God of all peoples, whose servant John came baptising and calling people to repentance: help us to hear his voice of warning and to prepare our hearts and lives, that we may also rejoice at his promised hope of salvation, and be found pure and blameless in that glorious Day when Christ comes to rule as Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Prayers for the people and issues within our Parish Family and Community.
In their times of sickness or surgery:
Rillis, Allison, Andrew, Anne & Paul, Geoff, Pam, Debbie, Elissa, David, Lesley, Howard, Rob.
That we who have been baptised may faithfully prepare the way of the Lord in our homes and community.
For those from our parish and our families who are travelling this holiday season:
Helen, John, Inga, Richard and the Greenwood family.
For leaders, ministers and workers in God’s church particularly those to be ordained on Saturday 6 December and that God will raise up more leaders for our schools, hospitals, prisons, Services and parishes.
For teachers and students; that they may have a ‘God breathed’ break during school holidays.
Please speak to Reverend Rob or Reverend Angela if you would like someone’s name added to or removed from the prayer list.
Ongoing
Saturday 15 November
· The Diocese of Rayalaseema – The Church of South India (United)
· The Diocese of Melbourne: †Genieve Blackwell – Administrator; Assistant Bishops - †Bradly Billings, †Paul Barker, †Kate Prowd, Bishop Assisting - †Alison Taylor; Clergy and People
· The Parish of Woolloongabba: Rosemary Gardiner
· Anglican MU Australia
· St Paul’s School, Bald Hills: Principal – John O’Sullivan Williams; Chaplains – Nicki Colledge & Mark Leam; staff & students
Saturday 29 November
· The Diocese of Rorya – The Anglican Church of Tanzania
· The Parish of Beenleigh: Alan Moore – Locum, Frank Phillips, Doreen Adamson
· Anglicare SQ Youth Justice
Sunday 30 November
· The Anglican Church of Australia
· The Parish of Brisbane Mar Thoma Church: †Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa
· Anglicare SQ Out of Home Care, Central Region – Fraser & Gympie Residential
If you have a friend or relative or someone you know who is suffering or in need and would appreciate prayer support please contact us by clicking here so that we can arrange for you to choose a prayer blanket as a gift from St Michael and All Angels Parish.
Our prayer blankets hang on the blanket ladder at the rear of the church. Each has been lovingly made for distribution to people we know who are in need of prayer support. This prayer ministry has proven a great witness of God's care for those who are sick or chronically ill, frail or recovering from illness or any other trouble.
Please feel free to take a prayer blanket should you know of someone who would benefit from prayer in this way. There is a blue book to fill in details of recipients so we can continue to pray to the Lord for them. Contact Rob, Anne or Margaret.
But not only does this acrostic remind us of the elements of prayer, it shows us the priority we ought to give to each.
The first element of prayer should be adoration, or praise. The Psalms, which are inspired samples of godly prayer, are heavily weighted on the side of adoration. I’ve noticed over many years that as we grow in the discipline and in the delight of prayer, it seems that we naturally spend more and more of our time on this first element.
Second, prayer should include confession of our sin; as we remember who we are when we come into God’s presence, we see that we have come short of His holiness and have need of His forgiveness.
Third, when we pray, we should always give thanks, remembering the grace and mercy God has shown toward us.
Fourth, prayer rightly includes supplication or petition, bringing our requests for the needs of others and ourselves to God.