Heavenly Father,
You are the Lord of the Harvest. You have a desire to see all the world told about your son, about your offer of repentance, of the place you have in heaven for each of us. We thank you for your great love, which moved you to send your son to us, whose words called to us, and whose life was given for us. It is a gift we could never repay, and never have to - for you have given freely, that we might be able to come into your family and live with you forever. So we can call you father, and we thank you.
And as you have a love for all people, you call us to reach out to all people with your message of sin, forgiveness, redemption and acceptance. And we pray that you will send more and more people out into the world to spread your message. We pray for our leaders here in this church - Bruce, Emily, the wardens and parish councillors - who work not only to bring your love to those in this community, but to lead and shape our church into one that is focused on the world around us, and on fulfilling your will in spreading the word. As the AGM approaches, we pray that you will raise up new and continuing people to fill these roles, that there will be nominations for every role, and that the leadership of our church will continue to be strong and focused on your service.
We pray for the leaders of the ministries here in this church, who give up so much of their time to keep open new avenues between our church and the outside world. We would ask that you give them strength, courage and joy as they serve you in these areas, and provide more helpers and leaders in every single ministry, to allow them to grow and do their work better. We think in particular of Play Time, W.A.Y., Fusion, C4K and for the Family Festival - please provide more volunteers for these important ministries to ensure they can work to full effectiveness.
We pray for those who work for you outside these church walls - we ask especially for scripture teachers and school chaplains such as those involved with HADCEA in placing Christians in the schools in Asquith and Waitara. There are so many kids who have never heard the gospel before, and we ask that you will send people into these rich harvest fields to spread your word.
We pray for those who work throughout Australia to make your glory known. We think of the work of Bush Church Aid, bringing practical support and love to those in rural and regional Australia. Help us to faithfully support such ministries, to allow your word to continue to reach people in need, combined with loving, practical aid.
We pray for those who have crossed the world to serve you in other places. We pray for Marshall and Julie Scott and their family working in Taiwan, and pray that you will raise up local leaders in the areas where they work to support and minister to the foundling churches there. We pray for Pete and Jo Ong in Malawi as they continue to learn the local language, and become involved in youth, children's and young women's ministries in that very needy country. Surely their arrival there was an answer to prayer for more workers, and we thank you for that.
Finally Lord, we pray for each and every member of our church. You have placed us all into our own harvest field, with a specific circle of friends, family, workmates, fellow students, neighbours and others. Help us to serve you in every field you have put us in, so that by our words and by our lives people will see you, know you, and be drawn to you. Help us to care for and love each other as the family of God, especially for those of us who are sick, suffering, or in need of comfort and help, so that others might look on and know that we are true disciples of Jesus Christ.
For these things we pray,
Amen
Amen
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