“Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:22
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
TUESDAY 1 Ivinghoe with Pitstone and Slapton and Marsworth, Bucks: James Grainger-Smith - Vicar, Sandra Green, Barbara De Butts. Give thanks for all our recent encounters through the occasional offices, our children's work and the ministry of our food banks. Pray that we would all be drawn closer to God, and to each other, through these opportunities and at our harvest festivals and suppers.
Marsworth CE Infant School.
WEDNESDAY 2 The Brickhills and Stoke Hammond, Bucks: John Waller - Rector, Jeremy Hopkinson. Give thanks for blessings and encouragements on the life of our churches. For spiritual renewal at the heart of our church life.
Bow Bricknell CE Primary School, High Ash CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 3 Wallingford Deanery: Andy Lord - Area Dean, Ali Adams. Give thanks for recent synods that have explored the way God leads our churches in mission. For continuing conversations as we seek to develop our ministry with children, young people and families.
FRIDAY 4 Harwell with Chilton: Jeremy Parsons - Rector, Sasha Reeves, Jan Radford, Pamela Rolls, Marilyn Thomas. For the upcoming PCC away day. For our recruitment of a Youth, Families and Children’s Worker.
SATURDAY 5 Didcot All Saints: Andy Lord - Rector, Nick Hards. Give thanks for Andy and Debbie's sabbatical and all those who serve in many aspects of our ministry and mission. For wisdom and grace in the financial challenges we face.
All Saints CE Primary School.
MONDAY 7 Great Western Park Church, Didcot: Mark Bodeker - Associate Minister. For those being baptised this month, their parents and godparents, that they would feel God’s blessing. For our Life Groups as they meet regularly to share food, pray, study scriptures together and care. That all those who attend may feel what it is like to be part of God’s family.
TUESDAY 8 The Ladygrove Church, Didcot: For Kitchen Table, our weekly 20s and 30s fellowship group. For our Parents, Carers and Toddlers Group and for our worship community who meet on a Sunday morning.
WEDNESDAY 9 Burford with Fulbrook and Taynton, Asthall with Swinbrook and Widford: Tom Putt - Vicar, Tim Adams, Jo Vickers, Adrian Jackson, Dick Farr, Cedric Reavley, Andrew Wingfield Digby, Gerald March, Alex Ross, Charlie Styles, Stephen Bessent, Martin Bailey, Phil Parker, Martin Down. For the teaching, worship and fellowship at the Burford Women's Convention on 12 October. For our Harvest Weekends, including the ceilidh, all-age service and shared meals.
THURSDAY 10 Didcot St Peter: Hannah Reynolds - Vicar, Timothy Scane, Fran Childs. For our new monthly baby and toddler-friendly church, Pebbles. For Northbourne CE Primary School, its new headteacher, Andrew and the senior leadership team.
FRIDAY 11 Cholsey and Moulsford: Rebecca Peters - Vicar, Martyn Thorne, Valerie Bolt. Cholsey: For Streets as Light, displaying a light in a window to signify bringing light into dark places, and the Light Party taking place this month, both of which have seen the whole community keen to be involved. For Teatime Church, a new initiative beginning in October for young families. Moulsford: For engagement with the whole community.
SATURDAY 12 Wallingford: Sarah Nesbitt - Team Rector, Kevin Beer, Janice Chilton, Sue Booys, John Hutchinson, Christopher Evans, Chris Tuckett, Gavin Wood, Susie Wilmot, Helen King. For our work with children, young people and families across the whole team, the development of our pastoral team to meet the needs of our community and for our various building projects.
Brightwell cum Sotwell CE Primary School, Crowmarsh Gifford CE Primary School, St Nicholas CE Infants School.
MONDAY 14 Wendover Deanery: Sally Bottomer - Area Dean, Sally Moring, Gavin Oldham, Gareth Beynon. For discernment for the future mission and ministry for our parishes in vacancy. For the newly proposed hub of resources to share around the deanery, primarily for our work with children and families.
TUESDAY 15 Weston Turville: Susan Fellows – Associate Minister. For the continuing growth of our ministry to children and young families. For wisdom, inspiration and flexibility as we begin the journey towards appointing a new incumbent.
Weston Turville CE School.
WEDNESDAY 16 Wendover and Halton: Sally Moring - Rector, Matthew Routledge, Nadine Rose, David Blackmore, Ian Sansbury. For the appointment of a Pioneer Youth and Children’s Minister. For mission to the wider community through our new vision plan.
Wendover CE Junior School.
THURSDAY 17 Aston Clinton with Buckland and Drayton Beauchamp: Sally Bottomer - Rector, Gill Moore, Jane Nash. For our continual growth of work and relationship building with our local school and community groups. For our Benefice Bible Study Group studying this term “The promise of paradox in Christian life and faith”.
FRIDAY 18 Great Missenden with Ballinger and Little Hampden: Malcolm Chalmers - Vicar, Patricia Neale. For the successful appointment of a Youth Worker in our benefice. For the ongoing success of the joint projects with our local Church of England primary school, Great Missenden CE Combined School, especially in choral work and instrumental music.
SATURDAY 19 Little Missenden: John Simpson - Vicar, Marian Dickinson-Collins, Gareth Beynon.
For the renewal of children’s ministry.
Little Missenden CE Infant School.
MONDAY 21 Prestwood and Great Hampden: Deiniol Heywood - Rector, Nigel Spoor, Kayleigh Lucas, Frances Pauls. For Prestwood's Make Lunch team and the connections they will make with vulnerable families over half-term, and for a successful conclusion to the Great Hampden reordering project and the redecoration of the church before Christmas.
TUESDAY 22 Ellesborough, The Kimbles and Stoke Mandeville: Estelle Fourie - Licensed Lay Minister. For God’s guidance during the vacancy and for the appointment of a vicar who aligns with the church’s mission and values. That we will expand and enhance the children's ministry, while actively growing the congregation through community engagement and inclusive outreach efforts.
Great Kimble CE School.
WEDNESDAY 23 Hawridge with Cholesbury and St Leonards, The Chilterns: Chris Haywood - Rector. That the parishes unite over a way forward for ministry. For the institution of a family service as capacity allows.
Hawridge and Cholesbury CE School.
THURSDAY 24 The Lee, The Chilterns: Chris Haywood - Rector. That the family service congregation continues to flourish and develops into a community. For the support and good will for the church and ministry in the community to bear kingdom fruit.
Lee Common CE School.
FRIDAY 25 Witney Deanery: Margaret Dixon - Area Dean, Janice Collier, Kirsty Morgan, David Eaton. For our plans for work with young people across the deanery, with schools and in our churches. For the deanery as we welcome many new clergy joining chapter.
SATURDAY 26 Shill Valley and Broadshire, West Oxon: Harry MacInnes - Rector, Dennis Stamps. For Great and Small, an outreach to parents, carers and preschool children. For Winter Warmers in Alvescot, offering hot food and company to anyone in the benefice.
St Peter’s CE School, St Christopher’s CE Primary School.
MONDAY 28 Brize Norton with Carterton and Black Bourton: Barry Hanson - Associate Minister looking after the benefice during the interregnum, Lyndsay Baker, Wend Smith. For the Revd Drew and Billie Tweedy, and the Revd Ian and Carol Howard, settling into their retirement. For the benefice as it commences the vacancy process.
St John the Evangelist CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 29 Cogges and South Leigh, Witney: Simon Kirby - Vicar, Chris Rimmer, Andy Reid, Sam Tippetts, Ian Smith, Marilyn Graves, Fabi Angel, Anna Smith, Darin Stevens, Joy Stevens, Naomi Taylor. For Simon and Sue Kirby as Simon steps down as vicar at the end of October and for Matt Beer as he is licensed as the new vicar on 21 November. For a smooth transition for the churches as they enter a new season.
Bishop Gavin confirming at Banbury St Mary’s.
The Blake CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 30 Witney: Chris Dingwall-Jones - Team Vicar, James Elward, Mark Thomas, Richard Young, David Exham, Laverne Williams. For our community as we prepare for the arrival of our new Team Rector in January. For our outreach work in the town.
St Mary’s CE Infant School, The Batt CE Primary School, St Kenelm’s CE Primary School, Hailey CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 31 The Churn, nr Didcot: Jason St John Nicolle - Rector, Mark Rhodes-Smith, Louise Butler, John Clarke. For our ministry in our church schools, Blewbury Endowed CE Primary School and Hagbourne CE Primary School, and the opportunities this presents. For our ministry around music and the doors this opens for the message of the gospel.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 6 For all Black History Month events and initiatives in our diocese, and for every UKME member of our churches.
SUNDAY 13 In this season of harvest, we give thanks for God's bountiful creation. We pray for UK farmers impacted by flooding, and for those affected by climate impacts which are devastating agriculture and livelihoods around the world. We pray for courage in our leaders, justice for those affected, and for a stirring of our hearts that leads us to action, out of love for God and all creation.
SUNDAY 20 For our churches to be places of welcome where all who come encounter the love of God and are nurtured to live joyfully and faithfully as disciples of Jesus.
SUNDAY 27 Bishop Gavin confirming in Thame.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers