April Prayer Intention

April Prayer Intention

"May we respect and love one another as brothers and sisters," "May we learn to understand the suffering of others! May no one abuse the name of God through violence!" (Pope Francis)

·         Lord God  we pray in faith and confidence that you will hear us and will move powerfully in answer to our prayers of love and compassion (John 14:12-14).

·         Lord God give us a heart filled with love and compassion towards all non-believers.

·         Lord God we pray that non-believers, will have a full revelation of you and Your loving character (Hebrews 8:8-9).

·         Lord God we pray against the fear that influences many non-believers (1 John 4:18).

·         Lord God we pray that non-believers will also understand that God desires for everyone to know Him as children and not as slaves (Galatians 4:7, Matthew 18:3).

·         Lord  God we pray for non-believers that they will be convicted of sin and know true repentance, that they would experience God's total forgiveness and thus be able to forgive others. And, we are pray that they would know the assurance of salvation through Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Peter 5:6, Matthew 6:14-15).

·         Lord God send the power of your Holy Spirit upon all non-believers.

·         Lord God we pray for ISIS to be stopped.

·         Lord God we pray for the hearts of those in ISIS to be redeemed by our Saviour

·         Lord God we pray for our western leaders and Arab leaders that they have wisdom and courage to act against ISIS with justice and mercy in equal measure.

·         Lord God we pray for those martyred by ISIS and those who are displaced and threatened by ISIS.

·         Lord God we pray for all those working in and among all those displaced and threatened by ISIS to bring them aid and comfort.                                                                 

Amen

We will be having a monthly prayer intention throughout the year and if anyone has ideas for areas of intercession please let us know. The first meeting of each month will be set aside for praying for the particular monthly intention.

Take courage and walk with me your Jesus

Notes from meeting of 24 March 2015

Picture of Jesus struggling with his cross.
The roman soldiers were berating some man trying to coerce him into helping. The man felt sorry for Jesus but didn't want to get tainted by him.
Finally when he started to help he was overcome with remorse at his outburst, and seeing the state of Jesus, he was now very willing to help.
As shouldered the cross with Jesus he realised he would have to slow his steps down because Jesus was in such a sorry state he couldn't walk properly and his breathing was laboured as well as the cross being heavy.
As he slowed his steps and his pace he realised that somehow he was now in union with this poor young man and by the time Simon came to a stop at the place of crucifixion he was completely at one with Jesus.
Jesus whispered 'thank you Simon' and at those words Simon was filled with love for Jesus, he felt privileged to have shared these minutes with Jesus but an overwhelming sense of loss at his fate. He stood and watched not leaving him.

Jesus says:
"My people when you take up your cross, carry it with me, do not go faster and out run your Saviour. By being like Simon and matching your carrying of the cross with my pace you will learn and be fruitful.
Although at times this cross seems so heavy together we will accomplish much and your hearts will be beautified in my eyes. Take courage and walk with me, your Jesus.
The seed planted in your hearts will blossom and bear much fruit.
Stay with me."

Mathew 25 v 14 - 30

¹⁴ 'It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.
¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.
¹⁶ The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.
¹⁷ The man who had received two made two more in the same way.
¹⁸ But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
¹⁹ Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
²⁰ The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."
²¹ His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
²² Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."
²³ His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
²⁴ Last came forward the man who had the single talent. "Sir," said he, "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered;
²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."
²⁶ But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered?
²⁷ Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest.
²⁸ So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents.
²⁹ For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has.
³⁰ As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

My Love and Mercy will pour forth

Notes of meeting on 10 March 2015

Picture of a chalice with the word 'Love' on the outside.
Inside the chalice was Our Lord's Precious Blood, it started to agitate and stir within the chalice and the word 'Mercy' was written in the Blood.
Looking closer this chalice was a part of Our Lord's Most Sacred Heart and the Blood began to trickle down upon us. As we praised and prayed the trickle became a flow of Blood and as we continued it became a torrent.
Our Lord rose above us and then out over our Town, over our Country, over our Continent and then over the whole World.
Jesus says:
"My Dear ones as you do each act of good, each prayer, each sacrifice of love, even each little thought of Me, My Love and Mercy will pour forth. Each little sacrifice or petition on behalf of your brothers and sisters in the World makes their hearts more amenable to My Love and My Mercy. In this way by showing love to even the most hardened souls they will be the recipients of My Great Mercy, in this way they shall be more open to My Fathers Love.
It is though your prayers, fasting and good works that My Mercy becomes much more effective.
My Dear ones follow My Mother in all your actions and her life and you will be like her, outreaches to the fallen and lost, and My Heart will rejoice and My Mercy will reach all those that would be lost to Me.
My Little loyal flock My Peace is with you."

