Theotokos Prayer Group update No. 20

 

ON THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION WE ASK THE INTERCESSION OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER FOR ALL OUR NEEDS AND IN PARTICULAR IN COMMUNION WITH POPE FRANCIS FOR AN END TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

Dear friends we continue our virtual and short Life in the Spirit Course.
Another week to go!
Please let us try this week to mediate on the Scriptures below and pray together for a renewal of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit in our lives.
Next week we will pray together for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us all.

Part 4 - THE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5 v 19 - 26

19 What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; 20 in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; 21 they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. 25 The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. 26 We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.

1 Corinthians 12 v 4 - 11

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. 6 There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. 7 The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all. 8 The Spirit gives one person a message full of wisdom, while to another person the same Spirit gives a message full of knowledge. 9 One and the same Spirit gives faith to one person, while to another person he gives the power to heal. 10 The Spirit gives one person the power to work miracles; to another, the gift of speaking God's message; and to yet another, the ability to tell the difference between gifts that come from the Spirit and those that do not. To one person he gives the ability to speak in strange tongues, and to another he gives the ability to explain what is said. 11 But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person.

Ephesians 4 v 10 - 12

¹⁰ So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with his presence. ¹¹ It was he who “gave gifts to people”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. ¹² He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. 

Hebrews 2 v 3 -4

³ How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard him proved to us that it is true. ⁴ At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will. 

2 Peter 1 v 3 - 9

³ God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness. ⁴ In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature. ⁵ For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; ⁶ to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; ⁷ to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love. ⁸ These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if you do not have them, you are so short-sighted that you cannot see and have forgotten that you have been purified from your past sins. 

Thank you Father that you want to give us many gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

These are given to strengthen us in our faith and lead us to holiness.

And also to help us lead others to faith in you and assist in the building up of your Kingdom.

Father increase the Spirits gifts and fruits in us that we may be more and more conformed to your will and be more and more transformed into  the likeness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

God the Holy Spirit
Comforter and Sanctifier
Melt our hearts
That we may accept your love.
Renew our minds
That we may know your truth.
Strengthen our wills
That we may serve you faithfully.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
___________________________

Intercessions

Pray for Sarah she will (hopefully) be having an operation on the 6th August to remove blood from her abdomen. It has been cancelled before. She is in her 20s and this is done on a regular basis. She also has Touretts. Please ask for the grace of healing.

Continue to pray for Brian who went into hospital for gallbladder operation the person doing the op severed his main artery, resulting in liver and brain damage. He is currently making some good progress after being critically ill, the doctors are amazed at his recovery, his family thank you all for your prayers.

Pray for healing for Dave with long term walking difficulties.

Pray for Annabelle who has bi-polar and is now back at home from Hospital with medication.

Yvonne Noones' Father Jim has sadly died may he Rest in Peace. Yvonne is naturally distraught so can we pray for peace for her.

Pray for the crisis in Yemen, years of war are being compounded by the effects of coronavirus and food and clean water is scarce and medical resources are minimal.

Pray for John who has now left hospital after the operation on his brain tumour.  He is making good recovery but keep him in your prayers as he will need radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

Pray for  Alan Guile who is improving but still in need of prayers.

Continue to pray for Betty McGurk who is now out of hospital but still in need of prayers for healing.

Please pray for Anne Conroy with Myeloma (blood cancer).

Pray for Eileen who was undergoing chemotherapy for bowel cancer. Although very ill she is back home, her problem resolved at least for the moment, and she thanks everyone who prayed for her but asks for a continuation of prayer please.

Pray for Zoe just diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr. Maria is now at home, she is slowly recovering but still weak with the after effects of the Coronavirus continue to pray for her.

Pray for a speedy end to the Coronavirus pandemic throughout the world, and for all those who have contracted the virus and for those who have died.

Pray for our priests and our parishes.

Pray for the intentions of all members of Theotokos.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church and the World.

Resources 
1. Stockton Parish Family on Facebook with live streaming of Sunday Masses and Holy Week services:
https://www.facebook.com/parishfamilystocktonRC/

2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm

3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website - keep up to date on the latest situation as regards our Churches and resources for praying the Mass at home:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/No-Mass-A4.pdf

4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
http://www.rcdhn.org.uk/index.php 

5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England:
http://www.ccr.org.uk/  

6. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/

7. Celebrate Conference Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Celebratecommunity/ 

Please let me know if you have anything to share (prayers, readings, pictures , inspirations) or any intercessions or updates on those who we are praying for. You can also get in touch just to say hello!