DIY Sunday Service Kit for International Suicide Prevention Day - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Trigger warning 

This aims to be a positive, hopeful look at what we can do to help with a common but distressing issue in our society, but if this is not safe space for you please do not proceed.
You are very welcome to make contact personally with us.

Welcome to this DIY Sunday Service Kit which coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 (10/09/2023)

Some of us have to love the worship songs written and performed by 20 Schemes Music's 'Hymns in Hard Places' project. They are born out of the hard experiences of life in high density housing in inner urban Scotland, and they are both realistic and hopeful ... which makes the usefully inspirational for us during tough times.

Our first song today from them is a great example of this. Let's sing ...

Lord and Father we thank you for the hope held out in your Word for people going through tough times and for the examples it gives us of people who have turned to you in their troubles and been delivered from them.

Help us both to find strength in you and to be made available through you to those around us who are currently finding the way hard and difficult, hear our prayers and make us useful to you and to the people around us.

We ask for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Pakistan - persecution In a distressing incident that unfolded on the night of September 6th, the Christian community in Tandlianwala, District Faisalabad, was compelled to evacuate their homes due to imminent threats from a portion of the Muslim population. The catalyst for this alarming situation was an ex-Christian woman who threatened the community, stating that she would accuse them of blasphemy if they opposed her amoral activities that compromised the Christian values of the residents.   The police have arrested the woman and ensured the protection of the community against any impending danger of Muslims attacking the Christian community. Morocco - earthquake At the time this was published the scale of the recent natural disaster in Morocco is still unfolding, but the BBC was reporting 2,000 dead and many more injured in the tragedy. Hospitals in Marrakesh have seen an influx of injured people, and the authorities have called on residents to donate blood.  Morocco's interior ministry said the earthquake killed people in the provinces and municipalities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant There are international (ex-pat) churches in Marrakesh - at least two worshipping in English and one in French. But in the current social climate in Morocco, nationals openly celebrating a Christian holiday or festival, establishing a Christian group, or even praying openly would be problematic. Reports indicate that there is nonetheless a growing number of Moroccans converting to Christianity. Agadir and Marrakech, in particular, have fairly significant Christian populations.  But due to restrictions on entering churches and the personal ramifications of being known to be a Christian, Moroccan Christians commonly worship privately or at clandestine meetings in nondescript buildings, usually a private home. Small groups may come together in apartments to pray, sing hymns, study the Bible, and discuss various religious and social matters. There is often a reluctance to worship alongside non-Moroccans for fear of causing trouble for the other person; if the authorities believe that associated individuals encouraged the conversion, they can be prosecuted. In the past, police regularly raided places that were thought to be secret places of worship for Moroccan Christians. This is less common today. Groups of Christians in Morocco are starting to hold discussions regarding their religious freedom with the National Council of Human Rights. How this difficult situation will affect believers in their desire to bring help to those trouble due to this earthquake is unclear, and it is highly likely that believers, particularly in and around Marrakech, will also have been affected by the earthquake themselves. Llandovery Please pray  For outreach at the Sheep Festival next Saturday in Llandovery. Also for the outcome of some really good solicitors working for us on the terms of the lease we hope to sign soon on the Station Café, which we intend to run as a 'hub' for y GRWP, a plea meet for us and the rural community. For people we have spoken with this week who are income sort of trouble or despair, even despairing of life itself. And for people we know in the area that are de-churched or without a place they currently feel able to worship ... but would like to have one. (Yes ... they are out there and we'd love to see them in somewhere good!) Father, please inspire, lead and hear our prayers - and answer us by your grace from your Heavenly throne, we ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.

City Alight's song gives us a personal spiritual check-up before we head into God's Word together ... where are we right now with what they are singing here? 

If it ain't good, hang in there, the good stuff is going to follow!

Click the little man to go to the audio of today's ministry on Buzzsprout, where you can also find an extended blog around the transcript that goes beyond the sermon recording and supplies extra content.

We are going to close today with a song that only came out on Friday (September 8th.) from the Gettys ... I hope you like it, but infinitely more I hope we will all find it helpful

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling 

and to present you before his glorious presence 

without fault 

and with great joy - 

to the only God our Saviour 

be glory, majesty, power and authority, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

before all ages, 

now and forevermore! 

Amen.

If you would like to join us in worshipping by giving, please click on the offering bag.

This week's daily prayer journal for the world from Justin Long is copied in below (thanks Justin!)

Sunday

We pray for the over 20 million who participated in the Islamic Arbae'en pilgrimage this past week. While this pilgrimage is not in honor of the Lord, nevertheless many who make it do so with a sense of spiritual hunger in their hearts. In the same way that many pray for Muslims during Ramadan, pray that the Lord will bring many of these pilgrims to Himself. Pray especially for dreams and visions of Jesus, and that many will come into contact with earnest believers who can help disciple them.

Monday

We once again pray for the many who are caught in the conflicts that span Africa, and especially for those in the violence of Sudan. We pray for laborers who can be a blessing among them, providing water, food, shelter, clothing, aid, and counsel to the traumatized. We think especially of the children so heavily impacted by the warfare, who have lost loved ones, and pray that God would bring peace and justice to this region. We pray for peace and justice to reign.

Tuesday

We are thankful the coups in Gabon and Niger so far have not erupted in violence. We pray these situations will be resolved peacefully, and for continued space for believers to make disciples among the unreached. We pray for the Kingdom to expand into the lives of radicals, fundamentalists, and the spiritually famished.

Wednesday

While reading articles about Turkey and South Korea intentionally courting Chinese tourists, we pray for workers who position themselves to bless tourists and spread the Kingdom into people groups through ministries to tour groups, students, and other migrants. We pray for the Spirit to lead workers into more unconventional and yet effective access ministries.

Thursday

We pray for the Pashto in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Millions in Afghanistan face hunger. Millions more have fled into the surrounding countries and are trying to find better lives. Thousands and perhaps hundreds of thousands have come to follow Jesus. We pray more would seek the Lord, and would come in contact with faithful believers.

Friday

We pray for the church in China, which is coming under renewed persecution. We pray for the many believers and pastors who must try and discern the line to walk between the government’s regulations and being faithful to Jesus—where can they, like others under foreign rule (Daniel, and Jesus himself), obey the government, and where must they make a stand? (1 Peter 2:17)

Saturday

We pray for the safety and health of Great Commission laborers around the world, who are traveling and ministering in the context of a Covid resurgence. Many work in places with degraded and less capable health facilities. While this surge does not seem unduly contagious or deadly, it can still disrupt ministry activities, conferences, and travel.