Posted by davegroberts on February 10, 2012 2 comments
Friday Prayers
10 February 2012
G'day and welcome to Partakers! Today, we are continuing to pray for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani being held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, Iran! He has been held since October 2009. Today is the 851st day of his captivity. For those late to the story, Pastor Nadarkhani is under constant pressure from Iranian Authorities to convert to Islam! Keep praying! This will be reposted very Friday until Pastor Nadarkhani is released, so please return and pray for him, his family and the persecuted ancient church of Iran. Please download the audio and video files and share them as you desire. Thank you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers and petitions concerning our brother, Youcef. May our brother know your presence with him as he is held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, Iran. Encourage, bless and maintain him as he seeks to trust in you!
Prayers for his family and church
Be also with his wife, his children and the group of believers under his charge! We pray against the decision of the Iranian authorities and ask that from your wellspring of mercy that a reprieve would be given and his life spared! For we ask this in the name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, whom we have fellowship with Youcef in prison. Amen.
Prayers for Iranian Christians
Now prayers for our Christian family in Iran. O Father, continue to embolden them with wisdom and courage. Lord Jesus, may their love of you, shine through their actions towards each other and their enemies, just as you commanded in the Written Word, the Bible. Holy Spirit, who indwells them, endow them with peace and strength as only you can give!
Help them to trust fully in you and be wise in their dealings with the authorities. Father, we ask these things in the name of your son, Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
G'day! Welcome to Partakers Wednesday Worship on 9th of November, 2011!
Opening Prayer
We start with this brief prayer!
O Merciful Father, We thank you that you are a loving God! We thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ! We thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit! We thank you for life and that we can know you personally! Amen!
Time to confess our sins! Now we are free to give our God praise, knowing that we have confessed our sins, He has forgiven us and there is no impediment to our praise!
Time of praise with Psalm 134!
Psalm 134
(The Message)
Come, bless God, all you servants of God! You priests of God, posted to the nightwatch in God's shrine, Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place, and bless God. In turn, may God of Zion bless you- God who made heaven and earth!
G'day and welcome to Partakers Friday Prayers on the 7th of October, 2011.
1. Milly (USA) - Welcome
2. Jeanette (Australia) - Opening prayer
3. Eugene (UK) - Prayer for unemployed
4. Sharon (USA) - Prayers for imprisoned
5. James (UK) - Prayers for healing (Kathy, Chrissie, Denise, Hannah, Claire, Joy, Donna), comfort (family of Doug) and guidance (Charlene, Hannah and Donna)
6. Lorraine (UK) - Prayers for aftermath of Turkish Earthquake.
Testimony of what happened shortly before graduating college in 2007, which was a milestone to developing Partakers... What happened may be my own presupposition, a sensational figment of my imagination or even a false memory! But it is none of these things, but a testimony of an 'encounter' with the Living God... As most people know, I dont usually talk about myself and neither do I sensationalise... This event set us off on the path we are on and our God is at the centre of it...
If you find these resources helpful to you,
please do prayerfully consider making a donation.
Thank you
Click on the appropriate link to subscribe to this website
This session addresses the question of "How can traditional churches and those with older congregations use new media without excluding people?"
What is New Media?
Now you may well be asking what is this New Media or Social Media as it is also known. It is Websites, Blogs, Mobile Applications, Video, Audio and Social Networks such as Facebook and Twitter!
At the conference, we were given the opportunities to investigate how to do those 8 things, to a greater degree of skill! This session is about putting that knowledge into practise!
To use New Media is to Tickle!
Now instead of using our question each time I want to address, I have summed it up into one word - Tickle! Here is what Tickle stands for!
So by the time this short series is over, hopefully we will have learnt a bit more about the art of Tickling and how to get people using it!
Why Tickle?
However, before we know how to tickle, there are two questions to answer. Our first question is why. You may well be here and not know why you should be using new media and tickle! Why do we want to know how to use New Media and include everybody?
The church of the New Testament had the 3 r's! There were seen as radical! There were seen to take risks as led by the Holy Spirit! There were seen to be relevant to their communities! How far from this has your church gone?
It can shows church acting as a community!
Gives the excluded and elderly an opportunity to know they are loved, valued and included.
