Prayer Diary December & January 2020-2021 Sunday 29 NOVEMBER Advent 1 Campaigning against gender-based violence Lord, we pray that through Each year, the International Day for the Elimination of the work of the Mothers’ Violence Against Women on 25 November marks the start Union and other charities of a 16-day international campaign, which culminates on worldwide, gender-based Foreword from Bishop John International Human Rights Day on 10 December. violence is brought to an end. As I write this foreword, we are in the midst of the Throughout the campaign, the Mothers’ Union is joining with second lockdown. Our Archbishops have asked around 6,000 organisations from approximately 187 countries us to make this month a month of prayer and to raise awareness of, and call for an end to, gender-based violence in all forms Kingswinford Deanery and in all societies. I’m delighted how many people have responded Rural Dean: David Hoskin positively to their request. As part of the campaign this year the Mothers’ Union will be holding their Global Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesy Day (5 December) online, focusing on the disturbing and unacceptable figure that This prayer diary covers the season of Advent and ‘1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced domestic or sexual abuse’. St Andrews, Dunkeld and Christmas and it reminds us that prayer should In Worcester Cathedral, a candle Dunblane (Scotland): be as natural to us as breathing. It’s appropriate with be lit and the MU prayers Bishop Ian Paton Lusitanian Church: to every season, something we can do as long as used each day. the Holy Spirit gives us breath. It’s one thing that Bishop Jorge Pina Cabral To find out more about the work Porvoo (Finland): cannot be banned during lockdown. of our local Mothers’ Union and Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand These are hard times: we should take encouragement from St Paul’s words this campaign against gender- to the Christians at Philippi: ‘Do not worry about anything but in everything based violence, please visit by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made www.worcestermu.org.uk/. Sekondi (Ghana): M known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, Bishop Alexander Asmah will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Mon 30 Growing as Kingdom People: Worshipping God creatively Eastern Michigan (USA): Bishop Todd Ousley With that in mind, it’s good, now and then, to have an extra ‘push’ on God of all the world, as we worship you, may we feel today the good news of your prayer and to follow the national month of prayer we are also publishing love, and know its truth within us. May we rejoice in that love day by day through Seoul (Korea): T a ‘prayer diary extra’ – a sustained period of prayer specifically linked to Jesus Christ our Lord. Bishop Peter Lee Eastern Newfoundland ‘Growing as Kingdom People’ during Advent. Tue 1 DECEMBER Kingswinford Deanery & Labrador (Canada): God bless you this Advent, one like no other, and may the joy of the Pray for the Deanery Chapter, Synod and PCCs as we work through the effects of Bishop Geoffrey Peddle Christ-child be yours this Christmas. the pandemic and join in the Diocesan Restructuring Conversation. For hope and Seychelles (Indian Ocean): W courage. Rural Dean: David Hoskin; Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesy. Bishop James Richard Wong Yin Song Eastern Oregon (USA): Wed 2 Diocese of Peru Bishop Patrick Bell Following the impeachment of the president and the widespread public discontent Sheffield: Th with this action by Congress, pray for the people of Peru as they endure political Bishop Pete Wilcox, turmoil on top of the devastating consequences of pandemic, especially that they with Bishop Sophie Jelley (Doncaster) may find leaders of integrity to lead them through this crisis. Eastern Zambia (Africa): Bishop William Mchombo Thur 3 Brierley Hill Team: St Michael, Brierley Hill Easton (USA): At the moment we are continuing to produce the prayer diary Give thanks for monies coming into the area through the High Street Heritage Bishop Santosh Marray Action Zone. Pray for benefits for the whole community and for church to recognise monthly in electronic format. In this two-month edition, Shinyanga (Tanzania): F we’re praying for Kingswinford and Droitwich. We try to pray opportunities. Clergy: David Hoskin, Carol Weston; Readers: Keith Colley, Val Bishop Johnson Chinyong’ole for those with a licence from the Bishop by name, but please do Houghton. Reader-in-training: Tracey Skidmore. Eau Claire (USA): Bishop William Jay Lambert remember all who minister and witness with them in each parish. Fri 4 Brierley Hill Team: Christ Church, Quarry Bank Pray for the choir and all working to produce creative Christmas worship for Facebook Edinburgh (Scotland): S Bishop John Armes and YouTube that they may become real community events. Clergy: David Hoskin, Carol Gasabo (Rwanda): Weston. Readers: Keith Colley, Val