Local

This week we continue to pray for those in our community who are seeking healing,

• people healing after surgery
• people healing as they undergo treatment for cancer
• people experiencing pain
• people sick, or unwell

We give thanks for new birth, for families learning to live with new members and learning what it means to take on new roles as mother, father, brother and sister. We give thanks for all who care for new life and new parents, for the doctors, surgeons, nurses, doulas and especially for the midwives.

Regional

We join with the Presbytery of the Canberra Region in prayer for the ministries of Uniting – Amala and Mirinjani

• Pray for the families at Amala and Mirinjani and the staff as they have said goodbye to many of our residents recently (we have had 12 deaths at Amala since the 29th of March at Amala and 6 at Mirinjani).
• Pray for the staff may they know God’s strength and hope at this time.
• We are grateful and thankful that all our residents have had their Covid-19 vaccinations with no adverse effects.
• We pray for the family of Roy Barnes a long-time member of our St Columbus Uniting church who passed away at Amala on the 19th of May. His service will be at St Columbus Uniting Church on the 30th of May at 12.30pm
• May we continue to know and trust God’s generosity toward us.

National

We join the Uniting Church in Australia as we pray for

• Truth-telling and healing in our Church and nation as we acknowledge the wrongs of the past and injustice faced today by our First Nations Peoples.
• A peaceful and just solution to the political tumult in Samoa. May it emerge from this crisis a stronger and united country.
• The Church of Scotland as its General Assembly meeting takes place online this week, for the guidance of God’s love, wisdom and hope.

Global

We join with the World Council of Churches as we pray for Angola & Mozambique

We are thankful for:

• the rich natural resources in these countries, which God intends for the good of all
• the positive developments experienced since years of civil war
• village committees that seek to protect livelihoods and food security of the poor
• how the Lutheran World Federation and partners have pursued land rights in Mozambique. 

We pray for:

• better sanitation, health services, and protection of the environment in these lands
• a healing of the lingering scars and memories from colonization and civil wars
• protection of the land rights of the people
• governments that are transparent and further the good of all the people, rather than being captive to foreign and business interests.

Continue praying with the World Council of Churches

Local

We continue to pray for healing for those in our community who are in hospital or who are recovering from surgery, we pray for healing, we pray for their health professionals, we hold their family and friends in our prayers. May they know your presence in this time.

We pray for all who are enduring cancer treatment, tests and diagnosis, we pray they are aware of the Spirits presence, Jesus’ hope and God’s strength at this time. We hold their specialists, doctors, nurses and other professionals in our prayers, may they be people of compassion, empathy and wisdom.

We hold the UCA Chaplain at the Canberra Hospital, Rev Andrew Mead in our prayers, may his presence and ministry be blessed. We give thanks for the times where he’s been present for members of our community over the last couple of years.

We give thanks for the ministry of the GUC Playgroup, may all involved share in the joy of community and find support, help, refuge and friendship. We give thanks for Cass Nokham and all the work she has put into the community over the last many years.

Regional

We join with the Presbytery of the Canberra Region in prayer for the community of St Margaret’s Hackett

• Pray for the Ross Walker Lodge community as they prepare for the birthday party for the 10th anniversary of the establishment of this home/ intentional community for people with disability at St Margaret’s.
• Give thanks for the Supply Ministry of Bruce Stevens as the congregation moves hopefully towards filling a new placement following the retirement of Chris Lockley in 2020.
• Give thanks for the vital cooperative work between St Margaret’s and the Holy Cross Anglican church in carbon action and social justice, joint worship and the World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly reunion choir to celebrate 30 years since the 1991 WCC Assembly in Canberra.
• Pray for the friendship group and other fellowship groups whose work is reducing the scourge of loneliness and lack of purpose that challenge many older people.
• Give thanks for the active community hub that the St Margaret’s/Holy Cross site has become through the activities of the Tuckerbox program (which provides low-cost food), Meg’s Toy Box and other community groups.

National

We join the Uniting Church in Australia as we pray for

• The gift of the Spirit to dwell amongst us, and in giving thanks for the diversity of languages and cultures that make up the Uniting Church.
• The fellowship and communion of all Christians. As followers of Jesus, may we work together in giving witness to God’s love, hope and grace.
• The people of Palestine and Israel and for a just peace to prevail.

Global

We join with the World Council of Churches as we pray for the Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles.

We are thankful for:

• the spectacular scenery, exotic plants, rare animals and abundant sea life that flourish in the region
• how people who are ethnically and religiously diverse have long lived together 
• the economic developments that have lifted some out of poverty
• the vital evangelism, social and public witness of churches, and how the churches relate to people of other faiths.

We pray for:

• the fragile environment and the unique plants, animals and lands, that they will be protected, especially as the sea rises 
• tourism and other economic developments, that they will not threaten, but enhance life for all the people in these countries
• churches, that they will  grow through evangelistic efforts and in their work with those of other faiths
• Christians to be bolder in their public witness for justice and reconciliation, especially in times of political turmoil.

Continue to pray with the world wide church by joining with the WCC prayer cycle.

Local

Join with the Gungahlin Uniting Church community as we pray…

For all who are homeless, for those seeking accomodation, for the people who work towards ensuring people have shelter and security, for families finding it hard to pay all the bills and for services like the GUC Food Pantry, the Ngunnawal Food Pantries and Communities at Work who try to make it easier to live.

Regional

Join in with the Canberra Region Presbytery in prayer for the Monaro Parish (Cooma and Bombala)
We pray:

• We give thanks for the work and witness of this Parish and its people.
• We pray that God would continue to hold the leadership of this parish and guide their work.
• We give thanks for the communities which this parish is called to serve.
• We pray that God would continue to inspire and lead God’s people in the Monaro region to engage in God’s mission.

National 

This week we join with the Uniting Church in Australia in prayer for

• Our political leaders and decision-makers to continue to seek the flourishing of all people and all creation.
• All those across the Uniting Church who are living out a commitment to seek and advocate for equality, be in solidarity with the marginalised, work for peace, and care for creation.
• Preparations for the 16th Assembly of the Uniting Church which will be held online from 17-18 July. 

Global

Join in with the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, this week we pray for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal

We are thankful for:

• the peoples of these nations – the diversity of their cultures, languages, and art, and their resilience
• the breath-taking beauty of these lands – the mountains in all their grandeur, overflowing rivers and green paddy fields
• all those who work for the churches and their institutions, especially in places where natural disasters strike

We pray for:

• efforts of governments and others to build up these nations’ economies
• those who have lost families and homes in earthquakes and other disasters as they struggle to rebuild their lives, homes and infrastructure
• those who contribute to religious harmony and advocate for the minority voice of Christians, especially amid religious and ethnic tensions 
• religious and government leaders that they will make it possible for all peoples to live in justice with peace and harmony. 
• these small nations which depend on other countries and are often threatened by interests of their bigger neighbours.

Continue to pray with the World Council of Churches here