Prayer Diary May 2018

Communicating Goodwill

One of my favourite places on earth is the Taize Community in France. Each summer, this group of monks welcome thousands of young people from all over the world. The camp resounds to a cacophony of different languages with conversations translated in and out of French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Russian... Goodwill and good humour overcome dodgy grammar and limited vocabulary, and enduring friendships are made. Even rusty schoolroom French or German, with a little courage, can be the opportunity for new experiences and new understanding.

I am thinking about languages, of course, as we approach Pentecost. Enabled and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ group of frightened friends share the good news of Jesus with an international crowd. People from a multitude of different contexts hear the gospel in their own tongue. As we approach Pentecost, what languages do we need to speak to share the love of Christ? For those of us who live in the more diverse parts of the diocese, learning a few words of Gujarati, Polish, Urdu or Chinese might give opportunities to be a friendly neighbour. But for those of us where English is the common tongue, there can still be “languages” to learn. How do we communicate well with those lives are so different to our own because of different experiences, religious or political beliefs, age or opportunities? What words, images or actions make sense to those who see the world in a very different way? What might we share and receive?

Speaking an unfamiliar language is risky, but so much is lost if we do not to try at all. This Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit enable and embolden us to communicate goodwill, however imperfectly, to those who are different to us. In those encounters, may we be both blessed and Kate Massey a blessing. Dean of Women's Ministry

Page 1 Page 2 Cycle of Prayer - May 2018 Tue 8 Today we pray for Bishop Christopher who will be chairing a meeting of the Church of England's Faith & Order Commission. With a focus on parishes and schools in Rugby Deanery *Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417

Tue 1 m2o Rugby. Clergy: Charles Higgins, Emma Higgins. Readers: Mervyn Hill, Wed 9 Leamington Hastings CofE Academy. Headteacher: Mr I. Dewes. We pray for David Long, John Martin-Jones, Mairi Mowberry. We pray for God's blessing God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Philip and upon the church members and the local community. community. James, We pray for the Diocesan Mission Fund Committee which meets today. We pray for the Diocesan Board of Education which meets today. Apostles Today we welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to the Draycote Benefice. Clergy: Ali Massey, David Shaw. We thank God for our

Wed 2 diocese for a four day visit. During his visit he will experience different Thu 10 clergy, churchwardens and laity who all work so well together to serve our aspects of life across the diocese. We pray for all involved in organising the community. Please pray for us as we continue to discern God's will for this visit and ask for blessing on the people and places Archbishop Justin will visit. Ascension Day beautiful place, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to comprehend *Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 God's mission, and fit us all for the tasks ahead. Rugby St Peter and St John. Clergy: Sheila Bridge. We praise God for the new Harris CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Michael Stoppard. We pray for

Thu 3 toilets completed this month and for growth in our family service Fri 11 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school congregation. We pray for the growth of passionate spirituality in our community. members and for phase 2 of the building work, which would include opening We pray for Bishop Christopher who is at the ecumenical gathering as part of our bricked up front door. the 101st German Catholic Convention in Munster, Germany.

Fri 4 Bagington, Bubbenhall and Ryton-on Dunsmore. Clergy: David Wintle. Sat 12 Provost Williams Primary School, Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Headteacher: Claire Reader: Rosemary King. We pray for God's blessing upon the church Hall. We pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this members and the local community. school community. *English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era

Today the centenary of the Diocese of Coventry will be celebrated at a Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Newton and Brownsover. Clergy: Tim Davis, Malcolm

Sat 5 festival event at Coventry Cathedral with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Sun 13 Garratt (retired). Readers: Peter Kent, Cath Hammond. We thank God for our Between 10.30am and 4pm, hundreds will gather in the Cathedral for drama, growing relationships with the wider community, especially in schools. Please Seventh Sunday worship, teaching, family activities and more. We pray that today will be full pray for peace, stability, and hope; new officers across the benefice and of celebration and joy. of Easter reordering investigations at St Mary's. Bilton. Clergy: Tim Cockell, Joy Sharpe. Reader: Glenn Lowde. We pray for Wolston St Margaret's Primary School. Headteacher: Julia McLeod. We pray

