“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
SATURDAY 1 Our link Diocese of Växjö, Sweden: Give thanks for the opportunity in February to meet together and celebrate the link, in place since 2003. That our relationship with the Diocese of Växjö will continue to flourish and inspire God’s mission both here and in Sweden. For the upcoming clergy conference, giving thanks for those who are taking part from Växjö. That this might be a time of mutual sharing and learning that will equip ministry in our churches.
Bishop Henry Scriven confirming Tudor Hall School candidates at St Mary's, Banbury.
MONDAY 3 Purley on Thames: David Archer - Rector, Aidan Jones, Sally Hince, Alan Gates. Give thanks for a number of young people simply arriving at church wanting to find out more about Jesus. For fruitfulness in our evangelism and continued growth in our ministry with children and families.
Purley CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 4 Burghfield, nr Reading: Glynn Lautenbach - Rector, Wayne Lautenbach. Give thanks for the success of our two new groups in 2024, Bumps, Babies and Toddler Group, and our youth club, and pray that we can build on the relationships formed in these groups and other outreach to families, children and youth. For our continued ministry and outreach to all ages in our parish.
Burghfield St Mary’s CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 5 Sulhamstead Abbots and Bannister with Ufton Nervet: John Paton - Priest-in-Charge, Anthony Peabody. For our work with children and young people – Explorers, Explorers Plus and Treblemakers. For the work of the chaplaincy to the Thames Valley Police Training College.
Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 6 Theale: Martin Davy - Vicar, Jacinta Holmes, Alexander Richardson. Praise God for the support from so many to employ Alex as an Associate Minister, and pray that he settles in well. As five hundred homes are being built in Theale, pray for our witness to those moving in, and especially our plans to be ready to welcome people as they move in.
Theale CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 7 Pangbourne with Tidmarsh and Sulham: Mark Hopkins - Rector, Rachel Jeremiah, Barry Ashdown, Tony Naden. For new heating and decoration of our churches at Pangbourne and Sulham, that our churches can continue to be warm and welcoming places. For our ongoing work with children and families and our fortnightly community café.
SATURDAY 8 Stratfield Mortimer and Mortimer West End with Padworth: Paul Chaplin - Vicar. For our three-year strategic mission plan.
St Mary’s and St John’s CE Schools.
MONDAY 10 Buckingham Deanery: Maurice Stanton-Saringer - Area Dean, Georgie Christopher, Nicki Stuchbury, Anthony White. Give thanks for applications for the post of Vicar in the Lenborough benefice and pray for wisdom in interviews. For a spirit of generosity and a harmonious agreement as we do a careful reassessment of share apportionment ratios in the deanery.
TUESDAY 11 Blackthorn Chase: Jacqueline Dove - Rector, John Hamilton, John King, Pam King, Sally Green, Rupert Bursell. For WILD (wonder, imagine, love and discover), a new family and children's club for local villages building strong values together. For those in our benefice coming to terms with increasing frailty and unable to be as active in church and village life as they have been in the past.
Whaddon CE Primary School, Thornborough Infant School.
WEDNESDAY 12 North Buckingham with Stowe: Hans Taling - Rector, Cathy Pearce, Margaret Culley. That the new electoral roll will make people aware of their involvement in the churches, and for all the lay people in our ministry team without whom the benefice could not operate.
Maids Moreton CE School.
THURSDAY 13 Lenborough: Jenny Shields, Sue Ambrose, Kay Bradley. That we soon see the appointment of the right person to lead the benefice after a long vacancy. That the laity who have worked so hard to maintain mission through the vacancy should find the strength to overcome the challenge in rural areas of raising money to pay the Parish Share.
Padbury CE School.
FRIDAY 14 Buckingham: William Pearson-Gee - Rector, Ope Aileye, Joanne Wigley, Paul Mileham, Pauline Stanton-Saringer, Paul Wallace, Max Wigley, Maurice Stanton-Saringer, Chris Murray, Ron Bundock, Sam Graham, Lucia Pearson-Gee. For our mission and outreach initiatives to prosper and thrive. For the Lord to lead to us a new worship pastor.
St James and St John CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 15 West Buckingham: Paula Smith - Rector. Give thanks for all our faithful churchgoers who make our services, churches and churchyards so welcoming. For all our outreach, our community activities, and the desire to spread the good news message to all. For renewal to come to those who attend our local study groups in this season of Lent.
MONDAY 17 Chipping Norton Deanery: David Salter - Area Dean, Catherine Hitchens, Sam Shaw, Brian Ford. Give thanks for the privilege of serving God in this beautiful countryside. For his Holy Spirit’s help, that we might communicate well together and collaborate effectively in our contact with the families in our area.
