We don’t need to talk to too many church pastors to see that the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult. Of course, there have also been many blessings – and we know that God is always at work for his glory and the good of his people. So as our churches begin their third year under COVID, the ACR thought it would be helpful for us to begin the year by praying for one another.
The Sydney Anglican Diocese is a fellowship of churches partnering together in the gospel for the glory and Kingdom of our great God. There are many ways in which we can and should express this fellowship, and one great way is by praying for one another.
Over the next few weeks, the ACR will be sharing prayer points from various church pastors from within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Will you join me in praying for these churches? What better way to express our fellowship as churches than by mimicking Paul in his relationship with the Philippian church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer (Phil 1:3-5).
In Christ,
Mike Leite
ACR Editor
St Peter’s Anglican Church – Parish of Cooks River
Andrew Bruce
I honestly don’t really know where to start – what a mess!
I have missed the last two Sundays being in ISO as my children slowly pass the disease to each other and had to preach from video, and I suspect that is the same for many churches.
Please pray that God would bring good out of this ongoing time of challenge.
Please pray that we would have patience and perseverance as it seems it will still be some time until we get back to a regular pattern of parish life.
In particular, please pray for our less-regular members who have somewhat gone to ground in the last 18 months and that we will find ways to reconnect with them.
Pray for the mental health of our congregation members as it is easy to see the strain it has had upon them. Things that would normally be taken in good grace have become ‘issues’ as the stress, tiredness and social isolation of this period has its effect.
We live in an area that suffers badly from social isolation at normal times and it is difficult to see how as a congregation we will be able to reach out to a lost neighbourhood with the love of Christ. Please pray for patience and wisdom and again that God would bring good.
Please pray that we will all find some encouragement and energy in the weeks ahead – it seems we still have some distance to go on this journey.