“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!”
Psalm 118:1
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
MONDAY 2 Olney, Milton Keynes: Hugh Reid - Curate, Derek Martin, Andrew Geary, Janet Lawrence, Josephine Spray, Thelma Shacklady. For the parish's discernment of a new priest-in-charge, that God would guide us and hold us throughout this process. For our upcoming 700th anniversary celebrations in the summer of 2025, that these would fittingly honour the ministry, mission and service of past generations, and encourage us in our vision for the future.
TUESDAY 3 Vale of White Horse Deanery: Jason St John Nicolle - Area Dean, Jeremy Goulston, Peter Foot, Joanne Bailey. For a rich blessing on the new incumbent at Shrivenham and Ashbury, the Revd Patrick Mabhunu, and on his family in their ministry. For continued involvement with our local schools and sharing the love of Jesus in many different ways.
WEDNESDAY 4 Cherbury with Gainfield, nr Faringdon: Talisker Macleod - Rector, Sebastian Mattapally, Avril Coleman, Jim Mynors. For our work with schools and new possibilities and mission there. For all those who will be at Christmas services throughout December, that they may truly encounter God.
Buckland CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 5 Shrivenham and Ashbury: Patrick Mabhunu - Vicar. That the Lord sends to us an Associate Vicar suitable for our benefice. For the Lord's guidance as we are planning on beginning a youth club next year, for which we will need human resources, financial resources and a conducive space.
Ashbury with Compton CE Primary School, Shrivenham CE Primary School, Longcot and Fernham CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 6 Great Coxwell with Buscot, Coleshill and Eaton Hastings: Maureen Turner – Vicar, Jan Hall. For God's guidance as the four churches in the benefice work together more collaboratively and support one another as they face the challenges of rural ministry. Thank God that our churches and churchyards are being used in creative ways - concerts, lectures, quiet spaces - to encourage the attendance of, and use by, worshippers, villagers and visitors. For the success of fundraising efforts and events to pay for the many building projects associated with these historic churches.
SATURDAY 7 Great Faringdon with Little Coxwell: Maria Jukes - Vicar, Bob Slade, Graham Weller, Josey Speller, Julie Slade, Chris Etherton, Dick Whittington, Barbara Mapley, Paul Winchester, Tim Hewes, David Pickering. For work with young people and families, that this might continue to grow and develop. For wisdom and discernment for our PCCs as the Mission Action Plan and re-ordering projects are being shaped over the coming year.
MONDAY 9 Uffington, Shellingford, Woolstone and Baulking: Jeremy Goulston - Vicar, Hugh Baxter, Veronica Buxton, Sue Saunders, Beryl Packer, Max Young. For our new Uffington Sunday Club which runs a special programme for the children during the middle part of our monthly Parish Communion service. For the work going on in our two CE Schools, Shellingford and Uffington, particularly around collective worship and SIAMS.
TUESDAY 10 Stanford in the Vale with Goosey and Hatford: Paul Eddy - Vicar. That the recent Prayer Space in the church primary school will take seed in pupils’ lives. For the CE Primary School presenting six Christmas productions in St Denys. For Paul, just returned from sabbatical and processing his research looking at rural church growth. For wisdom in 2025 as the PCC seeks to support the new families’ congregation, Denys@4, while also nurturing faith in later life amongst the older congregants. For God to provide the financial resources needed after a drop in income post-pandemic.
Stanford in the Vale CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 11 Wantage Deanery: John Durant – Area Dean, Hugh Rees, Sarah Shackleton. Give thanks for the new initiatives around the deanery: monthly free soup lunches for all the villagers in Letcombe Bassett; Bible study for teenagers in Wantage; weekly Space Makers in Childrey’s church school; Messy Church in Grove; Prayer Space at St Nicholas, East Challow; Open the Book at The Hendreds CofE school, and pray that through them the love of Jesus may be experienced. For more helpers at Around Table Charlton as well as more church officers throughout the deanery. That in all our many Christmas events the truth of Christ's good news may be heard and understood.
THURSDAY 12 Wantage Downs: Nikolaj Christensen - Rector, John Durant. That people of all ages in the three parishes would get to hear the good news of God’s grace. For the Prayer Course starting in January.
The Hendreds CE School.
FRIDAY 13 Vale, Wantage: Alec Gill - Associate Priest, Sarah Shackleton. For the benefice while we are in a vacancy, giving thanks for all those who support its mission and ministry, particularly Alec Gill, Sarah Shackleton, and all our retired clergy who kindly take services. For the benefice as it continues to reflect on its vision for mission and ministry over the coming years, as it grows deeper together in life and faith.
St Nicholas CE Primary School, Grove CE Primary School, St James CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 14 Ridgeway, nr Wantage: Ness Brunner-Ellis - Rector, Mary Harwood, Gill Thompson - Anna Chaplain. For young vocations and a greater awareness that all are called. Give thanks for all our volunteers.
The Ridgeway CE Primary School.
MONDAY 16 Wantage: Katherine Price - Vicar, Frances Caroe, Laurence Price, David Richardson, James Clarke. For our work with children and teenagers, and for all those exploring and growing in faith.
Wantage CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 17 Wycombe Deanery: Dave Bull - Area Dean, Simon Dust, Keith Johnson, Nick Gallant, Caroline Sants, Mark Moorcraft, Nigel Peach. For the Lord to bless our work with children and teenagers, so that many of them discover Jesus for themselves. For every one of our Christmas services to be a powerful witness to the Light of the World.