TUESDAY 18 Chipping Norton: James Kennedy - Team Rector, David Salter, Matt White, Judith Marshall, Peter Silva, Roger Simpson, Ursula Simpson, Stephen Goundrey-Smith, Bishop Henry Scriven, Meg Carter, Emma Kennedy, Sally Smith, Catherine Spring. For our Alpha course this month. For our outreach ministries in the community delivered through The Branch community hub.
St Mary’s CE Primary School.
Bishop Gavin confirming at Wootton (Woodstock).
WEDNESDAY 19 Charlbury with Shorthampton: Fergus Butler-Gallie - Vicar, Patricia Bird, Judy French, Jan Fielden, Brian Ford, Elizabeth Koepping, John Partington. For a deepening sense of the presence of God and for a good and holy Lent and Easter.
THURSDAY 20 Wychwood: Sarah Sharp - Vicar, Anne Hartley, Karen Rizzello. For the Easter Experience for primary school children in the Easter holidays and all those who will give their time to help run it. For our Lent courses, Lent and fellowship lunches and extra services at this time, that they will deepen relationships both with God and within the benefice.
Wychwood CE Primary School.
Bishop Gavin confirming at Bloxham School.
FRIDAY 21 Hook Norton with Great Rollright, Swerford and Wigginton: Janet Faull - Rector, Keith Disney, Janet Collins. For our ecumenical Lent meetings to encourage people in their discipleship. For visits to schools by our Open the Book drama teams, that Bible stories might speak to staff and pupils.
Great Rollright CE Primary School, Hook Norton CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 22 Forest Edge, West Oxon: Paul Mansell - Vicar, Gail Ward, Sarah Jones. For Finstock and Leafield CE Primary Schools; their staff and children. For all those on our PCCs, and all those who keep our churches going.
MONDAY 24 The Chase Benefice (Chadlington, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Spelsbury and Enstone): Mark Abrey - Rector. For the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to rebuild our common life across the benefice and look for new people to become wardens and PCC members. For the welcome that we offer as a totally inclusive church community, especially to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Chadlington CE School
TUESDAY 25 Great Tew with Little Tew and Heythrop: William Burke - Vicar. For the work of our newly-established trust to provide wider community care for our churches in the benefice. For our church links with the village school.
WEDNESDAY 26 Maidenhead and Windsor Deanery: Ainsley Swift - Area Dean, Jim Tucker, Thomas Walton, Rod Broad. For our deanery as we seek to promote and enable a deeper engagement with children and young people in all our parishes. For those preparing for baptism and confirmation.
THURSDAY 27 Maidenhead St Andrew and St Mary Magdalene: Jon Drake - Vicar, Ian Miller, Adam Curtis, Nick McDonald, Johan Schoeman. For our ministry amongst asylum seekers and refugees, that in dark situations the light of the gospel would shine, bringing faith, hope and love. For our ministry amongst children and teenagers, for the Lord to sustain and encourage the team of volunteer leaders and grow deep roots of faith in Christ in all our young people.
All Saints CE Junior School, Altwood CE School, Boyne Hill CE Infant and Nursery School.
FRIDAY 28 Central Windsor: Sally Lodge - Team Rector, Richard Terrado-Reardon, Anne Casson, John Quick, Peter Johnson. For our new Parish of Central Windsor, its churchwardens and newly-elected PCC members. For our recently-established toddler group.
The Queen Anne CE First School, Trinity St Stephen CE First School.
SATURDAY 29 Furze Platt, Maidenhead: David Short - Vicar, Joanna Ellington, Ruth Knight, Geoff Yeung. For the appointment of a children’s minister. For our Alpha awayday and women’s weekend away. That each person would encounter the presence, peace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
MONDAY 31 Maidenhead St Luke: Sally Lynch - Vicar, Terrie Robinson, Sam Fiordelisi. That changes in the ministry team may be smooth. For the Revd Phyl Sopp as she moves away and for Sam, on maternity leave. That more people may respond positively to the call to different ministries within the church. That a new music director might be appointed to the team, and for the choir as they continue to lead during this time.
St Luke’s CE Primary School.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 2 For all those who have signed up to Come and See this Lent, that they would be richly blessed as they lead or participate.
Bishop Gavin confirming at Radley College.
SUNDAY 9 For all those who seek to find a place to belong, grow in faith and serve within our churches; and especially for all young adults exploring church communities.
SUNDAY 16 Bishop Steven confirming at Littlemore.
SUNDAY 23 For resilient hope for scientists, ecologists, conservationists and all those in our communities engaged in creation care, as they strive for a better future for God’s good creation in the current context. For local Eco Church champions and Deanery Environmental Leads, that doors will be opened as they advocate for action in their local areas.
SUNDAY 30 For all children, young people and family ministers in our churches, that God would bless their planning, preparation, sessions, events, conversations and encounters.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers