“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
TUESDAY 1 For the work of the Mothers’ Union in Victoria Nyanza, Tanzania, with which we have a diocesan link as it undertakes prayer and action to support families in the diocese. Give thanks for the way the Mothers’ Union is empowering women in Tanzania through its economic and educational programmes.
WEDNESDAY 2 Bray with Braywood: Ainsley Swift - Vicar, Andy Medlicott. For our initiatives to develop our worship and ministry with children and young people at the heart of all we do. For our ministry to the sick and the bereaved.
Braywood CE Primary School, Holyport CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 3 Burchetts Green: Tom Etherton - Vicar, Christopher Elliott. For our new Youth Drama Group, starting in May. For our ongoing project to repair the roof and renew the church building at St Mary the Virgin, Hurley.
Burchetts Green CE Infant School.
FRIDAY 4 The Cookhams, Berks: Stephen Mills - Vicar, Richard Simmonds. For the reopening of Holy Trinity Church after a re-ordering project. For the recruitment of an Associate Priest for the benefice.
Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Cookham Dean CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 5 Cox Green, Maidenhead: Joan Hicks – Vicar, Rita Bryant, Eileen Goford. For our APCM on 6 April, particularly for new PCC members to come forward. For our ministry among children and young people and their families, and in local schools. For our Holy Week and Easter services - for those involved in planning and leading worship and for those who will come.
MONDAY 7 Dedworth All Saints, Windsor: Paul Walker - Vicar, Adam Wingrove, Jacki Thomas, Mike Thomas, Reina Mansour, Michelle Sturgeon. For God’s guidance as we bring various ministries together to form a strategic plan for growth. For wisdom as we seek to gently share Jesus with an increasing number of young people who are coming to our Friday night youth events. Give thanks for the Vine and Fig Tree café and the way it’s become an interface for being alongside the community and sharing faith.
TUESDAY 8 Maidenhead All Saints, Boyne Hill: Jeremy Harris - Vicar, Christopher Mann, David Joynes. Give thanks for the new life brought to the community by the asylum seekers from Iran. The church community has been blessed by people who serve as welcomers and altar servers and are joyfully coming to faith through baptism and confirmation courses. For our three church schools, Boyne Hill, All Saints and Altwood, for our Open the Book teams at All Saints and Larchfield Schools, for the Revd Jo Ellington’s chaplaincy at Altwood school as students and staff benefit from her presence and for signs of the Christian faith taking root through Alpha courses. Give thanks for the commitment of lay people as governors in the three church schools.
WEDNESDAY 9 Waltham St Lawrence and Shottesbrooke: Nnamdi Maduka - Vicar. For all members of Waltham St Lawrence in their varied callings, that they may advance the kingdom and bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. That Waltham St Lawrence Parish will be a place where the lonely find fellowship, the sorrowing find comfort, the tempted find strength, sinners find forgiveness, the faithful find grace and that all will offer holy worship in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
THURSDAY 10 Old Windsor: Adel Shokralla - Vicar, Lynne Thorogood. For our Bubble Church initiative, as more families join and a dedicated team serves faithfully. May it continue to be a place of welcome and joy for little ones and their families. For the ongoing church reordering work and the vision for the future. That God would guide the process, providing wisdom, resources and unity as we seek to shape our church for generations to come.
St Peter’s CE Middle School, The Royal CE School.
FRIDAY 11 White Waltham: David Atallah - Vicar, Carole Perkins. For our first ever holiday club in Holy Week; for the team, the plans and for the children who come to see the wonder of Easter. As Revd Dave goes on sabbatical in the summer, pray for all the organising that goes into keeping the church not just maintained but moving forward in God's strength.
White Waltham CE Academy.
SATURDAY 12 Clewer: Rosie Webb – Rector, Brian Shenton. For all our PCC and St Andrew’s Champions (volunteers who give their time and talents). For our Bible Explorers and those preparing for baptism this Easter. For us as we begin to explore restoration, renovation and reordering of our ancient church building.
Clewer Green CE First School, St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical School.
MONDAY 14 Bicester and Islip Deanery: Gareth Miller - Area Dean, Diana Glover, Tina Shaw, Jane White, Catherine Mullineux. For developing our work with children and young families, especially holiday clubs in Bicester and Shelswell. For reaching out to new housing developments.
TUESDAY 15 Akeman, Cherwell (Oxon): Gareth Miller - Rector, Nick Ktorides, Paul Clifford, Bob Wilkes. For plans for a junior choir. For Bletchingdon’s new family service, “3rd at 3”. For Prayer Spaces in Kirtlington, Chesterton and Bletchingdon schools.
Bletchingdon CE School, Chesterton CE Primary School, Kirtlington CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 16 Shelswell (between Bicester, Brackley and Buckingham): Alice Goodall - Rector, Alexander Mahlava, Liz Welter, Penny Wood. For the ten churches in our rural group of parishes and the communities we serve in these villages.
Finmere CE Primary School, Fringford CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 17 Bicester with Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton: Peter Wright - Team Rector, Ian Biscoe, Sarah Mortimer, Erika Biscoe, Sam Mortimer, Judith Ryder, Roger Winson, Emma Carter, John Rodgers, Philip Wilson, Christopher Young, Colin Cockshaw, Carol Hill, Peter Hill, Michael Kingston, Diana Glover, Peter Salisbury. For the children and young people of Bicester, that we may be able to help them find faith and nurture their growth as disciples of Jesus. For the new estates growing rapidly in and around Bicester, that we may help local communities develop, and that ministry to them may flourish.
St Edburg’s CE Primary School, Launton CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 18 The Ray Valley, between Bicester and Kidlington: Lisa Holmes, Brian Mountford, June Osborne, David Wippell. For the successful appointment of a new Rector. For the candidates being confirmed in June.
Charlton-on-Otmoor CE Primary School, Dr South’s CE School.
SATURDAY 19 Cherwell Valley: Kath Cooke - Team Vicar, Phil Cooke, Andrew Foran. For the benefice as it begins a time of vacancy and the process of finding a new Rector. That our churches continue to be a source of community identity and places of worship and support the villages we serve.
Fritwell CE Primary School.
Bishop Steven confirming at Christ Church.
MONDAY 21 Kingsbrook and Broughton, Aylesbury: Chris Hunt - Vicar, Shirley Bull. For volunteers to help us grow our café ministry at More +. For the Lord to guide us as we explore the vision of our church after Easter.
TUESDAY 22 Aylesbury Deanery: Jonathan Hawkings - Area Dean, Tim Harper, Richard Phillips, Graham Strachan, Jam Lemos, Tania Dovey. For success in filling our vacancies. For successful managing of the deanery finances.
WEDNESDAY 23 Bernwode, Aylesbury Vale: Gemma Beesley - Rector, Jenny Edmans. For our children's ministry: that God would bless what we have and inspire what we need to do. For God's inspiration to bring more volunteers to tend this small garden called the Bernwode Benefice. The potential is huge, the workers are few.
Brill CE school.
THURSDAY 24 Aylesbury: Doug Zimmerman - Team Rector, Peter Wheeler, Gareth Lane, Vicky Burton, Rainah Madzorera, Harry Kuhrt, Gemma Moncada, Tamara Zimmerman. For the grace to continue faithfully following God in the amazing work that he is doing in Aylesbury!
St Mary’s CE School, The Aylesbury Vale CE Academy, Berryfields CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 25 Risborough: Peter Godden - Team Vicar, Tony Bundock, Andrew Walmsley, Sue Hughes, John Walton, Michael Hunt, Sally Prendergast, Graham King, Ted Kent, Averil Stephenson, Tony Eccleston, Mary Kent, Anna Sbotneva Pile, Alex Rees, David and Nancy Wallace, Steve and Rose Williams, Nick Moloney, Jenny Deverill. For the process of appointing a new Team Rector, and all those at St Mary's Church working hard in the vacancy. For the preparations for the Lighthouse Holiday Club in July.
St John’s CE Primary School, Longwick CE Combined School, Monks Risborough CE Primary School, Speen CE School.
SATURDAY 26 Wychert Vale, nr Aylesbury: Cassa Messervy - Rector, Clare Joyce, Phil Groves, Nigel Featherston, Jonathan Hawkins, Trich Mander, Richard Smith. For children and youth ministry across the benefice, giving thanks for our amazing volunteers going into five schools, leading Sunday ministry, and our two youth groups. For discernment for our lay leaders and ministry team as we respond to a changing context in the benefice.
Cuddington and Dinton CE Primary School, Haddenham St Mary’s CE School, Stone CE Combined School.
MONDAY 28 Bedgrove, Aylesbury: Martin Kuhrt - Vicar, Dawn Roberts. For good health for Martin Kuhrt’s family. For the church improvement project providing a new ceiling and lighting.
TUESDAY 29 Rousham: Richard Smail - Priest-in-charge. For the church community and for the wider community of visitors to Rousham House and Gardens.
WEDNESDAY 30 Southcourt, Aylesbury: Oyin Oladipo - Vicar. For God to send families our way. For God to increase our capacity as a church so that we might minister to the new people that he would send our way.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 6 For our churchyards to be havens and sanctuaries for wildlife this spring, as their habitats come under increasing pressure from climate change. Give thanks for all the volunteers, churchwardens and local teams caring for their churchyards, and pray for energy, time and resources as they carry out their kingdom work.
SUNDAY 13 For all those who have been exploring baptism during Lent, that they would know themselves to be loved, welcomed and nurtured within God’s family and particularly within their local church.
SUNDAY 20 That our praise and worship would fill our churches with joy as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
SUNDAY 27 That God would raise up new ministers to serve the children and young people of our parishes and help us as his church to learn from children in wonder, love and praise.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers