Focus on Deanery Prayer Diary At the end of December 2014, the Deanery sadly said goodbye to Kate Massey as Curate- in-Charge of Meriden, St. Laurence who was formally installed as Vicar of Stockingford, June 2015 St. Paul in the Deanery. Happily, Lynda Lilley (nee Edwards), formerly Curate of Allesley, has succeeded Kate. Lynda also has responsibility for Coventry’s Deaf congregation that currently meets at Cheylesmore, Christ Church. ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised.’ (Psalm 113:3) The energetic Keith Mobberley, Vicar of several churches in the North Ferncumbe benefice, has initiated a number of courses in spiritual formation and direction under the

banner “Passionate about Spirituality” (http://www.passionatespirituality.org.uk). These We are made for praise. Made in the image of God as we are, praise is our deepest have proved very popular and, although not explicitly a Kenilworth Deanery project, have and truest calling. Our ‘chief end’, the Westminster Catechism reminds us is ‘to nevertheless attracted many of the Deanery laity seeking to go deeper with God. This glorify God and enjoy him forever.’ Whenever we gather for Holy Communion we enterprise is of enormous importance for the spiritual life of the Deanery and Diocese in recognise that ‘It is indeed our duty and our joy at all times and in all places to give view of startling evidence that for most churches ‘Passionate Spirituality’ is a very weak him thanks and praise.’ ‘Essential Quality’ in terms of the Natural Church Development (NCD) schema.

It is our duty. This is about the discipline of praise or the sacrificeof praise (Hebrews All the Kenilworth Churches have now undertaken an NCD survey and the Deanery 13:15). If we are not careful, and we absorb the ‘me-centred’ consumerism of the Synod, which is held jointly with the Coventry (South) Deanery, has devoted its recent culture around us, our default position will be to praise God only when we feel like it meetings to expositions of the six “growth forces (energy transformation, fruitfulness, or when things are going well for us. We become consumerist Christians, we remain inter-dependence, multiplication, sustainability and symbiosis), led by such diocesan at a very early stage of Christian maturity. This stage is what Bernard of Clairvaux luminaries as Malcolm Tyler and Martin Saxby. In interactive format, this NCD focus has calls ‘loving God for self’s sake’ or loving God for what we can get out of him. From facilitated reflection on the meaning of qualitative and quantitative growth and how such this stage the Holy Spirit invites and calls us into something deeper and truer, that is growth might be cultivated within the parishes. to say ‘loving God for God’s sake.’ As the writer of the 14th cent. Cloud of Unknowing puts it: ‘Lift up your heart to God with humble love and mean God himself, not what During the year, Mr Tom Walls and Mr Chris Powell (both members of Berkswell, St. John you can get out of him.’ Baptist) were appointed as Lay Chair and Deanery Synod Treasurer, respectively. They join the Area Dean (Mark Bratton), Nicola Perryman (Deanery Secretary, Leek Wootton, It is in this movement of love, of praise and thanksgiving, inspired by the Holy Spirit, All Saints), Elizabeth Penlington (Stoneleigh and Ashow), and the Revd Sharon Goble (Stoneleigh and Ashow), as members of the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee. that we enter the ‘courts’ of God himself (Psalm 100:3) and in his grace and mercy are changed ‘from glory into glory’ (2 Cor 3:18). In his Confessions St. Augustine There is a great deal of activity going on in parishes of various kinds, too writes ‘praise is the door through which we meet God’. numerous to mention. Examples include a major church reordering It is through this worship of God, who inhabits our project at Kenilworth, St. John, a successful Bell Restoration Appeal at praises, that we are inspired and energised to be sent Leek Wootton, and a May Day Beer Festival at Berkswell (from which I am out in the power of the Spirit to share in His mission to still recovering as I write– just one of the sacrifices one must make for the make new disciples and to transform communities. sake of the Gospel!). All three activities aim to draw people more deeply And when we do this, we are drawn back to worship. into the life of God, through his Son Jesus Christ, by forging the bonds of ‘Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O my soul: relationship across the boundaries of the Church. while I live I will praise the Lord.’ (Psalm 146:1) Bishop John Mark Bratton—Area Dean Page 1 Page 2 Mon 8 Berkswell Primary School. Headteacher: Tracey Drew. We pray for God's Cycle of Prayer - June 2015 blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, With a focus on parishes and schools in Kenilworth Deanery teachers, staff, parents and governors. *Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Nonjuror, Hymn Writer, 1711