Sun 6 God's blessing on this parish. We thank God for our continued working Mon 14 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. through our priorities focusing on passionate spirituality: for the take up of We pray for all those taking SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in primary Sixth Sunday of Matthias the Pilgrim, Quiet Days and new prayer triplets. We pray for Jonathan Smith who schools across the diocese this week. Easter joins us as a curate in July and for all he will bring us. Apostle We pray for the Bishop's Council which meets this evening. Rugby St George. Clergy: Hilary Iredale. Readers: Carol Davies, Mike Iredale. Dunchurch Boughton Junior School. Headteacher: Ian Dewes. We pray for

Mon 7 We thank God that our small groups are thriving, for the five adults Tue 15 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school confirmed this year and for the new people God has brought to join us. community. Please pray for us as we work with our mentor on a renewed sense of vision We pray for events taking place in parishes across the diocese this week in we can all share so that we work better together for God’s kingdom. celebration of 'Thy Kingdom Come.' Page 3 Page 4 Bilton Junior School. Headteacher: Alex Norton. We pray for God's blessing St Andrew's Benn Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Abi Huggins. We pray Wed 16 Thu 24 on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches community. (DAC). *Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877 *John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788 Hillmorton. Clergy: Margaret Simmons, Steve Gold, Lindsay Hughes, Ted Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore Primary School. Head of School: Lisa Bernard. We

Thu 17 Lyons. Reader: Paul Thomas. Children & Families Minister: Gareth Davies. We Fri 25 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school thank God for 7 people confirmed in April, of all ages, and increasing contacts community. with young families. Please pray for growth in discipleship, our Sunday *The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735 "Prayer Course" and for the emerging ministry in Houlton. *Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709 May the blessing of God be upon our farms and on all the cereal crops of our Knightlow Primary School. Headteacher: Jill Vavasour. We pray for God's

Fri 18 countryside. May they receive rain to swell the grain and sun to ripen it. We Sat 26 blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. pray that the harvest be safely gathered in and stored, and may we see *Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 ourselves as harvesters for eternal life - "For look! The fields are already ripe *John Calvin, Reformer, 1564 for harvest". Amen. *Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595 Dunchurch with Thurlaston. Clergy: Patricia Townshend. We thank God for a Wolston and Church Lawford. Clergy: Kevin Flanagan, Paul Simmonds, Alan

Sat 19 year of celebration and growing together as a family. We pray that our hearts Sun 27 Hawker, Laurence Wickens. Readers: Jayne Flanagan, David Gadsby, Jayne and minds will be open to God's prompting as he leads us into new paths Hayward, Helen Simmonds & Isobel Wickens. We give thanks for people which will lead closer to him. Trinity Sunday stepping outside their comfort zone and taking on new challenges. We pray *Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988 for the successful funding for building and repair projects in both churches.

Sun 20 The Revel Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Mr A Edwards. We pray for Mon 28 St Oswald's CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Hillary Lorimer. We pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Pentecost community. community.

(Whit Sunday) *Alcuin of York, Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804 *Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089

St Matthew's Bloxam Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Anita Timson. We The Revel Group. Clergy: Jonathan Fox. Reader: George Lee. We pray for

Mon 21 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Tue 29 God's blessing upon our 6 churches. We give thanks for: Ms Charon Hall community. being accepted for Readership! We pray for God to call new young leaders We pray for the Investment Sub-Committee which meets today. forward and for new house group leaders. We also pray for God to equip His *Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330 amazing people here & across Coventry Diocese with His Spiritual gifts. Newbold-on-Avon with Long Lawford. Clergy: Paul Wilkinson, Diane Bussey. We thank God for our brothers and sisters who serve and worship in other

Tue 22 We thank God for an encouraging start to our new pattern of Sunday morning Wed 30 Christian denominations. services. Please pray that we may continue to look forward with vision to *Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906 future challenges. *Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431 We pray for the Glebe Committee which meets this afternoon. *Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933 Leam Valley Benefice. Reader: Alec Parker. We thank God for the efforts of Wed 23 Rugby St Andrew. Clergy: Imogen Nay, all ministers, staff and volunteers. Pray Thu 31 for the Holy Spirit to continue to refresh and re-energise the community and all, especially those of our churchwardens and visiting clergy, which have draw more people into our Trinitarian fullness of life. The Visit of enabled our corporate worship and prayer to continue during the We pray for the Diocesan Business Committee which meets this morning. Mary to interregnum. We ask all to join us in praying that the right person may be Elizabeth appointed as priest-in-charge. Page 5 Page 6

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