December 2009 - Prayers for Ipswich

This month the focus of our prayers is on those who have been damaged by addictions of various kinds, or who are exploited, and the local and national projects that try to help them.

 

Talitha Koum is a project of the Charity Release!Ipswich, which is working to set up a Christian Theraputic Community on a farm to the north of Ipswich in 2010. This will provide a route out for vulnerable women, whose lives have been affected by drugs or alcohol addiction. Please join us in prayer –

 

Tues Dec 1^st: Give thanks for the vision for Talitha Koum, which began in May 2004. 2009 has seen a massive move forward for the project, for which we give thanks as well

 

Weds Dec 2^nd: Pray for Chief Executive John Cobbold, and the Trustees of Release!Ipswich – Peter Matthews, Rev Jackie Sears, Michael Clark, Jonathan Barnes and Liz Beaton

 

Thurs Dec 3^rd: Give thanks for the Christian farmers who have offered the land. Pray for them in their farming, that all would go well in the coming year and their land would yield a good harvest

 

Fri Dec 4^th: Pray for all those who are caught up in addiction, and families affected by it

 

Sat Dec 5^th: See article on Social Justice page of Network Ipswich about people trafficking. Pray about this issue, especially women and children who are sexually exploited

 

Sun Dec 6^th: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1)

 

Mon Dec 7^th: Pray for the work of the local Drug Action Team, Iceni, Norcas and other agencies working with addiction

 

Tues Dec 8^th: Drugs and alcohol are major contributors to crime, domestic violence and prostitution. Pray for significant changes in culture and society that God can bring about

 

Weds Dec 9^th: Pray for the planning application for Talitha Koum to be successful – an application will be made early in the New Year

 

Thurs Dec 10^th: Pray for the village where the community is to be built, that they would not be fearful but would be able to be involved

 

Fri Dec 11^th: Town Pastors are often closely in contact those who have indulged in excessive consumption of alcohol, and particularly so at this time of year. Pray for the work of the Town Pastors as they have opportunities to offer pastoral support and a listening ear to people

 

Sat Dec 12^th: Pray that the Christian Community (the Church) would respond well to Talitha Koum’s appeals for volunteers, prayer and financial support

 

Sun Dec 13^th: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

 

Mon Dec 14^th: One of the areas in which the Church will be asked to help is in providing mentoring, support and community for the women when they leave Talitha Koum. Pray that this will be quickly set in place and for a loving response

 

Tues Dec 15^th: Pray for all those in our town and county for whom Christmas adds more pressure – financially, domestically etc

 

Weds Dec 16^th: Pray for Maureen and the work of local Charity FIND (Families in Need). There has been an increasing demand for food parcels and help as financial pressure has increase in many families this year

 

Thurs Dec 17^th: Pray for those who are homeless and will be living on the streets of Ipswich over this winter. Some of these will have coped or be coping with addiction alongside other health and practical issues. 

 

Fri Dec 18^th: Pray for HOP (Health outreach project), Town Pastors, Salvation Army, soup kitchen and other agencies seeking to bring hope and practical help to the homeless this Christmas. Pray also for Churches who offer Christmas meals

 

Sat Dec 19^th: Release!Ipswich is in the process of becoming a Charitable Company. Pray for the governance of the charity, that all will be done with integrity and correct procedures

 

Sun Dec 20^th: I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isaiah 62:6-7) Pray this for Ipswich

 

Mon Dec 21^st: Give thanks for those grant making bodies, including Somebody’s Daughter, who are supporting the Talitha Koum initiative, and pray for favour as further funding is sought. Phase 1 of the project will cost between £100k - £150k to set up

 

Tues Dec 22^nd: Alongside a full treatment programme and life skills the students at Talitha Koum will be involved in social enterprise. This will include horticulture (to be self sufficient and sell produce) and looking after animals. Women who have lost trust in human nature respond well to animals. Pray for the details of the setting up of this and for helpers and volunteers to work alongside the women

 

Weds Dec 23^rd: Jesus said the words ‘Talitha Koum’ to Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5. Talitha Koum means ‘Little girl, get up’. Pray that there will be opportunity for women to meet with Jesus in 2010, and as we prepare the ground physically, Jesus will be preparing hearts

 

Thurs Dec 24^th: Restore is another Release!Ipswich project which supports and offers befriending to those suffering from, or caring for someone suffering from an eating disorder. Eating disorders are another form of addictive behaviour. Christmas and New Year can be very difficult times for those with food issues so pray for any affected and for the work of Restore and SEEDS, the local eating disorders team

 

Fri Dec 25^th: ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty. (Haggai 2:9)

 

Sat Dec 26^th: Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. (Psalm 85:10-13)

 

Sun Dec 27^th: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

 

Mon Dec 28^th: Many children whose parents are subject to addictive behaviour are in care. Pray for foster carers, social workers and those who look after these children. Parenting skills will be a part of the course at Talitha Koum – pray that we will be able to assist in returning children to their mothers and strengthening family bonds

 

Tues Dec 29^th: Whilst Talitha Koum is for women, many men also need help. As well as drugs, alcohol and eating disorders, gambling and pornography are two more areas of addictive behaviour which can cause major life upheaval. Pray for all those who are caught up in any of these ways

 

Weds Dec 30^th: Pray for the work of the RSVP Organisation, working in Ipswich with women involved in prostitution since 2005.  RSVP works in partnership with Ipswich Street Prostitution Strategy and affiliated to NCAP (National Christian Alliance on Prostitution). 

 

Thurs Dec 31^st: A Prayer / Proclamation for Ipswich for 2010, based on verses from the Book of Isaiah