"And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross." Col Ch 1 v 18-20

Praise God for His great gift to us in Jesus who gives us new life and reconciles all things to Himself.  Thank God for the wonder of His love for each one of us.

Please pray for the Chinese who are experiencing the worst torrential downpours and rainstorms in their country since 1847.  Pray for the victims of the flood and mud slides.  Thank God for the growth of the Christian church in that country and pray that the Christians would be free to minister to those who have lost homes and family members.  Pray that seeds may be sown through this disaster and that God's love and mercy would shine through into their hearts and souls.

 Bring before God those in parts of the world who are persecuted for their faith in ways which we cannot imagine; ask Him to give them strength and joy in their trials and pray too for their persecutors, that, as they see them refusing to submit to anything which opposes God, they might be challenged and question their own motives and lack of faith.  Pray for those in the immigration system, that they may be given speedy and fair hearing.

Pray for our area for those who are unemployed.  Pray that the area would see economic recovery with industry moving in and jobs created giving those without jobs hope and self respect.  Pray that the churches in the area would seek to reach out to help and minister to those people that seeds may be sown and a harvest reaped, lives changed in Jesus’ name.

Pray for the Children’s Holiday Club this week, for the helpers and the children and their families that they would find Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Pray for the Bowls Club at church, that the good news that Jesus died for them would become a reality in their lives and they would come to faith.