Prayer Diary Notes for Week commencing 22 May 2024.
We are approaching a new chapter in our churches as we vote on 2 June to create a new Union, when the Kinlochleven congregation becomes a part of South Lochaber Church to become One body in South Lochaber.
The topic of “Unity” – a word which appears just 3 times in the Bible, but the word “One” also conveys a sense of “Unity”.
Psalm 133:1 “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in unity.”
Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:12-13 ”Pastors and teachers should prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.”
Paul declares in Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 4:4-5 “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”
1 Corinthians 10:17 Paul talks about meeting together for Communion – “Because there is one loaf, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”
Hymns on the based on the words “Unity” and “One”.
MP 640 “Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation – one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses with every grace endued. Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One. And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won; O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.”
MP 664 “The Spirit lives to set us free, walk, walk in the light; He binds us all in unity, walk, walk in the light. Walk in the light of the Lord.”
2 Hymns written by Stuart Townend.
“Oh, how good is it when the family of God dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity. Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love, are the fruit of His presence here among us.”
“May the fragrance of our prayers arise; lead us on the road of sacrifice, that in unity, the face of Christ may be clear for all the world to see.”
Contaminated blood transfusions. It’s tragic that this situation which stretches back for 60 years, was allowed to continue and cause such damage.
Prayer Diary
South Lochaber Churches
Wednesday 22 May
Loving God, we commit to You today, all those who were affected by contaminated blood transfusions. We pray for families who lost a loved one and for the many who now live with continuing ill health. May the compensation schemes help to overcome their loss.
Thursday 23 May
Today, O Lord, we thank You for the lovely summer weather that we have enjoyed recently. It lifts our spirits, and we sing “Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness, to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”
Friday 24 May
Sovereign God, at a time when wars and unrest continue unabated, we pray that the world might turn to acknowledge God and find peace. We echo the prayer in the Psalms - “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in unity.”
Saturday 25 May
Dear God, we pray for churches that face division and lack of unity. “Oh, how good is it when the family of God dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity. Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love, are the fruit of His presence here among us.”
Sunday 26 May : Kinlochleven at 10.00 am and Duror at 10.30 am.
The churches one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. “Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation – one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses with every grace endued.”
Monday 27 May : Duror Coffee Morning at 10.30 am.
Loving God, we pray for stamina and safety for Bill Strachan and Jon Ure as they set out today on their epic cycle run to raise money for Christian Aid.
Tuesday 28 May : Bible Study on “Miracles” at Jeremy’s home at 10.45 am.
Our Father, within the coming week, we vote to become “One” church in South Lochaber. Help us to live together in complete unity. “Oh, how good is it when the family of God dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity. Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love, are the fruit of His presence here among us.”