Mon 1 Meriden and Packington. Clergy: Lynda Lilley. Reader: Peter Wright. We pray Tue 9 We pray for the staff who work to support Bishop Christopher and Bishop John for God's blessing on the parish community, the leaders and ministers and and give thanks for them. the relationships between church and the wider community. *Columba, Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597 *Justin, Martyr at Rome, c.165 *Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith, 373

Kenilworth St John. Clergy: Andrew Attwood, Jane Mullaney. Readers: During national carers week many charities gather together to recognise the

Tue 2 Anthony Manning, Valerie Whiteman, Philip Seward, Ken Pollard. We thank Wed 10 contribution carers make to local communities, lobby MPs and offer support God for an increase in new faces in most of our communities, and building up and encouragement to carers. We pray for all those who give their time to our leadership. We pray for the reordering process to go smoothly, and for care for others and ask for God's blessing on young people and children who our joint services during the reordering to be a significant success. are carers. We pray for Bishop Christopher as he visits deanery today. We pray Stoneleigh and Ashow. Clergy: Sharon Goble. Reader: Audrey Rowberry. We

Wed 3 for Craig Groocock, Area Dean, as he coordinates the day and ask that this Thu 11 thank God for all deepening and exploring faith through the Pilgrim course and visit would bring new encouragement, understanding and blessing. We pray other ways. Please pray for the Holiday Club in the last week in July to engage for the Archdeacons' Visitation at Westwood Church this evening. better with young people and families, exploring faith enthusiastically and en- *The Martyrs of Uganda, 1886 and 1978 ergetically and to strengthen their belonging. We pray for the new members of The Friends of Coventry Cathedral meeting St Nicholas' Primary School. Headteacher: Louise Mohacsi. We pray for God's Thu 4 this evening at Bishop's House. We pray for Bishop John as he visits Coventry Fri 12 blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, East deanery today and ask that this visit would bring new encouragement, teachers, staff, parents and governors. We pray especially for the children who understanding and blessing. We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee Corpus Christi will begin to do transition work for next year to new classes and new schools. for the Care of Churches (DAC). *Petroc, Abbot of Padstow, 6th century

Fri 5 The Ferncumbe Group. Clergy: Keith and Susan Mobberley. Reader: Kemble Sat 13 Burton Green Primary School. Headteacher: Sue Patterson. We pray for God's Everitt, Carol Tilley. We pray for God's blessing upon the parishes of Hatton blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, with Haseley, Rowington with Lowsonford, and Honiley. teachers, staff, parents and governors. *Boniface (Wynfrith) of Crediton, Bishop, Apostle of Germany, Martyr, 754 We pray for the Deanery Representatives at the Support Fund Meeting today.

We pray for all those in the process of discerning their calling and vocation in All Saints Primary School. Headteacher: Sue Patterson. We pray for God's Sat 6 Sun 14 ministry. We thank God for the team of advisors who work to support and blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, asssist this process. We pray for the candidates who will spend today at a teachers, staff, parents and governors. Second Sunday Diocesan Panel as part of the accredited ministry discernment process. *Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945 after Trinity *Richard Baxter, Puritan Divine, 1691 Ferncumbe Primary School. Headteacher: Sally Morris. We pray for God's We pray for Bishop Christopher who will be visiting All Saints' C of E Junior