WEDNESDAY 18 Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe: James Dwyer - Vicar, Gill Taylor, Martin Courtney,
Helen Broadbent, Debbie Fox-Webb, Sue Simpson, Leonie Cowlard, Rebecca Hawes. For continued
opportunities to share the wonder of the incarnation with our parish this Christmas, and that as we
do so many would come to see Jesus as Prince of Peace. That God would continue to grow our
ministry with children and young people and show us as a church how he wants us to be joining in
with his work.
THURSDAY 19 Wooburn, High Wyccombe: Paul Cudby - Vicar, Doral Hayes. That our Christmas services would be places of invitation and divine encounter, especially for those with whom we have little contact. For continuing growth in Forest Church, Messy Church and online Night Prayer, and the teams that make them happen.
St Paul’s CE Combined School.
FRIDAY 20 Hughenden, High Wycombe: Keith Johnson - Vicar, Helen Peters, David Tester. That all who visit our church this Christmas would know the loving presence of God. For Chris, who starts as our new full-time Children and Families Minister in January.
Great Kingshill CE Combined School.
SATURDAY 21 Hazelmere, High Wycombe: Mark Meardon - Vicar, Claire Gerard, Chris Sacre, Jackie Pestell, Jane Montgomery, Peter Green, Matthew Rayner, Hayley Lewis, Sue Butler, Deborah James. Give thanks for our growing congregations and for the new members who have recently joined our staff team. For those who will be coming to our outreach services over the Christmas period, that there will be good conversations and that they will come to know God.
Hazelmere CE Combined School.
MONDAY 23 Hedsor with Bourne End, Bucks: Adrian Manning - Associate Clergy, Simon Dust - Assistant Curate. For our churchwarden in Hedsor, Maura Carr, who does a huge amount to keep the show on the road. Give thanks for wedding couples who have continued to attend church and have been confirmed. For a new vision of our mission and our future as the two churches move forward in the new arrangement.
TUESDAY 24 High Wycombe: Anthony Searle - Team Rector and the entire ministry team. For St Francis, Terriers’ vacancy, that God’s presence will enable and support the person called to serve that community. For the parishes of St Mary and St George, and St Anne and St Peter, and their vicars, as the vicars discover something more of God and God’s people on their sabbaticals.
High Wycombe CE School.
WEDNESDAY 25 For all services and all those who minister in the diocese today, including those in our hospitals.
THURSDAY 26 Loudwater, nr High Wycombe: Danny Rodgers - Vicar, Mark Humphries, Charlotte King. For our Love Loudwater initiative, a team of volunteers who show love to our community in providing practical and social support.
FRIDAY 27 West Wycombe with Bledlow Ridge, Bradenham and Radnage: Lance Sharpe - Rector, Veronica Beaumont, Anne Cooper, Ivor Cornish, Andrew Chapman. For Lance as he begins his ministry with the benefice, having taken up post at the beginning of December
Radnage CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 28 South Chilterns Group Ministry: Mark Ackford - Team Rector, Philip Smith, Heather Ford, Judy Taylor, Lucy Austin, Peter Viney. For the OFSTED inspection to be carried out at Ibstone CE school. For our Community Matters Foodbank and the volunteers that run it. Give thanks for the generosity of all those who donate to it.
Ibstone CE Primary School, Cadmore End CE Primary School.
MONDAY 30 4U Team (Great Marlow with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham): Dave Bull - Team Rector, Fiona Ellingham, Graham Watts, Kat Page, Carol Cooper, John Smith, Sami Watts, Sarah Jones, Gabrielle Smith, Mieke Gaynor, Sue Irwin, Nick Collard, Helen White, Katie Browne, Emily Clark, Laura-Anne Putterford, Rachel Hearnshaw. For the new midweek school service at All Saints, Bisham. For our leadership teams as we say farewell to some members and welcome new leaders whom God is sending.
Bisham CE Primary School, Holy Trinity CE School, Little Marlow CE School, Marlow CE Infant School.
TUESDAY 31 Hambleden Valley, Bucks: Andrew Storch - Rector, Sue Morton, Peter Viney.
Give thanks for a new Director of Music following the retirement of the previous one after 67 years' service. For the developing possibility of funding a part-time schools worker to develop our links with the two primary schools. For Medmenham and Turville as we struggle to fill PCC places, and for Fingest, facing a difficult repair project ahead.
Frieth CE Primary School.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 1 For the work of the Mothers’ Union in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with which we have a diocesan link.
SUNDAY 8 For children, young people and families in the Christmas holidays. For those attending Christmas services and events, that they would encounter God.
SUNDAY 15 For all who find themselves waiting in this Advent season that, whether it be calm or challenging, they would know the hope, peace, joy and love that God’s presence brings.
SUNDAY 22 For those who find the Christmas season difficult, particularly those experiencing financial strain or isolation and loneliness, and for churches responding to these needs.
SUNDAY 29 For our Eco Churches, as they continue to make a difference through their actions, and for their continued progress through the awards. For parish eco champions, that they are supported, equipped and inspired to lead local change for creation. For courage in advocacy amongst us all, that we speak up for God’s world in all our spheres of influence.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers