2009 Week 50

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.