Sun 7 blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, Mon 15 School, , to open and bless their new extension today. During School teachers, staff, parents and governors. Appeals Week we pray for all those who are appealing for new decisions to be First Sunday We pray for the candidates who will be confirmed by Bishop John at St John made and for the panel in making the right decisions. after Trinity the Divine, Willenhall, today. *Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941 Page 3 Page 4 We pray for Bishop John as he visits Warwick and Leamington deanery today. We pray for the Diocesan Board of Education, giving thanks for the director, Tue 16 We pray for Charlotte Gale, Area Dean, as she coordinates the day and ask Wed 24 Linda Wainscot and members of the whole team. that this visit would bring new encouragement, understanding and blessing. We pray for the deacon and priest candidates who will begin their We pray for Diocesan Synod which meets today. *Richard, Bishop of pre-ordination retreat today.

Chichester, 1253 *Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Philosopher, 1752 We pray for the Bishop's Council which meets this evening. We pray for the group of theologians who are gathering today, with Bishop June is SANDS awareness month. The stillbirth and neonatal charity (SANDS)

Wed 17 Christopher, to prepare for the 'Reconciling a Wounded Planet' conference in Thu 25 wants to offer care not only for people who have lost babies after they were September. We pray for the Cursillo Ultreya, hosted by Bishop John and Mary born, but for woman who have miscarried too. We pray God's comfort and at Warwick House today. hope for all families who are affected by the loss of a baby. *Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936 We pray for the Parsonages Committee which meets this afternoon. We pray for the finance and administration department of the diocese. Kenilworth St Nicholas and St Barnabas. Clergy: Richard Awre. Readers: Anne Thu 18 We pray for the High Sheriff of who will today spend time with Fri 26 Werrell, Margaret Pointer, Chris Haines. Youth Worker: Isla Gammell. We the Bishops and attend their team meetings. pray for God's blessing on the parish community, the leaders and ministers We pray for the Bishop's Core and Extended Staff teams which meet today. and the relationships between church and the wider community. *Bernard Mizeki, Apostle of the MaShona, Martyr, 1896 We pray for the curates being ordained as priests today: Bee Arnold Meriden Primary School. Headteacher: Lucy Winkler. We pray for God's Fri 19 Sat 27 (Radford), Michael Brandsma (Hartshill, Galley Common & ), Nicki blessing on this school community and we give thanks for all the pupils, Chatterton (Stratford), Sue Fairhurst (Old Milverton and Lillington), teachers, staff, parents and governors. Jonathan Hill (Cheylesmore), Alison Hogger (Wyken and Keeping Health in *Sundar Singh of India, Sadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher of the Faith Mind charity). *Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 444 All Saints Leek Wootton. Clergy: Jim Perryman. Reader: Audrey Rowberry. We pray for those who will be ordained deacon: Sarah Bourne (Shipston), Kay

Sat 20 Following fund raising and activity which has brought church and community Sun 28 Dyer (Shottery), Dwayne Engh (Chapelfields), Steve Gold (Hillmorton), Charles closer together, our tower bells have been refurbished and augmented and Higgins & Emma Jamieson (m2o), John Langlands (Allesley Park), Steve Fourth Sunday will return and be rehung during June. Pray that their sound will be an act of Medley (Chilvers Coton), Nicki Moon (Harbury), Tom Wintle (St Mary's, glorifying God and proclaiming him to the village. after Trinity Nuneaton). *Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, Teacher of the Faith, c.200 We pray for Simon Lloyd, Diocesan Secretary, and give thanks for him. Berkswell St John the Baptist. Clergy: Mark Bratton. Reader: Richard Sun 21 On Father's Day we give thanks to God for those who have parented us well. Mon 29 Hollingdale. We pray for God's blessing on the parish community, the leaders We pray for those who will find today difficult or sad. We pray for God's and ministers and the relationships between church and the wider Third Sunday equipping for all those who are already, or will be fathers in the future. We community. after Trinity pray for Bishop John as he visits Kenilworth Methodist Church today. We pray for Richard Cooke, DDO and Principal of the Diocesan Training We pray for the operations department of the diocese and for the DAC and

Mon 22 Partnership and for all members of the DTP team. Tue 30 we give thanks for each of these members of staff. We pray for Bishop John taking part in a Leadership Development Programme We pray for the year 2 curates who will be interviewed today by Bishops over the next couple of days. Christopher and John. We pray for God's blessing on their ministry and *Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.250 development in this diocese. We pray for the 800th Anniversary celebration of the Magna Carta, and

Tue 23 especially for the conference today at St Michael's House, Coventry. We thank God for on-going interest in this, for its history and application for us today. We pray for the Diocesan Trustees which meet this afternoon. *Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678 Page 5 Page 6 Every moment is sacred God equips the called

One of the ways God speaks to us is through nature and also through the seasons of God's calling comes in many forms and to many things. Sometimes we expect it, the year. Autumn is a season of much change as it is the transition between the sometimes we don't, sometimes we're delighted and sometimes we're not. fruitfulness of summer and the new life of spring. Winter is a season of emptiness, a time of waiting, but also a time of hope in the new birth and promise of spring. A When it was first suggested to me that God was calling me into Reader Ministry, it reminder that we cannot grow and develop without change, often preferring to cling was not a welcome call at all. I'd suspected a call of some kind myself, and discussed unto the known, but when we do surrender to change, growth will happen and new it with my friends, family and my vicar, but had pretty much decided to ignore it. possibilities open up. Often in winter the sun hides itself behind dark clouds but it is Then one night, at about 2am, my wife sat bolt upright in bed and said "You should always there and so it is with God. be a Reader", then went back to sleep. She doesn't remember this, so maybe it was a dream, but it was the push I finally needed to do something about it. As summer approaches, I am reminded of past holidays, especially the different At that time I was a very busy person and certainly had no time to embark on such a activities of the seaside, a yearly event with our children. It was the time to be venture, but I thought I'd look into the discernment process, partly in the hope of together as a family and share in the joy of the children enjoying themselves in their being told no. That way I knew I could move on and forget about this strange ability of being absorbed in the present moment with imagination and creativity. I moment. can still recall the texture of the wet and dried sand, building sandcastles, sharing sandy sandwiches and licking melting ice-cream and also memories of the birds I had a new born baby girl, and was self employed, working all the hours God sent. singing their dawn chorus, the exuberant coloured flowers including vibrant There was no way that God could expect me to begin 3 years of night school! rhododendrons in the gardens, acre upon acre of waving corn and long daylight hours leading to starlit skies at night. God, however, had other ideas.

In reflecting back in a summer spent in Austria I remember a very special occasion Now, as I write this, I am but 1 term away from completing my training, and I'm due when I was walking in the Alps. Feeling tired, I lay down amongst the scattering of to be licensed as a Reader in September. So in His strength I have managed to get wild flowers and flawless blue sky, bathed in the warmth of sunlight and Alpine air. I this far. experienced a deep peace and felt the love of God all Sometimes, the task to which we are called seems so big, around me, indeed heaven and earth became one and I and time consuming that we can't possibly be hearing was one with God and part of God’s good creation. correctly. But in ALL things, God, if you allow Him, will lead

you to things that you never thought possible. As God is in all things, life is the raw material of prayer. Every moment is sacred if we can encounter God in the Now, as I look forward to my licensing, I think of the present situation we are experiencing. And as we opportunity and the privilege to minister to God's people in wonder with awe and thanks giving at the beauty of Berkswell parish and beyond, and I think "wow!". creation, these inspiring experiences of pilgrimage have re-enforced my desire of taking time to be still, centred God doesn't always call the equipped, but He equips the on the presence of God. called.

Elizabeth Penlington Steve Bell

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