One of the most important things a Christian can do is pray.
It doesn't have to be something that is complicated and difficult and it is something we can do anywhere at any time.
We have a prayer request box in the Gathering Area in the church building and our prayer group usually meets at 8am on Saturday mornings there. Anyone is welcome to come along.
If you have any prayer requests or would like more information about our prayer groups, simply send an email to prayers@tranentparishchurch.co.uk.
More prayers suggestions are available from Lothian & Borders Presbytery - here
Tranent Parish Church
Prayer Bulletin – January 2025
1st The start of a new year brings many challenges and opportunities. Let us all pray
that God is with us and in 2025 may we always turn first to Him and thank Him for all
the blessings we receive this year. Pray to God that we make wise decisions which
honour Him and help His kingdom to grow. Ask for God’s Holy Spirit to ensure that at
all times we rely upon the power of Jesus and not on any earthly powers.
2nd Give thanks to God for the wonderful gift of Jesus which we celebrated at
Christmas and for all that means to you, your family, community, nation and the
world. Over Christmas many people attended carol, nativity and watchnight services,
some of whom for the first or only time that year. Pray for a fresh, strong anointing on
them whatever their reasons for attending. Pray that God’s powerful presence will
soften hard hearts and that many will be drawn to Jesus as their only hope in this
failing world. Pray for wisdom in following up these links.
3rd We ask for Katherine to have a relaxing time off and we thank Katherine for all her
hard work over the busy Advent season. Ask our mighty Lord to protect and strengthen
Katherine in all she does for Him.
4th The Winter Hub continues today and we pray that the wonderful volunteers who
give their time each week will be filled with divine strength as they serve our town in
this way.
5th Today we meet for our first Sunday morning service of 2025. Let us give
thanks to God for His power, might, compassion and love. Give thanks for Rev
Ann Allison who is leading the service today.
6th The new school term starts today so please pray for children, teenagers and
teachers as they return from their Christmas break. We ask for encouragement in all
that they do and pray that young people who are finding it difficult to return to school
may have the help and support that they need.
Thank God for bringing Debbie Middlemass back to our church as our Youth and
Family Worker. May Debbie be blessed in her work. Thank God for the privilege and
fun of being able to reach out to children and youngsters in our community. Pray that
there will be enough leaders willing to love and serve these young people and that the
youngsters will know and experience the love and wisdom of God so that their lives
are transformed. Also thank our loving Father that He teaches us and calls us no
matter what age we are.
7th Today the Open House resumes. May all the guests enjoy their time together and
we give thanks to God for the team whose efforts make this possible.
Various team meetings will be held this week and we pray for all team members to
look to God for inspiration and wise decisions.
8th Give thanks for those who meet to play table tennis and pool today.
We pray for the people of the Islands of Mayotte who are trying to rebuilt their shattered
lives and communities following the devastating Cyclone Chido which hit them in
December. It was their worst storm in 90 years.
9th Our concern about climate warming extends to the poorest countries in the world
where they have the smallest carbon footprint but even now suffer the most with rising
Tranent Parish Church
Prayer Bulletin – January 2025
sea levels, storms, drought and changes to traditional agriculture. We pray that the
richest nations will act with responsibility to provide support where possible and to help
climate migrants.
10th Pray for health, strength and protection for all involved in works of care and
compassion this year, such as those involved in night shelters, as Chaplains and
looking out for vulnerable young people on the streets of our country, in ministries such
as the Salvation Army and similar organisations providing much-needed love and care
to the lonely and disadvantaged in society. Pray that the love of Christ will shine
through their every smile and compassionate action.
11th Today is the first Church Prayer Meeting of the new year. Pray that many come
along to this key meeting and that the prayers offered to God will be pleasing to Him.
We pray that many in Tranent will find out about the Winter Hub and make use of it.
We give thanks for all in the team who volunteer to put on all the aspects of the Winter
Hub as we reach out into our community with love and compassion.
The Growing Young team meet today and we give thanks for their commitment and
pray that the group may be inspired by the Holy Spirit in their plans for 2025.
12th As we meet to worship God today may we know God’s immense love.
Please pray that Katherine’s sermon will make each of us think about how we
can let the light of Christ shine in our life and reach out to others who need the
light of Jesus in their lives.
13th We pray for 2025 to be a year when peace breaks out in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza.
May those in power end the conflicts and the horrific death and destruction we see in
many countries in the world.
Give thanks that David Smith MP has been appointed as the new UK Special Envoy
for Freedom of Religion or Belief and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide David as he
adjusts to the responsibility of his new role, that he will lead with boldness and integrity
as he represents the UK in international discussions on FoRB and that his work will
have a positive impact on our persecuted family around the world.
14th Give thanks for the outreach at Open House today and may those who attend
leave feeling they have a purpose and are loved.
Today our Guild meets for the first time this year when we have a representative from
RNLI coming. May all present benefit from this meeting.
Give thanks to God for the success of all the Christmas events in Edinburgh and
Glasgow by Origin. May all who attended have been touched by the hand of God and
may any non-believers have been spoken to and take steps to find out more about
Jesus in 2025.
15th Pray for much fun as the Pool and Table Tennis groups meet today.
Today at Westminster, Open Doors launches its 2025 World Watch List for persecuted
Christians. Pray that many MPs will attend and that the stories they hear today will
prompt them to take action to stand up for the suffering Church throughout the world.
We plead with our Saviour that 2025 will see an end to the persecution of Christians
throughout our world and for people of all beliefs to live in peace, tolerance and
understanding.
16th Dear God, You are 'the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our troubles' (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). May all those Christians
experiencing rejection, discrimination or isolation for their faith know the depths of this
comfort. We pray that family members would increasingly keep their hearts and minds
open when one of their own comes to know You. Amen.
17th We rejoice over the Scripture Union group that meets at the Ross High School.
Ask God to grant His favour on those leading the group and may many children attend.
Further we pray for God to give strength and wisdom to Derek Harley in his work for
SU in East Lothian and Midlothian.
18th The Winter Hub continues to serve the people of Tranent and we pray that local
agencies will point people towards the hub so they get the help they need.
May the faithful attendees of our weekly prayer meeting enjoy their time together as
they lift our thanks and requests to our Heavenly Father.
19th Today we meet to praise God. May we come to Church ready to worship
God for His goodness and love. Pray that we all listen carefully to the words in
the Bible readings, songs, prayers and Katherine’s sermon and that they help
us grow as Christians. Also pray for safety and protection for all the Church’s
property.
20th Give thanks for the service of the J Club leaders in our church and pray for their
work with the children on a Sunday morning in the year ahead. May more children
attend J Club this year and may all that is taught stay in the hearts and minds of the
youngsters for all of their lives.
21st We pray for much fun and laughter at Open House this morning and give thanks
for the dedicated team who make Open House work each week in our church hall.
Tonight the Kirk Session meets and we ask our Heavenly King to grant wisdom and
unity to our elders as they consider key matters for our church.
22nd Ask for a good attendance at the Pool and Table Tennis groups today.
Give thanks to God for the Word being broadcast by Premier Radio and ask Him to
continue to use this Christian radio station to speak to many people, especially those
with busy lives who find it hard to spend time with our Lord and those who are
housebound who cannot get out for times of fellowship.
23rd We continue to lift up to God all the services provided by CrossReach, the Church
of Scotland Social Care Council. We give thanks for the dedicated and hard-working
staff, praying they will know the power and presence of God as they serve Him through
their work for CrossReach.
24th Please pray for the local community around us, especially young people who
need to know the grace of Christ and the love God has for them. May they come to
realise this then respond to that grace and love. We all need to pray that we are bold
in living out the Gospel and are truly salt and light to those around us at home, in our
neighbourhood, at school, at work and with family and friends. May the Holy Spirit
give us the determination to live for Christ.
25th Our prayer meeting is held this morning and we give thanks for the privilege of
prayer. May we always use it and spend time in silence listening to our Lord speaking
to us.
Today the Winter Hub continues in our church hall. We give thanks for all the
volunteers who enabled the hub to provide food, friendship and heat to people as our
nation continues to experience high energy bills. May all guests have felt the love of
God through the kindness of our volunteers.
26th Let us rejoice that we can meet today to worship our great Father and His
Son. Pray for Katherine’s continued ministry - that we would continue to be led
to greater love for Jesus, greater praise for Father God and greater knowledge
and relationship with the Holy Spirit. Give thanks and pray for all those whose
efforts make our Sunday morning services possible. Also pray that any people
who are not regulars will feel welcome and will want to come back to our church.
27th Thank our loving father for all that He has did in the world of sport in 2024 through
Christians in Sport and for the thousands of sportspeople who heard His name through
faithful Christians in clubs and teams. Pray that Churches throughout the UK would
start thinking now about how to use sport to reach out with the Gospel in 2025. Pray
for God’s wisdom and guidance for all at CIS as they reach into the world of sport with
the Good News.
28th The Guild are hosting a Scottish themed afternoon for some of the older
members in the congregation. We pray it will be a time of fellowship and happiness.
Lift up to God those who struggle to provide for themselves and their families. Pray
that in 2025 those of us who are blessed with much would be generous in giving to
those in need. Pray for the East Lothian Foodbank, asking God to continue to provide
the much needed people, funding and donations to enable it to operate. Ask God to
intervene in many situations so foodbanks are no longer needed and until then ask
Him to provide for those who rely upon them.
29th We thank God for the teams who enable the Pool and Table Tennis groups to
meet each Wednesday.
Pray for our nation, that the trend away from belief in God and Jesus will be reversed,
that the power of God will break through once again and this time remain, transforming
Scotland to a people on fire for God! Pray to God for a revival in Scotland so that His
will is done in Scotland as it is in Heaven.
30th Please start praying for the TryPraying campaign for 2025 and the numerous
events throughout Scotland, asking that they are planned well to bring glory to God
and that people will be inspired to participate in such events and reach out to their
communities.
31st Pray for those who have over-spent or felt pressure to take out loans to cover
their spending at Christmas. Pray they would address their situation quickly, that the
services of Christians Against Poverty and other agencies would be available for all
those who need it. Let us ask God to help us use our finances wisely at this time of
economic uncertainty.
January 2025 Prayer
Dear Lord, As we enter January 2025, we seek Your comfort and strength. In our challenges, we remember Your promise in Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an everpresent help in trouble."
Help us to trust You as Philippians 4:6-7 teaches, finding peace in prayer and thanksgiving. May we have the courage of Esther, trusting in Your plans for us as ons declared in Jeremiah 29:11, In our struggles, we hold onto Psalm 34:18, knowing You are close to the brokenhearted. Guide us according to Proverbs 3:5-6, to trust in You and not lean on our own understanding.
Thank You for Your love and mercy every day. Help us to face each day with faith, knowing You are with us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.