Week Forty-Four

1. Sunday, October 26 is the ESC "Town Hall" meeting. Please pray that the vision and anticipated actions shared by the leaders will resonate with all the brothers and sisters of our community. Ask the Lord to prompt many to give feedback and suggestions so that our vision and plans will be become an understanding and commitment shared by all, and sharpened to really reflect the Lord's will. Pray also that we will together own the future that the Lord blesses us with.

2. Please keep praying for the new 2009 Ministry Group Members who lead the various ministries of our church. Over the next few weeks, they will plan the ministries and work out their budgets for 2009. Ask for the Spirit's guidance upon them and our whole community as we move forward. There will be a one day leader's retreat for all church leaders on Saturday, November 15. Pray for a stirring message from our Senior Pastor, and good sharing between the Cantonese, Mandarin and English communities, as well as within each individual community.

3. Please pray for the brothers and sisters getting baptized on Sunday, October 26. Ask the Lord to keep them strong and growing daily in their walk with Jesus. Pray for loving fellowship and care from our community to surround them so that they never face the challenges and joys of living for Jesus alone.

4. Please pray for upcoming events:- "Fun Fall Festival" on Friday, October 31. This event to be held in the basement and gym of our church is for all children in our neighbourhood with carnival games, stories, prizes and snacks. The goal is to welcome our neighbours and friends, so that they know there are children's and adult's programs here. Pray for a fun time and a good testimony to our neighbours.- Parents and Youth Ministry Meeting on Sunday, November 2 at 12:45 p.m. is for parents to meet their children's Sunday School teachers and fellowship counselors. Please pray for a growing and successful youth ministry for this school year.

5. Please keep praying for the Church Building Project. Praise the Lord for his provision of the money raised on our recent "Church Building Sunday." Ask the Lord to bless, multiply and use the special offering on Sunday, Oct 19 for the glory of his name. Please pray also for:- spring ground-breaking- spiritual growth along with facilities expansion- steady congregational commitment and cooperation- creative solutions for space shortage during building- God's provision: faithful giving, fervent fund-raising (including good participation in the promissory note program), favourable bank financing- smooth building process

6. Please keep praying about the persecution of Christians in parts of India. Although the violence has quieted in the past week, the situation is still very tense. To date, over 32 people have been killed, tens of thousands have fled their homes, and thousands are still believed to be hiding in Orissa's thick forests. Please look up news reports of the situation to pray in an informed way.

7. Pray for our new government elected on Tuesday, Oct 14. Due to vote recounts, one seat has been changed as a result. Ask the Lord to pour out grace and mercy upon our country. May the government govern with wisdom, reflecting the values of justice, mercy and compassion of God who is, ultimately, the one who appoints the rulers.

8. Personal request (continued from last week): Please pray for our members - Laura Sue and her parents, Maria and Walton. Laura has been diagnosed with some hearing loss in both her ears. This may be a result of water and infection in her ears this past summer. No operation or hearing aids are indicated for now. The doctor has asked them to wait 4 months and then go for additional tests. Please pray for Laura's hearing to improve.