Invitation to Prayer and Outreach from Faces of Children ... Today ... but ...

LATE UPDATE: February 5 Prayer Meeting Cancelled

To avoid last minute confusion, FPC has decided to close the facility tomorrow given the precipitation we've already received, dropping temperatures, 100 percent chance of snow tonight and low temperatures tomorrow. Faces Of Children WILL NOT meet on Wednesday, February 5.

Stay home and stay warm! LET IT SNOW!

Blessings,
Carrie

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Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Their mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, they seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Invitation to Prayer and Outreach ... TODAY

Dear Intercessors,

We will meet locally every Wednesday - TODAY - at 11:30 in the prayer closet at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Please join us in lifting up the needs of vulnerable children in our community and around the world!

Sincerely,
Carrie McKean

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Today in Midland we are waiting with great anticipation for snow. I know that may not make much sense for our friends up north, but I have two little girls who might have a crisis of faith if their prayers for the snow we have been told to expect tomorrow doesn't show up.

So before we move onto more weighty matters, will you pray with me that Midland gets its promised 1 inch of snow and that the good folks at MISD decide these desert-dwelling children need a day of frolicking in the front yard, trying to scrape up enough snow to fashion a snowman?

(Also, for our local prayer group... if MISD cancels school tomorrow, I shall be at home building snowmen. We'll know in the morning whether or not the church is closed, but regardless I'll be following MISD's lead.)

My heart longs for a world where the only prayers our children need are for their dreams of snow to come true. But that's the not-yet world, and so may we still gather to pray.

New Day Charities Photo

This month, as the coronavirus continues to spread in China, my heart is particularly burdened for vulnerable children there. The organization where I once worked, New Day Foster Home, provided infection control training to several partner orphanages shortly before the outbreak began; a timely gift for sure! Now, they are trying to help support orphanages struggling to keep up. "The orphanages are under quarantine to protect the children and all the staff must remain 24/7. The orphanages have been asking for medical supplies that have become difficult to source in China. We have located some things in China and are also shipping items from the USA. If you would like to help with this you can donate through our general fund." Please be in prayer for these people on the front lines, including the doctors and caregivers.

Photo by Kevin Frayer, Getty Images

In addition to fighting the virus, China (and the rest of the world) is fighting fear... the fear that leads to the death of a young man with CP because his father was in mandatory isolation and there was no one to care for the disabled boy. The fear that's leading to Asian children in our own country to be taunted as xenophobic fear that they might be infected with the virus spreads. This fear can have more dire consequences than the virus itself, so this month, let's pray through Psalm 46 on behalf of the people and children of China and for ourselves... may we cling tight to our refuge and strength and live in love and not in fear.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
     an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
     and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
     and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
     the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
     God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
     he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
     the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
     the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
     to the ends of the earth.
     He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
     he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
     I will be exalted among the nations,
     I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
     the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Praying with,
Carrie

PS: If you're an out-of-town intercessor, maybe you can consider doing the same thing with one of your local elementary schools this month!!

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153