Personal

• Time of reflection
• What are our hopes and dreams for ourselves in 2023?
• What do we want to do better to deepen our spiritual lives and relationship with God and each other in the church?

Our church

• What are our hopes and dreams for our church in 2023?
• LCM outreach training on Saturday
• Outreach in the community
• 'Acts' sermon series - engage, take on and learn from early church
• New people feel welcomed, settle, make connections
• More people eager to serve and get involved in church life
• Conversion growth

Croydon

• What are our hopes and dreams for Croydon in 2023?
• Local area near church
• Town centre
• Schools
• Young people & elderly people
• Churches

Our Nation

• What are our hopes and dreams for our Nation in 2023?
• Cost of living
• Strikes
• Spirit of optimism not fear or depression
• Churches in post-pandemic Britain

Our church

• What are our hopes and dreams for our World in 2023?
• Climate crisis
• Global financial situations
• Ukraine & Russia
• Afghanistan. Iran
• Other issues

Romans 8:14-16

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children

• Thankful we have been adopted into sonship, with all the privileges (and challenges)
• Thankful we have access to the Holy Spirit (our guarantee)
• Pray for help to be led by the Holy Spirit, not flesh/sinful nature

John 15:9-10

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Psalms 91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

• Thankful for His perfect love, where there is no condemnation or fear
• Thankful for His protection and provision for us and our families
• Pray that we will be intentional about abiding in His presence, making time to build relationship
• Building up our Faith

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

• Thank Him we are fearfully and wonderfully made- everyone of us unique
• Pray that God will identify the gifts and talents we have been given to serve Him
• Pray that He will reveal His plan for our lives

James 4:7

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:2

Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

• Humbly acknowledge that we are 'works in progress', needing to submit to God
• Ask God to help us to be counter cultural when its needed
• Ask God to help us in our areas of weakness, vulnerability
• Ask God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
• Recognise we are overcomers in Christ Jesus!

NATION

• Pray for true wisdom for our politicians and leaders in dealing with the NHS, ambulance, railway, postal and many other strikes. While paying good money and offering good conditions is only right, achieving those ends often seems to be so very difficult - particularly in these days of increased costs to all.
• Many groups of people demand that laws be changed so that they can have their 'rights'. Let us ask God that this nation's laws will not be changed to suit those who shout the loudest.
• Several London boroughs - including our own - are in real financial difficulty, needing support from central government. Pray that men and women of integrity will be appointed to oversee a return to wise expenditure and stability.

CHURCH

• While our chief remembrance and thanksgiving is for the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord, we thank God at this time for sending him into the world to be our saviour.
• Let us ask that the church of God worldwide should have discernment so that it does not embrace anything that flies in the face of what God's word forbids - and that the gospel message should not be watered down in any way so that it might be more easily received.
• Thank God for bringing Denzil and Jemima to us. Pray for them as husband and wife, and for Denzil to be open to God's leading and to what He wants to be done.
• Thank God for Robert's and Bob's time on the diaconate, and remember those who will be serving into the coming year.

WORLD

• In various countries, Christmas is a time when Christians are particularly prone to being attacked. Northern Nigeria is one such place, but let us ask God for safety for our brothers and sisters in whatever country they are.
• Remember the people of Ukraine, as some of them live through very difficult days on account of damage to their country's infrastructure.
• Pray that in whatever language the Christmas message is proclaimed, there will be many in these days who receive it gladly.

