Lst of Eight Days of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Current Areas of Conflict

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON THE LAST OF EIGHT DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER, THE INTENTION FOR PEACE IN CURRENT AREAS OF CONFLICT.

 

We are going into Church Service shortly and will be reading the full

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ from Annunciation to Ascension. 

 

Why not join us?

 

We humbly call on God to intercede in our world at this time

in a special way. Every day and night reports of death,

mutilations, assaults, suffering and pain are received by

Good Shepherd Church. We firmly believe that the

Higher Hand Who Created this beautiful world of ours

has the Ability to change the course of world events

as He so often has in the past. Through the life and actions of Moses;

through the voices, words and actions of His Beloved Prophets;

through those who have devotedly given their lives in service and

in the following of His Path; 

and through the Great Son of God Jesus Christ.

 

Dear Lord, we pray for all those who have been hurt, have suffered, 

lost their lives in conflict. Please look down at our suffering peoples

and deign to grant special graces and blessings at this time.

Without You, nothing can exist. We cry to You, for Your Help and Assistance.

All who are completing the eight days of fasting and prayer bring these

humble offerings before You. Please look at our loving offerings

and remember our brothers and sisters in all lands 

who are in deepest distress.

Amen.

 

Blessings on all who have followed the Fasting and Prayer for Peace

 in Current Areas of Conflict. 

Blessings on all who need a Benediction.

 

Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle

 

The Stations of the Cross; The First Station

WHEN LENT COMES EACH YEAR it is a helpful spiritual exercise to pray the Stations of the Cross.
The Stations of the Cross are a series of short meditations on the Sufferings of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - from His Trial to His Execution.

It is believed that prayer, offered to God for a special intention, has intercessory value. Many may come to the end of their lives beset with regrets about various actions they did, and the consequences these caused. From Early Christian times the Church has believed that ordinary people have the power to come before the God of Love, and successfully offer intercessory prayer for another.

Herewith please find the Stations of the Cross. There are many forms of this prayer, the one below is well suited to both private and communal worship.

Leader; 'In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'
All; 'Amen'.

Leader;
'In the Stations of the Cross, or Way of the Cross, we follow the Footsteps of Our Blessed Lord from His Trial to Calvary.
We think of His Sufferings to impress on our minds and hearts how much He has loved us to suffer so much for us.
When we see how much He loves us, our hearts are moved to love Him in return, to keep away from sin which hurts Him.
Let us now pray an act of contrition.'

All; Act of Contrition
'Oh my God, I am sorry with all my heart for having offended You. I regret my sins most sincerely. I promise to do all I can to to take decisions which avoid sin.'

All sing as Leader moves to First Station of the Cross.
'At the Cross Her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping
Close to Jesus to the last.'

First Station of the Cross; Jesus is Condemned to Death
All kneel
Leader; 'We adore You oh Christ and we praise You'
All; 'Because by Your Holy Cross You  have redeemed the world.'

All rise
Leader; 'Pilate knew that Christ was innocent but he was caught in a political dilemma. Jesus reminded him: 'You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you from above.' Pilate was so distressed he washed his hands of the charges they were bringing against Jesus.'

All kneel
'Lord, we often have a say in other people's lives. We implore you to give us the grace to act with compassion and tact when dealing with other people. May we be given the grace to forgive those who deal unjustly with us; they, too, have their story.'

Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power the Glory,
For ever and ever, Amen.'

'Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee,
Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen.'

'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.'

All rise.

All sing; "Through Her Heart, His Sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed."

Leader and Community move to the Second Station of the Cross.
Look at the depictions from Jesus' Life as an aid to meditation. Or follow the Stations of the Cross online.

If you have a health problem or are unable to kneel, simply sit, stand, sit in wheelchair or lie on your stretcher. The prayer can be easily followed by thought alone.


 'At the Cross Her station keeping' lyrics 
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=774

Photograph by Catherine Nicolette - with thanks to the glass artist

God has not abandoned us

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

 

Life has its hardships. As a Christian, you are in an earth that has been defiled by Satan. He has turned the earth into a spiritual battlefield. To not believe in God & His Son Jesus Christ is to unknowingly believe in Satan. Why is that? Because Satan's entire effort is to turn people away from faith in God - something he accomplishes through any method possible. Hell was created not for mankind but for Satan as a fallen angel. He knows he will one day be judged and locked up there and so it's his plan to to take by deception, as many people as he can with him. He does this by leading people away from truth and God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. His deception was from the beginning beginning with Adam and Eve. It continues today and that is why he is called the god of this world. 2 Cor 4:4 reveals this truth saying, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

 

We live in this earth but it is a defiled earth that has been touched by Satan and sin. That's why there is so much pain and suffering and death and destruction here. This should be one more motivating reason why we don't want to sin. Sin is what defiled this earth and sin is what supports and strengthens Satan's rebellion and cause against God. We want to be force against sin, not aiding it's destruction.

 

Heaven is not a fantasy. It is a Christian's future home and a place that will be undefiled by sin and Satan's touch. Concerning those that have lived before us by faith in God, Heb 11:13-16 says, "...they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.... But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." This will be your future homeland - the homeland of all those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

 

If we live in this defiled earth, does that mean we are doomed to a gloomy life surrounded by Satan's touch and destruction? Absolutely not! The enemy of your soul does work to infect your life. He tries to make you sick, steal your livelihood and finances, break up relationships with those you love, and disrupt your life in a hundred ways. Because of this, we need God's direction and wisdom for every step. God is more than willing to help us. His Word sets up boundaries that are not meant to deprive us of good things, but instead to help us avoid minefields where we might step on a mine.

 

In 1 Sam 30:3-3 we read about David and all his men coming back from a victorious series of battles with their enemies. As they were returning home after being gone for a long time, they saw smoke coming from the camp where their families lived. They soon found out that their enemies had burnt their camp to the ground, and took their belongings, wives and children! It says, "David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." David's men were so discouraged that they wanted to lash out and blame someone. They wanted to stone him as their leader. David's family was also taken and he was just as discouraged as they were, But instead of letting the discouragement overcome him so that he also was useless, we are told in verse 6, "David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."This wasn't David learning some principle to execute in His life. This was David’s character. He had learned to praise and worship and sing to the Lord in all the trials of life. He wrote songs speaking of God’s promises of deliverance. He knew what God had promised him and had seen God work in his life over and over. He refused to think this was one of those times God had abandoned Him!

 

The devil would like you to think that God has abandoned you. He hasn't and never will! It’s not about Him abandoning you. It's about you abandoning your faith and trust in Him. David looked Goliath in the face. Moses looked at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army coming at him. Daniel looked at the lions. Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, looked at a fiery furnace. Paul a raging sea. They all trusted God and saw His deliverance and help. God alone is worthy of your full and complete trust!

 

Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart”Let the Word of God speak PROMISE to you EVERY day. Read those promises. Proclaim them over your family and circumstances. Rebuke the devil and move forward. If you’re a husband, your wife and children want a dad that is a leader, not a quitter. If you remain upbeat because you trust God in the face of adversity, and your heart, your face, your countenance, your words, and your actions showed it, they'll be happy with you. They'll follow your lead no matter what the circumstance. Take authority over the thief in your life. Rebuke him in Jesus name! Put your hand to the plow and work hard asking Him for guidance every step of the way. Do your part and trust God to do His! Praise God together and believe He will turn things around. Honor Him with sincere heart felt faith!

 

Put YOUR name in His promises and write them out. Then say them, declare them, sing them, and get your family to pray them in faith together.

 

Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

The Lord is Tim Burt’s strength, my shield from every danger.

I trust in him with all my heart.