Houghton. Reader-in-training: Tracey Skidmore. Bishop Laurent Mbanda Sat 5 Brierley Hill Team: St John Brockmoor On Sundays we are offering a monthly prayer for you to pray for your baptism families and we also Pray for the recruitment of a community missioner to work across the parish - making continue to pray for dioceses around the world through the Poorvoo prayer calendar (Sundays) and links with the population who do not worship in the Team. Clergy: David Hoskin, Carol the Anglican Cycle of Prayer. These are all placed in a column, on the side edge of each page. Weston; Readers: Keith Colley, Val Houghton. Reader-in-training: Tracey Skidmore. Advent 2 Sunday 6 DECEMBER Sunday 13 DECEMBER Advent 3 Father, we pray that you help us all to find much-needed Comfort Comfort & Joy at Christmas Christmas-tide in Malvern Link and Cowleigh Lord, we thank you for and Joy this Advent season, #ComfortandJoy is the Church of England’s Advent and This Christmas-tide, Malvern Link and Cowleigh are getting creative with the inspiring us with many ways in especially those of us who have Christmas campaign for 2020. It holds together the hope children, young people and families in their parish, with support from their Mission which to creatively celebrate been bereaved or who will be apart that Christmas will bring joy and celebration after a difficult Enabler, Helen Laird. and learn about the Nativity from loved ones over Christmas. year with an acknowledgement that – for those who have To celebrate the Advent season, every Primary school child has been invited to with our children, young experienced loss or bereavement, or who are still not able decorate a bunting pendant with Christian imagery of Christmas. Once decorated, people and families this year. Kingswinford Deanery to be together with loved ones – it may be the Church’s role the 1,500 themed pendants will be sewn together in class groups and used to Rural Dean: David Hoskin to provide consolation. Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesy decorate the church. Daily reflections are available along with a printed booklet Comfort and Joy: Nine Not only will the Christmas Kingswinford Deanery Praying for our Baptism families - Lessons and Carols for Christmas which explores biblical texts alongside the words story be recreated in fabric, but Rural Dean: David Hoskin Loving God, we ask that you help of much-loved Christmas carols. Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesy our Baptism families know and also with food at the planned Nine online services, created in partnership with charities like ‘Edible Nativity’ next weekend. understand the fullness of your Southwell and Nottingham: Christian Aid and the Church Army, are also available. These On Saturday 19 December, love. Give them peace in knowing Bishop Paul Williams with that you are with them from the include: a service for each Sunday of Advent; a Children’s families will visit St Matthias and Bishop Andrew Emerton (Sherwood) beginning and until the end. Amen. Society Christingle; nine lessons and carols; and midnight St Peter’s churches to decorate Falkland Islands: services. Churches are encouraged to list the full range of pre-cut and baked gingerbread Bishop Timothy Thornton Chester: Bishop Mark Tanner, with Borg (Norway): Bishop Keith Sinclair (Birkenhead) their Advent and Christmas services on A Church Near You. biscuits in the shape of Nativity The Reformed Episcopal It is hoped that Comfort and Joy will reconnect us to the rich characters, ready to take home Bishop Atle Sommerfeldt Church of Spain: and joyous traditions of the past and offer God’s consoling and adorn their Christmas trees, Bishop Carlos López-Lozano love in the present. if they make it that far! Kuopio (Finland): Bishop Jari Jolkkonen M Shyira (Rwanda): Mon 7 Growing as Kingdom People: Making disciples Mon 14 Growing as Kingdom People: Sharing hope Sodor & Man: M Bishop Samuel M Mugisha Lord, help us to see the opportunities for coming alongside others and sharing the O God we thank you for Jesus: wonderful counsellor, our prince of peace. As we Bishop Peter Eagles Edmonton (Canada): Vacant good news of Jesus. We pray for those just starting on their journey of faith, that they celebrate Emmanuel we know that you are with us, and in the warmth of your love El Camino Real (USA): Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves T Shyogwe (Rwanda): will continue to grow and develop as your disciples. we find our hope renewed and our confidence restored. Help us to share that hope Bishop Jered Kalimba with others. Amen. Sokoto (Nigeria): T Egba (Nigeria): Tue 8 Kingswinford & Wall Heath Bishop Augustine Omole Bishop Emmanuel Adekunle Pray for St Mary’s and Church of the Ascension as they enter vacancy; for all in Tue 15 Christ Church, Coseley El Salvador (Central America): Lafia (Nigeria): ministry and supporting continued worship and the online Jigsaw Church and for our Praying for a continued sense of hope and strength during the time of uncertainty.