INSIDE THE BUILDING

Thank God

for what he has done by placing us in his son - that nothing can be added to what Jesus has accomplished for us as we are changed into his likeness - and that our names are written in heaven

Pray that

• Denzil and all who speak to us will be channels of what God wants to say
• We will have knowledge of the truth in Jesus and live in the experience of being set free by him (John 8:32)
• There will be no compromise of the truth, for that hinders freedom
• Love and forgiveness will be willing decisions, not just feelings
• No one will have confidence in self, but every confidence in Jesus (Phil 3:3)
• Members and attenders will not be shaken by the events going on in this country and throughout the world
• Reckoning ourselves dead to sin but alive to God will be a reality (Rom 6:11)
• God's word will not be in competition with human tradition or wisdom
• The abundance that God supplies to his church will be shared so that all have enough (2 Cor 9:8)
• As the numbers in Kidzone increase, there will be an increasing number of members willing to teach and care for them

OUTSIDE THE BUILDING

Pray for

• The unity of the many church fellowships in Croydon and our working alongside them
• Possible work with others in reaching out to our local community
• The ability to see non-believers in their need so that all our conversation and interaction may be done in love
• Those who hear the gospel message, that they will receive it gladly and respond to it

WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING:

1. For Denzil and Jemima.
2. For the wonderful church premises we have.
3. For our deacons.
4. Our worship teams.
5. Our church secretary.
6. All volunteers working for the church and refugee day centre.

WCBC:

1. The ministry.
2. The diaconate.
3. Finances and giving.
4. The management of the premises.
5. Children's work especially on Sunday.
6. Little Jewels.
7. The homeless in the car park.

CRDC:

1. Volunteers.
2. Our Christian witness to asylum seekers.
3. The English classes on Wednesday.
4. Tea anc coffee mornings on Wednesday.
5. The garden project.

Croydon:

1. The work and witness of all the other churches in Croydon.
2. The work of the Council.
3. The homeless this Winter.
4. Schools in Croydon.
5. Prevention of gang warfare.
6. Prevention of drug dealing and drug using.

UK:

1. King Charles and Royal Family.
2. For wisdom and good government.
3. The cost-of-living crisis.
4. Correct handling of industrial action.
5. The exodus of doctors and nurses from the NHS.

World:

1. Ukraine.
2. Iran.
3. Brazil.

Being clear on our purpose. A purpose focused body of believers

Isaiah 46:10 - I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I purpose'.

• That we will seek, and God would reveal His purpose for WCBC in this new season
• That God would set that purpose within the heart of every church attender/all mobilised behind the Purpose
• All activities and programmes dedicated to the Purpose

Getting us all involved

Romans 12:4-9 - For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

• WCBC is a place where everyone feels they can be involved
• Attenders will want to be involved
• Appreciating each other's gifts/no hierarchy

A culture of building each other up

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

• Where Iron sharpens iron (discipleship)
• Having servant hearts (humility)
• Love as the foundation - family are corrected in love
• Showing grace towards others, as Christ pours grace on us

An outward looking church

Matthew 25:37-40 - "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' ⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'".

• Give us eyes that see the needs of our community
• Give us hearts that respond
• A church that welcomes and serves those on our doorstep
• Birthing of ministries of IMPACT (to God's glory)

Thanksgiving

• Great induction service
• The month of September
• New faces

West Croydon Church:

• Deacons
• New preaching series
• New Church activities, Prayer meeting, Prayer walk, Men's bible Study
• New season for the church
• New ministries
• Healing for our members
• Church AGM
• Fresh pouring of the Holy Spirit on our church
• For people in our church in need of healing and help.
• New discipleship programs
• More workers for God harvest

Refugee Day Centre:

• For all volunteers.
• More resource
• New connections
• More donations.

Croydon/London

• Unity with Churches in Croydon
• People who are struggling finically

Government:

• That the right decisions be made about the economy and cost of living.
• That correct decisions be made as regards Russia and China.

Ukraine:

• God's peace will be seen
• Russians who are trying to flee

Pray for Denzil's Induction on Saturday (24/09/2022)

• For all that are going to attend
• For the programme to run smoothly
• For the preparation of the hall, decorations, food and helpers.

Pray for our Church

• For members to sense God's call upon their lives
• For members to be ready to help and assist within the Church fellowship
• For God's provision of finance to meet the ongoing needs of the Church, including that of outstanding major works.
• Pray for the ministries that have recently been promoted and for others that will come
• Pray for the children and youth ministry within the Church, its helpers/teachers and for leadership for this important work

For Croydon

• For the witness Christ within the borough
• For the homelessness of the people in the borough
• For an end to knife and all violent crimes within the borough
• For the young people who feel they need to belong to a gang or are forced to be in it.
• Pray for the Lord to intervene

For the Nation

• Pray that the mini budget measures introduced by the new Conservative leadership would benefit everyone and especially those in need.
• Pray for the energy crisis, that the general public, as well as businesses, can meet their costs
• To give thanks for the Queen's funeral that people could pay their respects to such a long-reigning monarch, near and far.

Thanksgiving:

• For all God is doing in our lives.
• For West Croydon Baptist Church, some new faces
• For the rest many of us are enjoying the Summer.
• Denzil and Jemima

West Croydon Church:

• New preaching series
• New Church activities, Prayer meeting, Prayer walk, Men's bible Study
• New season
• Healing for our members
• Fresh pouring of the Holy Spirit on our church
• For the protection of the building from break ins etc.
• For people in our church in need of healing and help.
• New discipleship programs
• More workers for God harvest

Refugee Day Centre:

• New season
• For all volunteers.
• More donations.

Croydon/London

• Justice for Chris Kaba
• Unity with Churches in Croydon
• People who are struggling finically

Government:

• New Prime minister Liz Trust.
• That the right decisions be made about the economy and cost of living.
• Prince Charles
• Royal family as they mourn the death of the Queen
• That correct decisions be made as regards Russia and China.

Ukraine:

• God's peace will be seen

West Croydon Baptist Church

Denzil and Jemima - that their move to us will go smoothly as they settle into their new home and take charge of a new congregation as a senior Pastor.

• The Diaconate - who will still continue to be part of the leadership team here at WCBC. We thank God for their sacrificial contribution to the Church, for the role the Elders have played over the life of the church and pray that this new partnership will be a blessing to all who worship here with us and beyond.
• The Worship teams - we pray to be lead forth in unity with joy, peace and the strength of the Lord as we present our offering of praise and worship on a weekly basis before a God who is worthy - for He deserves the glory.
• Youth Ministry - Sunday School - Let us pray for families and children to attend our services and for a desire to hear about the teachings of the love of God. For teachers and volunteers to be moved in their hearts to serve in this very important area of the church. This is where the seeds are sown and the blue-print of Christianity is formed in young minds.
• Finance - That people will give out of the goodness of their hearts and in accordance with the word of God. These are challenging times with spiralling energy costs for all of us and the Church also.
• Other ministries - e.g. Stewarding and welcoming, refreshments, book reviewers and house-group leaders. That all may be lead of God and filled with the Holy Spirit.
• RDC - Pray for guidance as they seek to diversify and adapt the giving; returning to serving of meals for refugees and the homeless.
• Administrative work at the Church - Pray that as a Church we will have available to us all the help that is needed to ensure the smooth running of operations at WCBC.

UK Government:

Forthcoming election of a new PM. Guidance on the handling of the cost of living crisis and the spiralling costs of energy for businesses and householders. The Police and other agencies of law enforcement responsible for handling of crime on our streets and in our neighbourhoods. Negotiations with the Unions - for an amicable outcome of all these discussions in order to avoid a winter of discontent.

Local Government:

Continue to pray for Croydon and knife crime on our streets. The homeless/for shelter this winter. Young people as they prepare to embrace the new academic year with all its different challenges or navigate the world of employment. Relationships with parents.

Climate Change

The effect of the drought here and in Europe on the farming community. The Pakistan Floods; Ukraine/Sri Lanka Also, pray for an African country (or one of your own choosing) that you may have a burden for at this particular time. Finally, let us remember all those who do not enjoy the privilege and peace of the freedom of worship. All persecuted Christians living in places like North Korea, China and Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. (Also, please remember the Coptic Christians in Egypt)

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayers.