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.