Week of Prayer in Disley

Thank you for being willing to pray for the community of Disley.

BE ENCOURAGED - BY JESUS' INVITATION
" ... I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it."
John 14:13-14

BUT DON'T JUST PRAY - GET READY TO WORK!
"Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upong you"
Francis Joseph Spellman (Archbishop of New York 1939-67)

This PRAYER GUIDE contains some suggested topics of prayer for each day of this week, along with some written prayers and some related Bible readings:

SUNDAY 2nd July - THE BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE

Give thanks to God for the stunning views across the fields and hills around Disley. The beauty and fruitfulness of trees and fields mirror the material prosperity which many of us enjoy in this area.

Give thanks to God for that prosperity.
Pray for wisdom in the use of your possessions.
Consider how you could be generous towards those in need both locally and at a distance (how you could share your Possessions? Time? Money? Hospitality?)

Lord God, your works are wonderful;
in wisdom you have made them all.
Forgive us for the madness
that abuses the earth for short-term ends.
Forgive us for the madness
by which we selfishly cling
to that which was given by you to be shared.
Give us the wisdom to cherish and share,
with daring and delight,
the abundant gifts of our fragile planet.
Amen.

Psalm 147.7-11

Sing hymns of praise to the LORD;
play music on the harp to our God.
He spreads clouds over the sky;
he provides rain for the earth
and makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives animals their food
and feeds the young ravens when they call.
His pleasure is not in strong horses,
nor his delight in brave soldiers; but he
takes pleasure in those who honour him,
in those who trust in his constant love.

MONDAY 3rd July - BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENT

Deuteronomy 8.17-18

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Give thanks for the ability, which many have in this community, to create wealth.
Pray that this wealth may be used wisely, compassionately and not squandered.
Pray for the businesses of this area, that they may prosper and continue to provide employment.
Pray for those affected by the recent fire at the Co-op. Care for those who have greater difficulty in shopping and pray for wisdom for those planning for the future of the building.
Pray for those who are depressed through unemployment and those who are stressed through overwork. May each know help and healing.

TUESDAY 4th July - FAMILY LIFE

Give thanks for the joy and delight that is possible within close personal and family relationships.
Pray for those relationships which you know are under strain at the moment.
Pray for positive and supportive friendships within our neighbourhoods.

Reflect upon the awesome responsibilities that parents carry for the up-bringing of their children and the difficulty of this task.

Pray for the parents you know in Disley, that they will set a good example for their children and maintain appropriate standards.
Pray especially for those parents who are struggling in this, and those who may even have given up hope, that they will be helped and guided.

Pray for the elderly and infirm who struggle with everyday life. May we see their need and provide friendship and help.

WEDNESDAY 5th July - CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Pray for the staff of Disley School, Disley Under 5s and Blue Grass Purple Cow Nursery as they provide formal education and pre-school care for the youngest in our community.
Give thanks (and pray for more) adults willing to give their time to help young people in the voluntary organisations.
Pray for The Basement, the new youth club at the Baptist Church, that it will be a source of enjoyment and inspiration for those moving into their teenage years.
Pray for the minority of young people responsible for anti-social behaviour. May their energies be channeled into constructive and helpful activities.
Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Disley Scouts, especially as they make plans to incorporate girls into Beavers and Cubs, and as they make decisions relating to the future of the Scout Hut.
Pray that members of the Scout Group, and all our young people, will grow up with a sense of purpose and a desire to help others in the community.

THURSDAY 6th July - POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Give thanks that in most instances our public services are delivered effectively by people of great skill and commitment.
Give thanks that crime is relatively low in Disley.
Pray for the maintenance of law and order through an effective police force (remembering PC Jackson, our community constable), and a fair judicial system.
Pray for wise decision-making by parish, borough and county councilors, decisions which affect present and future generations in Disley.
Pray for Sir Nicholas Winterton MP as he represents our interests at national level.
Pray for guidance for the Housing Association which will be responsible for sheltered housing and council housing from mid-July.

FRIDAY 7th July - THE WIDER WORLD

We live in a truly global village. What happens in one part of the world affects the rest of the world. Communication is instant and news from other places immediately affects our lives.

Spend time today praying for the “big issues” in the news today.
Pray for the politicians and executives whose decisions affect the lives of millions.
Many of us have friends or know of people who are serving God in other parts of the world. Spend some time today praying them.

SATURDAY 8th July - THANKSGIVING FOR LIFE

Psalm 104:24, 30-31

How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
When you send your Spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works.

Spend time today looking at the world around you and seeking out the details of God's creative power.
If you are travelling or shopping, try to do things more slowly, and be more aware of the people and places around you.
Sit quietly somewhere (with a favourite piece of music?) and let your mind wander to favourite places and recalling special people.

Creator God, we worship you.
You have made the vast universe,
scattering the stars and molding the hills.
You have made a world full of beauty.
You have made human beings in your own image,
the peak of your creation and stewards of the earth.
We are here because of you.
You are our God, giving us life
and lavishing gifts on your children.
The distances of space praise you.
The depths of our being acknowledges
your creating power.
Creator God, we praise you.

SUNDAY 9th July - THE CHURCH IN DISLEY

1 Peter 2:9-10

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Father God, thank you for sending your Son
as the ultimate sacrifice for our wrongdoing.
Through him you have led us
out of darkness and despair
and into the light and hope of your Kingdom.
Through him we have been drawn together
into a community of people
whose purpose is to worship you
and to serve you by serving others.
Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit
that we, and all your people,
may fulfil this purpose in this generation.
Amen.

Give thanks for your relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Renew your commitment to worship God and to serve him by serving others.
Pray that each church congregation in Disley may grow deeper in devotion to God and be more powerfully equipped by his Spirit to bring Good News to the community of Disley.
Pray for the Anglican and Methodist churches as they plan for the changes which will follow the departure of Philip and Geoffrey.
Pray that many people in Disley will grow in relationship with God through a real encounter with Jesus Christ.