Dear family of St John’s
We find ourselves at the moment in an almost national state of crisis in South Africa – the ongoing fiasco at Eskom with load shedding, the recent increase in the repro rate, the ever rising cost of living, corruption, greed, power, poverty, crime … and the list can go on leaving us completely overwhelmed.
I have to share how God, I believe wants to work through the family of St John’s in praying for our beloved country.
Paul encourages the people of Philippi and us in Philippians 4:6-7 saying, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”
This week I was chatting with one of our parishioners and she shared with me how in a previous Sunday service the Lay Minister on duty prayed a prayer that just spoke directly into her heart and spirit.
She was given a copy of the prayer and was led by the Holy Spirit to do something with it. Praise God, she was obedient, stepped out of her comfort and seized the opportunity. When she shared the prayer with me as I was still on leave that Sunday when it was read – I too felt an incredible move in my spirit, especially in the last line of the prayer…. “and use me to bring this vision to fruition”.
The two of us were filled with excitement and knew that God had great plans for St John’s to participate as a community to pray together for South Africa.
The following day at our weekly ministry meeting we spoke about what was on Juliet’s heart (not her real name) and collectively agreed to take the prayer on as our Parish Prayer.
It is our hope and desire that each and every parishioner will be called to action and pray this prayer regularly – pray it privately in your quiet times, pray it collectively at your Home Cell Group gatherings, pass it on to friends and families that more and more folk can be praying for South Africa. And pray it with thanksgiving as you present your requests to God and know the peace which transcends all understanding that will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I know you are all chomping at the bit to read it and I pray you too will be excited!
A Prayer for South Africa
Lord, grant us a vision for our Land;
A land of justice, where none shall prey on others;
A land of plenty, where poverty shall cease to fester;
A land of work, where all can be employed;
A land of openness, where all are accepted as equal;
A land of healing, where hatred and racial prejudice exist no more;
And use me to bring this vision to fruition;
For Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen
Author: Bishop Geoff Quinlan
Last Sunday, Claire preached on our calling – our call to faith, our call to disciple and our call to minister, to serve.
This call to action to pray for our country falls so magnificently into all those areas.
I lift up my hands in praise,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Much love
Michelle