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A new Christian prayer thread for Summer...

948 replies

Tuo · 08/07/2014 01:38

Welcome to our new prayer thread for summer. This is a safe and supportive place of prayer, where regulars, occasional visitors and lurkers, committed Christians and those just dipping a toe into the water are all equally welcome. Come and leave a prayer, tell us what's going on in your life, bring your worries, hopes, fears and joys to God, and know that you will be prayed for.

We pray, in particular, for...

... ALittleFaith, for her dad to recover well after his recent operation;

... amberlight, for her work raising awareness of the ways in which we can work to make life easier for our autistic friends, and for her to know love and acceptance wherever she goes;

... Badvoc and her family, as they grieve for her dad and for her aunt, and also for her decision about her DS's schooling, and for his health;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; in particular, we pray for her mum's health, and for health for both her DC, and for her to feel welcomed, accepted and supported at her church;

... BlessedAssurance, for her life with her new baby, for her relationship with her MIL, and for her family who are far away;

... Bluetinkerbell, for her DH's training to go well;

... CharlotteCollins, for her new life as a single mum - may she be happy and fulfilled and supported in it;

... DidotheDodo, thanking God for the safe arrival of her granddaughter;

... DontstepontheMomeRaths, for her life as a single mum, for her finances, for bullying issues around her DD, and for the wonderful work she does through her church supporting people going through separation and divorce;

... DutchOma, as she grieves for Bob, that she may find peace of mind, love and support at this time; also praying for her relationship with her DD, in particular;

... Gingercurl, for her brother who has been out of contact - may be be safe and well, and may he be in touch with Ginger or her sister soon;

... Iwantdogger, for her pregnancy - may her little one hand on in there and grow and develop strong and healthy;

... jan2014 for her decision to split with her DH, and for health and energy for her; also praying for her brother and his family, for his difficulties with alcohol;

... JugglingFromHereToThere, for her sister and her family as they grieve the loss of Juggling's nephew;

... Kaykat, continuing to pray for her and her DS as she goes through the stressful and painful process of divorce;

... MadHairDay, for health for all in the MHD household, and for less stressful times for her DC

... PandaG, as she and her family grieve the loss of her mum;

... PositiveAttitude, as she gets used to living with her DH again after a long time apart and for her new work as a Deacon in her church; also praying for PA's parents' health, and for her DDs and DS in their various situations;

... Question of Faith, for her and for her DH - for his depression to lift and for them to rediscover their love for one another and their lives together;

... Roomforalittleone, for her DS who has pneumonia, and for a good outcome from her Reader panel;

... thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, after the loss of a close family friend, and for the work that she does with others who are bereaved;

... tunnocksteacake and her family as they cope with her DH's illness;

... weegiemum for strength to cope with her illness; and for

... ZingWhale as she approaches the end of her pregnancy.

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors, and those we haven't seen for a while, including: boxofdelights, bountyicecream, CheerfulYank, cloutiedumpling, EasyCompadre, FairPhyllis, fluffieduckie, FriendOfDorothy, GoodbyeRubyTuesday, harbinger, JakeBullet, ktef, LollipopViolet, MaryBS, NeverKnowinglyUnderstood, niminypiminy, notquiteagrownup, PloddingDaily, revivingshower, saintsalive, SchrodingersFerret, SEStheBrave, Soozi, SunshinemMum, thehorridestmumintheworld, trish5000, youretoastmildred, and zulubump, and for anyone I've forgotten to name-check (don't take it personally, please!). And we pray for those who read and pray but don't post, for those who need our prayers but are afraid or too uncertain to post them, and for all those known to us in our own lives who need God's love.

Calm us, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.
Still us, O Lord, keep us from harm.
Let all the tumult within us cease.
Enfold us, Lord, in Your peace. Amen.

OP posts:
PurplePidjin · 07/08/2014 18:24

Congratulations MrsPixie Thanks

BES just Sad praying for the family

Today I am simply thankful for living in a beautiful part of the country with the beach on my doorstep (tips on what to expect when preparing for a CofE wedding also gratefully received) :)

Dutchoma · 07/08/2014 18:34

Have you spoken to the vicar yet, Pidjin?

PurplePidjin · 07/08/2014 19:17

I've emailed as that's usually more reliable than ringing - I know from experience trying to get ds baptised! My Gran says he's on holiday atm and I know the hall is shut for the whole of August (no Sunday School) so I'll start trying in earnest later this month - he covers 3 parishes so is very busy, hence email in the first instance :) Or do you think I should be trying harder?

Dutchoma · 07/08/2014 20:03

How long have you got? Iirc it was six weeks from a week ago, so now 5 weeks left. Three more weeks in August, yes, I think you may need to try and speak to the church warden of the church you want to use or actually write to the vicar, rather than by e.mail

Dutchoma · 07/08/2014 20:05

Oh, I've just looked back , you said October half term. Nah, that will be alright to wait till September.

PurplePidjin · 07/08/2014 20:14

We're regulars, they know us, and I'm happy to accept any date and time that week that they're free. I'm assuming the Saturdays will be booked up, and obviously not on a Sunday, but that still leaves 5 days so fingers crossed there'll be a slot. We've been through so much shit in our 4.5 years together, we just want to get the damn thing done so we can actually be married! Do we need to do classes or something like for confirmation to check we're ready?

Dutchoma · 07/08/2014 21:06

Well, it depends on the vicar, I think. If he knows you, the two of you, and you have been living together for 4.5 years and have a child, he might well assume that you are 'ready'. I don't know enough about the CofE these days (if ever I did) to say whether there is an obligation on the part of the church to give teaching.

