Welcome to our new Archdeacon Prayer Diary Missioner

Hundreds of people from all November 2019 across Coventry, and further afield came to Coventry True Friendship Cathedral on Sunday 6th October to welcome our new Archdeacon True friendship is a precious gift from God. We read in Proverbs Missioner. The Venerable Barry Dugmore was installed by the Bishop ‘Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer of Coventry in a special Choral than one’s nearest kin.’ (18.24). Evensong service. Sometimes it takes an upset or affliction in our own lives to discover who our true friends really are. But now think about During the service, Archdeacon Barry addressed the congregation. He spoke about this amazing truth. God wants to be your friend. Just as Jesus seeing us and inviting us to see him. He said: Abraham is called ‘a friend of God’ because he trusted God (James 2.23, 2 Chron.20.7, Is.41.8), so we are invited into that “Over the past few months I've been discovering more of how the Diocese of same friendship with God. In the Eastern Church, Jesus is called Coventry, my new diocese, sees Jesus at work, and is helping others to see him. It has Philanthropos, the friend of all humankind. But his friendship is not general or moved me, excited me and filled me with anticipation of what is yet to come. It's amorphous, it is specific and personal. He calls us by name. We know, for example of good to be here. [...] I look forward to joining in with the on-going story of God's particular friendships he had with Mary, Martha and Lazarus– whom he describes as kingdom here, working with you, and for you; to serve the Church across our diocese ‘our friend’ (John11.11). Jesus says to his disciples – and that means us, today – ‘I no as we worship God, make new disciples and work for the transformation of lives and longer call you servants, but friends, because I have made known to you everything that communities." I have heard from my Father’ (John15.15). On a previous occasion, Bishop Christopher said: Jesus invites us to share our lives with him and – amazingly - offers to share his life with us. What might that mean for us? With our closest friends we share the real stuff, our “The post of Archdeacon Missioner remains a unique appointment in the Church of joys and our pains, our hopes and our fears. We cry with them, we laugh with them. We and it requires a particular set of gifts and experience. So I’m delighted Barry speak to them freely, we listen to them without judging them. We can be who we truly Dugmore will be coming to join us and bringing the sort of proven track record in the are with them. Whatever we are like, whatever happens, they stick with us. It is into just life and mission of the Church that will help us take forward the health and growth of such a friendship that Jesus invites us, sharing our lives fully with him. But, of course, the Diocese that we’ve seen over recent years. I really look forward to welcoming human friendship is fallible. We let each other down. ‘Even my close friend, someone I Barry and Suzanne to this great part of the country where so much is happening and trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.’ Ps.41.9. The friendship of where God wants to do so much more among us.” God is something on which we can depend. The more we can dare to trust and obey God, the more we can enter into and enjoy his friendship (John 15.14). Barry succeeds the Venerable Morris Rodham as Archdeacon Missioner. Barry will work closely with Archdeacon Pastor, the Venerable Sue Field.

Page 1 Page 2 Fri 8 Primary School. Headteacher: D Johnson. We thank God for this Cycle of Prayer - November 2019 school community and pray for God's blessing on the pupils, teachers, staff With a focus on parishes and schools in Shipston Deanery and governors. *The Saints and Martyrs of England

South Warwickshire Seven. Clergy: Stuart Allen, Ben Dyson, Anthony Wells. Today Bishop Christopher is speaking at the annual conference of the

Fri 1 Reader: Clare Wells. We give thanks for the children and families who came to Sat 9 Warwickshire & Association for Local Councils. His talk is a recent tea party and some to church the next day. Please pray for our entitled 'Shaping cultures of hope for the good of all' and looks at how All Saints’ Day autumn outreach, especially a big youth event in the North Cotswolds on the churches and local government can work together for the good of the local 8th November. area. We pray for the relationship between churches and local government. We pray for those who will be gathering at Coventry's Memorial Park for Today Bishop John is meeting with pilgrims who are travelling to the Holy Land Sat 2 Sun 10 today's Remembrance Day Service; and for Bishop Christopher who will be in January 2020 on the diocesan pilgrimage. We pray for the all the pilgrims leading that service. We also pray for Remembrance Sunday services taking and the organising team as they prepare for the pilgrimage. 3rd Sunday place across the diocese. *Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) before Advent *Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461 Bishop John is leading a service to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 'new' Today is the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. The theme this year is 'Choose

Sun 3 All Saints Church, Emscote today. We thank God for All Saints and the ways in Mon 11 Respect.’ The aim is to take a stand against bullying and raise awareness in which the old and new buildings serve the local community. schools, colleges and organisations. We pray for all who are being bullied, and 4th Sunday *Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600 for initiatives that aim to prevent bullying. before Advent *Martin of Porres, Friar, 1639 *Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 Today Bishop Christopher is leading the Schools' Remembrance Service in the & Sutton, with Tysoe, Oxhill & . Clergy: George Heighton. Mon 4 Tue 12 Memorial Park, Coventry. We pray for Bishop Christopher as he leads the Reader: Jennie Rake. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members service and for all the children taking part by reciting their own prayers and and the local community. poems. We pray for the Bishop's Study Day which takes place today. We pray for the Investment Sub-Committee which meets today.

Tue 5 November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. We pray for all who have been Wed 13 This week is Interfaith week. Interfaith week aims to build good relationships diagnosed, and for all who are undergoing chemotherapy. We pray also for and working partnerships between people of different faiths. We pray that this members of their families who surround and support them. week is successful in highlighting the importance of interfaith relations. We pray for the Diocesan Board of Education which meets today. *Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836

Wed 6 We pray for Bishop Christopher who is attending the House of Bishops' Thu 14 Today is World Diabetes Day, a day when millions of people around the world Standing Committee at Lambeth Palace today. come together to raise awareness of diabetes and what it is like to live with *Leonard, Hermit, 6th century the condition. We pray for everyone living with diabetes. *William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1944 *Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796

Bishop John is attending the 'Transformation Steering Group' consultation day We pray for all who work at the Diocesan Office under the leadership of the

Thu 7 at Lambeth Palace to reflect on 25 years since women were ordained as priests Fri 15 Diocesan Secretary, Ruth Marlow. We pray for God's guidance as they seek to and 5 years since they were ordained as Bishops. We pray the day is successful serve and equip the whole of the . in looking at how to continue and flourish women's ministry. We thank God for our Bishops, Christopher and John. We pray for them as *Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739 they take part in the Episcopal Retreat with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Page 3 Page 4 We thank God for those who serve on committees and working groups in Sat 16 We pray for Diocesan Synod which meets today. Sun 24 parishes, deaneries and the diocese. *Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093 We praise God for Christ the King! We reflect on Isaac Watt's hymn 'When I *Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240 survey the Wondrous Cross'. We pray that we might be renewed in our love Christ the King for God. "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." Newbold and Tredington Primary School. Headteacher: Sam Welsby. We thank Brailes Primary School. Headteacher: Heather Childs. We thank God for this Sun 17 Mon 25 God for this school community and pray for God's blessing on the pupils, school community and pray for God's blessing on the pupils, teachers, staff teachers, staff and governors. and governors. 2nd Sunday *Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century *Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200 before Advent *Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748 Stourdene Benefice. Clergy: Sharon Goble. We give thanks for the recent Tysoe Primary School. Headteacher: Paige Neale. We thank God for this Mon 18 Tue 26 Prayer Course and Holiday clubs. We pray for growing hopeful expectation in school community and pray for God's blessing on the pupils, teachers, staff God working in and through us, empowering us to keep reaching out and and governors. serving our communities with greater vision and a stronger sense of working *Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231 together and supporting one another as a benefice. We thank God for all those who serve as clergy in the diocese. We pray for Today we pray for Together for Change, a joint venture between the Diocese Tue 19 strength and energy, especially during this busy term. Wed 27 of Coventry and the Church Urban Fund. We pray for the charity's work in We pray for the Diocesan Finance Group which meets this morning. setting up social enterprises and local projects that will support sustainable *Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680 community transformation and tackle poverty in Coventry and Warwickshire. *Mechtild, Béguine of Magdeburg, Mystic, 1280 This is Alcohol Awareness Week. Issues with alcohol seem to be increasing, Shipston on Stour with , Honington and . Clergy: Sarah

Wed 20 with more young people drinking alcohol. We pray for those whose lives are Thu 28 Edmonds, Jill Tucker, Nicholas Morgan. Reader: Alison Tomkinson. We thank being damaged by drink, and for the impact this has on family and friends. God for strong community links and opportunities to explore new ways of *Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870 prayer and worship. Please pray for our work with families, including Little *Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life, 1876 Church and Lego Church. , Tredington and neighbouring parishes. Clergy: Stephen Fletcher. Today is 'Buy Nothing Day', an alternative to Black Friday. Buy Nothing Day Thu 21 Readers: Malcolm Davies, Roz Wakefield. We thank God for a growth in Fri 29 aims to raise awareness of the environmental impact of consumerism. Today passionate spirituality, with courses well attended, and renewed interest in you need do just one thing: buy nothing! Please pray for this initiative. midweek groups. Please pray for ongoing good relationships within the *Day of Intercession and Thanksgiving for the Missionary Work of the Church parishes.

