An update on our Companion Links

Companion Links is the commitment made in 2001 Prayer Diary by the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands; the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria and the Diocese of , September 2018 England, to enter into a spiritual partnership. Seventeen years on, this partnership is still strong. Good News of Great Joy On the 8th January 2001, (previous Bishop of Coventry), Bishop Josiah Idowu- September 2018 sees the birth of St Gabriel’s CofE Academy in Houlton, Rugby. A great Fearon (Bishop of Kaduna) and Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad (Jerusalem, Jordan deal of prayer, planning and preparation has led to the joyous occasion when the doors and the Holy Lands) met in Jerusalem to sign an agreement “to trust one another, to be open to welcome children and families for the first time. Named after the Archangel honest with one another, to share with one another, and to be ready to learn from one Gabriel, God’s messenger, the academy will embrace the heritage of the site as a leader another, and to encourage our diocese to do likewise”. Soon after the agreement was in communications and will seek to transmit God’s love. signed, various projects were set up in the different dioceses. At St Gabriel’s CofE Academy, our vision is to: ‘Communicate love Three major projects have been undertaken in Kaduna - teaching and the establishment of a and inspire our community to flourish’. Everything we do will be computer classroom in an Anglican College; supplying 10,000 plus primary age children with underpinned by our loving, distinctive and inclusive Christian ethos. books and the current project of the Kaduna Water Wells. The need for water wells in this We want the best for our children and will have love as our core region is high with infant mortality rates still close to 25%. Each year Kaduna Diocese plants a value and primary motivation. We recognise each child is gifted with church in rural areas of the diocese. This usually results in a church/ school being built and an unique skills, talents and interests and we will place an equal evangelist being appointed. The attempts to put a water well in each emphasis on developing the whole child in every way. Relationships are being built on new village. By the end of 2017 54 wells has been built and a further 3 are being dug in 2018. love and forgiveness; we learn and live in community with each other, serving one In order to maintain the link between Kaduna and Coventry, a number of exchanges have another generously; we humbly treat everyone with equal respect; we courageously occurred over the years. Ann and Jim Saxton have visited many times and have met with strive to grow in every way with hope for our future; we maintain our integrity, building priests and teachers to train them in I.T skills, as well as meeting the Well Committee. trust through honesty.

In the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands, the main project set up was the Syrian Orthodox Christian School. For many years the Syrian Orthodox Christian As community at Houlton begins to form around the community in Bethlehem dreamed of a school of their own where their traditions and church and the school partnership, the Reverend Steve especially the Aramaic language - the language Jesus spoke - could be taught. In 2000, a Gold and Headteacher Andrew Taylor share the vision group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Coventry visited the community in Bethlehem and as expressed in Luke’s gospel, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in witnessed the plight of the children. Soon after the link with the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of the presence of God and I was sent to speak to you and Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands was established a support group was set up to raise to bring you this good news.’ funds to help realise the community’s dream. In 2003 the school opened. Today the school has 640 students enrolled from kindergarten to grade twelve. Many individuals and churches As the Diocese of Coventry celebrates its centenary it from the Diocese of Coventry support the school financially which enables students from low seems so fitting that the birth of a new academy and incomes to attend. church will provide a legacy to proclaim God’s message. Archbishop Justin meets one To find out more about our companion links and how you can get involved see the Canon Linda Wainscot of our first pupils at St Companion Links section of the website. Diocesan Director of Education Gabriel’s CofE Academy

Page 8 Page 1 Encouraging young vocations My Small Group has a job to do!

The vocations team at Coventry Diocese have been Small Groups in churches include far more than led and inspired by the national just Bible Study or Prayer groups. The PCC, campaign to encourage ordained vocations amongst groups that plan the children’s work together, those in their teens, twenties and thirties. Over the the toddler group team, a group who meet to last five years, the team has developed a Young do the gardening or the cleaning are all great Vocations Team known as ‘Nudge’ that have engaged examples of small groups. with young people from across the diocese and beyond. A holistic small group thinks of the whole person and their journey with God. They are interested in the spiritual, emotional and The name Nudge comes from the idea that calling to ministry often begins with a feeling that practical lives of each individual. As a group they care for one another, seek to connect with God may be nudging someone towards a particular route, and the fact that we all sometimes God and to draw others in. need a nudge from one another to take the first or next steps to exploring our vocation. Led by the Revd Ellie Clack, DDO and Vocations Adviser, the Nudge team have run evenings at the This can seem like a big ask and time commitment to add, especially if your group has a pub to encourage younger people to gather in an informal setting to talk about ministry with specific task to do. But, there are small simple things we can do to transform these groups to those who are already ordained. be more holistic without taking more time and energy. It only takes one or two people in the group to be proactive in seeking a more holistic approach. Since the beginning of Nudge, the vocations team have seen the number of young people enter the discernment process rise. Currently over 40% of candidates in the formal Every group will have conversations at some level. The question is how can we deepen those discernment and selection processes are under the age of 40 and over half of the ordinands into strong relationships? A big part of it is extending the conversation beyond ‘How are starting training this September are also under 40. you?’ It’s being interested in what people have to say and being willing to share back. It is also about following up on things that have been mentioned in the past mean people know The Revd Lizzy Holland, curate at St John Baptist, Berkswell and a member of the Nudge team, that they are valued and the conversation can be developed and grown as needed over time. is currently the youngest priest in the diocese at 27. She offers this advice to young people It sounds ridiculously simple, but the reality is that as trust is built so is depth. exploring their vocation: Adding a faith aspect can seem a little more daunting if there currently isn’t any element of it within the group. It can be as simple as adding a short prayer time, a relevant Bible reading “Surround yourself with people who will challenge and encourage you in love. or a short personal reflection. A very gentle approach is to offer to pray when something Be prepared to be transformed as Christ works in you, but hold onto who you are and what comes up in conversation, either immediately or a promise to pray during the week. makes you beautifully unique. Hold onto everything that encourages you! I keep a scrapbook of encouraging cards, letters You can use a gentle approach to deepen relationships and discuss spirituality. Prepare a and everything else that inspires me to keep going when things feel tough. question to share with the group that opens up our thinking. For example, ‘What are your gifts?’, ‘What are you thankful for?’, ‘Who or what influences your decisions?’. They do not Be brave and start talking to people about it. See if there are people around who will give you require a faith answer but open opportunities for you to share honestly and for others to opportunities to expand your experiences of ministry and make space to chat to those closest explore what is central to their lives. to you to see what their thoughts are. Look out for the young vocations team at events in the diocese and for dates for Nudge at the There are many simple ways to build fellowship and discuss our faith based on the relationships that already exist. These small habits can transform a group to love each other pub, which is an informal space to have vocation conversations!” more, to share about their beliefs and result in more passion for the task they do together. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for vocations enquiries. Anna Naish Learning Mentor for Loving Relationships and Holistic Small Groups Page 2 Page 7 Keresley. Clergy: Mark Norris. We thank God that plans for our Garden of Mon 24 Remembrance are moving forward, and for new people who have joined our Cycle of Prayer - September 2018 congregations in the past year. Please pray for fresh vision as we explore "Leading Your Church Into Growth" over the coming year and seek to serve With a focus on parishes and schools in Coventry North Deanery

our local community better. We pray for our link diocese of Kaduna in Nigeria after many towns and September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer is

Tue 25 villages have recently come under attack from armed gunmen. We pray for Sat 1 devastating to sufferers and their friends and families. This annual peace and safety for the people of Kaduna. international awareness month aims to raise support and funding for children with cancer. We pray for children diagnosed with cancer. *Lancelot Andrewes, , Spiritual Writer, 1626 *Sergei of Radonezh, Russian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392 *Giles of Provence, Hermit, c.710 Creator God we give you thanks for all of our farmers as they harvest the Wed 26 Sun 2 Holbrooks St Luke. Clergy: Fr Simon Oakes CMP. We thank God for the crops that feed us. We thank you for the skills of those who will be bringing success of our recent Summer Club for children. We pray for God's blessing the harvest in, and we ask that the weather be favourable. We pray that the Fourteenth and peace on the members of St Luke's, and the community of Holbrooks. harvest is bountiful enough to share with all those who are in need. Sunday after *The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1901 and 1942 *Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942 Trinity During British Food Fortnight, we give thanks for the growers and producers At the start of a new academic year, we pray for all those going back to

Thu 27 of food in this country. We thank God for the care that goes in to making Mon 3 school or starting at new schools. We pray for pupils, teachers, headteachers, food safe for us to eat. We remember those around the world who do not governors and clergy that they all may know Christ’s presence with them, ahead of them and alongside them in their new surroundings. have enough food. *Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Congregation of the Mission, 1660 *Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 604 Radford. Clergy: Liz Jackson. We thank God for the many blessing he pours Fri 28 Tue 4 Coventry Holy Trinity. Clergy: Graeme Anderson, Bill Walton. Readers: Sue down on us - the people who come our way, the enthusiasm they have for Shepherd, Geoff Wilcox. We pray for God's blessing upon the church God and His community and the encouragement He gives us. Please pray for members and the local community. us as we move forward with a challenging building and people in such *Birinus, (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650 desperate need. Coventry St John Baptist. Clergy: Fr Dexter Bracey. We give thanks for the Allesley. Clergy: Miles Baker, Elizabeth Kerr. Readers: Fey and Colin Holtum.

Sat 29 appointment of our rector, who has now completed his first year with us. We Wed 5 We thank God for the completion of our Growth Action Plan (GAP) and pray for wisdom as we seek to develop our worship and our lives of prayer stewardship campaign that have revitalised the church’s ministry focus. Michael and All that we might draws others into the life of the Church through a deep and Please pray for the formation of our new governance structure which Angels authentic catholic spirituality. includes new RAG groups that are designed to deliver our GAP goals.

Today we pray for Bishop John who is representing the Archbishop of Sun 30 Today we pray for St Barbara's, Earlsdon as Bishop John leads their annual Thu 6 Canterbury at the 26th International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox dedication service. Eighteenth Spirituality at Bose Monastery. *Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420 Sunday after *Allen Gardiner, Founder of the South American Mission Society Trinity Longford, Ansty & Shilton. Clergy: Andrew Coleman. We thank God for all the

Fri 7 good things and blessings which he has done and given for all the people who live in these parishes. Please pray for all the people who are newly worshiping at the churches of these parishes, especially for those who have not been accustomed to being in church. Page 6 Page 3 Today is UNESCO's International Literacy Day, a day to raise awareness globally We thank God for all healthcare staff who work in our local communities, our

Sat 8 on the issues surrounding adult and child literacy. 775 million adults lack Sun 16 GP and dental surgeries and clinics, our community hospitals and those who minimum literacy skills, with two thirds being women. We pray this day work in the field of mental healthcare. highlights the importance of literacy and promotes change. Sixteenth *Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432 *The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sunday after Trinity *Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882 Sun 9 We pray for the ministry and mission of the Cathedral: for new connections Mon 17 Today we pray for Greg Bartlem who is being instituted by Bishop John as with university students as they arrive in Coventry and for the new interns as Vicar of Wellesbourne with Walton d'Eivile. Fifteenth they begin their life and work in the Cathedral community. We pray for the Diocesan Business Committee which meets this morning. Sunday after *Charles Fuge Lowder, Priest, 1880 Trinity *Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen,Visionary, 1179

We give thanks to God for all those who serve the Church of England and the This morning the DBE are hosting a morning for RE subject leaders with a Mon 10 wider Anglican Communion as . We pray for Bishops Christopher and Tue 18 focus on 'What price peace?' a special RE day based on key events of the First John, for their ministry, positions of responsibility, their times of rest and their World War. In the afternoon they are focusing on biblical drama. We pray families. We pray for them both as they attend the College of Bishops' meeting that this day is inspiring for all involved. this week. We pray for the Diocesan Mission Fund Committee which meets today.

Tue 11 Foleshill St Laurence. Clergy: Gareth Irvine. We pray for God's blessing upon Wed 19 We pray for Bishop Christopher who is currently chairing the residential the church members and the local community. meeting of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission. We pray for the Parsonages Committee which meets this afternoon. We pray for the Diocesan Finance Group which meets this morning. *Theodore of Tarsus, , 690

Coventry St George. Clergy: Jennifer Wickham. Reader: Shirley Trafford. We We pray for clergy and church leaders who are unwell. We remember

Wed 12 thank God for the way people used their gifts during the interregnum, for our Thu 20 especially those who cannot work and minister while they recover or receive new Vicar, Jennifer, and a seamless transition. We pray that each of us will treatment. We pray for sensitivity and understanding in churches and grow as disciples of Jesus who know how to make disciples, especially among congregations, and for unity in working together. the youth, so more people come to know Jesus' love. *John Coleridge Patteson and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871 Foleshill St Paul. Clergy: Ali Hogger Gadsby. We thank God for the growth in Today marks the International Day of Peace - an annual event designed to

Thu 13 confidence amongst us over the interregnum, and we pray that with our new Fri 21 bring peace to every individual across the globe. It is also designed to be a vicar we can seek God's will for us as we serve the people of Foleshill. Matthew, day of ceasefire. We pray for God's help in our own lives to cease fighting, We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC). Apostle and stop arguing and make peace with others. We pray for God's dynamic *John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407 Evangelist intervention of peace into the most troubled places of conflict. We pray that God may guide and encourage both the Readers being admitted We pray for Linda Wainscot and all those who work with her at the Diocesan Fri 14 Sat 22 and licensed today (Jonathan Broom, Margaret Bull, Amanda di Giovanni, Board of Education. We give thanks to God for all that they do supporting, Charon Hall, Karen Hatch, Nigel Stallard, Claire Russell) and those Readers managing, caring for and inspiring schools in the diocese. We pray for the having their Licences or Permissions to Officiate renewed. We pray for Bishop Holy Cross Day Headteachers' briefing taking place today. John and Jo King (Warden of Readers) as they conduct this service. September is World Alzheimer's Month. We pray for all those affected by St Laurence's Primary School, Coventry. Headteacher: Michelle Cuskelly. We

Sat 15 Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. We give thanks for the Sun 23 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school progress made in treatments and care, and we pray for greater understanding Seventeenth community. of the disease. Sunday after We thank God for our Archdeacons and pray for God's blessing on them, their *Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, 258 Trinity work and ministry, and their families. Page 4 Page 5