classes. Four missionary families affiliated with our church will be sharing over the month. Pray for our growth in missions awareness and commitment to global mission, especially by way of prayer and support of our missionaries. May our response be an encouragement to our missionaries.
3. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team) season has already started and they have played three games. The Seraphs season begins the last Sunday in June, and Pi begins in July. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
4. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. The youth will be having a "purchase a student" event on Father's day (June 21) to raise money by doing spring cleaning or yard work. Pray for good results and encouragement for the team.
5. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and brothers and sisters who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- Thank God for the amazing results of the May 3, 2009 fund-rasing banquet. It is expected that by mid-summer, the total raised by offerings and promissory notes will be $4 million, close to the $4.5 the bank has said we would need in order for them to extend a building loan.
- The Building Committee is planning to meet with the bank soon to discuss the situation and ask for a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the bank. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Some ideas being worked on: golf tournament, multi-member church parking lot rummage sale, classical music concert, "under-the-stars" movie night.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion. Pray also for students to consider attending the Urbana Student Missions Conference (Dec 2009) which is held once every three years. This is an opportunity for them to see what God is doing in the world and how they might become participants in God's global purposes.
10. Please pray for 4 month-old Anissa, and her parents, Winnie and Marvin. Anissa has a hole in the wall of her heart and may need surgery. The surgeons have advised Winnie and Marvin that they will hold off on the surgery for now, and will observe Anissa a bit longer before they operate. Winnie and Marvin thank God for his protection because Anissa doesn't show any signs of being sick. They request prayer for their trust in the Lord for Anissa's health since they believe he knows best.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
2009 Week 25
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
1. Praise God for the indescribable gift of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and died in our place, for our sin; who poured out his blood for our forgiveness; who has risen again bringing us new life! What a Saviour! May we be the fragrance of Christ to all we meet.
2. Please pray for the June adult Sunday School classes. Four missionary families affiliated with our church will be sharing over the month. Pray for our growth in missions awareness and commitment to global mission, especially by way of prayer and support of our missionaries. May our response be an encouragement to our missionaries.
3. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team) season has already started. The Seraphs season begins the last Sunday in June, and Pi begins in July. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
4. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. The youth will be having a "purchase a student" event on Father's day (June 21) to raise money by doing spring cleaning or yard work. Pray for good results and encouragement for the team.
5. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and brothers and sisters who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- Thank God for the amazing results of the May 3, 2009 fund-rasing banquet. It is expected that by mid-summer, the total raised by offerings and promissory notes will be $4 million, close to the $4.5 the bank has said we would need in order for them to extend a building loan.
- The Building Committee is planning to meet with the bank soon to discuss the situation and ask for a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the bank. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Some ideas being worked on: golf tournament, multi-member church parking lot rummage sale, classical music concert, "under-the-stars" movie night.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion.
10. Please pray for Winnie and Marvin, and their 4-month old baby Anissa, who needs open-heart surgery to repair the wall of her heart. They are waiting for an appointment to see the specialist who will perform the surgery which should be done before Anissa is 6 months old. Pray for the best possible care and for God's loving care upon the family as they go through this.
1. Praise God for the indescribable gift of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and died in our place, for our sin; who poured out his blood for our forgiveness; who has risen again bringing us new life! What a Saviour! May we be the fragrance of Christ to all we meet.
2. Please pray for the June adult Sunday School classes. Four missionary families affiliated with our church will be sharing over the month. Pray for our growth in missions awareness and commitment to global mission, especially by way of prayer and support of our missionaries. May our response be an encouragement to our missionaries.
3. Please pray for our church's CCSA softball teams this year. The Harbingers (Senior Team) season has already started. The Seraphs season begins the last Sunday in June, and Pi begins in July. Ask the Lord to give all team members spiritual growth through fun and fellowship. Pray for the leaders (coaches, governors) to encourage players with their sportsmanship and testimony for Christ. Ask especially for non-believing friends to be drawn to our Saviour.
4. Please pray for the Youth Short-Term Mission Team to Steubenville, Ohio in July 19-25, 2009. They will be going to help in local work projects among the needy and share the good news of Jesus with the people. The youth will be having a "purchase a student" event on Father's day (June 21) to raise money by doing spring cleaning or yard work. Pray for good results and encouragement for the team.
5. Please pray for the registration and preparation for Summer Conference 2009, coming up on August 1 to 3, 2009 at McMaster University. The theme this year is "Imitate Christ, Now!" The speaker is Jeff Smyth. Pray for a good turn-out as this is an opportunity for our community to experience accelerated spiritual growth together over a fun weekend. Please ask God to raise up ESC participants to help with all aspects of Summer Conference organization. Pray also for our Children's Pastor and brothers and sisters who will take care of the Children's part of the Summer Conference.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- Thank God for the amazing results of the May 3, 2009 fund-rasing banquet. It is expected that by mid-summer, the total raised by offerings and promissory notes will be $4 million, close to the $4.5 the bank has said we would need in order for them to extend a building loan.
- The Building Committee is planning to meet with the bank soon to discuss the situation and ask for a "letter of committment." Please pray for the committee as they negotiate with the bank. Ask the Spirit to guide the committee with wisdom to make decisions that reflect God's will for our church.
- Members from the ESC are planning a number of possible fund-raisers that will appeal to people like us. This will bring the ESC into the building project in new and exciting ways. Please lift up these initiatives before the Lord. Some ideas being worked on: golf tournament, multi-member church parking lot rummage sale, classical music concert, "under-the-stars" movie night.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for growth in discernment and conviction among the college/university group over this summer. Ask for trust to grow between members, (even though they have been away from each other on different campuses) and a willingness for people to respond to all that they hear from God through their prayer and discussion.
10. Please pray for Winnie and Marvin, and their 4-month old baby Anissa, who needs open-heart surgery to repair the wall of her heart. They are waiting for an appointment to see the specialist who will perform the surgery which should be done before Anissa is 6 months old. Pray for the best possible care and for God's loving care upon the family as they go through this.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
2009 Week Sixteen
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" (Luke 24:5)
1. Praise God for the indescribable gift of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and died in our place, for our sin; who poured out his blood for our forgiveness; who has risen again bringing us new life! What a Saviour!
2. Please continue to pray for the April adult Sunday School classes. This is a four-class series on King David: "David: Successes and Failures." The format of this class has been dubbed by ESC Teaching ministry as "coffee with David." The idea is to sit informally, talk about some questions and themes in small groups, followed by a wrap-up by the teacher. Please pray for good attendance (promotion and invitation to young adults is happening now) and good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the administration of CCSA softball in our church. There will be 3 teams this year: one senior and two junior. Pray for the coaches and governors as they prepare for a new season. Ask the Lord to allow a smooth sign-up process. May the Lord be glorified by the fellowship and outreach of our softball teams this year
4. Youth Ministry: Please pray for the follow-up to the "30 Hour Famine" held last weekend. We look forward to the results in the effort to raise $15,000 for a World Vision project in Katwe, Uganda. Ask God to build and keep the awareness of the needs of people around the world high in our community so that we can better pray and support such efforts in an ongoing way.
5. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker. One challenge will be the care of the children who will be with us at the retreat during the main sessions. Pray also for the regular Sunday worship service at church for the members of our community who will not attend the retreat. May the intimacy of the smaller group of worshippers draw members close to one another and to God.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The fund-raising committee has asked for increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.
- The fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this. Ask the Lord to bless the project with adequate funding.
- There will be a special open-to-all meeting on Tuesday, April 14 to brainstorm how the English Speaking Community can participate in a meaningful way in the Building Project Fund-raising. Please ask the Lord to give unity and great ideas at this meeting, and a sense of excitement for doing something significant.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for the college/university students from our community who are into the final exam period of their academic year. Pray for perseverance and excellence as Christians fulfilling their current calling as students. Lift up their needs for summer projects and employment, also.
1. Praise God for the indescribable gift of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and died in our place, for our sin; who poured out his blood for our forgiveness; who has risen again bringing us new life! What a Saviour!
2. Please continue to pray for the April adult Sunday School classes. This is a four-class series on King David: "David: Successes and Failures." The format of this class has been dubbed by ESC Teaching ministry as "coffee with David." The idea is to sit informally, talk about some questions and themes in small groups, followed by a wrap-up by the teacher. Please pray for good attendance (promotion and invitation to young adults is happening now) and good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the administration of CCSA softball in our church. There will be 3 teams this year: one senior and two junior. Pray for the coaches and governors as they prepare for a new season. Ask the Lord to allow a smooth sign-up process. May the Lord be glorified by the fellowship and outreach of our softball teams this year
4. Youth Ministry: Please pray for the follow-up to the "30 Hour Famine" held last weekend. We look forward to the results in the effort to raise $15,000 for a World Vision project in Katwe, Uganda. Ask God to build and keep the awareness of the needs of people around the world high in our community so that we can better pray and support such efforts in an ongoing way.
5. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker. One challenge will be the care of the children who will be with us at the retreat during the main sessions. Pray also for the regular Sunday worship service at church for the members of our community who will not attend the retreat. May the intimacy of the smaller group of worshippers draw members close to one another and to God.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The fund-raising committee has asked for increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.
- The fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this. Ask the Lord to bless the project with adequate funding.
- There will be a special open-to-all meeting on Tuesday, April 14 to brainstorm how the English Speaking Community can participate in a meaningful way in the Building Project Fund-raising. Please ask the Lord to give unity and great ideas at this meeting, and a sense of excitement for doing something significant.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
9. Please pray for the college/university students from our community who are into the final exam period of their academic year. Pray for perseverance and excellence as Christians fulfilling their current calling as students. Lift up their needs for summer projects and employment, also.
Monday, March 30, 2009
2009 Week Fourteen
1. Please pray for the April adult Sunday School classes. This will be a four-class series on King David: "David: Successes and Failures." The format of this class has been dubbed by ESC Teaching ministry as "coffee with David." The idea is to sit informally, talk about provided questions and themes is small groups, followed by a wrap-up by the teacher. Please pray for good attendance (promotion and invitation to young adults is happening now) and good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
2. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- Please pray for the follow-up to the parent & youth ministry gathering on Sunday, March 29. Ask the Lord to continue to build communication, understanding and mutual support amongst youth workers, parents and teens.
- Please pray for the youth and others as they undertake the "30 Hour Famine" on Friday, April 3 to Saturday, April 4. Ask for good response (sponsorships and bake sale) to their effort to raise $15,000 for a World Vision project in Katwe, Uganda. Ask God to build awareness of the needs of people around the world through this event so that we can better pray and support such efforts in an ongoing way.
3. Please pray for the planning and preparation of the April 10, Good Friday evening worship service. The service will be a congregational journey through the passion of Christ (his suffering and death) from the gospel of Matthew. Ask the Lord to allow this service to be a meaningful remembrance of our Lord's sacrifice for sinners like us. May it also be a powerful witness for Christ to our neighbours and friends whom we invite.
4. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker.
5. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
6. Please pray for the church building project:- The building project fund-raising focus now is on increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.- The fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this. Ask the Lord to bless the project with adequate funding.
7. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Remember in prayer: C and family in the CSC whose father passed away last week and whose funeral will be on the coming Saturday. Grand-daugher, E is part of our ESC.
8. Please pray for the college/university students from our community who are wrapping up their classes and assignments this week, and then moving into exams. Pray for perseverance and excellence as Christians fulfilling their current calling as students.
2. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- Please pray for the follow-up to the parent & youth ministry gathering on Sunday, March 29. Ask the Lord to continue to build communication, understanding and mutual support amongst youth workers, parents and teens.
- Please pray for the youth and others as they undertake the "30 Hour Famine" on Friday, April 3 to Saturday, April 4. Ask for good response (sponsorships and bake sale) to their effort to raise $15,000 for a World Vision project in Katwe, Uganda. Ask God to build awareness of the needs of people around the world through this event so that we can better pray and support such efforts in an ongoing way.
3. Please pray for the planning and preparation of the April 10, Good Friday evening worship service. The service will be a congregational journey through the passion of Christ (his suffering and death) from the gospel of Matthew. Ask the Lord to allow this service to be a meaningful remembrance of our Lord's sacrifice for sinners like us. May it also be a powerful witness for Christ to our neighbours and friends whom we invite.
4. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker.
5. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
6. Please pray for the church building project:- The building project fund-raising focus now is on increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.- The fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this. Ask the Lord to bless the project with adequate funding.
7. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Remember in prayer: C and family in the CSC whose father passed away last week and whose funeral will be on the coming Saturday. Grand-daugher, E is part of our ESC.
8. Please pray for the college/university students from our community who are wrapping up their classes and assignments this week, and then moving into exams. Pray for perseverance and excellence as Christians fulfilling their current calling as students.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
2009 Week Twelve
1. Yeah!!! March Break!!! Please pray for students to have a restful and meaningful time over the coming week. Ask the Lord to grant valuable family time that will be well used. Pray for safety and interesting programs for students who will be attending various March Break camps. Pray for the teens who will be attending "Teens Conference" where they will be challenged to trust Jesus, and grow as his disciples.
2. Please pray for the March adult Sunday School classes (March 8, 15, 22, 29). This will be a four-class series on "God and Morality" taught by a brother of our own who is a graduate student at the Institute of Christian Studies. Please pray for good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- Pray for the youth mentorship program which is being worked out by our pastoral intern in youth ministry. This program seeks to connect individual youth with an adult mentor who will care for each of them. Right now there are more mentors signed up than students to be mentored. Ask the Lord to move the hearts of our youth people make good use of this way of connecting to the church, and to have someone befriend and pray for them.
- Please pray for the parent & youth ministry gathering on Sunday, March 29 to talk about what Youth Ministry provides for the youth (grade 6 to university) and parents. Ask the Lord to use this forum as a way to rally support and improve Youth Ministry in our community.
- Please keep praying for our teens Sunday School as an effective means to build critical, biblical thinking into the lives of our young people.
4. Please pray for the planning and preparation of the April 10, Good Friday evening worship service. Ask the Lord to allow this service to be a meaningful remembrance of our Lord's suffering and death for sinners like us. May it also be a powerful witness for Christ to our neighbours and friends whom we invite.
5. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The third training session will be held on March 25. Please pray for the preparation of the session. Pray also for each participant to be ministered to as the Spirit desires regarding the subject of "call/calling."
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the month (most mentor-mentee meetings will focus on where each person is in his/her relationship to God, and start practicing a spiritual discipline for training in godliness).
8. Please pray for the church building project:
- The building project fund-raising focus now is on increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
9. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
2. Please pray for the March adult Sunday School classes (March 8, 15, 22, 29). This will be a four-class series on "God and Morality" taught by a brother of our own who is a graduate student at the Institute of Christian Studies. Please pray for good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- Pray for the youth mentorship program which is being worked out by our pastoral intern in youth ministry. This program seeks to connect individual youth with an adult mentor who will care for each of them. Right now there are more mentors signed up than students to be mentored. Ask the Lord to move the hearts of our youth people make good use of this way of connecting to the church, and to have someone befriend and pray for them.
- Please pray for the parent & youth ministry gathering on Sunday, March 29 to talk about what Youth Ministry provides for the youth (grade 6 to university) and parents. Ask the Lord to use this forum as a way to rally support and improve Youth Ministry in our community.
- Please keep praying for our teens Sunday School as an effective means to build critical, biblical thinking into the lives of our young people.
4. Please pray for the planning and preparation of the April 10, Good Friday evening worship service. Ask the Lord to allow this service to be a meaningful remembrance of our Lord's suffering and death for sinners like us. May it also be a powerful witness for Christ to our neighbours and friends whom we invite.
5. Please pray for the upcoming ESC Spring Retreat on April 17 to 19, 2009. Ask the Lord to give participants a good time of fellowship and learning, as we spend time together and as the Lord ministers through the speaker.
6. Please continue to pray for brothers and sisters among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Pray especially for those who are dealing with change. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.
7. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The third training session will be held on March 25. Please pray for the preparation of the session. Pray also for each participant to be ministered to as the Spirit desires regarding the subject of "call/calling."
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the month (most mentor-mentee meetings will focus on where each person is in his/her relationship to God, and start practicing a spiritual discipline for training in godliness).
8. Please pray for the church building project:
- The building project fund-raising focus now is on increased participation in the promissory note program. This is one way for supporters to lend to the church, and to satisfy the bank's requirement for the church to have $4.5 million raised in order to get the building loan.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
9. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
2009 Week Ten
1. Please pray for the families among us who are celebrating new babies, and adjusting to the challenges of new parenthood: J & C, and their baby girl a month ago; W & M, and their baby girl a week ago.
2. Please pray for the March adult Sunday School classes:
- March 1 - There will one class on "What is happening in missions right now and where is it going?" taught by the Canadian Director of Send International Canada.
- March 8, 15, 22, 29 - This will be a four-class series on "God and Morality" taught by a brother of our own who is a graduate student at the Institute of Christian Studies. Please pray for good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- "Leadership 101" for Gilead Fellowship (secondary school students) wraps up next weekend. Ask the Lord to lead the students who have gone through this youth leadership training program forward in growth and service. Pray for a new batch of students who will go through a new season of "Leadership 101" with our youth pastor and youth workers.
- Pray for the youth mentorship program which is being worked out by our pastoral intern in youth ministry. This program seeks to connect individual youth with an adult mentor who will care for each of them. Right now there are more mentors signed up than students to be mentored. Ask the Lord to move the hearts of our youth people make good use of this way of connecting to the church, and to have someone befriend and pray for them.- Please keep praying for our teens Sunday School as an effective means to build critical, biblical thinking into the lives of our young people.
4. Please pray for our city which seems to be experiencing quite a spate of violent crimes lately - shooting on the subway, young person in the drivers seat of an SUV, etc. Ask for God's mercy on this city which is filled with people he loves. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by law enforcement and by policy-makers who can help. Pray for Christians to act as salt and light in a world us to preserve and illumine a world gone in need of Christ.
5. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
6. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The second training session has just been completed. Ask the Lord to move all participants to grow in the understanding that leadership is an outworking of God's grace in our lives. In other words, leadership is first and foremost discipleship, that is, our identity comes from being called by Jesus to learn from him and follow him.
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month, at which we will assess where each person is in his/her relationship to God, and start practicing a spiritual discipline for training in godliness.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start before this year is out) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. On the one hand, this looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. On the other hand, God has already brought us halfway there, and he can certainly accomplish the rest. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Pray for A who is one month from the due date of her first child, but is in a lot of pain, likely from a torn muscle about which she can do nothing. This week, she has a cold on top of this, making it very difficult to sleep long or well.
- Pray for our Senior Pastor who has been afflicted lately by low blood pressure, irregular heart rate, chest discomfort, and tiredness. He is undergoing tests to determine the issues, and has been advised by the doctor to rest and eat well.
- Pray for the family among us who lost their mother/grandmother is past week. May they experience the Lord's comfort, and may non-believing family members embrace their loved one's faith in Christ.
2. Please pray for the March adult Sunday School classes:
- March 1 - There will one class on "What is happening in missions right now and where is it going?" taught by the Canadian Director of Send International Canada.
- March 8, 15, 22, 29 - This will be a four-class series on "God and Morality" taught by a brother of our own who is a graduate student at the Institute of Christian Studies. Please pray for good discussion about things important for us to understand, and for the Spirit to equip us to better live and witness in our time.
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- "Leadership 101" for Gilead Fellowship (secondary school students) wraps up next weekend. Ask the Lord to lead the students who have gone through this youth leadership training program forward in growth and service. Pray for a new batch of students who will go through a new season of "Leadership 101" with our youth pastor and youth workers.
- Pray for the youth mentorship program which is being worked out by our pastoral intern in youth ministry. This program seeks to connect individual youth with an adult mentor who will care for each of them. Right now there are more mentors signed up than students to be mentored. Ask the Lord to move the hearts of our youth people make good use of this way of connecting to the church, and to have someone befriend and pray for them.- Please keep praying for our teens Sunday School as an effective means to build critical, biblical thinking into the lives of our young people.
4. Please pray for our city which seems to be experiencing quite a spate of violent crimes lately - shooting on the subway, young person in the drivers seat of an SUV, etc. Ask for God's mercy on this city which is filled with people he loves. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by law enforcement and by policy-makers who can help. Pray for Christians to act as salt and light in a world us to preserve and illumine a world gone in need of Christ.
5. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
6. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The second training session has just been completed. Ask the Lord to move all participants to grow in the understanding that leadership is an outworking of God's grace in our lives. In other words, leadership is first and foremost discipleship, that is, our identity comes from being called by Jesus to learn from him and follow him.
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month, at which we will assess where each person is in his/her relationship to God, and start practicing a spiritual discipline for training in godliness.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start before this year is out) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. On the one hand, this looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. On the other hand, God has already brought us halfway there, and he can certainly accomplish the rest. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The theme is, "Touched by God's Grace, I Offer My All." Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Pray for A who is one month from the due date of her first child, but is in a lot of pain, likely from a torn muscle about which she can do nothing. This week, she has a cold on top of this, making it very difficult to sleep long or well.
- Pray for our Senior Pastor who has been afflicted lately by low blood pressure, irregular heart rate, chest discomfort, and tiredness. He is undergoing tests to determine the issues, and has been advised by the doctor to rest and eat well.
- Pray for the family among us who lost their mother/grandmother is past week. May they experience the Lord's comfort, and may non-believing family members embrace their loved one's faith in Christ.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
2009 Week Eight
1. Please pray for the college/university students who are on reading week break this week. Ask the Father to give them a good rest, meaningful time with their family and friends, and re-connection with God. Lift up our students to God for growth not just academically and socially, but in their spiritual life also. May they know that their walk with Jesus must be the foundation they need for life and eternity.
2. Please keep praying for the February series of adult Sunday School classes on parenting with special guest Sunday School Teacher, Pastor D. The first two classes were very well received, helping us to understand that much of our stress and frustration comes from not putting God first in our own lives, and not teaching God to be first in our children's lives. The classes are:February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of ExtremesFebruary 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:- This weekend, February 13 to 15, 2009, is SnoCamp, the annual winter retreat for secondary school students (Gilead Fellowship) at Muskoka Woods, along with hundreds of other youth from various Fellowship Baptist churches. Ask the Lord to work on the hearts of the youth, so that what they experienced at SnoCamp through the fun, fellowship, worship and learning will have ongoing positive effect. Pray for the those who made new or renewed commitments the Lord.- This request is carried over from the reader section of week 5's post: "I am praying for these requests posted. In addition, I ask for prayer for the students in our teen's Sunday School. Conviction about God's character and will comes only with accumulated knowledge of what he has said and done. Please pray that they would give attention to what is being taught and to let this knowledge affect their dealings with God."
4. Please pray for the people involved and affected by some of the disasters in the news this past week: the plane crash in Buffalo, the fires in Australia, the earthquake in western China, etc. As for the Lord's mercy upon people whose lives need to be rebuilt. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by people who can help. Keep informed of world news and pray accordingly, especially for the mobilization of believers to make a difference in the lives of the needy.
5. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
6. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:- The second training session is coming up on Saturday, February 28. The session topic will be, "Understanding Identity." The focus is learning that leadership is first and foremost discipleship, that is, our identity is as ones who have been called by Jesus to learn from him and follow him. Ask the Lord to help us understand and grow together as the community called by him.- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month. The challenge in the coming month will be to assess where each person is in their relationship to God, and to start practicing some disciplines that will lay the foundations of a growing relationship with him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.- A fund-raising banquet will be held at the beginning of May. Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
2. Please keep praying for the February series of adult Sunday School classes on parenting with special guest Sunday School Teacher, Pastor D. The first two classes were very well received, helping us to understand that much of our stress and frustration comes from not putting God first in our own lives, and not teaching God to be first in our children's lives. The classes are:February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of ExtremesFebruary 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
3. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:- This weekend, February 13 to 15, 2009, is SnoCamp, the annual winter retreat for secondary school students (Gilead Fellowship) at Muskoka Woods, along with hundreds of other youth from various Fellowship Baptist churches. Ask the Lord to work on the hearts of the youth, so that what they experienced at SnoCamp through the fun, fellowship, worship and learning will have ongoing positive effect. Pray for the those who made new or renewed commitments the Lord.- This request is carried over from the reader section of week 5's post: "I am praying for these requests posted. In addition, I ask for prayer for the students in our teen's Sunday School. Conviction about God's character and will comes only with accumulated knowledge of what he has said and done. Please pray that they would give attention to what is being taught and to let this knowledge affect their dealings with God."
4. Please pray for the people involved and affected by some of the disasters in the news this past week: the plane crash in Buffalo, the fires in Australia, the earthquake in western China, etc. As for the Lord's mercy upon people whose lives need to be rebuilt. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by people who can help. Keep informed of world news and pray accordingly, especially for the mobilization of believers to make a difference in the lives of the needy.
5. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
6. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:- The second training session is coming up on Saturday, February 28. The session topic will be, "Understanding Identity." The focus is learning that leadership is first and foremost discipleship, that is, our identity is as ones who have been called by Jesus to learn from him and follow him. Ask the Lord to help us understand and grow together as the community called by him.- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month. The challenge in the coming month will be to assess where each person is in their relationship to God, and to start practicing some disciplines that will lay the foundations of a growing relationship with him.
7. Please pray for the church building project:- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.- A fund-raising banquet will be held at the beginning of May. Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
Monday, February 2, 2009
2009 Week Six
1. Please keep praying for the February series of adult Sunday School classes on parenting with special guest Sunday School Teacher, Pastor D. The first class was very well received, helping us to understand that much of our stress and frustration comes from making parenting today's idolatry, that is, putting our children ahead of God. Godly parenting requires us to put God first, building a foundation which will help us to do what is most important for our children, and set an example for our children to also put God first. Please pray for Pastor D's remaining classes and ability to speak to the needs of our community. The classes are:
February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?
February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?
February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of Extremes
February 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
2. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- February 13 to 15, 2009, SnoCamp, annual winter retreat for secondary school students (Gilead Fellowship) at Muskoka Woods, along with hundreds of other youth from various Fellowship Baptist churches. Ask the Lord to prepare our youth to enjoy a fun time, and to hear his word in a life-changing way.
- This request is carried over from the reader section of week 5's post: "I am praying for these requests posted. In addition, I ask for prayer for the students in our teen's Sunday School. Conviction about God's character and will comes only with accumulated knowledge of what he has said and done. Please pray that they would give attention to what is being taught and to let this knowledge affect their dealings with God."
3. Please pray for our country and for God's mercy upon people who may be hurt by the current economic downturn. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by our politicians to address the issues in the best interests of the people. If you know individuals who are affected by the state of things, lift them up before the Lord, and consider your role in their life as an encourager or giver of mercy or help.
4. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
5. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The first main training session on the past Saturday, January 31 went well. Ask the Lord to help us process, understand, put to use the things learned from the Bible and one another for the purpose of understanding each person's God-given style of leadership in the context of our community.
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month. Pray for a good "get to know one another" first meeting, and for good response and changes as needed by mentors and mentees as they process further what was raised at the training session.
6. Please pray for "P", our pastoral intern in the ESC. P is sick with a migraine, aches and pains, and burning in the eyes. Please pray for P to get well soon. Pray also for P's learning and adjustment to vocational pastoral ministry. Ask for God's blessing upon P's special project in Youth Ministry, developing friendship mentoring relationships between individual youth and more established members of the ESC.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held at the beginning of May. Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Ongoing: Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
9. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Remember "E" who has a herniated disk, and had to miss a week of university classes. Pray for healing and keeping up with studies.
February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?
February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?
February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of Extremes
February 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
2. Please pray for the Youth Ministry:
- February 13 to 15, 2009, SnoCamp, annual winter retreat for secondary school students (Gilead Fellowship) at Muskoka Woods, along with hundreds of other youth from various Fellowship Baptist churches. Ask the Lord to prepare our youth to enjoy a fun time, and to hear his word in a life-changing way.
- This request is carried over from the reader section of week 5's post: "I am praying for these requests posted. In addition, I ask for prayer for the students in our teen's Sunday School. Conviction about God's character and will comes only with accumulated knowledge of what he has said and done. Please pray that they would give attention to what is being taught and to let this knowledge affect their dealings with God."
3. Please pray for our country and for God's mercy upon people who may be hurt by the current economic downturn. Pray for appropriate and wise actions by our politicians to address the issues in the best interests of the people. If you know individuals who are affected by the state of things, lift them up before the Lord, and consider your role in their life as an encourager or giver of mercy or help.
4. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
5. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The first main training session on the past Saturday, January 31 went well. Ask the Lord to help us process, understand, put to use the things learned from the Bible and one another for the purpose of understanding each person's God-given style of leadership in the context of our community.
- Ask the Spirit for guidance and wisdom as the one-on-one (or small group) mentor-mentee meetings take place over the coming month. Pray for a good "get to know one another" first meeting, and for good response and changes as needed by mentors and mentees as they process further what was raised at the training session.
6. Please pray for "P", our pastoral intern in the ESC. P is sick with a migraine, aches and pains, and burning in the eyes. Please pray for P to get well soon. Pray also for P's learning and adjustment to vocational pastoral ministry. Ask for God's blessing upon P's special project in Youth Ministry, developing friendship mentoring relationships between individual youth and more established members of the ESC.
7. Please pray for the church building project:
- The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend on God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
- A fund-raising banquet will be held at the beginning of May. Please pray for the planning of this event and the members of the fund-raising committee as they work on this.
8. Ongoing: Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
9. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- Remember "E" who has a herniated disk, and had to miss a week of university classes. Pray for healing and keeping up with studies.
Monday, January 26, 2009
2009 Week Five
1. Please pray for the "Growing Leaders" ESC leadership training program:
- The first main training session will be on the coming Saturday, January 31, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please pray for the Spirit to prepare the hearts and minds of all participants. Pray for the preparation for teaching and facilitating by Pastor Richard and the senior members of the ESC Core Team. Ask the Lord to build lives and ministry as the Spirit applies what is learned to each person. Pray also for the peripheral arrangements to go smoothly - childcare, space, lunch, etc.
- The tentative participant mentor-mentee matching is done. Please pray for good response and changes as needed by mentors and mentees. Ask God to give each mentor-mentee assignment a fruitful first meeting in the month after the 1st training session.
2. Please pray for the resumption of Canada's Parliament on Monday, January 26, 2009. Ask the Lord to move our politicians to act in the best interests of the people of our country by governing well. Ask the Lord to pour out his grace upon our elected representatives so that they will make good decisions that will promote justice and the well-being of all people. Pray for wise movement on issues before Parliament such as the tabling of the federal budget on Tuesday, and the ensuing actions of the political parties. Pray for, whether understood or not by individual politicians, God's glory and purposes to be accomplished.
3. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
4. Please pray for the church building project. The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
5. Please pray for the new Sunday School class in the month of February with a special guest Sunday School Teacher. Pray for his preparation and ability to speak to the needs of our community. The area of study will be Marriage and Family, with a focus on parenting. The list of topics:
February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?
February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?
February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of Extremes
February 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
6. Please pray for "P", our pastoral intern in the ESC. P is working into the position and expectations of the internship which is overwhelming to anyone new on the job. Although the internship is meant to introduce P to all aspects of pastoral ministry, P will be working on a special project in Youth Ministry, developing friendship mentoring relationships between individual youth and more established members of the ESC. Pray for the Lord's blessing upon P and the ESC as we move forward together.
7. Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering physically. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
- The first main training session will be on the coming Saturday, January 31, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please pray for the Spirit to prepare the hearts and minds of all participants. Pray for the preparation for teaching and facilitating by Pastor Richard and the senior members of the ESC Core Team. Ask the Lord to build lives and ministry as the Spirit applies what is learned to each person. Pray also for the peripheral arrangements to go smoothly - childcare, space, lunch, etc.
- The tentative participant mentor-mentee matching is done. Please pray for good response and changes as needed by mentors and mentees. Ask God to give each mentor-mentee assignment a fruitful first meeting in the month after the 1st training session.
2. Please pray for the resumption of Canada's Parliament on Monday, January 26, 2009. Ask the Lord to move our politicians to act in the best interests of the people of our country by governing well. Ask the Lord to pour out his grace upon our elected representatives so that they will make good decisions that will promote justice and the well-being of all people. Pray for wise movement on issues before Parliament such as the tabling of the federal budget on Tuesday, and the ensuing actions of the political parties. Pray for, whether understood or not by individual politicians, God's glory and purposes to be accomplished.
3. Please continue to pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some are dealing with unreasonable demands. Others are not being heard. Some are trying to make a difference by meeting with and talking to key workplace people who have influence. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimonies and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
4. Please pray for the church building project. The bank we are dealing with has agreed to loan us 80% of the construction cost, but has stipulated that the church must raise most of the outstanding balance before construction begins. This means we have a very short period of time (if construction is to start in August as desired) to raise about $2.5 million to add to the $2 million we have already raised. This looks difficult and daunting, and we really need to pray and depend God to guide us in what to do. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, faithfulness to respond, and steadfast trust in the Lord.
5. Please pray for the new Sunday School class in the month of February with a special guest Sunday School Teacher. Pray for his preparation and ability to speak to the needs of our community. The area of study will be Marriage and Family, with a focus on parenting. The list of topics:
February 1: Christian Parenting: Is it a Lost Cause?
February 8: Who is God and Where Does He Fit into My Life?
February 15: Adolescence: The Roller Coaster of Extremes
February 22: Boldly Going Where No Parent Has Gone Before
6. Please pray for "P", our pastoral intern in the ESC. P is working into the position and expectations of the internship which is overwhelming to anyone new on the job. Although the internship is meant to introduce P to all aspects of pastoral ministry, P will be working on a special project in Youth Ministry, developing friendship mentoring relationships between individual youth and more established members of the ESC. Pray for the Lord's blessing upon P and the ESC as we move forward together.
7. Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
8. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering physically. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
2009 Week Three
1. Please pray for the brothers and sisters among us who have lost loved ones. This weekend, there were four funerals, affecting members from the Cantonese speaking and English speaking congregations. Ask the Lord to comfort and lead them through this time of loss, and to put their hope in our God of resurrection and life.
2. Please pray for the Growing Leaders program which begins in earnest this month. Some key areas:
- 1st teaching session on Saturday, January 31.
- participant mentor-mentee matching to be done a.s.a.p. so that mentoring meetings can begin after first session.
- core group (mentors) briefing and prayer begins this month.
Please ask the Lord to pour out his grace on this program, especially for the strong growth of the sense of community among participants and ultimately among all of us.
3. Please pray for the people and situation in the Middle East, focusing on the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Spend some time to read the news on the fighting, the casualties, and peace initiatives, and pray as the Spirit leads about the people and issues.
4. Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
5. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering physically. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
6. Plese pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some have shared that they have a sense of dread as they go to work because of the injustice and meanness they have to face. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimony and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
7. Please pray for the new Sunday School class in the month of February with a special guest Sunday School Teacher. The area of study will be Marriage and Family, with a focus of parenting. The teacher will seek to answer some of the questions our parents have asked.
2. Please pray for the Growing Leaders program which begins in earnest this month. Some key areas:
- 1st teaching session on Saturday, January 31.
- participant mentor-mentee matching to be done a.s.a.p. so that mentoring meetings can begin after first session.
- core group (mentors) briefing and prayer begins this month.
Please ask the Lord to pour out his grace on this program, especially for the strong growth of the sense of community among participants and ultimately among all of us.
3. Please pray for the people and situation in the Middle East, focusing on the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Spend some time to read the news on the fighting, the casualties, and peace initiatives, and pray as the Spirit leads about the people and issues.
4. Please pray for "AC" who is applying to a second medical mission trip to Africa in August to September. AC's desire is to return to the same hospital they served at last time to work with staff and community especially to foster improvements in the area of birth and care of newborn babies. Pray for the application process and for God to direct AC's steps.
5. Please pray for brothers and sisters among us who are suffering physically. Lift up those you know who are sick or suffering before the Lord. Ask for healing and comfort, and practical things such as help from others. Ask the Lord to move any of us to respond and be those helping hands.
6. Plese pray for some among us who are facing challenging situations and people in the workplace. Some have shared that they have a sense of dread as they go to work because of the injustice and meanness they have to face. Pray for God's mercy and sustenance, and for improvement in circumstances. Pray for these brothers' and sisters' testimony and their ability to help co-workers. Pray for change in the hearts and actions of those who are responsible for what happens in the workplace.
7. Please pray for the new Sunday School class in the month of February with a special guest Sunday School Teacher. The area of study will be Marriage and Family, with a focus of parenting. The teacher will seek to answer some of the questions our parents have asked.
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