Week Forty-Two

Personal

1. Thanksgiving and prayer go together: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2). Take the time to count your/our blessings - what God has done for you/us with faithfulness day after day at home, at work, among friends, acquaintances and strangers. Thank him for the forgiveness of sin, and promise of life with Christ daily. Express thankfulness by way of prayer (conversation and communion with God), and by being watchful (thoughtful daily living in step with the Spirit).


Our believing community

2. Church annual meeting of members on Sunday, October 19. Pray for the election of deacons - there is one candidate. Pray for the affirmation of Ministry Group Members - the many brothers and sisters who will lead in the various church ministries and operations in 2009. May the Lord's choice of his servant-leaders bring glory to his name and bless his people, and everyone we touch.

3. Pray for the spiritual growth of our community. As the leadership begins to work out its vision for "people group pastoral teams" - the pastoral care of leaders who will in turn exercise spiritual care for others, thus nurturing and supporting them in ministry - may the Lord increasingly make us into a community where every person is cared for and has a vital ministry.

4. Remember our students. Thanksgiving is the first real "break" for many who have been studying hard. Ask the Lord to give them refreshment through quality time with friends and loved ones, as well as opportunity to count their blessings. Ask the Lord to give them meaningful student life and studies, a steady growing relationship with Jesus, and a heart to touch others with Christ's love.

5. Please pray for the brothers and sisters in the current session of baptism classes for the October 26 baptism. Ask the Lord to help them get ready for their baptism interviews, and look forward to the public sharing their testimonies at the baptism service.


Church Building Project (685 Sheppard Ave.)

6. Please keep praying for the Church Building Project. With ground-breaking in the coming spring, many things must happen: spritual growth even as the facilities expand; steady congregational commitment and cooperation; creative solutions for space shortage during building; God's provision as well as faithful giving and fervent fund-raising; smooth work and anticipation of issues in the building process, etc. Please pray especially concerning these: (a)With the rise of the current global economic/banking crisis, banks are asking for additional loan financing criteria and/or higher interest rates - pray for the Lord's favour upon loan negotiations. (b) Fund-raising Bazaar/Sale of new goods on Saturday, November 29 needs the participation of many helpers and people to donate new goods for sale.


The world we live in

7. The current global economic crisis will put many people near and far in great difficulty. Perhaps each of us knows someone near retirement whose expected investment savings are now wiped out, or someone who is out of work. Perhaps we find it difficult to accept that this generation is spending the earnings of our children and future generations. Pray for God's mercy upon this generation, and for the mobilization of people (including us) to help those in need. Pray also for wisdom for all who manage and make decisions that have global effect.

8. Marketplace ministry: Some in our community recently attended the "Contempo: Balancing Act" conference on marketplace ministry. Ask the Lord to grow our vision to be his royal priesthood, that is, to be those who minister in the various walks of life in which we find ourselves. Our faith is not meant to be enclosed in the four walls of the church. We are to live it out where we spend most of our most able waking hours - caring for co-workers, fulfilling our vocations with excellence, promoting fairness and justice for all due to our faith convictions, and standing in as Christ to the world around us.

9. Federal election this coming Tuesday, October 14: Please pray for God's mercy upon our country as we go to the polls to elect a new federal government. Ask the Lord to help each one of us understand the platform of the candidates in our ridings, and to choose wisely, reflecting biblical values of judgement. May the government of God's choosing govern as He desires, bringing blessing to our country.