Gives those same people, the chance to use their talents and spiritual gifts!
Further along those lines it gives them an opportunity to further enhance and be trained in the use of their talents and knowledge!
So that's why!
Who are the excluded?
But now a second question remains before we get to how. That question is: Who are we excluding - either deliberately or accidentally?
Here are the kinds of people, in our churches, who I think are generally excluded from participating:
Elderly
Home confined & isolated
Disabled
Homeless
Unemployed
Poor - financially and technologically
Disinterested and self-excluded
Me!
So what about me? How have I used and encouraged others to use New Media?
I think that everybody has some measure of talent that can be used, including those who would ordinarily be dismissed from having any input into Christian worship and thinking, such as the elderly and those we earlier identified as being from the excluded group! Now here is very brief example of this!
That was the autistic daughter of a friend of mine, who has so far blessed hundreds of people! She is very precocious! That was a way to include somebody who sadly wouldn't normally be included in majority of church services, let alone New Media.
In this case her voice was recorded, and we made a very simple video to go with it! The photographs were those of an elderly friend in Canada. So we managed to combine the both! So can you!
Here are some other examples of people I have helped, who ordinarily wouldn't use New Media.
R - retired lecturer who has written in-depth studies of the book of Luke for use in Home Groups. We are working at putting them online by way of audio and YouTube.
Jim - retired - We were able to use his writings and put them online! He hadn't a clue how to do it before hand and now he is a regular contributor on my site.
Visit an example of his work by listening to the audio player above or by clicking here:
Pauline - has a degenerative illness. We had her do some podcasting and now she regularly gives bible talks in her church as a result!
Visit an example of her work by viewing the YouTube video above or by clicking here:
We have to use people's talents, knowledge and wisdom, whatever it maybe, and whoever they maybe, and put them online using New Media!
We need to use those 8 methods: Websites, Blogs, Mobile Applications, Facebook, Twitter, Video and Audio.
Make sure they are safe! Don't disclose too much personal information about them!
Also ensure they get some measure of feedback, because that will encourage them to do more!
Things that can be put on with New Media are photography, poetry, bible talks, testimonies, hobbies, interests and short stories. We could make an impact using New Media!
Where I attend Church in the New Forest, the ladies there have amazing recipes which I am hoping to garner and put online - with photographic evidence and taste tests! Another way we can include those who wouldn't necessarily want to be involved in New Media!
Pray!
Another idea of how to include people in this new media is to get them to pray for people you tickle and interact with online! Facebook and Twitter are rife with prayer requests from people! Take those prayer requests and sensitively get members of your church to pray! Get them interested! What a great way to include them! Do ask however the person needing prayer if you can ask others though, as some people may not want you to! You don't need to give names or even initials!
Get Beside Them!
Somebody could get beside them regularly and help them - building community! For example, they could record several podcasts or videos at one time and then distributed over a long period of time. Or it could be once a month or whatever!
Have regular monthly spots on your church blog so that on the 5th of each month, people know who will be on!
For example, on the 5th of November Marjory shares a short poem she has written! This particular poem was recorded by George who can't get out much but has a fine strong voice still.
Somebody has taken the time to be with these two people, has taken the poem written by Marjory, had it recorded by George on a smart phone and put it online! How about that for a bit of tickling?
New Media Activity Days!
Another idea is New Media Days at your church, or churches together! You could hold a regular event, say quarterly, at your church where people can come and contribute something using New Media. For want of a better name call it a New Media Activity Day or something like that. It would be a good way to get the younger members of the church to interact with the slightly less young members of the church! Using New Media to build and encourage the church.
Use People's skills!
The elderly, in particular, have a lot of knowledge and wisdom which can be distributed. The retired company chairman has invaluable advice she could give in regards to how the unemployed people in your church and community could do better to make them more employable. Writing interview and application tips for example!
No Technology - No Problem!
For those without access to technology, there is the use of facilities in most libraries. Where I live, the libraries run courses for those wanting to know more about being online! Whatever the person's interest is, it can be put online!
Or how about this! Passing on older technology for people to use! We all upgrade at some point, so why not give on the obsolete technology to those who maybe able to use it! And even help them to use it!
