DIOCESAN FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 6, 1 June 1937, Page 5

DIOCESAN FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER.

O, Almighty God, from Whom good prayer cometh, and Who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication, deliver us, when we draw nigh to Thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship Thee m spirit and m truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.That it may please Thee to bless and guide m all his ways thy servant Herbert, Our Bishop. We beseech Thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please Thee to pour the continual dew of Thy Blessing' on the Clergy of this Diocese. That it may please Thee to be with our Clergy who have retired and guide them to new ways of serving Thee. That it may please Thee to guide and strengthen the Deaconesses m this Diocese and to grant that the Order may grow m the Diocese. That it may please Thee to bless our lay-readers, that they may be guided by Thy Holy Spirit. That it may please Thee to inspire our. choirmasters and choirs that they may sing with the spirit and the understanding. That it may please Thee to sustain the Maori Mission workers m the Diocese to guide them m all their work, and m their times of difficulty and loneliness comfort them with Thy Holy Spirit. That it may please Thee to bless the Cathedral Chapter and the Standing Committee, that m all their plans they may seek and follow the guidance of Thy Holy Spirit. That it may please Thee to be present with the members of our Parish Vestries that each member may realise more and more that he is privileged to be one of Thy stewards. That it may please Thee to prosper the Work of the Diocesan Organiser. That it may please Thee to blees abundantly all Social Service Work m this Diocese; and to guide and uphold the matron and staff of S. Mary's Home, S. Hilda's Home, Abbotsford Home.

For Diocesan Organisations. That it may please Thee to guide our Mothers' Union Diocesan Executive, Diocesan Council and Branch Committees, that m all their meetings they may remember that the aim of the Mothers' Union is to make the Presence of Jesus Christ a living reality m every home. That it may please Thee to prosper the newly-formed Branch m the Parish of Te Puke. That it may please Thee to guide the leaders of the Fellowship of Marriage Groups m the Parish of Holy Trinity, Gisborne; and to grant that other Groups may be formed m the Diocese. That it may please Thee to give to all members of the Mothers' Union Prayer Circle the gift of faithfulness m their work of intercession; and the comfort of Thy Holy Spirit m their times of pain and weariness. That it may please Thee to grant Thy blessing to the Bible Class Unions (boys' and girls') that they, may be the means of teaching the members and helping them to be loyal followers of Christ and active members of His Church. That it may please Thee to give Thy special favour to our small and struggling classes that the members may be faithful and the leaders may be guided by Thy Holy Spirit. That it may please Thee to inspire all Lone Members of the Union, that they may feel the presence of Thy Holy Spirit guiding them ir* their studies. . ■ ' That it may please Thee to guide the Executives oi the Union, that all their plans may be m accordance with Thy will. That it may please Thee to further the work of our Sunday School Organiser with Thy Blessing. That it may please Thee to inspire our Sunday School Teachers, that being taught by the Holy Spirit they may be apt to teach and lead Thy little ones to Thee. That -it may please Thee to bless the children of our Sunday Schools, that Thy Holy Spirit may lead them m the knowledge and obedience of Thy Holy Word. That it may please Thee to help the organiser, teachers and scholars of the Mail-bag Sunday School.

That it may please Thee to bless the branches of the C.E.M.S. (especially the newly-formed branches m the Parishes of Holy Trinity, Gisborne, and S. Matthew's, Hastings); the branches of the G.F.S., and the matron and girls at the G.F..S. Lodge, Napier. That it may please Thee to inspire the members of British Missionary Guilds, that through their efforts a greater zeal for missionary work may grow throughout the Diocese. That it may please Thee to strengthen the branches of the Fraternity of the Resurrection at Gisborne and Napier. That it may please Thee to pour Thy grace upon the principal, staff and scholars of Te Aute College, Hukarere School, Waerenga-a-hika School, Hereworth School. For Our Hospitals. O Lord, let Thy perpetual providence guide and direct the conduct of all hospitals, that doctors and nurses together with the patients under their care, may be brought through contact with the mystery of suffering into union with Thee where alone it is solved. Amen. For The Departed. O Lord, by Whom all souls live; we thank Thee for those whom Thy love has called from the life of trial to the life of rest. We trust them to Thy care; we pray Thee that by Thy grace we may be brought to enjoy with them the endless life of glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. For The Leaders Of The Nation. O God, Almighty Father, King of kings and Lord of all our rulers, grantthat the hearts and minds of all who go out as leaders before us, the statesmen, the judges, the men of learning, and the men of wealth, may be so filled with the love of Thy laws, and of that which is righteous and life-giving, that they may serve as a wholesome salt to the earth, and be worthy stewards of Thy good and perfect gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Missions. We humbly beseech Thee, O merciful God and Father, to bless abundantly those Societies which are labouring for the extension of Thy Kingdom m foreign lands. Build up the native churches, enable all

converts to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they have been called,, and give light to those now beginning to seek after Thy truth, so that they may pass out of darkness and become children of the day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Thanksgiving.

Glory be to God m the highest, the Creator, and Lord of heaven and earth, the Preserver of all things, the Father of mercies, Who so loved mankind as to send His only begotten Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and misery, and to obtain for us everlasting life. Accept, O gracious God, our praises and our thanksgivings for Thine infinite mercies towards us, and teach us, O Lord, to love Thee more and serve Thee better; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.