“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
WEDNESDAY 1 Oxford St. Giles and St. Philip and St. James with St. Margaret: Daniel Walters - Vicar, Siân Grønlie, Claire Browes, Liz Carmichael, Anne Holmes, Eva Walters. For St Margaret's Church as they work to discern God's future vision for them. For St Giles' Church as it moves onto the next phase of its fundraising campaign to refresh the church building.
SS Philip and James CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 2 Kidlington with Hampton Poyle: Felicity Scroggie - Rector, Oliver Harrison, Paul Charles, Meghann Hewett, Colin Johnson, David Meara, Marian Needham, Sarah Sewell, Heidi Kerry, Rachel Rea. For Oliver, licensed as our Team Vicar at the beginning of September, as he begins his ministry with us.
FRIDAY 3 Oxford St. Mary Magdalen: Judith Brown, Barry Hammett, Melanie Marshall, Hugh Wybrew. For the Churchwardens to be spiritually guided in their work to manage the running of the church during the period of interregnum. For a new vicar to be successfully appointed and installed in the New Year.
SATURDAY 4 Oxford St. Michael and St. Martin and All Saints: Anthony Buckley - Vicar, Charles Raven, Richard Smail, David Elliott. Capacity to meet the desire to learn among our new and not-so-new members. Wisdom to handle the many visitors who come through the doors. Discerning God's calling for us as a church.
MONDAY 6 South with New Hinksey: Thomas Fink-Jensen - Priest-in-Charge, Bernard Dagnall.
Giving thanks and praying for continued growth in both our churches, and prayers for a mighty joyful celebration of St John’s 125th anniversary on 6 December, and for a happy collaboration with New Hinksey CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 7 Summertown: Gavin Knight - Vicar, Anastasia Ryabchuk, Nicholas Bradbury, Mary Gurr, Alyson Perberdy, Susie Snyder. The interregnum at St Michael & All Angels begins this October. Pray for the churchwardens, Patrick and Graham, as well as the PCC - that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit as they create the Parish Profile and begin to discern the pathway for the new incumbent. For the church's outward-looking ministry especially for the Ukraine Friendship Centre and the Monday Night food and fellowship service.
WEDNESDAY 8 Wallingford Deanery: Andy Lord - Area Dean, Vaughn Lawfull, Ali Adams. Give thanks for all the initiatives reaching out to children and young people. Pray for the new expressions of church, nurtured by the deanery Greenhouse.
For those being confirmed in St Mary's Beaconsfield by Bishop Dave.
THURSDAY 9 Didcot All Saints: Andy Lord - Rector, Nick Hards, Debbie Lord. For those new to the church to continue to grow in faith as part of the community. Explorations as to how the building may better serve the future of our fast-growing town.
All Saints CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 10 Great Western Park Church, Didcot: For the Revd Mark Bodeker, who retired at the end of September, for his transition out of full-time ministry, dealing with a sense of loss and finding new meaning in time off. For our churchwardens and the work already begun in finding Mark’s replacement. For discernment and God’s leading in the right candidate to replace him.
SATURDAY 11 The Ladygrove Church, Didcot: Rachel Ciampoli - Associate Minister. For wisdom and guidance as we navigate our first year with a house for duty minister. That those in our church continue to grow into mature disciples of Jesus, knowing and reflecting His love.
MONDAY 13 The Churn, nr Didcot: Jason St John Nicolle - Rector, Mark Rhodes-Smith, Louise Butler, John Clarke. For all farmers especially those who are anxious about the future and are having to juggle a myriad of conflicting priorities. For those engaged in promoting the mutual understanding between science and religion, and within our Benefice our forthcoming celebration of Charles Darwin and the science of evolution.
Blewbury Endowed CE Primary School, Hagbourne CE Primary School
TUESDAY 14 Harwell with Chilton: Jeremy Parsons - Rector, Sasha Reeves, Jan Radford, Pamela Rolls, Marilyn Thomas. For our community as we seek to grow God’s Church wider, deeper and closer. For our walk in aid of Christian Aid on 25 October.
For those being confirmed in Holy Trinity Bracknell by Bishop Mary.
WEDNESDAY 15 Wallingford: Sarah Nesbitt - Team Rector, Janice Chilton, John Hutchinson, Christopher Evans, Chris Tuckett, Gavin Wood, Susie Wilmot, Helen King. We give thanks for the level of support and engagement across the whole team while the Team Vicar post is vacant, and for a suitable applicant to fill the post in due course. For our ordinand Sarah Farrington as she transfers to us from Plymouth.
Brightwell cum Sotwell CE Primary School, Crowmarsh Gifford CE Primary School, St Nicholas CE Infants School.
THURSDAY 16 Cholsey and Moulsford: Rebecca Peters - Vicar, Martyn Thorne, Valerie Bolt. For all those who attended our recent Alpha and Youth Alpha courses. For our monthly Forest Church for Families.
FRIDAY 17 Newton Longville, Mursley, Swanbourne, Little Horwood and Drayton Parslow, Bucks: Yvonne Mullins - Rector, Linda Church, Jane Grimmette. For our schools ministry and our Open the Book teams. For our Benefice Forest Church, meeting in Newton Longville, and for those on the fringe who have started coming along. Our Benefice Mission Action Planning morning for all parishioners on 18 October.
Swanbourne CE School, Mursley CE School, Newton Longville CE School.
SATURDAY 18 Didcot St Peter: Hannah Reynolds - Vicar, Timothy Scane, Fran Childs. Those coming to faith and who are preparing for their Confirmation at Epiphany. Pebbles Baby Church, for the leaders and families who come along.
Northbourne CE Primary School.
MONDAY 20 Mursley Deanery: Annie Cooper - Lay Chair, Malcolm Oliver, Jeremy Hopkinson. That volunteers to take on the roles of lay chair, treasurer and secretary will be found. We pray for peace in the world and the changing of hearts and minds of those pursuing war.
TUESDAY 21 Cottesloe nr Aylesbury: Dom Wright - Rector, Will Lyon Tupman, Annie Cooper, Pam Reeves, Roger Hale, Mike Butterworth. For Will, licensed as Team Vicar in September, as he joins us in mission here, and for his wife Laura as they settle into the village of Stewkley. We would like to thank God for the encouragement of some new faces who have joined us recently but also ask for God’s provision in terms of volunteers and financial resources.
St Michaels CE School, Wingrave CE School.
WEDNESDAY 22 The Brickhills and Stoke Hammond, Bucks: John Waller - Rector, Jeremy Hopkinson. Bow Bricknell CE Primary School, High Ash CE Primary School. For all who live within the four parishes in our benefice and our ministry to them.
THURSDAY 23 Ivinghoe with Pitstone and Slapton and Marsworth, Bucks: James Grainger-Smith - Vicar, Sandra Green, Barbara De Butts. We're thankful for all our recent encounters through the occasional offices, through our children's work, and through the ministry of our Food Banks. We look forward to meeting all those people we will see at our Harvest Festivals and Suppers. Please pray that we would all be drawn closer to God - and to each other - and reflect ever more clearly the love and peace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Marsworth CE Infant School.
FRIDAY 24 Wendover Deanery: Sally Moring - Area Dean, Gavin Oldham, Gareth Beynon. For the parishes in vacancy - Weston Turville, Stoke Mandeville, Ellesborough and the Kimbles in active recruitment and Prestwood and Great Hampden at the beginning of the process. For all involved in Children’s, Young People and families work across the deanery as we seek to make Christ known to in our communities.
SATURDAY 25 Aston Clinton with Buckland and Drayton Beauchamp: Sally Bottomer - Rector, Gill Moore, Jane Nash. Ongoing costly repairs in all three churches are causing us concern as we find innovative ways to fundraise. Prayers for a good attendance at the new gentle exercise class at St Michael’s, where people will be able to keep fit whilst socialising!
MONDAY 27 Weston Turville: Susan Fellows - Associate Minister. Our young families and their children, especially those with new babies. For increasing contact with those moving into the parish from the new housing estates, and that they will settle into Weston Turville easily and well.
Weston Turville CE School.
TUESDAY 28 Wendover and Halton: Sally Moring - Rector, Nadine Rose, David Blackmore, Ian Sansbury, Jack Curham. We thank God for the work of our Pioneer Families and Children Minister, Jack Curham, and the relationships he is building across Wendover. Pray for the new initiatives he is developing. For the ministry team in a period of transition.
Wendover CE Junior School.
WEDNESDAY 29 Hawridge with Cholesbury and St Leonards, The Chilterns: Chris Haywood - Rector. For four conformation candidates as they start their discipleship journey. That a collaborative way forward for ministry can be brokered between the parishes. For the institution of a family service.
Hawridge and Cholesbury CE School.
THURSDAY 30 Ellesborough, The Kimbles and Stoke Mandeville: Estelle Fourie - Licensed Lay Minister. We pray that God will send the right minister; someone who will support and encourage the gifts of the laity and lead outreach in our community to proclaim our love for Jesus. We pray that God's Spirit will move within our congregations and communities, stirring a deep desire to know the Lord.
Great Kimble CE School.
FRIDAY 31 Prestwood and Great Hampden: Kayleigh Lucas - Curate, Nigel Spoor, Frances Pauls. For the Benefice during this time of vacancy, for those working on the Parish Profile and those who are helping to support the Benefice in its activities during this time
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 5 For those being confirmed in Charlbury and Abingdon Christ Church by Bishop Gavin.
SUNDAY 12 For those being confirmed in Banbury St Mary's by Bishop Gavin and St Mary's Langley Marish by Bishop Dave.
SUNDAY 19 For those being confirmed in Vale Benefice (Grove) by Bishop Gavin and All Saints Dedworth by Bishop Mary.
SUNDAY 26 For those taking part in the Learning Hub Preparing to Preach course starting this week – that they would be inspired and encouraged and that their words will in turn bless others.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers