Prayers

March Missionary Focus: Paul & Lesley Evans

Paul and Lesley are one of the four missionaries we are supporting following our revised arrangements recently put into place by the Church Council. They've written to say thank you for our gift of £2,000 representing their share of our 2009 mission giving. They returned from Zimbabwe in the week of 25 February and are struggling to adapt to the freezing weather! We have booked for them to come and share with us on Sunday 16 May.

- please keep praying for further support for them, in prayer and finance, which is so vital to their ministry

- pray for the theological college in Harare as it sets about growing future Christian leaders, who may have a key role in their country's future.

- pray for Zimbabwe itself struggling under the Mugabe regime.

Sunday 7 Our theme this Sunday is Ungrace. We'll be thinking about the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son and the harm that the lack of grace does in our lives. Pray that the older brother in our own hearts may be softened by God's grace.

Monday 8 Give thanks that Liz Burley has accepted the post of Family and Children's Worker and pray that she will be blessed and encouraged in her new role as she prepares to take it up.

Tuesday 9 Pray for our Men's Group meeting today and for John Edlin speaking on My Year in New Zealand.

Wednesday 10 Pray for Paula, still only a few days into her new ministry in Donnington Wood in Telford.

Thursday 11 We will shortly send out an invitation card to everyone in our parish inviting them to enjoy Easter with us. Pray that our publicity will attract many to worship with us.

Friday 12 We have some special Lent appeals going on. Pray that the Bishop's appeal will enrich the lives of disabled people, and give thanks for the sheer vitality of Blue Coat's young people as they seek to raise £10,000 for their link school in Gambia.

Saturday 13 The Church Council goes away today to draft our Mission Action Plan. Pray for us as we consider where God is leading St Matthew's and how He wants us to be in 5 years time.

...the incomparable riches of God's grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

Sunday 14 It's Mothering Sunday and we have a wonderful opportunity to share God's love with mums and families. Pray for a very special time for all our guests at today's all-age service.

Monday 15 Our hard-working church wardens meet tonight. Please pray for Helen, our new warden. We need another warden for this year's AGM too - ask that God will lead us to the right person. Give thanks for the dedication and service of our wardens.

Tuesday 16 The Cluster clergy go away together for the day today. Pray that we may be constructive in working together to reach Walsall for the Lord.

Wednesday 17 Peter Howell-Jones is speaking at today's Lent lunch. Pray that he and all others who have graduate from St Matthew's academy would have flourishing and effective ministries.

Thursday 18 There is a meeting with the Pais Team today. Pray that, after last year's disappointment, it may be possible for a team to come once more to Walsall and build up our youth: especially that a leader for the Walsall team may be found.

Friday 19 Please pray for Tina and her guests. Tina is a 3rd year dance student at Walsall campus and will present a piece she has choreographed in St Matthew's for assessment by her examiners on Sunday after the morning service.

Saturday 20 Today Colin and the wedding preparation team are meeting with some of this year's engaged couples. Pray that we may hit it off well and encourage them to walk with God.

Sunday 21 Today's theme in our Lenten exploration of Grace is Changed by God's Grace. Pray that we may not only learn about grace, but live it from day to day.

Monday 22 The reordering team meets tonight! Give thanks for our architects and for good progress with the scheme in the last few months. We will need to start praying the money in soon!

Tuesday 23 The Deanery carry out a three-yearly official visitation at St Matthew's tonight. Pray that this will be a good learning experience for us all.

Wednesday 24 Ask God's blessing on our staff meeting and our all-age service planning meeting, both happening today.

Thursday 25 Pray for St Matthew's Church Council which meets tonight. Give thanks for those in leadership and pray for them.

Friday 26 Our Asian Congregation have a 24 hour Prayer Chain tomorrow. Give thanks for their passion for prayer and ask that we too may share their dedication to the Lord's service.

Saturday 27 We are working on a revamp of our website. Pray that this powerful tool may be effective in reaching others and building up St Matthew's!

Sunday 28 Today is Palm Sunday. Pray for our speaker, the new Archdeacon of Walsall, Chris Sims, who is preaching at the 10am service, and for him and Catherine as they settle in to Walsall and take up a new and very demanding ministry.

Monday 29 Please pray for all our preparations for Easter and Holy Week, especially the Good Friday Procession, that it may be a powerful witness to the whole of Walsall.

Tuesday 30 Blue Coat Juniors have their Easter service in Church today. Ask that the Easter message would appeal powerfully to young hearts and minds.