Dear Prayer Partners,
May you all have a very Happy and blessed Easter,
Our love and greetings in the Lord's name,
John and Judie.
Prayer Calendar - IGLESIA ANGLICANA PARAGUAYA - April 2004
- Pray for the nation of Paraguay & its President, Nicanor Duarte as he
slowly makes inroads into the vast scale of corruption which is
"normal" here. For his safety & strength with a heavy work
load. Pray too for the St. Andrew's School Easter service tomorrow morning.
- The San Andres EJE weekend begins tonight. Pray for Patrick & his team
& for each young person taking part. For Esteban & Adri in the up
front co-ordination role, and for Rosie in a supporting role for Adri (when
she can), after the birth of baby Jonathan Patrick on Sunday 21st.
- Continue to focus prayer on the young people at EJE & for their
parents, that many may come to know Christ as Saviour & that family
relationships may be strengthened & healed. Pray too for those to be
baptized tomorrow in Zeballos Cue & for a young indigenous couple in Dos
Palmas, Chaco on their wedding day. For bishop Andres as he takes that
service.
- Pray for Rev Cesar Guzman from Chile who arrives to morrow to lead
different diocesan meetings during Easter week & inform us about the
Anglican theological seminary now functioning in Santiago. The Easter week
retreat has been cancelled this year due to the economic situation in which
most of our church members are placed. The meetings will now take place in
local churches.
- Pray today for the CALEB leaders meeting & the Paso a Paso course when
Cesar Guzman will be speaking on the Cross of Christ. Give thanks for the
large number who are attending the Paso a Paso course & pray for them as
they deepen their knowledge of the Scriptures & how to share with
others.
- Pray for nurse Beryl Baker in her Chaco clinic & for the training
sessions envisaged for 5 ladies as health auxiliaries. For strength in a
very busy daily routine & God's protection at home & when
travelling. Give thanks that little Cintia from Lolaico, Chaco, who was
admitted to hospital with a huge kidney tumour, has responded well to
treatment & is due to be operated on this week.
- There is a day's Easter retreat tomorrow in M. Roque Alonso, with Cesar
Guzman leading & later finishing with a Baptism service. Pray for us as
we meditate on the death of our Lord.
- Give thanks for God's grace & a positive outcome for Linn Tedman after
surgery in the UK & pray for her as she makes a steady recovery &
plans to return to her school work in Asuncion later in the year. Pray too
for Hannah Collin's father Joe in Ireland as he battles with cancer, giving
thanks for his recent commitment to the Lord.
- Pray for pastor Agustin who is still struggling with health problems even
after extensive tests. For God's peace for him & Teresa & family.
Pray for the Good Friday services today in San Andres.. Pray too for all the
staff at St. Andrew's & the Annexe Schools, that amid the stress of
teaching & maintaining the schools, they may daily receive the strength
from God that they need. For Gwen Carlise as School Head & her Senior
Management team. For a time of rest during the Easter break.
- Pray for Tim Curtis & his team of translators in the Chaco. Tim is
checking through the initial drafts of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Ruth,
Joshua & Judges whilst Asuncion, Martin & Juan make a start on
Deuteronomy, Numbers & 2 Samuel. There will be many more checks before
the final drafts are available & the printing process can begin.
- EASTER DAY - Pray for all the services today in Asuncion, Concepcion, the
Chaco & rural areas, that we will deepen our relationship with our Risen
Christ. Pray for each national pastor & lay leader as they seek to serve
the Lord in the Anglican church in Paraguay. Pray too for bishops John &
Andres & for God's guidance over future episcopal leadership in the
diocese.
- Many are using the film "The Passion" as an evangelistic
opportunity. Pray for bishop John & the group from a government Ministry
who will see the film this evening & for the young people contacted
through EJE who are inviting friends.
- Give thanks for those who have shown interest in taking part in an Alpha
course through St. Andrew's Church. Pray for Stephen & Eileen Trew,
Penny & Murray Metcalfe, Sarah Groman & others in the team as they
direct the course & lead the regular services & weekday groups.
- Pray for the team in Concepcion & the development of the ministry in
the city centre. For Alison as she encourages the young people & for
those who will be heading up the extensive children's work during Claire's
time in Ireland. Pray for good rest for Claire & also time to receive
& prepare.
- Pray for the indigenous pastors in the Chaco, especially those in La
Patria - Robert, Agripino, Niņo & Mario - who are more isolated from
their colleagues. For new ways to improve their in service training &
for a more regular time of study together as leaders within the community.
Also give thanks for the number of students enrolled in FEISA this year
& pray for good integration.
- Pray for bishop John & Judie as they travel to El Estribo, Chaco for
the dedication of the new church building in Dos Palmas, & for the
Confirmation service which follows. Pray for pastors Remigio & Lucio,
the pastoral assistants & the Sunday School teachers.
- Pray for the preparations today for the local church EJE in Roque Alonso
to take place this coming weekend. For Patrick, Rosie & the leadership
group, that each young person will be committed & faithful during the
weekend. Give thanks for this opportunity to teach about responsibility
& service within a church ministry. For God's hand on Esteban, Raquel
& Abel.
- Pray for the time of retreat today in Colonia San Juan for bishops Andres
& John together with Estela & Judie, sharing & praying about
God's direction in the diocese. For pastor Guillermo & Rossi & their
family as they grow into leadership in Concepcion.
- Pray & give thanks today for Elizabeth Richards on her birthday, &
for all the valuable input she gave in the Lord's name to the diocese,
during her 36 years in Paraguay. Pray that the Bible reading notes she
produced may continue to be used on a regular basis amongst the church
members. Give thanks for the emphasis in ICP (Church with a purpose) on
daily Bible reading & prayer.
- Pray for a real commitment together as a diocese to reflection & study
on ICP. For the challenge this brings to personal commitment &
discipleship, as well as the sharing of our faith with others, learning to
work together in teams as our gifts & experience are complemented. With
a long heritage of dictatorship & rivalry this is a difficult concept to
understand & put into practice in Paraguay.
- Pray for preparations for the next EMA weekend & for particular
couples who are struggling in their marriages. For God's love &
forgiveness to penetrate & help them towards reconciliation & peace.
For the leadership team of EMA & clarification over follow up from the
weekend.
- Pray for pastor Cefe & Ana & the congregation in M. Roque Alonso.
For the ministry in the main church & also in Remansito, Mirador &
Quyquyho. Give thanks for donations to enable pastor Luis Echeverria to work
full time in the diocese. Pray that this may be consolidated.
- There is no news of the whereabouts of little Saul Romero & sadly each
year children do disappear in Paraguay. Pray for his parents & also his
sisters Clara & Carolina, who through a kind donation are now studying a
secretarial course in order to try & lift the family from their poverty.
Give thanks that his eldest sister Sara safely gave birth two weeks ago
& that she & her companion are studying a Bible course with pastor
Alberto in Zeballos Cue. Pray that this new little life - Josias -will bring
comfort to the whole family.
- Pray for the young people taking part now in the EJE weekend in Roque
Alonso (EJERA) & for the large team of young people leading it. For a
real move of the Holy Spirit in their lives & for God's protection &
strength for each one.
- Give thanks for the growing congregation in Luque. Pray for pastor Jorge
& Rebeca & their family & the building up of a leadership team
there. For more help with music & with young people.
- Pray for God's special peace in St. Andrew's School, that students may
study well & parents may be challenged in their faith as they have
contact with staff. Pray for families where there are disputes between
couples affecting the stability of their children. Pray too for pupils at
the Annexe School from families in the Chacarita, where they suffer from
poverty & overcrowded conditions with inevitable results of violence
& abuse. For the building up of a team to minister to the families.
- Give thanks for new people attending Villa Guarani church & for more
musicians. Pray for the building up of a leadership team alongside pastor
Tony & Chris & for more help in the children's work. For God's
protection & guidance for Tony & Chris as they minister to those who
want to be released from the effects of Freemasonry in their families.
- Today there is a united CALEB leaders meeting between Chaco, Concepcion
& Asuncion. Pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us as the Body of
Christ & teach us how to support one another in a very diverse diocese.
- Pray for Ed Brice giving in-service training to indigenous leaders &
for Mari in her work with Red Viva & in the building up of resources
& training for Sunday School leaders in the Chaco. For God's guidance
for their family, giving thanks for their musical gifts & input in the
San Andres church.
- Pray for God to raise up leadership help for San Lorenzo & the
ministry there amongst children & adolescents. For encouragement for the
Paraguayan team faithfully working amongst them & for wisdom over the
development of the site.
*ICP - Study on God's purposes for the Church ( book by Rick Warren) * EJE -
Youth in the Spirit weekends * EMA - Marriage Encounter weekends *CALEB/Paso a
Paso - leadership training *
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