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

 

I can honestly say to all of you, I’ve been in many hard and seemingly impossible circumstances. But, by the grace of God, I've kept my wife upbeat because I've stayed upbeat. We always expected God to be around the corner with our answers. He always took care of us and restored us to that right place.

 

If you've been overcome by despair, remember who you are in Christ. Spend time with God and then take the joy and promise of His Word to your family. Stir all their faith and believe God together. God restored all of David and his men's wives, families, possessions and much more. He'll do the same for you if you'll act like David did and let God arise in your heart!

 

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt  

With kind permission of Pastor Tim

Fresh Manna;http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.ie/

Seventh of Eight Days of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Current Areas of Conflict

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON THE SEVENTH OF EIGHT DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER, THE INTENTION FOR PEACE IN CURRENT AREAS OF CONFLICT.

Why not join us? 

We call on Priests, Pastors, Heads of different Denominations 

and all of goodwill to join us.

Good Shepherd Church is fasting in the following way;

One meal a day, sufficient to keep health, 

and sufficient fluids during the day.

If the faster has an illness, is pregnant, very young or elderly, 

fasting then consists not in lowering food intake, 

but fasting from other items 

such as a favourite dessert, 

or fasting from an unkind word.

Another form of fasting is a kind action.

There are  many different forms of prayer. 

The one most comfortable for you is the right one. 

Please raise your heart and mind to the One Whose Hand made us all, 

that peace might return to the areas of conflict 

in which heartrending scenes of death, 

mutilation and suffering are occurring.

 

Mark 9;29 "He told them, 'This kind cannot be driven out 

by anything but prayer and fasting'. "

Today (the seventh day of fasting and prayer)

we will be offering Holy Hour Prayer and

also the Most Holy Rosary will be prayed

All involved in conflicts (babies, children, parents, civilians,

healthcare workers, military, imprisoned, 

tortured, maimed for life)

will be specially prayed for this evening. 

We also pray for those in authority, for the

wisdom and grace they need in

decisions to be made to 

bring about peace.

Please join us in our prayer tonight.

  

Blessings on you all.

Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle

Fifth of Eight Days of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Current Areas of Conflict

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON THE FIFTH OF EIGHT DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER, THE INTENTION FOR PEACE IN CURRENT AREAS OF CONFLICT.

Why not join us? 

We call on Priests, Pastors, Heads of different Denominations 

and all of goodwill to join us.

Good Shepherd Church is fasting in the following way;

One meal a day, sufficient to keep health, 

and sufficient fluids during the day.

If the faster has an illness, is pregnant, very young or elderly, 

fasting then consists not in lowering food intake, 

but fasting from other items 

such as a favourite dessert, 

or fasting from an unkind word.

Another form of fasting is a kind action.

There are  many different forms of prayer. 

The one most comfortable for you is the right one. 

Please raise your heart and mind to the One Whose Hand made us all, 

that peace might return to the areas of conflict 

in which heartrending scenes of death, 

mutilation and suffering are occurring.

 

Mark 9;29 "He told them, 'This kind cannot be driven out 

by anything but prayer and fasting'. "

Today (the fifth day of fasting and prayer)

we will be celebrating the Service of the Breaking of Bread

also the Most Holy Rosary will be prayed

All involved in conflicts (babies, children, parents, civilians,

healthcare workers, military, imprisoned, 

tortured, maimed for life)

will be specially prayed for this evening. 

We also pray for those in authority, for the

wisdom and grace they need in

decisions to be made to 

bring about peace.

Please join us in our prayer tonight.

  

Blessings on you all.

Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle

Gerard Majella, Powerful Man of God - Protector of Mother and Child

The Story of Gerard Majella; 

The little boy Gerard was born on 6th April, 1726 in Muro Lucano, Basilicata. His father, a tailor, died when Gerard was only twelve, leaving the family in poverty. His mother sent him to her brother so that he could teach Gerard to sew; Gerard would have been able to follow in his father's footsteps. Eventually Gerard decided to dedicate his life to the service of God. He became a man of deep prayer, and lived a holy life. Miracles have been attributed to this good man, and he became known as the Special Patron of Mothers. This is how it came about; A few months before Gerard's birth into eternal life in 1755, Gerard visited the Pirofalo family and accidentally dropped his handkerchief. One of the girls of the family picked it up, and ran after Gerard in order to return it. 'Keep it', he told her, 'You may need it some day'. 

Years later this lady was in childbirth, which was not going well; she was on the point of dying. She remembered Gerard's words, and asked for the handkerchief to be brought to her. Upon receiving it, her pain instantly disappeared and her child was born, healthy. This was one example of the many miracles that God worked through the intercession of Gerard's prayers in Heaven for mothers on earth. Because of these miracles, the mothers of Italy took Gerard to their hearts and made him their patron. He became known as the 'saint of happy childbirth'. 

PRAYER FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Almighty and Everlasting God, please hear my prayer. Through the intercession of St Gerard, I implore You to protect me (her) in motherhood and guard from the evil spirit the child You have given me (her). Grant also that, having lived in Your Love and Service on earth, both mother and child may be united in the everlasting happiness of Heaven. Amen.

PRAYER FOR MOTHER AND CHILD
St Gerard, great wonderworker of our day powerful protector of mother and child, beg God, we implore you, to crush all forces that war against family life and to enlighten those in error that they may turn to the path that obeys God's holy law. Pray, too for mothers that they may worthily esteem the wonderful privilege of motherhood; that they may bring up their children in the holy love and service of God, so saving their own souls and giving praise and glory to His Name. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray;
Almighty and Eternal God, in your all-wise Providence you have deigned to raise up St Gerard Majella to be the glorious protector of mother and child, grant, we earnestly implore you, through the powerful intercession of your holy servant, that the forces of evil may be destroyed and that the family may again flourish to the eternal praise and glory of Your Most Holy Name, through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, Amen.

Good Shepherd Church is on the Fourth of Eight Days of Fasting and Prayer

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON THE FOURTH OF EIGHT DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER, THE INTENTION FOR PEACE IN CURRENT AREAS OF CONFLICT.

Why not join us? 

We call on Priests, Pastors, Heads of different Denominations 

and all of goodwill to join us.

Good Shepherd Church is fasting in the following way;

One meal a day, sufficient to keep health, 

and sufficient fluids during the day.

If the faster has an illness, is pregnant, very young or elderly, 

fasting then consists not in lowering food intake, 

but fasting from other items 

such as a favourite dessert, 

or fasting from an unkind word.

Another form of fasting is a kind action.

There are  many different forms of prayer. 

The one most comfortable for you is the right one. 

Please raise your heart and mind to the One Whose Hand made us all, 

that peace might return to the areas of conflict 

in which heartrending scenes of death, 

mutilation and suffering are occurring.

 

Mark 9;29 "He told them, 'This kind cannot be driven out 

by anything but prayer and fasting'. "

Blessings on you all.

Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle

Eight Days of Fasting and Prayer - Good Shepherd Church

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH STARTED THE FIRST OF EIGHT DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER YESTERDAY, THE INTENTION FOR PEACE IN CURRENT AREAS OF CONFLICT.

Why not join us? 

We call on Priests, Pastors, Heads of different Denominations and all of goodwill to join us.

Good Shepherd Church is fasting in the following way;

One meal a day, sufficient to keep health, 

and sufficient fluids during the day.

If the faster has an illness, is pregnant, very young or elderly, fasting then consists not in lowering food intake, but fasting from other items such as a favourite dessert, 

or fasting from an unkind word.

Another form of fasting is a kind action.

There are  many different forms of prayer. 

The one most comfortable for you is the right one. 

Please raise your heart and mind to the One Whose Hand made us all, that peace might return to the areas of conflict in which heartrending scenes of death, 

mutilation and suffering are occurring.

Blessings on you all.

Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle