Spring 2021

Dear friends,

It’s been more than 12 months since our world went into various stages of turmoil in response to a microscopic virus. Physically, we are on the defensive. But we are much more than flesh and blood. Spiritually, we are called to be on the offensive. There is much to pray for.

In addition to our daily prayer guide for April, May and June, I offer the following for use by small groups and sessions.

First, let us fall down and worship before the Lord our maker.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decree will never be revoked.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children.

Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
He has made his people strong, honouring his faithful ones — the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148, New Living Translation)

Let us repent and seek God’s assurances.

• In the face of our disregard for Your will and our mistreatment of one another, You continue to love and forgive us. We give You thanks.
• Despite the incessant criticism of our public officials, we enjoy peace, safety and security in this great nation. We give You thanks.
• Notwithstanding the tragedies in our long-term care homes and the strain upon those on the front line in health care, Lord we really haven’t seen widespread chaos as a result of the pandemic. We give You thanks.
• We pollute the air, fill oceans with plastic waste and poison the land, but we are renewed each spring with verdant valleys filled with colour. We give You thanks.

Let us pray now in the Holy Spirit.

• General Assembly: may commissioners be willing to submit to you and seek your will, may the moderator be equipped and able to preside in fairness and with prudence, may the clerks and the committee on business be mindful of the limitations of an online agenda, may commissioners speak truth with grace.
• Our denomination: may those serving at 50 Wynford Drive make genuine Spiritual revival under the authority of scripture a primary focus of their ministry.
• Our presbyteries: may they be willing to plant new congregations that are focused on the Great Commission.
• Our congregations, their sessions and people: may we be truly awakened and willing to shed any ministry, practice or thinking that is not wholly centred on the need to go into the world, baptize and teach new believers to seek complete submission to the Lord.

Keep praying – whether it’s online or in person. Our Father hears us and sees us.

To God be the glory.