My passion, as you may have guessed, is to help people develop themselves and use New Media to do it. Many churches have many talented people able to do many things. Yet it seems, at least in my limited scope, that in most churches it's the few that does the most. After all, there are only a limited number of people who can prepare leading a service or deliver a bible talk. But these two things at least in part, for example, can be done within digital space using New Media. I do that for my site using Wednesday Worship and Friday prayers. Those are examples of what people can do as part of a New Media training programme within a church.
So:
Get people to pray for those you interact with using New Media!
Get those people to pray for YOU as you use and develop New Media.
Get beside people and get them using New Media!
Have regular New Media Activity Days!
We can do it!
You!
Now, you may well be here representing a large church! Go for it - you have the numbers! What is stopping you?
Or you may be here representing a small church. You can go tickling with New Media as well...
Whatever church you represent, here is a bit of a radical idea. How about getting churches to work together in some way as a New Media expression within your local community?
Use your blogs and other New Media to reach out into your local communities.
Be willing to participate in New Media activities of your community. Large numbers of local communities are represented on Facebook. Instead of starting a new page there, be willing contributors there!
Now... Here is where the rubber hits the road! Let's get practical!
Are there any examples from your own churches? We may as well help each other out! Let's brainstorm together of how we can include those ordinarily excluded!
Go!
Let's go tickle!! Let's be determined to include as many people as we can in our social media endeavours!
Use New Media: Blogs, Video and Audio, Mobile Apps, Facebook and Twitter.
Use your local community New Media resources to reach out into your local community.
Using wisdom, get people to pray for those you interact with using New Media!
Get those people to pray for YOU as you use and develop New Media.
Posted by davegroberts on October 16, 2011 0 comments
DigiSem - Whats it all about?
What is Digital Space all about?
Digital Space encompasses technologies and innovations within computation, data transfer, and data-enabled devices. The most direct examples being your computer, your laptop, the internet, virtual reality and mobile phones.
Technology is increasingly being integrated into our lives. Digital Space was once more of an accessory, like a hat that we might put on from time to time. Now, it's much more pervasive. It is as if we've created a digital atmosphere that we rely on to navigate our lives. And soon, as we continue to breathe in this digital atmosphere, the Digital Space will be closer to tissue, a part of our flesh and bone.
Church needs to be there!
As the church, the Body of Christ, we need to be at the centre of this growth and being involved in Digital Space for the glory of God! It means more than just having a website! As the church we need to be using this technology to further the Kingdom of God, if only to show we are relevant to the society and community we live in. If the people out there won't come to us - then we can go to them! If people outside the church view the church as irrelevant, then we could become increasingly redundant, irrelevant and at best a curiosity. Similar to how the Church would be, if as some wanted to, not use the printing press when it was first invented!
Please do vies the video below to see further what it is all about! (If the video below doesnt work for some reason, you can click here to view it on YouTtube)
If you would like more information about this seminar do contact us here at Partake! Ministires... You could be a church or a small group of interested Christians, we would love to help you!
My Jesus is unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong, and lovely.
That is my Jesus, whom I seek to serve and obey in every facet of life, every second of every day. I don't always achieve it, but I know that when I fail, I can ask for forgiveness and He will grant it from His wellspring of gracious mercy. Yet another WOW factor about Jesus Christ. It is this Jesus whom I depend upon and personally know to be totally reliable in every way. When people let me down, turn away from me, discourage me, think wrongly off me, incorrectly assume my motives. This Jesus always picks me up, never turns me away always encourages and embraces me.
All through each day, I know that Jesus has been dependable, going ahead of me!
Amazing! This Jesus who died on a Roman cross two thousand years ago was the same Jesus who was raised from the dead, without decay, into newness of life and ascended to the right hand of the Father.
This Jesus is coming back to gather His followers, to Himself. Jesus is coming back, but not as a baby this time. There will be no kitchy-kitchy koo factor. No! Jesus is coming back with a big WOW Factor as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
What does Jesus look like now? He is described by one of his beloved followers, John in Revelation 1v13-16
Among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
That's the ascended Jesus Christ as portrayed by his friend John! Are you suffering today with some illness or you are in the middle of a period of grief? We all suffer in some way. I had a stroke back in 2003 and recovered. I still get aches and pains. But one day! One day you and I will have perfect bodies. WOW! And not only that, but this God suffered and died on a cross, so has sympathy for our own suffering while we are in this world!
Jesus is coming back and will do the most extraordinary thing. We read about it in Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Isn't that just the most amazing verse? Picture it! Jesus Christ taking your face in His scarred hands and He will wipe away your tears - tears of suffering and tears of joy. You will say to yourself, it was all worth it - the trials, temptations, sufferings and experiences I have had for the sake of Jesus Christ my Master.
If you'll just look up, you'll find Jesus standing there.
And here comes Jesus! Walking on the water.
Here comes Jesus! He's calming the storm!
Here comes Jesus! Making life peaceful.
Here comes Jesus, bringing everything back to norm.
Now, like a roaring lion, roaming to and fro,
Satan is killing and stealing as he goes.
Everything God gave us through Jesus, His Son.
But, two-thousand years ago, the victory was won.
And here comes Jesus! Walking on the water.
Oh, here comes Jesus! Calming the storm!
Here comes Jesus! Making life peaceful.
Here comes Jesus, bringing everything back to norm.
Bible Talk 2
Your Jesus
Who is your Jesus?
Are you struggling to make a major decision and don't know what to do. Seek the wisdom of Jesus in making that decision. He will help if you ask.
It may well be that you are feeling desolate, abandoned and lonely. Or you are feeling tired, drained, burdened and in need of help.
Allow Jesus to give you the strength to endure! Give the burden to Jesus and let Him take the weight for you. Let Jesus wrap you in a warm embrace, encompassing you with loving compassion.
Silent Prayer
We now have a time where you can offer your own praises and prayers. Lets pray and praise!
Father God, in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children! For we ask them in the name of your son, Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Welcome to Partakers Friday Prayers on Friday 5th of August, 2011. Let us pray together!
Opening Prayer
Father, as we commence, let our hearts and minds be right before you. We thank for your Son Jesus. It's in His name we offer you these praises, prayers and petitions in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside those who are your children. Amen
Psalm 113
Lets now have a Psalm of praise! Its Psalm 113 and our reader today is Sharona! Over to you, Sharona!
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Christ has risen! The Spirit has come! Praise you, God! Amen!
And now a time to offer your own praises to God! If for some reason words are failing you, simple pray "Lord God, I lift up thanks and praise to you alone."
Alleluia
Father God, accept these praises as sweet smelling perfume! Amen!
Prayers for the World!
We lift to you once more, Father, the people affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa. How can we not look at the scenes coming to our eyes without compassion? Those people fleeing drought, famine and fleeing conflicts. Help those people Father, in ways which only You can achieve. Fire the imagination of people to solve these ongoing problems. Enlighten people to give generously, to share and to be looking to the interests of others. Father, help the aid being sent to reach its destination instead of being stopped by insurgents and war-mongers.
Father, be the strength for all those who are grieving and mourning the loss of loved ones. Father, we pray that those in despair will be helped and where there is darkness there will be light.
May justice and peace come to places where injustice, strife and conflict currently dominate! Where there is chaos, bring order. Where there is hatred, may love be sown. We pray that in areas of need following natural disasters, that aid will get through and infrastructure rebuilt.
Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children! Amen!
For churches and Christians worldwide
Our Father God, we lift before you all those who are preaching, leading, serving and participating in church services around the world this weekend, we ask that the Holy Spirit would guide their minds and that the worship will be in Spirit and in truth, that the Word as it is faithfully preached.
For those in countries where to meet other Christians is illegal or not condoned by the government, we ask that you continue to strengthen, guide, grow and uplift them. Let them know through Your Spirit, the Spirit that lives within all believers that we are praying for them.
Amen!
Prayers for others
We come now to praying for the needs of these individuals.
Kath, Elsie, Ian, Billy, Karen and Adam, Ruth, Kathy, Lynn, Zachary, Patti and Amanda. O Great God our provider, we ask for a healing touch and wisdom for the medical staff treating them.
O Lord God, give strength to the week, particularly Sarah.
Finally, Father, we lift before you, all those facing challenging situations: such as loneliness, confinement at home, geographical isolation, lack of employment, health issues, and financial pressures. O Father, please meet their needs in what ever challenging situation is being faced, particularly for C and her daughter! and we put ourselves in your hands to help meet those needs where we can.
We ask these things, our Father God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen!
Your own petitions
Now there will be a short time of prayer where you can give to God things that are on your own mind and heart.
If for some reason, words are failing you, then pray this short prayer based on Psalm 40 "O God, Help and deliver me from this pit for I am poor and needy!"
Father, we pray that your love will take over our lives! We also pray that we would follow you faithfully, live lives obediently and give praise to you alone in all circumstances we face together.
Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children. Amen
Benediction
And now, as we close: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope and faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Thank you for joining us on Partakers Friday Prayers.
Father, as we commence, let our hearts and minds be right before you. We thank for your Son Jesus. It's in His name we offer you these praises, prayers and petitions in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside those who are your children. Amen
Time of Praise
Now there will be a short time where you can offer praise and thanks to God for things that are on your own mind and heart.
If for some reason, words are failing you, then pray this simple praise prayer based on an ancient song
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Christ has risen!
Thanksgiving for John Stott
We now have a time of giving thanks to God for the life and witness of one of His great servants of our time, John Stott, who died on July 27th.
Father we thank you for the work you have done through John Stott. We thank you that he was a role model for church leaders everywhere. We thank you that he though now physically dead, is also more alive then ever before, as he is in your presence. Thank you for his legacy and his witness as a truly humble servant of you. Father, raise up new leaders of this calibre throughout your worldwide church, we pray! Amen!
Prayers for the World!
Now we pray for this world.
We especially lift to you the country of Norway in the aftermath of the horrendous attacks there last week. Father, be the strength for those who are grieving, particularly in the memorial services that are being conducted. Father, we pray that those in despair will be helped and where there is darkness there will be light.
May justice and peace come to places where injustice, strife and conflict currently dominate! Where there is chaos, bring order. Where there is hatred, may love be sown. We pray that in areas of need following natural disasters, that aid will get through and infrastructure rebuilt. Amen!
For churches and Christians worldwide
We now pray for church services around the world this weekend.
Our Father God, we lift before you all those who are preaching, leading, serving and participating in church services around the world this weekend, we ask that the Holy Spirit would guide their minds and that the worship will be in Spirit and in truth, that the Word as it is faithfully preached.
For those in countries where to meet other Christians is illegal or not condoned by the government, we ask that you continue to strengthen, guide, grow and uplift them. Let them know through Your Spirit, the Spirit that lives within all believers that we are praying for them.
Amen!
Prayers for others
We come now to praying for the needs of individuals.
We thank you that, Lynn, is healing well after her recent fall, and we pray that that continues. We also lift her grandson, Zachary, to you after he recently had a bike accident. Help his body to heal and please help the medical staff as he receives regular treatment.
We also lift to you Daniel who is aged, has the onset of dementia and will soon need 24 hours care. This means him losing his home and his independence. We also, Father, pray for his partner, Margaret and ease her distress and give them both comfort.
We bring before you now, Father, Ray. He is currently going through chemotherapy and we pray also that he may have comfort and ask that you will help the medical staff in this treatment.
We bring Jan before you, who is recovering from a relationship break-up. Ease her heart and mind, and may the Holy Spirit give her comfort and counsel. May she find rest in you.
We lift to you all those desiring partners and families, particularly BT. Help them in their loneliness and give counsel on how to handle the current situation.
Finally, Father, we lift before you, all those facing challenging situations: such as confinement at home, geographical isolation, lack of employment, health issues, and financial pressures. O Father, please meet their needs in what ever challenging situation is being faced, and we put ourselves in your hands to help meet those needs where we can.
We ask these things, our Father God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Your own petitions
Now there will be a short time of prayer where you can give to God things that are on your own mind and heart.
If for some reason, words are failing you, then pray this short prayer based on Psalm 40 "O God, Help and deliver me from this pit for I am poor and needy!"
Father, we pray that your love will take over our lives! We also pray that we would follow you faithfully, live lives obediently and give praise to you alone in all circumstances we face together.
Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children. Amen
Benediction
And now, as we close, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for joining us on Partakers Friday Prayers. If you would like to post a prayer request in the comments below, either named or anonymous, we will pray for you.
