Your hospitality and service to the Lord on May 27th at the Doors Open Toronto and HnM events was a great encouragement to me, and I was joyfully reminded of the following passage in Romans 12. Thank you for demonstrating the love of Christ by working together, each according to his/her gifts, to show hospitality to our neighbours in the GTA. May God bless you and keep you always!
Romans 12:4-13 (NIV)
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Please be in prayer for the following:
- SCBC Summer Events – Orchestra Starlight Serenade, SCBC English Retreat, Summer Fun, Community BBQ. We give thanks to God for enabling us to host these events to build up our families, church, and to reach out to our neighbours. We pray these events will foster a greater sense of connectedness within our church and within our communities . We pray blessings on the planning committees as they work to finalize logistical details. We pray for favourable weather, good health for volunteers and participants, safe travels, and an awesome and memorable time together. We commit these events to our Lord for His glory and honor.
- SCBC Short Term Missions – We give thanks for SCBC members whom God has called to minister abroad. We will uphold in prayer our young adults, who will be away on short term missions with Power To Change, as they represent Christ in Europe and South East Asia for the coming year. We pray for preparedness spiritually, emotionally, physically. We pray for team cohesiveness and continued grace to bear with one another. We trust their financial needs will be met through the generosity of God’s people. We pray for wisdom and discernment in sowing the gospel seed in the hearts of those whom God will send their way. We pray for travelling mercies in their comings and goings. We pray their time away will lead them to a deeper and intimate relationship with the Lord.
- Partners in Missions – We remember our partners in missions at home and abroad. We give thanks for their faithfulness in serving the Lord. We pray for continued strength and wisdom to minister where they are called. We pray for their families, for wisdom to balance family life and ministry work. We pray the Lord would grant them rest when they become weary. We pray the Holy Spirit would sustain and keep steadfast those who may be facing persecution. We pray the Holy Spirit would minister to them so that they know God is with them and they are not alone.
- Prayers for the Muslim World – If you have not done so, would you consider picking up a “30 Days Of Prayer for the Muslim World” guide or visit www.pray30days.com This international annual project challenges Christian communities to pray for the Muslim World during Ramadan. I hope participation in this prayer project would enable us to see the Muslim community the way Christ would see them. I hope that as we pray through this daily guide, the Holy Spirit would change our hearts, minds, and attitudes toward this people group. I pray we would be instruments of God’s peace and hope through prayer.
- Canada – Happy 150th Canada! As our nation prepares to celebrate this 1st of July, let us pray that the Lord would keep Canada glorious and free. We commit our Government (Federal, Provincial, Municipal), Education, Health Care, Social Services, Judicial, Immigration, National Defence, Foreign Affairs, and other branches of governance to the Lord. We pray God will raise up in public service men and women of honour and integrity. We pray for men and women of courage to uphold justice, to serve and protect. We give thanks for the cultural mosaic tapestry of Canada, that immigrants from many nations have made Canada their home. We give thanks that we are proudly Canadian apart from our cultural roots. We pray Canada would maintain our global reputation as peace keepers. Finally, we pray for the churches of Canada. As His people pray, may God rain down His Spirit and revive our land! May He renew the minds and set ablaze the hearts of His people to impact the world with the saving grace of Christ. May the prayers of the saints be a wall of light that holds back the darkness. May God take this nation back!