Prayer Diary
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PRAYER DIARY OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020 Launde Abbey is a retreat house in the heart of the country with God at its centre Oct - Dec 2020 Retreats at Launde Abbey For more information and to book Please note that due to ongoing restrictions, please call or see our website these retreats may not go ahead or may require reduced numbers – please contact Launde Launde Abbey, East Norton, Abbey for more information. Leicestershire, LE7 9XB CREATIVE BIBLE JOURNALLING LED BY JACKIE THACKRAY AND KAREN HERRICK 6th-9th Oct BEGINNERS RETREAT Led by Helen Newman 9th-11th Oct GARDENING WEEK 26th-30th October DYING TO LIVE LED BY HELEN NEWMAN 2nd-5th November LOVERS OF GOD: PRAYING WITH THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING LED BY CHRIS WEBB 13th-15th November YOU, GOD? A RETREAT IN PREPARATION FOR ADVENT LED BY EUAN TAIT 13th-15th November ADVENT RETREAT: SEEKING SOME SMALL HEAVEN LED BY IAN ADAMS 23rd-26th November STILL BEFORE CHRISTMAS LED BY DAVID NEWMAN 7th-10th December © Matt Musgrave Serving the Dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough www.laundeabbey.org.uk • 01572 717254 • [email protected] • Charity No: 1140918 FOREWORD FROM THE BISHOP OF LEICESTER The COVID19 We now move into a period within pandemic the diocese of deep listening to God - has affected listening to what he has been saying to different us and the wider church throughout the people in pandemic, and listening for the Spirit’s different guidance on how to shape the Church ways - for the future to serve the world and to physically, bring in the kingdom. Here in the diocese, mentally and, we are doing this under the umbrella of of course, “Shaped by God Together”. Crucially, as spiritually. the basis of all our discernment, we need Some have to pray - in whatever ways work best for found it us, and both individually and corporately. a challenge to their faith - physically We will all need to wait on God in the separated from their worshipping silence. community, and perhaps struggling to find any words in prayer that can Whatever the future holds, God is comprehend the vast scale and impact faithful and will never leave us. God of the virus. “How can we sing the Lord’s always gives us more than we desire or song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4). deserve. Pray too in thanksgiving for Others will have found it a special time to that. focus on their discipleship, giving them more time to read the Bible, reflect, and meet with God in prayer. They would say their faith has deepened. And of course many others will find themselves on the spectrum in between. www.laundeabbey.org.uk • 01572 717254 • [email protected] • Charity No: 1140918 WELCOME Welcome to the new edition of the diocesan calendar of prayer, which takes us through the autumn and into winter – from harvest to All Saints, Remembrance, Advent and Christmas. If you know of anyone else who would like to receive a paper copy of this document, then please contact the Bishop’s Chaplain as below. It can also be downloaded from www. leicester.anglican.org/everyday-faith/calendar-or-prayer/ Every day we pray for Bishops and our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world using the Anglican Cycle of Prayer and the Porvoo prayer calendar (www.porvoochurches.org) – these are included in italics at the bottom of each day. You will also find one of our own partner dioceses featured every week. The Anglican Communion have changed their practice and now only include the name of the diocesan bishop, asking us to pray for the people, clergy and bishops of the named dioceses. The key to the parish entries is as follows: C = Clergy; R = Reader; PA = Pastoral Assistant; Pio = Pioneer Minister; Evng = Evangelist; PTO = Permission to Officiate. Do let the Bishop’s Chaplain know if you’ve got a story to feature on a Sunday in a future edition – with as much notice as possible please! Email Revd Rosie Woodall at [email protected] or phone 0116 270 3390 or send it c/o Bishop’s Lodge. We are very grateful to Revd Canon Brian Davis for his work on gathering parish prayer requests. SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER TRINITY 17 Today is Homeless Sunday. Our Social trying not to return to the pre-lockdown Responsibility Enabler, Canon Alison situation. There is energy, vision and Adams, writes: determination from both Councils and agencies to create a different future. Homelessness is an issue which tugs at There are many challenges – lack of our conscience and causes us to question affordable quality accommodation, or societal values. It is very complex, support and appropriate healthcare both in scope and in how we address it. for people attempting to rebuild their For example, not all those begging are lives. When you are homeless absolutely homeless, nor is it solely an urban issue. everything