Good morning to all the good people of our Church,
On Saturday 20 October 2018, the Archdeaconry of Ethekweni South joined together at the Church of the Good Shepherd for a morning of prayer. Seeking God’s grace and praying corporately towards a better future.
We thank our Archdeacon Fr. Brian, for setting up this prayer day, and a really big thank our own Fr. Andrew for planning and hosting this event.
Below is an extract of the prayers;
“…. if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
PRAY FOR :
the CHURCH to uphold the family of God through inclusiveness, spiritual strength, and compassion;
to be an example of humility and integrity to all in authority
the DIOCESE through its, Bishops, Chapter and Clergy to uphold the relationship
of all its people to God and one another;
to foster and maintain ways of strengthening the spiritual life of all congregations
the ARCHDEACONRY and the Revd. Brian Mahlambi. . . . . .
for unity and support between Parishes;
for the leadership of each Parish,
PRAY FOR:
leadership to encourage in all parishioners a closeness to God and trust in Him, an acceptance of Jesus
as the sustenance of spiritual life and growth;
regular worship and prayer for developing a close relationship with Jesus;
healing of past hurts, healing of relationships with others, fostering and encouraging unity and
support for one another;
setting priorities for stewardship – time, talents and tithing – in all parishioners;
PRAY FOR: the COMMUNITY, for its leadership, for discernment in meeting the needs of the people,
for support in maintaining the beauty and safety of our surroundings;
for the Mission to Seafarers, staff and visiting seafarers and our pastoral interaction with them;
for furthering the church’s involvement in, and support of, families and community service to all
the COUNTRY, healing and wholeness in the environment and all people;
for integrity, justice and compassion by those in authority;
for those suffering deprivation, unemployment, violence and the effects of crime;
for young people and their education
We pray for those who make God present by their shining faith, their goodwill and kindness or their acts of justice
and good work. And we pray for ourselves, that we may be examples that lead others to God’s truth and grace
through deeper love and knowledge of the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
PRAY FOR:
- The Church to be a strong voice of social justice
- All political leaders to be humble servants of the people
- An end to politically motivated violence
- An end to corruption and mismanagement at every level
- All in positions of authority to act with truthfulness, integrity and compassion
- For protection for all who suffer abuse, prejudice or intolerance
- Help and upliftment for prisoners and those addicted
- Safety for police, emergency personnel, doctors and nurses
- Support for education for all, skills development, poverty eradication and environmental protection
- For all religious leaders to be united in bringing reconciliation and an end to racism and discrimination
May God the Father look upon us with compassionate love. May God the Son walk alongside us and restore us to new life. May God the Holy Spirit fill us with love and compassion towards all His children.
MAY OUR COUNTRY RISE
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8
To God the Father who loved us and made us accepted in the Beloved
To God the Son who loved us and loosed us from our sins by His own blood
To God the Holy Spirit who pours the love of God into our hearts
To the one true God be all love and all glory for time and for eternity.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good – Gen.1:31
ALMIGHTY GOD, Creator of All, and Giver of all good things, we thank and praise You for our land of many splendors.
{Pray for the environment}
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you – Jn.15:12
LORD JESUS, Redeemer, Friend and Brother, we thank You for Your love and compassion, for raising up among us men and women of great honour, example and inspiration.
{Pray for the men and women of this country in all their different callings, that together we may build the Kingdom of God in this Nation}
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth – Jn.16:13
HOLY SPIRIT, Lord of comfort and counsel, we thank You for leading us and guiding us through many challenges.
Create in us a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within us.
For all evil and wickedness, all spiritual blindness, pride and hypocrisy
Forgive us Good Lord.
For envy, hatred, malice and uncharitableness
Forgive us Good Lord.
For oppression, hardness of heart, and contempt of Your word and commandment
Forgive us Good Lord.
If my people would but listen to me – Ps.79:13
THE CHURCH IS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION. (Michael Cassidy, African Enterprise).
PRAY: for the Church throughout our country that, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, it may be a beacon of light that guides many to the living God.
PRAY: for the Church, that it may be a strong voice of compassion and justice for those whose voice cannot be heard.
PRAY: for the Church as it seeks to proclaim the Gospel in our times. May God guide its strategies and strengthen its voice, that people everywhere may come to know that they are loved by their heavenly Father
Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom – James 3:13
THANK GOD: for courageous men and women who have brought corruption and maladministration to our eyes and ears
PRAY: for protection for them and their families
PRAY: for all in positions of authority – Church and political leaders, heads of families, educators – that they may be strengthened to do good and speak the truth in God’s name
PRAY: for wisdom and discernment in the media, and in others who influence public opinion
PRAY: for an end to conflict and violence in, and between political parties
PRAY: for discernment and transparency in appointing new leaders of political parties
PRAY: for an end to corruption and dishonesty, with accountability and justice to prevail
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus – Gal.3:28
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A CONDITION FOR PEACE IN SOCIETY. (Michael Cassidy, African Enterprise)
PRAY: for those who have become disillusioned in faith or have been scarred by the attitude of other Christians; may God nurture a Church that is an unconditionally open, accepting and welcoming community
PRAY: for those suffering the humiliation of intolerance and prejudice, the violence of racism, xenophobia, gender discrimination and sexual abuse, and strengthen those committed to seeking justice and serving their needs
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight – Proverbs 3: 5,6
MY HUMANITY IS BOUND UP IN YOURS AND WE CAN ONLY BE HUMAN TOGETHER.
(Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus)
PRAY: for those men, women, children, and the elderly suffering abuse, hunger or homelessness
PRAY: for those who have lost their health and freedom by addiction to drugs or alcohol
PRAY: for all those who are ill and especially those without recourse to proper medical treatment
PRAY: for safety and compassion for parents, carers, emergency workers, police and those in the justice system
PRAY: for adults and the elderly to act as Godly role models
WE MUST TEACH PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH
THAT THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS IS WITHIN THEMSELVES.
NOT MACHINE. NOT TECHNOLOGY. NOT MONEY. NOT POWER.
(His holiness the Dalai Lama)
When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd – Matt.9:36
WHILE WE REACH INTO SPACE, PEOPLE STAY HUNGRY, HOMELESS, SICK. HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY DO WE NEED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEM? (Eddie Askew, Leprosy Mission)
PRAY: for fair, honest and transparent distribution of our country’s wealth and resources
PRAY: for all working towards poverty eradication, environmental protection, education for all, and skills development
PRAY: for the unemployed, the homeless, migrant workers, refugees and the economically exploited
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always – Isaiah 58:9b-11
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You – Psalm 9:9,10
For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love – 2 Peter 1:5-7
We pray for those who make God present by their shining faith, their goodwill and kindness, or their acts of justice and good work. We thank God for their encouragement and inspiration. And we pray especially for ourselves, that we may be examples that lead others to God’s truth and grace through deeper love and knowledge of the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
May God the Father look upon us with compassionate love. May God the Son walk alongside us and restore us to new life.
May God the Holy Spirit fill us with love and compassion towards all His children. May our country RISE.
GOD BLESS AFRICA
GUARD OUR CHILDREN
GUIDE OUR LEADERS
AND GIVE US PEACE
FOR JESUS CHRIST’S SAKE
AMEN
Greetings in Christ.
