Prayer Diary Someone Once Said to Me That Understanding a Parish Is a Bit Like Trying May 2019 to Land a Big Slippery Fish
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Focus on Rugby Deanery Prayer Diary Someone once said to me that understanding a Parish is a bit like trying May 2019 to land a big slippery fish. Just when you think you have got your hands on it, it slips through your fingers and runs off in a different direction! God’s enfolding love for us 25 years ago this month, I had the enormous privilege and joy of I sometimes find that with the Deanery being ordained priest after 7 years of being a deacon. I was then too! Even though I have been Area Dean delighted to be able to preside at a service of Holy Communion for for nearly 2 ½ years, things keep popping the first time on Sunday 8 May 1994, the day on which we up and surprising me. I am still discovering commemorate St. Julian of Norwich, a woman whose most all the things I don’t know! That said, as famous words were ‘All shall be well, all shall be well and all time goes on I become more aware of all the great things that are going on in the manner of things shall be well.’ Deanery, and of course of the difficulties and struggles that some parishes are facing. But the good news is that we have a plan. In fact, we have had a plan for well over a The last century has seen the reemergence of the writings of year now and we would have told you all about it in the Prayer Diary last year but for several women mystics and Julian’s book ‘The Revelations of Divine Love’ is thought the fact that Rugby Deanery had to give away its slot because of a special visitor to have been the first book written by a woman which has survived. She lived in a being in the Diocese this time last year. cell in Norwich in the 14th and early 15th centuries and, on 8 May 1373, received a series of visions. She saw Jesus bleeding in front of her and, through that, received Actually, Rugby was the first Deanery to formulate a plan to help it meet some of the deeper insight into his sufferings and his love for us. challenges that it faces so that its churches can look to the future together and find ways of supporting one another and working more closely together. It’s not until you Julian lived a life of devoted prayer, offering spiritual counsel to many who probably start an undertaking like this that you begin to see just how much the churches of at the time were beset by poverty, but the message in her writings is one of hope our Deanery are doing in sharing the love of Christ with others and the huge number and trust in a God whose compassionate love is always there for us. She speaks of of church folk that are involved in ensuring that the ministry and outreach of the God enfolding us in love. church reaches out ever wider into our communities. In the other articles that focus on Rugby Deanery this month are just two examples of the ways in which we are In a very turbulent world with so much uncertainty, there is, more than ever, a need doing this; one from a rural context and one from an urban one. Please pray for for Christians to be prayerful, still and attentive, renewing our faith and trust in the these and the many other creative things that our churches are doing, that you’ll God who loves us more than we can ever imagine and who showed us that most read about each day. perfectly in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the hope that we can bring to others in what we say and in the way in which we live our lives. ‘May God's love wrap and enfold you, embrace and guide you, and bring you Tim Cockell comfort.’ (Julian of Norwich) Sue Field Area Dean of Rugby Archdeacon Pastor Page 1 Page 2 The Revel Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Mr A Edwards. We pray for Cycle of Prayer - May 2019 Wed 8 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. With a focus on parishes and schools in Rugby Deanery We pray for the Investment Sub-Committee which meets today. *Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417 Rugby St Peter and St John. Clergy: Sheila Bridge. We thank God for the Rugby St Andrew. Clergy: Imogen Nay, Barry Collins, Peter Privett, Pam Gould, Wed 1 completion of Phase 1 of Project Welcome, also for the steady faithfulness of Thu 9 Graham Hardwick. Readers: Sue Goddard. We thank God for the growth of Philip and the congregation in spite of the sudden challenge of having no heating. We our community and for the new Junior Choristers. Please pray for St Andrew's James, would like prayer for sufficient funds to replace our boiler and for our Gardens ('A Space for Everyone' project) and for members of our Apostles midweek community groups to recover attendance. congregation who are getting older and moving into care homes. m2o Rugby. Clergy: Interregnum. Readers: Mervyn Hill, David Long, Mairi Today is World Lupus Day. Lupus is a global health problem that affects Thu 2 Mowbray. We thank God for those who have taken on new responsibilities Fri 10 people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and ages. However many during our vacancy and for many encouragements we have seen. Please pray people have not heard of lupus and do not know its symptoms and the impact for the right person to become our vicar. it can have on the lives of sufferers. We pray that today will help raise *Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 awareness of lupus. St Oswald's CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Hillary Lorimer. We pray for Newbold-on-Avon with Long Lawford. Clergy: Clergy: Paul Wilkinson, Diane Fri 3 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Sat 11 Bussey. Clergy with PTO: Peter Beresford, Sara Bowie. Reader: Jonathan community. Broom. We thank God for the development of the Churchyard Cafe in Long Today we pray for Bishop John who will be preaching at the Founders and Lawford Church. Please pray that we may be ever more visionary in Benefactors' Service of King's High School for Girls at St Mary's, Warwick. embracing God's future for us. Wolston St Margaret's Primary School. Headteacher: Julia McLeod. We pray Hillmorton. Clergy: Steve Gold, Margaret Simmons. Reader: Paul Thomas. We Sat 4 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. Sun 12 pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. This month Bishop Christopher will be focusing on the work of the Living in Today Bishop John will be leading the confirmation service at St Peter's, Fourth Sunday Love & Faith Project. We pray for wisdom for the Bishop as he works on this. Alveston. We pray for the candidates being confirmed. We pray that their *English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era of Easter faith will be broadened as they go out in the Spirit. Bilton. Clergy: Tim Cockell, Jonathan Smith. Reader: Glenn Lowde. We pray for Baginton, Bubbenhall and Ryton-on Dunsmore. Clergy: David Wintle. Reader: Sun 5 God's blessing on this parish. We thank God for our Messy Church and our Mon 13 Rosemary King. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the Pilgrim home groups. Please pray for the appointment of a new Associate local community. Third Sunday of Minister who will focus on families & 20-30s and for a suitable house to be We pray for all those taking SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in primary Easter found for them. Also pray for our desire to work more closely with schools. schools across the diocese this week. Dunchurch with Thurlaston. Clergy: Pat Townshend. We give thanks for the Mon 6 Harris CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Michael Stoppard. We pray for Tue 14 links we have had with Pets As Therapy, Forage Aid, the Royal British Legion, God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Eco Church, Dunchurch Band & Festival, Rugby Food Bank and the St Matthias the community. Petersburg Choir over recent months. We pray that these links continue. Apostle We pray for the Bishop's Council which meets today. Leam Valley Benefice. Clergy: Anne Hinks, Barbara Clutton. Readers: Alec Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore Primary School. Head of School: Lisa Bernard. We Tue 7 Parker, Karen Hatch. We thank God for our churchwardens and for all the new Wed 15 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school services that are being developed across the churches. We ask for your community. prayers that we may respond well to the call to become healthier churches We pray for the Diocesan Board of Education which meets today. over the coming year by setting goals so our love will increase day by day. Page 3 Page 4 We thank God for all the headteachers who lead Church of England schools Thu 16 The Revel Group. Clergy: Jonathan Fox. Readers: Charon Hall, George Lee. We Fri 24 across the diocese. We pray for the Headteacher Wellbeing Group who meet pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. today. *Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877 *John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788 Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Newton and Brownsover.