is far more difficult than most Homelessness in Leicester is far less in of us could ever imagine. scale than in other major cities. However, no homeless person is merely a statistic: All this requires partnership. Leicester is each has a unique story, hopes and fears. proud of its Homelessness Charter, which draws in the voluntary sector, Council, During lockdown virtually all were police, NHS, Lieutenancy and business, accommodated and there are some real with the diocese playing a key role. Please success stories of moving long term rough support the Give Leicester Campaign sleepers into permanent accommodation. which, through its ‘TAP’ giving points in But that’s not the whole solution. People the city, provides a trusted way of directly don’t choose to be homeless, so behind supporting homeless people, and helps this lie issues which need addressing – the public better understand the issues. mental health or addictions, for example. Being homeless makes these issues harder to resolve, but they don’t go away Please pray for: when accommodation is provided. People coming out of prison or the armed forces • the homeless and vulnerable people are particularly vulnerable, and there is you meet concern that as the economic effects of • the agencies working with them, the pandemic really begin to bite, many including those particularly known to us such as One Roof Leicester, Sound Café and The Bridge • Councils and their officers, seeking to effect real change in this area • those who manage and drive Leicester’s Homelessness Charter The Anglican Church of Tanzania: Archbishop Maimbo Mndolwa - Archbishop of Tanzania & Bishop of Tanga more will find themselves homeless. In our City and County, agencies are MON 5 OCTOBER Diocese of Trichy Bishop D Chandrasekaran Please pray for the ministry of our partner Diocese of Trichy in India, as the Covid pandemic continues to cause much suffering; and give thanks for those who serve in healthcare. Peterborough: Bishop Donald Allister; Christ the King (Southern Africa): Bishop William Mostert TUES 6 OCTOBER Bishop’s Leadership Team residential Please pray for the Bishop’s Leadership Team residential meeting at Launde Abbey. Phulbani (North India):Bishop Bijay Nayak; Christchurch (Aotearoa NZ & Polynesia): Bishop Peter Carrell; Kolhapur (North India):Bishop Sandeep Vibhute WED 7 OCTOBER Bishop’s Leadership Team meeting Please pray for the Bishop’s Leadership Team residential meeting at Launde Abbey. Pittsburgh (USA):Bishop Dorsey McConnell; Chubu (Japan): Bishop Peter Ichiro Shibusawa THURS 8 OCTOBER Bishop’s Leadership Team residential Please pray for the Bishop’s Leadership Team residential meeting at Launde Abbey. Polynesia (Aotearoa NZ & Polynesia): Archbishop Fereimi Cama; Clogher (Ireland):Bishop John McDowell; Cochin (South India): Bishop Baker Fenn FRI 9 OCTOBER The Woodfield Team & Mission Partnership Vivien Elphick, Rick Tett (C); Debbie Kent (R); David Harrison, Glennys Kerr, Norma Morris- Chapman, Derek Tomlin (R-PTO); Elisabeth Harrison (Evng); Judy Selby (PA); Joan Smith (PA-PTO) St John Moore CE Primary School, Appleby Magna; Snarestone, Measham & Packington CE Primary Schools Please pray for all involved in mission and ministry in our team and with our local communities. Popondota (Papua New Guinea): Bishop Lindsley Ihove; Coimbatore (South India): Bishop Timothy Ravinder SAT 10 OCTOBER Lay ministers study day Pray for those gathering for today’s study day as we are Shaped by God Together. Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea): Bishop Denny Guka; Colombia (The Episcopal Church): Bishop Francisco Duque; Kollam-Kottarakkara (South India): Bishop Oommen George SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER TRINITY 18 Prisons Week aims to encourage prayer and awareness of the needs of prisoners and their families, victims of offenders, prisons staff, those working in the justice system, and all those who care, reflected in the Prisons Week Prayer offered throughout the week: Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends,prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the activities of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another. To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in His strength and in His Spirit, now and every day. Amen. including volunteers. The COVID pandemic Each day of the week, a new prayer brings preventedany visitors to any prisons so this into focus a different group affected has been a particularly challenging time for by prison or criminal justice. Churches the inmates, leading to increased mental and individuals are also asked to reflect health issues for the staff and chaplains to on what they might do or offer as part respond to. of their response, through the range of Christian agencies and charities involved Please pray for: in supporting Prisons Week, which is an • all those in prison, especially the ecumenical initiative.