June

28   Grahamston United

28   Granton United
GUC is a small, faithful, mainly elderly, community of believers – most of whom live local to the church. As a caring community, we are surrounded by Sheltered Housing complexes including, a Methodist Home for the Aged (MHA) and a Council run Care home. During Advent and Lent there are shared Bible studies with St David's SEC. It is hoped to further develop this relationship.  There continues to be interaction with the community through coffee mornings, etc

Prayer
Gracious God, we give thanks and pray for our ecumenical partnership.
We thank you for the community you have placed us in to serve our neighbour.
Help us to use our energies in ways that reflect your light and hope.
Teach us what it means to live resurrection.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

July

5   Greenock East

During lockdown, and in vacancy, Greenock East have embraced the use of technology and taken advantage of worshipping around the Synod and wider URC with the online services that have been offered.  We have met as Elders and even had a Congregational meeting through Zoom!
Sadly, during this time we have lost two members of our congregation and they will be greatly missed.
We are looking forward to working together with our new Minister, new cluster and serving our local community as we look at plans for beginning to worship in a physical space again.
 
Prayer:
Creator God,
We give You thanks that although not worshipping as a Church community in person we have been able to be connected with others from around our Synod and the wider URC during this time of lockdown.
 
Loving God,
We ask that You continue to hold the families, friends, and the congregation in love as we mourn the loss of those from our congregation at a time when we could not be together.
 
Gracious God,
Allow us to give freely as we welcome our new Minister into our newly formed Cluster.  Help us to use our skills and talents wisely and creatively in serving You, our Church, our community and the Cluster.
We ask these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

12  Greenock West
 
During our time in vacancy and not being able to worship in our building, Greenock West is very thankful and appreciative of John Collings, from Rutherglen URC, and Jennifer Boag, a local CoS lay preacher for the worship and support offered to our Church throughout this time, but we are looking forward to putting plans together for when we worship in person again.  We are also looking forward to working together with our new Minister and our Cluster Churches.
Sadly, during lockdown we have mourned the loss of two of our members, we have found it especially hard not being able to pay our respects in person, they will be greatly missed.
 
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the help and dedication that John and Jennifer have shown to our congregation during this time of lockdown.
We ask that You are with us as we begin the process of looking at how we come out of lockdown and begin worshipping and being community in our building together again, slowly and safely.
Be with us as we welcome our new Minister to our cluster and begin working alongside her and the congregations of Greenock East and Port Glasgow.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

19  Hamilton
In our Pentecost worship we thought about how the church is called to be a blessing to the world and as we begin to move through the phases of the easing of lockdown we are continuing to think about how we fulfil this role in a ‘new normal’. We recognise that one of the gifts we have to share is our building and so our Elders are working on risk assessments and necessary changes to cleaning and hygiene provisions to ensure our building is a safe place to welcome those who may come to spend time in individual prayer or reflection when that is possible, and in due course to public worship and community activities.
We invite you to pray with us and for us.

Enabling Spirit,
as you rested upon the first disciples with tongues of fire and the wind of change
rest upon us, that we embrace the opportunities of our age with the same courage and determination.
May we be a blessing to those in our community through the availability of our buildings, through our giving of money, time and talents, and in the words spoken and acts of kindness shown to friend and stranger.
While we continue to stay at home bless us with your presence, your love and your peace and encourage us to be people of hope and transformation in the ‘new normal’ as we walk the way, living the life of Jesus today’. Amen.

26  Helensburgh
http://www.helensburghurc.org.uk

Helensburgh United Reformed Church, based in the heart of the town, is friendly and welcoming. At present, along with all places of worship in the town our building is closed and we rely very much on the internet and phone calls to be in fellowship and undertake our pastoral care.

Please pray for the work we do ecumenically, which is on hold at present, especially for children and families through the regular Messy Church events which was held in our Church Hall

Each summer we have hosted visitors to Helensburgh. Pray that we might discern new, and appropriate, ways to be a welcoming witness in the heart of Helensburgh

Throughout the lockdown period e a good number of people in our congregation have continued to participate, albeit in a more limited range, of church life activities. Please pray that we continue to have the strength and enthusiasm to keep going, not least in the current restricted context.

We give thanks for  Lesley Thomson, student minister on placement with us, who nears the end of her time with us. We ask God’s blessing on her adventures of faith ahead.

We seek to be a supportive church, of each other and those we come into contact with. May God continue to bless us in this caring ministry even when we are unable to be physically close.