PRAYER CALENDAR -  Iglesia Anglicana Paraguaya – MAY 2005  Ps. 33:20  “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust his holy name.”

 1             Give thanks for answered prayer during the recent REMA and EJE weekends.  Pray for God’s strength & guidance for those who are beginning a new direction in their lives. Pray too for the wedding in Makxawaya today - for Juan Arce & his wife as they begin their married life. For a strong Christian testimony to other young people in that indigenous community.

2             Give thanks for the fellowship enjoyed with the group from Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham over the past weeks.  Pray for wisdom & guidance as within Christ’s Body, the worldwide church, we seek to encourage & build each other up in Christ’s love. (Ephesians 4:16)

3             As fuel prices increase, bringing a general increase in the family budget, pray that God will supply our many  financial needs as a diocese.  Give thanks for His generosity to us throughout the years & pray that we will trust him for the present & future. Pray for Diocesan Treasurer Mags Southern & Administrator Teodosio Rivas & the finance team.

4             Pray for the Consultations to take place next Monday (11^th) in Montevideo, Uruguay between SAMS GB/Ireland/USA & the Provincial Executive & Southern Cone bishops. For discernment & vision from the Lord over ongoing partnership & support.

5             Pray for Bishop Andres & the team working in Concepcion, & the church plants in San Juan, Yvapobo, Tacuati, Horqueta & in the Chaco.  For God’s peace & strength for Claire Holmes as she finalises arrangements in Ireland after her mothers death & for her safe return to Paraguay later this month.

6             Pray for the staff & pupils in St. Andrew’s & the Annexe School as May is the month for important exams.   For daily strength & vision for Head teacher Gwen Carlisle & her Senior Management Team & for new teacher, Samantha Lee, due to arrive on May 10^th.

7             Pray for those who took part in the two EJE weekends & for Patrick & Rosie in the follow up meetings. Give thanks for the impact that EJE makes in the lives of secondary students at St. Andrew’s School & pray for God’s touch on those with particular needs & difficulties at home.

8             Pray for the many congregations in the Chaco communities & for their pastors & assistant leaders. For faith & wisdom in the development of their land & for better education in the village schools so that children are not sent out from their communities. For the provision of a hospital.

9             Pray for the pastors & local churches in & around Asuncion as they invite friends to the Franklin Graham meetings on 12-14^th May. Pray  that the Holy Spirit will bring many people into a new relationship with the Lord & that local churches would welcome & disciple them.

10          Pray for strength & discernment for Denis Johnston, Andrew Foster & Phil Tadman as they visit Paraguay this week. Give thanks for societies like SAMS, for link churches & for individuals who pray & give towards the ministry here. Pray that the true gospel message may penetrate the cultural religious veneer & transform lives with the assurance of salvation through Christ.

11          Pray for wisdom over the best time to meet for weekly Bible study & prayer in Villa Guarani church. Give thanks for some new families attending & pray for several couples who have moved on to other countries. For God’s protection on pastor Tony & Chris & their family, giving thanks for encouraging progress & reconciliation amongst couples who are receiving counselling.

12          Pray for Tim Curtis & the 3 translators as they shortly travel to Lima, Peru for a two week United Bible Society workshop.  For safety in travel, adaptation & concentration in their studies. Pray for protection for their families in Rio Verde & over the office & all  the equipment.

13          Continue to pray for the Franklin Graham evangelistic meetings (12-14) Also give thanks for the ongoing ministry amongst fire victims in Zeballos Cue & the provision of a more suitable vehicle for pastor Alberto.  Pray for new Christians in  the congregation & the follow up for them.  So many live in very poor & precarious conditions. Pray for more work opportunities in the area.

14          Pray for the indigenous patients in hospital in Asuncion.  Give thanks for those recovering well after operations or from TB treatment & pray for God’s peace as they are so far from home. Give thanks for many successful cataract operations this year, giving sight to those who have been  blind for many years, & for the donations which make this possible. Pray for more resources for others in need & for Osvaldo as he accompanies all the indigenous patients.

15          On Pentecost Sunday pray that we may all be open to the Holy Spirit & in His power serve the Lord in the Chaco,  the cities & in the rural areas. Pray for the existing leadership of the church & for God to raise up younger leaders to work alongside us. For wise decisions over training & for men and women open to learn & serve others.

16          Pray for the two groups from St. Andrew’s School who will be doing practical work in the Chaco this week as part of their social studies. Pray for safety & for spiritual awakening as they meet indigenous Christians. For a greater awareness of the inequalities within Paraguayan society.

17          Pray for the Sunday evening youth service in San Andres church in the centre of Asuncion which draws in young people contacted through the EJE programme. For the building up of the team to minister there alongside Patrick & Rosie,  & pastor Agustin & Teresa. Pray for Raquel Greco, (one of that team), as she has time out doing biblical studies & church work in Northern Ireland this year. Give thanks for this opportunity for her.  

18          Pray for the 4 deacons & their assistant leaders in the indigenous area of La Patria.  For spiritual understanding & for wisdom over church buildings & resources to fund them. For wise use of land in the Chaco to provide an income for the communities &  for Chris Hawksbee as he seeks support to return as an agricultural advisor to the Enxet indians. Pray for strength, wisdom  & protection for Beryl  in her vital medical ministry in the Chaco.

19          Pray for Bishop John as he travels to the Chaco with Osvaldo Recalde this weekend. For quality time with leaders & church council members. Give thanks for a recent visit from pastor Teodoro & a team from Palo Blanco to the church in Makxawaya. Pray that these evangelistic & teaching visits may continue for the building up & encouragement of the scattered Chaco congregations.

20          Pray for pastors Cefe & Luis & for the growing congregation in Remansito. Give thanks for the ministry amongst children & pray for the construction of a covered area where the Sunday school could meet during the services. For the main congregation in Roque Alonso & their follow up to the Franklin Graham evangelistic visit.

21          Pray for the church in Rio Verde – for Doña Bety & Enxet pastors Elvio & Teodoro who share the leadership, together with Ed Brice & pastors from Asuncion.   Pray for Mari Brice as she encourages the ministry amongst children in the Chaco & for wisdom over the translation of materials into Enxet. For Ed as he gives in service teaching to the Chaco pastors &  leaders.

22          Give thanks & pray for all the volunteers who are preparing to come here as part of Project Paraguay this year. For Phil Grainger & David Orritt as they head up the work. For sufficient funds to enable work in Concepcion, the Chaco, San Lorenzo & Zeballos Cue.

23          Pray for pastor Jorge & Rebeca & for the building up of the congregation in Luque. For more help in the music ministry & for wisdom over outreach in the area. For wise follow up to visits made during the recent evangelistic campaign.

24          There is still no clarity over the congregation in Formosa. Pray that this uncertainty will not deter the members but through it they may depend on the Lord more firmly.  For God to raise up sufficient leaders & funds to enable frequent visits & for wise decisions over a resident pastor.

25          Give thanks for the 30 first year students studying in FEISA this year. Pray for the staff & for openness & vision for all the students. Pray for the final approval of the degree course planned to start in February 2006, & for a successful outcome to funding applications.

26          Pray for the Lord to guide over a couple to extend the ministry in San Lorenzo alongside the existing team, who are all in full time work. For God’s timing, as the building work begins in August. Give thanks for the enthusiasm of the children & young people & pray that God’s word will penetrate their minds & lives whilst they are young & bring blessing to their families.

27          The EMA weekend begins tonight. Pray for the 20 couples who will be participating. For pastor Tony & Chris, the co-ordinators & for all the couples in the accompanying team, who have themselves been blessed through EMA in the past. For God’s Holy Spirit to speak to couples who are going through special difficulties in their relationship & bring forgiveness & reconciliation.

28          Pray for the St. Andrew’s congregation & its leaders.  For Rev Martin Dowland, who is visiting Paraguay, as he preaches there tomorrow.  Pray for the continuing contacts with English speaking people, some of whom have participated in Alpha courses.

29          Rev Cesar Guzman from the Anglican Seminary in Santiago is visiting us tomorrow. Pray for his teaching time with pastors & leaders on Tuesday morning in CALEB, & for his visit to Concepcion to give the Bible Overview he gave in Asuncion last year.

30          Give thanks for the large number of children in Quyquyho who meet together to hear God’s word. Pray for Osvaldo & María Luisa & the family as they open their home for Christian meetings. Pray for wisdom over the development of the work. For pastors Cefe & Luis as they visit regularly.

31          Pray for all weekly  meetings with children in Zeballos Cue, San Lorenzo, San Andres/Annexe School, Remansito, Concepcion & many places around it & also in the Chaco. Pray for a rich spiritual harvest & God’s protection on the children. Give thanks & pray for the work of Red Viva.

EMA- Marriage Encounter/ REMA- EMA Renewal/EJE-Youth Encounter/FEISA-Teacher Training