UCCP General Assembly
24-29 May 2010
Siliman University Church, Dumaguete City
Theme: Discerning God's Will in These Critical Times
MONTH OF PRAYER AND MINDFUL VIGILANCE
For the May 2010 National Election and the UCCP General Assembly
Suggested Prayer Calendar
| 1 | Pray for the National Launching of the Month of Prayer and Mindful Vigilance at the UCCP-Ellinwood Malate Church grounds at 6:00 am this day. Brothers and sisters in the local churches and conferences are encouraged to have their launching activities in their respective areas. As this day is celebrated as Labor Day, pray for the welfare of our laborers and workers, that their rights be upheld, for the safety of OFWs exposed to dangers, that more employment be generated locally, leading to a prosperous nation. |
| 2 | Pray for Communion Sunday: Focus on the Unity of the Nation and of the Church. May the partaking of the bread and wine signify our readiness to offer our lives to the Lord in the service of our people and of the Body of Christ. |
| 3 | Pray for the Candidates who are running in the elections in your respective cities and municipalities: the mayors, vice mayors and councilors. May they be sensitive to the needs of their constituents. |
| 4 | Pray for the Commission on Elections, that they may be able to sustain their efforts for a clean, honest and orderly elections. Pray for those who are tasked to keep the peace, the police and the military. May they be disciplined in the performance of their duties even as they risk their lives also. |
| 5 | We have witnessed the destruction of the environment and loss of ecological balance that has resulted in global warming and climate change. Let us confess that we have become poor stewards of God’s creation by our uncaring attitude to Mother nature and allowing big business and powerful countries to exploit our natural resources. Let us pray for leaders who will truly care for God’s creation. |
| 6 | The youth, women, children, the elderly and physically challenged are most vulnerable sectors of our society. Pray for leaders who have genuine concern for them so that their welfare will be upheld and protected. |
| 7 | Violations of human dignity and rights of persons continue with impunity. It was during our 2006 General Assembly in Digos that Noli Capulong, a lay leader of UCCp Calamba City and an advocate for the environment was killed. Pray for leaders who will work for justice and righteousness so that God’s image in all of humanity be respected. |
| 8 | The issue of graft and corruption in governance and the rampant poverty has been in the forefront as issues in this election. Pray for a change of heart among our people and recognize that these are rooted in our separation from a righteous God who blesses abundantly those who trust and obey his will. |
| 9 | Pray for the citizenry as they do self-introspection as to whom they will vote for. May the image of the Lord Jesus Christ as the ultimate symbol of a servant leader guide the electorate in their choices. |
| 10 | NATIONAL ELECTIONS. Pray for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections. In the name of Jesus, let us cast away the forces of unrighteousness that are attempting to thwart the will of God in this election. |
| 11 | May the counting and tallying of votes be free from fraud, cheating and manipulation. Pray for strength for those who are still involved in election duties. |
| 12 | Pray for unity and reconciliation. Elections in our country is most of the time divisive and filled with animosities, affecting friends, families, communities and churches. Let us now focus on how we can advance the progress and welfare of our country. |
| 13 | The National Executive Council, acting as the National Preparation Committee for the UCCP General Assembly will meet to assess and finalize the preparations for the GA. |
| 14 | Pray for the National Secretariat as they finalize the preparations. May they leave no stones unturned so that the GA will be smooth, productive and successful. |
| 15 | Pray for the Local Steering Committee who is based in Dumaguete composed of representatives from the Silliman Community and the local churches near the area. They have devoted lots of their time and resources to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the GA. |
| 16 | Pray for the financial needs of the UCCP General Assembly. A special offering and pledges can be taken during the worship service to express the support of every church member to this activity. |
| 17-19 | Pray for the General Assembly of the United Church Workers Organization (UCWO) in Dipolog City. May our Church Workers not waver and falter in their commitment to the vocation that they have set their lives for. |
| 18 | Thank God for the successful holding of the Annual Sessions of the UCCP’s 41 regular and 4 associate conferences. Pray that the inspiration received in those days of fellowship, study and discussion of reports, programs and policies, and election of conference officers, will result to greater unity and effective ministry of the Conferences and local churches for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 19-22 | Pray for the NUCM-NCWA General Assembly at the Silliman University Church, Dumaguete City. With their national network that goes to the local churches, these lay organizations of our church are playing a tremendous job strengthening our faith and be venues of fellowship, witness and service. |
| 20 | As we pray for the General Assembly of the Christian Youth Fellowship being held at Siquijor Is., consider what your local church CYF is doing. Thank God for the strategic role it is playing that resulted in raising leaders of our church, both clergy and lay and some of them have become leaders of our nation. |
| 21 | Pray for the General Assembly of the National Christian Young Adults Fellowship in Manjuyod, Negros Occidental. In the productive stage of their lives, may they be faithful stewards of their time, talents, treasure and the truth of the Gospel, balancing work, family, leisure and ministry. |
| 22 | The ministry of our church related institutions – schools, hospitals, service centers, and seminaries will be given special attention in this GA. Pray for the special ministries of education, healing, and ministerial formation they are performing that enhances the work of our local churches, conferences and the whole UCCP. |
| 23 | The theme of the UCCP General Assembly is “Discerning and Obeying God’s Will in These Critical Times” May our reflections, beginning with the discussions in the GA, deepen our understanding of this theme and lead us to faithfulness, obedience, and appropriate response to the challenges of our time. |
| 24 | Pray for the Meeting of the National Council as Nominations Committee. They will screen and finalize the list of nominees for the various positions in the National leadership to be filled up. Sing HFJ No. 288-Lord Give us a Leader |
| 25 | Pray for the opening of the UCCP 9th General Assembly through a Liturgy at 9:00 am where Dr. Ben Malayang, President of Silliman University gives the keynote address. Pray for the Celebration of the UCCP’s 62nd Anniversary. A cultural presentation is held at 2:00 pm followed by a Parade/Motorcade along the streets of Dumaguete at 5:00 pm. Thank God for making us a “United and Uniting Church” |
| 26 | Plenary Sessions of the GA will focus on the review of the accomplishments of the Church in the past four years. Let us thank God for the new local churches and new members added as a result of our Evangelism and Community Ministries programs. |
| 27 | Plenary Sessions of the GA tackles Policies and Guidelines and the Program Thrust for the next Quadrennium that will concretize the theme “Discerning and obeying God’s Will in these Critical Times.” |
| 28 | Pray for the GA delegates as they elect the Bishops and Officers of the UCCP. |
| 29 | Adjournment of the 9th General Assembly through a Consecration Liturgy where the delegates will be “sent out” |
| 30 | Pray for the safety of the GA delegates and participants as they travel of back to their homes and work. Pray especially for our brothers and sisters from our partner churches in other countries who visited us in this GA to experience the fellowship of the UCCP household. |
| 31 | Day of thanksgiving, reaffirmation, welcoming of the new UCCP Ecclesiastical Year 2010-2011 and the New UCCP Quadrennium, 2010-2014. |
