Thank you for joining our prayer vigil! We hope that God will bless and guide you during your time a prayer and discernment. You will find below resources to help you on the journey. There are 8 gates to guide you on your way. May God Bless and Keep You!
GATE 1- PRAISE & WORSHIP- HOLY GOD
Praise God for:
Revealing the Divine to us in Worship.
Revealing the Divine to us through God’s Spirit.
(You may pray a song from St. Paul’s hymnal or a Psalm 22, 23, 24, 139, 37)
Acknowledge God’s greatness and incomparable power.
(Deut. 4:39; Psalm 8:1; 83:18)
Worship God for his constancy.
(1Tim. 1:17; Rev. 1:5; Deut. 7:7-9; 1 Cor. 1:9)
Thank God for inviting us to pray and for God’s goodness and mercy.
(Rom.9: 14-18; Ps. 106; 1 Thess. 5:1)
Offer yourself to God. Ask God to be with you during your prayer time.
“ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
Matt.11:28
“Lord, teach us to pray.”
Luke 11:1
Come be with me, Lord Jesus.
GATE 2 – BLESSING ST. PAUL’S UCC
Ask God to reveal Christ’s will for St. Paul’s (Gal.2:2; Matt 16: 17-19) (See Prayer suggestion sheet-attached).
Ask God to bless the work of Christians so that they might give freely to those in need (Psalm 24:3-5)
Pray for wisdom, direction, blessing and protection for St. Paul’s UCC Teams and Leaders:
St. Paul’s Church Council
President: John Geary, Jr.
Vice President: Karen Addleman
Secretary: Sally McClintock
Treasurer: Jonathan Hillegas
Trustees: Roger Rayman, Jonathan Hillegas, Craig Schenck
Spiritual Life & Evangelism: Sally McClintock
Music and Worship: Michelle Sredy and Karen Addleman
Pastoral Relations: Karen Addleman and Patrick Ferko
Christian Education: Andra Snyder
Stewardship: Peg Roy
Pray we understand God’s vision for St. Paul’s Ministries:
St. Paul’s Youth
Women’s Fellowship
Men’s Brotherhood
Homeless
Confirmation
Visitation for homebound & sick
Prayer Circle / Prayer List
Pause for Persons
HospitalityTeam
Members
Bible Brew
The Special Gift Team
Pre-school & Nursery
Cornerstone–St. Paul’s newsletter
CD Ministry
GATE 3 – WORSHIP / PASTOR
Eph. 1: 11-20 Jn.4:23 Ps. 95:6 Ps. 66:4
Give thanks for the opportunity and privilege to worship God. Pray for your pastor and other pastors as they lead people in worship. May they be a blessing to others and be protected.
Please pray for those who are engaged in our worship life as a church.
Pastor Matt and Amanda Deal
David Neimiller–Director of Music and Organist and Special Programs
Marcy Shellenberger–Children’s & Youth Choir Director
Eyvonne Shaffer–Accompanist for the Children’s & Youth Choir
Cindy Lambert–Administrative Assistant & Financial Secretary
Amy & Mark Marteeny–Custodians
Rev. Dr. Art Gotjen, Rev. Glenn Sadler, and Mr. Bill Deal–special worship leaders and preachers
Rev. Westley Conn–Associate in Ministry and staff pastor at the Harvard Memorial Church
The Chancel Choir
The Children’s & Youth Choir
GATE 4 – HEALING
Psalm 147:1-5, Luke 9:1-6, Isaiah 53:4-6
Pray that others may know Christ as their healer as well as their Savior. Pray for healing of relationships, physical healing, inner/emotional healing, and special needs (jobs, financial hardship) and deliverance from addictions. Pray for those struggling to overcome sins that damage relationships.
Claim the promises of complete health and wholeness for any who are sick and suffering. (Please feel free to refer to the April Prayer Concern List. The list is updated monthly.)