Ilmington Primary School. Headteacher: Rebecca Noon. We thank God for Fri 22 Sat 30 On St Andrew's Day we pray for all those who, like Andrew, seek to be the this school community and pray for God's blessing on the pupils, teachers, fishers of men. We pray for missionary societies and all who respond to serve staff and governors. Andrew the the Church worldwide. *Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230 Apostle

Today Bishop Christopher and Bishop John will be confirming candidates in a

Sat 23 service at Coventry Cathedral. We pray for the candidates being confirmed. Please pray that their faith will be broadened and deepened as they go out in the power of the Spirit. *Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100 Page 5 Page 6 St Catherine’s new building opens Bard’s Ride

St Catherine’s Church, Stoke Every year on the second Saturday in Aldermoor, has been on a long September, the Warwickshire and Coventry journey in the last 8 years which is Historic Churches Trust (WCHCT) holds a big now in its final phase. The new church fundraising day for the preservation and building was opened by the Bishop of repair or our wonderful church buildings. In Coventry, the Right Reverend Dr the past parishioners were encouraged to Christopher Cocksworth at a cycle or walk in support of their church and dedication service on 1st October at the trust. Traditionally known as ‘Ride and 7pm. Stride’ this has been a successful formula enabling the trust to give grants to churches The new building has a multipurpose hall where the church will run its Jigsaw Stay in need of our help. However, in recent years the trust have seen a significant drop in income as less riders have come forward and Play groups, Youth Café, Foodbank, as well as holding Sunday services. There is a to support their parishes. meeting room, kitchen, toilets, a vestry for quiet prayer and an office. The site is fully accessible and has an electric car charging point in its carpark as well as bicycle This year, the WCHCT updated the concept and rebranded the day as the ‘Bards Ride’ - racks. St Catherine’s already partners with other local church congregations, turning it into a single event on planned 18 and 40 mile routes plus an 8-mile walk. The charities, a Credit Union and provides meeting space for groups run by the council aim was to extend our appeal to a wider community; the ever increasing ‘MAMIL’ – but with their new building, they hope to be even more of a community resource. (middle aged man -and woman - in lycra) and to family groups interested in the history and heritage these wonderful churches can provide. The event started at Newbold and For the past few years, the church has met in the portakabin which remain at the the route covered some of the finest countryside in the area before ending at Honington rear of the site and these will continue to be used by Proof Bakery, a social Hall – a very special setting where tired riders and walkers could relax and enjoy delicious enterprise giving employment opportunities to refugee women. Redevelopment of refreshments. Nearly all the churches on the routes were open. The Edgehill ringers rang this part of the site will become phase 2! the bells at three churches including Honington, which added wonderful resonances as a backdrop to the event. At Barcheston the new organ played throughout the day for the Vicar of St Catherine's, the Revd Buff Forbes Stone said: enjoyment of all.

"We are so grateful for all the support which has enabled us to have this splendid Unfortunately, despite vigorous publicity, only a disappointing 45 people were signed up new building. We want it to be a sign of hope and commitment that God is here right to the Bard’s Ride before the event. However, on the day, our hard work aided by in the midst of Stoke Aldermoor." glorious sunshine was rewarded with a total of 117 people turning up. Reactions from participants have for the most part ranged from the ecstatic to the mildly encouraging. Bishop Christopher says: We do hope for more clergy and parishioners’ enthusiasm and support in future years to turn the Bard’s Ride into a much larger event. The Bard’s Ride encourages non- "St Catherine’s has been serving the needs of Stoke Aldermoor for 80 years. In recent churchgoers inside the walls of these remarkable edifices and raises funds so that future generations can enjoy historic church buildings. Could there perhaps also be a mission years the congregation has expanded despite being housed in portacabins. It’s opportunity to engage with so many new faces visiting our churches? marvellous to see a new building beginning to appear that will better serve the spiritual and community needs of the community now and for generations to come." James Kerr

Churchwarden of Pillerton

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