MaryBS · 07/08/2014 21:19

It really does depend on the vicar, Pidjin. Some churches run marriage preparation classes, some just like to meet with you to understand where you are coming from and why you want to be married. When DH and I got married, the vicar met up with us and was happy just to chat with us (but he made my cousin go to classes, which upset her!). Sometimes you get a clue on the parish website, if there is one, but there is no hard and fast rule. It'll help that you're regulars :)

PurplePidjin · 07/08/2014 21:32

Website just says to do what I've done - email the office! My dad and uncle were choir boys there as kids, I was baptised there as was ds, my gran is a regular, we're a bit more sporadic but that's because Sunday School is only twice a month and we go to most, my mum did an adult education class with Mrs Vicar for years, I'll be helping at the youth club once DP is home more, I ran a baby music class there for most of this year (stopped now as it wasn't profitable) and I was at school with their kids! So I'm hoping it's just a case of "We want to get married please" and "Cheques can be made out to xxx and this date/time is available" tbh. Just need somebody to read and reply to my email now Wink

Dutchoma · 07/08/2014 21:40

You'll be fine. We'll all pray for you and you will live happily ever after.

PurplePidjin · 07/08/2014 21:59

thank you Thanks we're a strong couple, just want to stand up in front of God and the people we love and make it official!

MaryBS · 08/08/2014 09:00

Thats great Pidjin, am sure it'll be fine! You may even get the Saturday date, as its not a Summer wedding!

Could do with prayers for my situation please. Have emailed my Vicar to say I am considering a break from my church because she keeps changing the one service I enjoy going to (the other 3 are very formal, but I attend anyway), and quite frankly I've had enough!

BlackeyedSusan · 08/08/2014 12:11

off on holiday for a week. mega stressed. should have left hours ago but the last bits are always a pain.

MrsPixieMoo · 09/08/2014 05:53

Just wanted to say all is well with us. We are enjoying our new baby daughter and our little toddler is adjusting well too. Thank you for your prayers.

PositiveAttitude · 09/08/2014 10:33

Lovely to hear that MrsPixie. Smile

Mary that's tough. Prayers that you will have peace and clear guidance to where God wants you. I know how it feels to feel unsettled at "your" church.

All good here. Prayers for everyone continuing.

howtoapproachthis · 09/08/2014 10:48

its jan here. i am so upset. the past few weeks dh and i have been getting on quite well - but something has come up that we disagree on, and he is extremely headstrong about it. his attitudes are coming through again, he does not let me speak during an argument. he is annoyed with me if i bring up the emotional abuse (so that we can deal with it) and wants to refer to it as a 'mistake he made in the past' im so exhausted i feel like just getting the divorce because it feels like his attitudes aren't changing and im so tired and weary. i had so much more peace when i was on my own, arguments take everything out of me. if arguments are what i am going back to, i just can't handle it. please pray for wisdom for me to know what to do. i just don't know when to call it a day. thank you

Questionoffaith · 09/08/2014 12:57

Jan what are your reasons for wanting to make it work? I am praying for you right now.

Questionoffaith · 09/08/2014 12:59

By the way I hope my question doesn't sound trite. Obviously there are a million reasons to want to save a marriage. Just wondered what your particular ones are now

CharlotteCollins · 09/08/2014 13:26

Jan :( How is it a "mistake he made in the past" if it is still affecting your relationship now? It is a set of deeply entrenched beliefs that he has. They are not the sort of thing he can just put aside. He doesn't see the problem clearly, so he can't begin to sort it out. Arguments are difficult in good relationships, but arguments in which your voice isn't heard are totally different. Praying for you. Hope you are looking after yourself as much as you can. You sound so worn down.

DontstepontheMomeRaths · 09/08/2014 13:29

Jan my love I think guilt and shame holds you back from taking that final step. I think you do hope he can change and do want to be sure you did everything you could to save your marriage. All these emotions are like a whirlwind in your head and you can't see clearly. But the fact you were happier on your own speaks volumes to me. Yes saving a marriage can be hard work to begin with but I don't want to see you hurt anymore. I just do not think he is capable of the change required. I think he expects you to capitulate every time. He can be very abusive to you. I feel like he reeled you back in again with promises and suddenly being reasonable and now he's got you again the true man is coming out all over again. Does that make sense?

How are you Church supporting you here? I'm worried everyone is busy convincing you to make it work, which is admirable, after all marriage is for life but you can't fix an abusive marriage Sad

Hope none of this offends. I do care about you Jan and worry x x x

Questionoffaith · 09/08/2014 13:34

Agree with the others especially re your phrase that you felt so much more at peace on your own.marriage can be hard work but it shouldn't be like a battlefield when the only time you are at peace is when you are away from the frontline having some r and r on your own.

amberlight · 09/08/2014 13:34

Still here and praying...

PurplePidjin · 09/08/2014 17:45

Obviously I don't know any of the back story jan but it takes two people to keep wedding vows and make a marriage work. From just the post you put up recently, it doesn't sound like he's putting the same amount of effort in as you are? I'm not exactly the world's greatest Christian but I think that if your relationship were to succeed, God would be helping your DH to work at his attitude as much as he's helping you stay strong Thanks

Muskey · 09/08/2014 17:47

For my husband who is having a really tough time at the moment

Dutchoma · 09/08/2014 18:23

Welcome Muskey. Praying that you and your husband will find a way through the difficulties