Pray for recent families who grieve the loss of loved ones
Pray for our shut-ins
Pray for St. Paul’s members’ prayer requests
Pray for extended church family
Pray for St. Paul’s Visitation ministry to the Homebound & sick
Thank God for Carole Wilson for coordinating our Care Team ministry and Prayer Circle/Prayer Concerns for the church. May God bless members of our Care Team: Carole, Marge Ankney, Nancy Thomas, and Audrey Hay; and our Prayer Circle: Carole, Marge, Martha Walker, and Helen Brown
GATE 5 – PERSONAL PRAYER GUIDE
Philippians 4: 4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always….Rejoice! Phil 4:4
Consider God’s goodness: Ps. 34:8, 37:3, 119:68.
Ponder God’s nurturing ways: Jn. 5:17, 8:28, 10:30, 14:6, 14:9,
Sing praises to God: Psalms 148, 150, 113:3, 117, 145:21.
Praise the name of the Lord. Ps. 52:9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6.
Cast your cares on God. 1 Pet. 5:7, Phil. 4:19
Give thanks to the Lord. Ps. 100.
Pray, petitioning the Lord accordingly
Count your blessings and answer to prayer. Matt.7:11
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Receive God’s peace. Jn. 14:27
Consider God’s works. Ps. 8:3, 1 Sam. 12:24
Rebuke fear in Jesus’ name. 1 Jn. 4:18
Whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, and admirable-think about such things. Phil. 4:8
Receive God’s word. Ps. 119
Claim God’s wisdom. (one chapter of Proverbs per day).
Declare God’s power (one chapter of Acts per day).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Phil 4:23
GATE 6 – FAMILY THANKSGIVING & BLESSING
Some things you may want to remember as you pray
- Thank the Lord for working in your family
- Pray for forgiveness and healing over past hurts
- Pray for your children and their needs
- Pray on behalf of your extended family. (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents)
- Pray for protection and blessings for families
Sunday School- Praise God for our Sunday School teachers & learners. Pray for our program as we discern its future.
Family Fellowship Dinners (June & December)- Thank God for the Women’s Fellowship for organizing these dinners.
Church Family Picnic- (August)- Pray for those organizing this family event. Pray all who will attend–our church family, friends, & children
Mother-Daughter Tea- Thank God for the volunteers who are organizing this event. Pray for the spiritual food & fellowship @ this celebration.
Quilters & Knotters Praise God for this women’s ministry @ St. Paul’s UCC. Many people felt the warmth of the quilts & lap covers and many have been healed by the prayers of these women.
Card Ministries- Pray for Marge Ankney ‘s and Karen Gibson’s faithfulness in doing this important hospitality ministry.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study- Thank God for Pastor Matt’s teachings on the Scriptures.
St. Paul’s Community Garden- May God bless those who are planning this year’s garden and those who will take care of it. Ask that God may use the fruits of our labors to bless the hungry in community.
St. Paul’s Youth Group- Ask God to bless the youth of our community and the members of our youth group. May God expand our ministry to the youth in our community and help us to grow in faith.
GATE 7 – WISDOM
(FAITH FORMATION & SCHOOLS)
COL. 2:3, JAMES 1:5, PROV. 24:3
Pray that God may be with all educators. Lift up by name the schools in our area. Pray that God may bless the staff, teachers, students, and administrators the principals, teachers and administrators. (Tim. 1:8)
- Somerset Area School District
- North Star School District
- Berlin-Brothersvalley School District
- Shanksville-Stoneycreek School District
- Rockwood Area School District
- Salisbury Elk-Lick School District
- Meyersdale Area School District
- Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District
(Feel free to pray for other schools that you may be connected to.)
Please remember in prayer our students in post-secondary programs and schools:
- Sara Geary
- Sydney Geary
- Carter Geary
- Kira Geary
- Anna Chan
- Colby Keim
- Becca Gary
- Seth Rose
- Annie Snyder
- Chandler Marteeny
- Kortney Glessner
- Balee Wahl
- Matthew Willison
Pray for St. Paul’s Christian Education Team, Community Vacation Bible School, (See Prayer Requests). Pray for our Sunday School Teachers & Programs.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRIES/ YOUTH MINISTRIES
REACHING OUT: Community Vacation Bible School, The Children’s Aid Society, Heifer Project, Souper Bowl of Caring, Ronald McDonald House
BUILDING UP: Preschool and Nursery, Sunday School, Confirmation Class, Youth Group, Easter Sunrise Service, Church Library
SENDING FORTH: Camp Living Waters, Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event, Children & Youth Choirs
Camp Living Waters: ask God to bring many children and youth to camp this summer. May God direct and guide the staff and counselors. Pray for guidance for the board members.
Regional Youth Event (July 19-22) Thank God for the generosity of Congregations, Churches, and individuals who give financial assistance. Pray for St. Paul’s UCC youth who are attending. Pray the youth will connect through fellowship, worship, and service.
FUTURE MINISTRIES: Mission Trips & Teams, Children’s Ministries, Community Outreach
GATE 8 – MISSIONS / COMMUNITY / WORLD
Thank God for Stewardship Team: Chair, Peg Roy and members Sue Willison, Henry Cook, and Karen Gibson. We give thanks for their organizing and coordinating local, regional, and global missions. We pray for continued wisdom as they seek ways in which we may use our time, talents, and treasures to do God’s work in the world.
Please pray on behalf of our Missionaries and Global Ministries
- Rev. Jeffrey Mensendiek and his family serving in Japan
- Rev. Martha Mensendiek and her family serving in Japan
- Our board of Global Ministries and the over 40 missionaries serving around the world
Our Mission Partners
The SAM Van
Church World Service Blankets
One Great Hour of Sharing
Hoffman Homes for Youth
St. Paul Homes
Living Waters
The Children’s Aid Society
Our Church’s Wider Mission
The United Church of Christ
The Salvation Army
Habitat for Humanity
Lancaster Theological Seminary
The Next Step Center
Somerset Area Food Pantry
The Mobile Food Pantry
Somerset Area Ministry
Penn West Conference
Offer a prayer of confession for the sins that hurt our neighbor and grieve God.
“We confess to you, O God, the indifference that inflicts our society. Forgive us for turning a blind eye toward the hungry, sick, and inflicted. Help us to establish a more just society as we work to make educational opportunities available to all your children and incorporate the prisoner back into the fold of your people. Forgive our greed and self-serving actions. Help us to be generous as Christ our Savior is generous, so that others may have life through our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
We pray for our world:
-
- The victims of terror attacks around the world.
- Pray for victims of violence and exploitation.
- Puerto Rico-recovery and rebuilding form last fall’s hurricanes.
- Conflicts and war throughout the world. May the Prince of Peace be known among Israelis and Palestinians, Afghans and Pakistanis, Syrians and the people of the Middle East. May God be known in our community and homes.
- Pray for peace and understanding between the United States and Russia
- Pray for the millions of refugees who are fleeing war and famine. May they find hospitality and a safe home away from home.
- Conflicts and war throughout the world. May the Prince of Peace be known among Israelis and Palestinians, Afghanis and Pakistanis, Syrians and the people of the Middle East. May God be known in our community and homes.
- Pray for the un-churched and those hurt by churches. Pray that St. Paul’s UCC would seek opportunities to minister with them.
- Pray for those who have addictions and for those agencies treating them. Pray for police and law enforcement. May their work help to free our community of drugs.
- Pray that God may give wisdom to our civic leaders, especially, Local, State and Federal Government officials.
- Pray for President Trump and Vice-President Pence, members of congress, and public servants.
- Thank God for those in authority who honor God.
March 29, 2018
Church News, Community Ministry