Prayer Matters - November/December 2007

a publication of the Prayer Ministry of Riverchase United Methodist Church
Matters about prayer because prayer matters

Purpose: to claim and sustain Riverchase United Methodist Church as a "house of prayer for all people" (Isaiah 56:7) and to encourage one another in prayer

A Word from the Prayer Team:
The prayer team met in September to discuss prayer ministries of the church and the focus for the upcoming year. We feel God is giving us a theme of sorts to follow in the upcoming year, and that is the theme of Interconnectedness. Prayer is a way to connect with God, and by interceding for others, prayer becomes a way to connect with each other. It is impossible to be involved with every ministry and outreach of our church, but through prayer we can have that connection with all the parts of the body of Christ at Riverchase UMC.
You may ask yourself how can you meaningfully pray for ministries of the church which you know very little about? The goal of the upcoming Prayer Matters newsletters will be to focus on these various ministries and ways we can be praying together for them. If you have a ministry that you want to covered in prayer, please contact Sandy Shockley at Sandyshock@aol.com or 426-0132.
Remember also that the prayer team is open to anyone! If you feel led by God to find out more about the prayer ministries of the church or to join in these ministries, call Tim Aho or Sandy Shockley or come to our next meeting on Sunday, November 25th at 3:30pm in Room 11.

Prayer Focus: Missions of Riverchase UMC
Members of our church are being the hands and feet of Christ for over 25 different missions both locally and around the globe. Here are a few of the church’s missions and ways we can be praying for them. If you would like more information on these or other missions and how you can become involved, contact John Ray at 987-4030.
Sudislavl Orphanage in Russia: Skip Elliott presented this mission opportunity to the church in 2000. After prayer, discussion and an exploratory trip, many other members felt God calling us to help. A mission team is sent two times per year to the orphanage to host a summer camp and see to the needs of the children living at the orphanage. Also church members and classes have sponsored orphans. There are currently 12 children living at the orphanage although the number has been as high as 27. The next trip to Sudislavl will be in January 2008. Money is needed for this trip as the government has restricted what can be brought into the country at this time. We can pray for the children to know Christ and for Him to meet their needs as well as for the money needed for this trip and for those who will be traveling on this upcoming trip.
Lucy’s Kids is an orphanage in Kenya which houses 300 children. The church began its partnership with this mission about four years ago when Lucy came to speak at our church while in the state with SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology). God put it on church member Margaret Sherrill’s heart to become involved and enlist our church to help these children. Many church members and classes also sponsor these orphans and the orphans make crafts and send them to us to sell to help raise money. Ours is the only church which supports this mission. Prayers for their physical needs would include food, money for tuition (as public education is not free in Kenya), and money to sustain the orphanage. They are currently in need of sewage treatment.
Isaiahsixeight supports mission work in Jamaica. Our church began making annual trips to Jamaica in 1992 to do various types of mission work from construction to working with children. Over the years the focus of this mission has changed. Currently we have helped with some construction work at the Muirton Boys Home and held a VBS for the Seaside community. We are also financially supporting Lyssons Special school for learning disabled children. The mission team hopes to take Christmas presents to these children during their next mission trip in January. We can be praying for God to provide volunteers who are willing to give of their time and money. Isaiahsixeight is currently in the process of raising money to buy a mission house which will provide a safe location for mission teams to stay. See www.isaiahsixeight.org for more information.
Oak Mountain Mission is a local mission helping the indigent of Shelby County. For the past two and a half years our church has been involved in this mission. The children’s ministry of RUMC highlights a different need of Oak Mountain Mission in their monthly mission focus. Many of the recipients of the Angel Tree Christmas project are from Oak Mountain Mission, and OMM was also the mission focus for this year’s Vacation Bible School. We can pray that God will continue to bring in the donations of food, clothing, shelter, furniture money, and household needs for those supported by OMM. A current high priority need is for mattresses and box springs.


Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 3: 10
The Lord came and stood there, calling, as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said,
“Speak, for your servant is listening.”

As Christians we believe that the Bible is God’s Word, and what better way to communicate with Him than to speak His words back to Him. This is called praying scripture. As you focus on missions during your prayer time, you can use this verse to speak to God. In this passage God is calling Samuel. Likewise, we can inquire of the Lord, “Where are you calling me, God?” And we can pray using the words of Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”


God Answers
We ask many things of God through prayer, and He faithfully answers our prayers. If you have an answered prayer to share, please submit it to Sandyshock@aol.com. Sometimes seeing how God has answered the prayers of others gives us confidence and encouragement in our prayers.
Here are some of the prayers God has answered recently.

v A church member’s grandfather has been healed of prostate cancer.

v The September TNT sale (semiannual consignment sale of Riverchase Day School) was a huge success. There was a greater emphasis on prayer and people were called upon to pray specifically for the sale and committee members. God was faithful in answering those prayers as the operations ran smoothly, more money was raised than at previous sales and God’s presence was very evident throughout the sale!

v The prayers of many RUMC members as well as Christians from as far as Australia were heard and answered for the 41 men in prison who came seeking God during Kairos weekend held in October. Over half gave strong testimonies of their faith in finding unconditional love of Christ. Many also accepted Christ as their Savior in private counseling sessions with clergy.

v The parents of a church member have been in poor health but have been very opposed to any type of help. After much prayer by those in the church the parents are now willing to go to a rehab facility for three weeks.

v A church member asked for prayers from the Sunday 5:00 prayer group for her brother who was going to have to share news with their mother that she needed to remain indefinitely in a nursing home (something she has been adamantly against). The group prayed on Sunday, and on Monday morning the brother had the talk with the mother and she was much more accepting than they imagined she would be.

v A church member who had heart surgery had a difficult recovery period and there was some concern about a stroke or other complications. Thanks to prayer, there is no sign of a stroke and she is recovering well from her surgery.


PraiseWorthy
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

The Great Commission, as the above scripture is often called, commands us to go and make disciples. Jesus assures the disciples (including us) that He is always with us. Let’s praise Him for that and for the opportunities God gives us to serve Him and how He uses us to bring others to Him.

Pray-Up Events
There are lots of things happening at RUMC! We can pray for God’s presence, protection and provision for these upcoming events.
Nov. 3-17 – Cruise w/ Bishop Willimon/Italy and Greece
Nov. 4 – Youth Silent Auction
Nov. 8 – City/School Leaders breakfast & program
Nov. 11 – Veteran’s Day Recognition Sunday
Nov. 15-19 – National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta
Nov. 17 – Pet Blessings @ Veterans Park
Nov. 18 & 25 – Stewardship/Commitment Sundays
Nov. 18 – “Messiah” by community chorus @ RUMC
Nov. 25-Prayer Team meeting @ 3:30pm
Nov. 26 – Upward practices start
Dec. 1 – Breakfast w/Santa and Angel Workshop
Dec. 2 – Hanging of the Greens
Dec. 7 – Parent’s Night Out
Dec. 10 –RDS Kindergarten Nativity Pageant
Dec. 12 – Children’s Christmas Program
Dec. 14 – Adult Christmas dinner
Dec. 16 – UMM turkey sale
Dec. 16 – Family Service/Happy Birthday Jesus
Dec. 20-23 – MS ski trip/West Virginia
Dec. 22 – Hispanic Happy Birthday Jesus
Dec. 24 – Communion Services (3:00,5:00,7:00,11:00)
Sonday Live Communion Service (7:00)
Dec. 26-29 – HS ski trip/Colorado
Dec. 31 – Hispanic New Year’s Celebration @RUMC

A Prayer You Can Use Daily to Pray for Missions
By Jack Hinnen
Almighty God, all good things come from your hands.As we share the joy of Christ in your world, we pray you will be withthose who reach out to those who need your love.For those who minister locally, remind them that you know their good works.For those who minister across the world, remind them that we will love andsupport them.Grant us courage to love those who are despised in this world and tosteady the hearts of those who minister in and through our church.May our prayers become actions. May our actions become the love of Christ.In His Holy Name, Amen.