Easter Day Holy Communion in Competa

A Prayer for the Sick

A Prayer for the Sick

Heavenly Father, Giver of life and health,

Comfort and restore those who are sick

That they may be strengthened in their weakness

And have confidence in your unfailing love

Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord

Amen

From a friend of a member of Competa Congregation

“Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...”

 

“Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...”Isaiah 9 : 6

Our Lord and Father, it seems at times that our world, the world you created so magnificently, is falling apart. We hear so frequently about global warming and we see around us the negative effects that this winter’s rain and snow has and is still bringing to Spain. We hear of the ice that has broken free in Antarctica and its possible effect on the seas and marine life: and the fact that the recent earthquake off Chile has actually moved the city of Conception and the earth’s axis.

But Father we praise and thank You that, whilst so much around us is changing and threatening to change, You, and You alone, are the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Help us to remember this as things in the wider world change and threaten to frighten us, and when things near to us and closer to our hearts also change, unsettle us and cause us hurt. You are almighty, You are everlasting and, in You, we can find peace.

As we approach the season of Easter may we be reminded and appreciate once again what it cost you to bring us this security and peace - the death of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father we pray for those who will be preparing to pass on the Easter message of forgiveness, salvation and peace with You - in Málaga, in Cómpeta and in the various areas and churches known to us.

As we see changes all around us, may we also be willing to pass on the Easter message to our neighbours, and to those we know and love who are in need of You. Please forgive us for the times when we have not done this or been as open about our beliefs in You that we might have been.

Father grant us, and those we love, Your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. Deut. 33: 27

Submitted to the Prayer Circle by a member of the congregation

Prayer for Holy Week from the Prayer Circle

Prayer for Christian Worship

Holy Week

O Lord Christ, Lamb of God, Lord of Lords,

call us, who are called to be saints

along the way of thy cross;

Draw us, who would draw nearer our King

to the foot of thy cross;

Cleanse us, who are not worthy to approach,

with the pardon of thy cross;

Instruct us, the ignorant and blind

with the school of thy cross;

Arm us for the battles of holiness

with the might of thy cross;

Bring us in the fellowship of thy sufferings

to the victory of thy cross;

And seal us in the kingdom of thy glory

among the servants of thy cross;

O crucified Lord

who with the Father and the Holy Spirit

is alive and reigns, one God

world without end.

Amen

The best way is to say the prayer and each time concentrate on a different phrase or section and explore and meditate on the meaning for us and for our world.   Hope it helps.

Palm Sunday Service - 28th March 2010

Leona Lewis sings Footprints in the Sand

Leona Lewis was the winner a couple of years ago of the popular TV reality show X-Factor. In this song Leona takes this weeks Competa Congregation Prayer Circle chosen prayer & sets it to music.

Why not sit back in the quiet of the day perhaps with the prayer in front of you & listen to this very special setting of those famous words.

Click on the > button in the bar below and enjoy.

Prayers for this week - 22nd March - from the Prayer Circle

FOOTPRINTS
One night I had a dream.

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God, 

and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, 

one belonged to me and the other to God.

When the last scene of my life flashed before us 

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at times along the path of life 

there was only one set of footprints in the sand.

I also noticed that it happened 

at the very lowest and saddest times of my life.

This really bothered me and I questioned God about it.

“God, you said that once I decided to follow you, 

you would walk with me all the way,

but I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life 

there is only one set of footprints.

I don’t understand why, in times when I needed you most, 

you would leave me”.

God replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, 

never leave you during your times of trials and suffering.

When you see only one set of footprints 

it was then that I carried you”.

 22nd March 2010

Dear Lord,

Thank you for carrying us when we are at our most needy 

and, for the blessing of friends to help carry us forward. 

Please use us to help you in carrying others forward when they need us. 

Give us the eyes to see their need and hearts to respond. 

Once again we seek your blessings on those whom we know 

to be ill, in need or trouble. 

Remind us daily, we pray, that we are your hands and feet here on earth. 

Bless our weak efforts to do your will.

We ask your blessing on the work of our Chaplaincy 
and the four congregations. 

We pray that you will make your will known to us 

and that we may faithfully use our opportunities 

to further your kingdom here. 

Amen

An audio version of the weekly prayers from the Competa Congregation Prayer Circle

We are pleased to be able to introduce an audio version of the weekly prayers from the Competa Congregation Prayer Circle.

Click on the '>' button below to hear this weeks prayers set to music -

Prayers for this week from the Prayer Circle

PRAYER FOR THE PRAYER CIRCLE

 

Lord, as we come to you in prayer,

we ask for your blessings on those

who may not be as fortunate as each of us are

For the lonely, the depressed,

For the sick, in body mind or spirit

For those who have lost their way in the world

For those seeking new directions in their life

For the homeless, the down at heart

For the bereaved, those whose life seems pointless

For each of these and for those many others

Who day by day seek guidance & help

Give them hope, direction & nourishment

In all that they do, think or say

In your name we ask this

The giver of all things wise & wonderful

Amen

Written by Adrian Wilkinson

Please will you pray for

The people who were on last weeks prayer list who still need our prayers, and thanks to all of you for remembering them.

Mothering Sunday at Competa

Getting fit and keeping trim

We are now all very familiar with the need to exercise daily (even if we don’t) and to eat that balanced diet which includes five vegetables a day. Over the past years our understanding of what makes a healthy person has increased greatly, and whilst there are still food fashions and fads ( I once worked with a man who insisted on eating three pounds of tomatoes a day!), it does seem that the advice we are being given will help to avoid strokes and heart attacks and the like.

But in the end, we are not immortal, so whilst we may prolong our life we will finally have to account for it. That is why Lent is such an important time. All of us need to think about our spiritual health just as much as about the health of our physical bodies. Lent provides a focus time to enable us to review who we are and what manner of life we are leading. It gives us the opportunity to say “no” to some of the things which do us harm and to find ways of living our lives more in tune with the eternal dimension. The discipline of Lent is not made up of sack cloth and ashes, but made up of a sensible and serious self examination with a view to leading a better life.

Whatever our religious beliefs (and everyone lives by some kind of faith - else we wouldn’t get up in the morning) we can all benefit from a period of reflection and reassessment.

One way of doing just that is to join us for worship in one of our churches, for that way there is the opportunity to turn away from self and look to God. You can, of course, do that anywhere and everywhere, but human nature being what it is, we actually don’t.

We look forward to seeing you.

Peter Wolfenden

Chaplain

Prayers for this week

Prayer for Christian Worship

Steadfastness

The Lord is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebr. 13:8)

Therefore let us also be steadfast in our belief, our trust and all our dealings.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.  His love endures for ever. (Ps. 136)

O Lord God, we pray to you today, knowing of your love for us – knowing that you hear us and are with us.   We pray that you may strengthen us in your faith – that we will trust you and put ourselves into your hands in all our dealings.  That we will do your will and obey your commands.

Today we pray for those of us who have lost their way – who are stumbling in the dark.

Lord, in your mercy, hear us.

We thank you Lord for your bounteous gifts.

We thank you for being there – without you we are nothing.   We thank you for giving up your life for us – to save us from our sins and to open the gates of heaven for us.   We especially pray for those of us who are in any kind of trouble, pain and sickness.

Lord, in your mercy, hear us.

We pray for our church in Malaga, Tapia, Cómpeta and Puente Don Manuel.   May the numbers increase with faithful believers and may our worship be pleasing in your eyes.

Amen