Pray for East Timor on Sunday, July 24, 2016
Lectionary Selection: Luke 11:1-13
Prayers for East Timor:
Gracious God, we give you thanks for our partnership with the Protestant Church of Timor Leste. Through this partnership we hear the good news of your presence among the people of Timor and we see how your Spirit is at work bringing faith and hope, nurturing a spirit of service in the search for justice and peace.
We pray this day for the people of East Timor. And we pray as well for the land and sea and creatures big and small. We pray for the ministries of the IPTL: Clinic Immanuel Losplaos, Lisa Dila School, youth activities, and pastoral ministry. We pray for IPTL’s faithful pastors; many serving with very little pay and all striving to bring a word of life, grace and hope to the people. We ask that you give wisdom, guidance and trust to all of us working together to serve the people of Timor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Mission Stewardship Moment from East Timor:
When we first began serving with the Protestant Church of Timor Leste (IPTL) in 2009, one of the things we noticed immediately was how important prayer was in the life of our partners. At Clinic Immanuel, where Monica serves alongside five Timorese women, everyday begins and ends with prayer. At Immanuel Church where I serve, during the week pastors and lay leaders head out into rural areas for what is called “kultu uma kain,” (family worship). Church members welcome us into their homes for a time of Bible sharing, prayer and fellowship.
In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus teaches that a life of prayer is a foundational part of forming communities of faith. In church or at home, through prayer and worship we nurture a relationship with God and in so doing; find ourselves oriented toward the needs of others (11:6) and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (11:13).
Earlier in Luke, Jesus made it clear that his ministry was about bringing “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:16-20). But we can’t bring good news to others if we’re not grounded in the good news ourselves. Our partners in Timor Leste know this. They live in a context where poverty, lack of health care and ongoing political challenges mean that communities that nurture faith and hope are essential for life. Prayer and community are therefore at the center of everything they do.
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Tom Liddle)
Mission Partner in East Timor:
Protestant Churches of East Timor (IPTL)
More information on East Timor: http://www.globalministries.org/east_timor
Global Ministries Missionary in East Timor:
Tom Liddle serves as a missionary with the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). Tom’s appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.