1 John 2 v 1 -13
¹ My children, I am writing this to prevent you from sinning; but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright.
² He is the sacrifice to expiate our sins, and not only ours, but also those of the whole world.
³ In this way we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
⁴ Whoever says, 'I know him' without keeping his commandments, is a liar, and truth has no place in him.
⁵ But anyone who does keep his word, in such a one God's love truly reaches its perfection. This is the proof that we are in God.
⁶ Whoever claims to remain in him must act as he acted.
⁷ My dear friends, this is not a new commandment I am writing for you, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message you have heard.
⁸ Yet in another way, I am writing a new commandment for you -- and this is true for you, just as much as for him -- for darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
⁹ Whoever claims to be in light but hates his brother is still in darkness.
¹⁰ Anyone who loves his brother remains in light and there is in him nothing to make him fall away.
¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in darkness and is walking about in darkness not knowing where he is going, because darkness has blinded him.
¹² I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven through his name.
¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who has existed since the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have overcome the Evil One.


Psalm 145
¹ [Hymn of Praise Of David] I shall praise you to the heights, God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever.
² Day after day I shall bless you, I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
³ Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise, his greatness beyond all reckoning.
⁴ Each age will praise your deeds to the next, proclaiming your mighty works.
⁵ Your renown is the splendour of your glory, I will ponder the story of your wonders.
⁶ They will speak of your awesome power, and I shall recount your greatness.
⁷ They will bring out the memory of your great generosity, and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
⁸ Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love.
⁹ Yahweh is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
¹⁰ All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh, and your faithful shall bless you.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingship and tell of your might,
¹² making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam, the glory and majesty of your kingship.
¹³ Your kingship is a kingship for ever, your reign lasts from age to age. Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words, and upright in all his deeds.
¹⁴ Yahweh supports all who stumble, lifts up those who are bowed down.
¹⁵ All look to you in hope and you feed them with the food of the season.
¹⁶ And, with generous hand, you satisfy the desires of every living creature.
¹⁷ Upright in all that he does, Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
¹⁸ He is close to all who call upon him, all who call on him from the heart.
¹⁹ He fulfils the desires of all who fear him, he hears their cry and he saves them.
²⁰ Yahweh guards all who love him, but all the wicked he destroys.
²¹ My mouth shall always praise Yahweh, let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Lord we thank you that you are our advocate that you plead for us before the Father.
We thank you for your great love and mercy.
Pour forth you precious blood, your love and your mercy over the whole world.
We thank you that you chose to die for us on the Cross and that though your passion and death, the pouring out of your blood for us you bring us salvation and redemption.
Lord may we praise you at all times and in all situations both good and bad.
Lord be our firm foundation.
Amen

Pray for the physically and spiritually poor

Notes of meeting on 3 March 2015

Our Lady with one hand on her Immaculate Heart and the other raised in blessing says:
Dear Children I bring you my Son Jesus' blessing , I entreat you in this most holy season to lift your hearts to the Father and to walk with my Son Jesus the road to Calvary. With the aid of the Most Holy Spirit and my heartfelt prayers for your spiritual well being make this a time of sacrifice and offering along side that of my Son.
You will reap many blessings and your endeavours will be greatly blessed.
Pray hard for your brothers and sisters in the world who do not know my son Jesus and pray even harder for those who know him and spurn him; that their hearts and minds be opened to the great love of the Most Holy Father in Heaven.
I bless you in the name of my Son Jesus.

Exodus 33 v 1-2
¹ Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Leave, move on from here, you and the people whom you have brought here from Egypt, to the country that I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants.
² I shall send an angel in front of you and drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Lord drive out all the sinfulness and obstacles in our lives that prevent us from entering into the land you have prepared for us the land of your Kingdom here on earth and in Heaven.

Acts 5 v 27 -39
²⁷ When they had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation.
²⁸ 'We gave you a strong warning', he said, 'not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt for this man's death on us.'
²⁹ In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;
³⁰ it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, whom you executed by hanging on a tree.
³¹ By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.
³² We are witnesses to this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'
³³ This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.
³⁴ One member of the Sanhedrin, however, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a teacher of the Law respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the men taken outside for a time.
³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, 'Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people.
³⁶ Some time ago there arose Theudas. He claimed to be someone important, and collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them.
³⁷ And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters; but he was killed too, and all his followers dispersed.
³⁸ What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord;
³⁹ but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselves fighting against God.' His advice was accepted;

Lord help us be obedient to you and your calling. Help us to judge and discern your actions and presence in those around us, even in the most unlikely of people.

We pray for the poor of the world:
 

Lord we pray that you would look with compassion on those who are poor.

Those who lack food, water and shelter.

Those who lack financial security.

Those who lack health.

Those who lack peace and justice.

 

Creator God, who made our beautiful world,

appointed us as its guardians

and gifted us with everything we need,

forgive us for the times we cause it harm;

for the times our way of life affects our neighbours.

Inspire us

to care for the environment;

to help rebuild lives and communities;

to share in the griefs and anxieties,

joys and hopes of all your people,

so that all your creation may flourish.
 

 We pray for our sisters and brothers throughout the world, especially those living in poverty: may God help us to give the support they need to change their lives for the better. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for those affected by storms, floods and droughts: that through God’s grace we may work together to help rebuild lives and communities, and prepare for future disasters. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for all people who are excluded, marginalised or struggling in any way: that God may comfort them and lead us to stand alongside them so they do not have to face the future alone. Lord in your mercy

We pray for the Church around the world: that the Spirit may inspire us to continue to work together for the good of all and of each individual, sharing in the gifts of God’s creation. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for world leaders: that they may act to protect God’s creation and ensure all people have equal access to its gifts. Lord in your mercy…
   We pray for our parish communities and prayer groups: that by caring for God’s creation locally we may share in the joys, hopes, griefs and anxieties of our global family suffering from floods, droughts and storms. Lord in your mercy…
 
 We pray that we would not be indifferent to the needs and struggles of our brothers and sisters.

Lord in your mercy...
 
 

 

I love you so

Notes of meeting on 24 February 2015

Picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. it was dawn and the sky was full of beauty, red with blue and gold. The birds were making their song to add to the beauty of the moment and all was still.
it felt as if Jesus was looking with fresh eyes at the beauty of God the Father's creation. Jesus looked sad and pensive and very much alone.
He was looking at everything with eyes of one who knew he would soon be leaving it. He looked at his sleepy disciples feeling such sorrow for them, and he prayed very hard to the Father for his protection for them.
It was as though his very core felt keenly the depth of sorrow at leaving them because he loved them so much. He know that the parting would be very painful more painful than the physical pain to come because of the great love he had for them.
Jesus says:
My dear friends, stay with me, console me, do not leave me forsaken, for I feel as though my Heart would burst for love of you. My little flock how I will tend you and care for you. Stay with me.
I love you so, I love you so.

We adore you O Christ and we praise you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world

Luke 24 v 35 - 40

³⁵ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
³⁶ They were still talking about all this when he himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you!'
³⁷ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost.
³⁸ But he said, 'Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts stirring in your hearts?
³⁹ See by my hands and my feet that it is I myself. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.'
⁴⁰ And as he said this he showed them his hands and his feet.

Thank you Jesus that you are real, you are a living person, you are both God and Man sent to redeem us through your passion, death and resurrection.
Thank you Jesus that you love us so much. We cannot fathom the height, length, depth and breadth of your immense love for us. Thank you for your Spirit at work in us that helps us receive and share the great gift of your  love for us.