Prayer Diary December 2020 There are two significant changes in this month’s Prayer Diary.

Firstly, , -Designate of Berwick, has provided weekly themes around Biblical texts to nourish our prayers as we make our next steps in growing church bringing hope.

Secondly, ROB KELSEY, Assistant Archdeacon, at the suggestion of Mark Nash-Williams, the Bishop’s Adviser on the Environment, has prepared condensed versions for every day of the prayers in a new book, Praying for the Earth. You will find a further note about this book at the end of this month’s Prayer Diary.

I hope that these two additions will help to make the Prayer Diary more than simply a list of people and places to pray FOR (important though that is) but also a list of concerns and issues to pray ABOUT. Richard Hill

This week … ‘… we are the clay and you are our potter,  TIMES AND SEASONS we are all the work of your hand.’ Help us to appreciate all that is special (Isaiah 64:8) about the present time of year, and to live our lives in keeping with Let us pray that all of us will be open to the natural order. God’s transforming love, that we will be comforted and strengthened, that our actions and attitudes will be shaped by God’s 2 Wednesday love, and we will have courage to share  Diocese of the Seychelles (Indian Ocean) God’s love in the world. Abp James Richard Wong Yin Song, Primate Diocese of Eastern Oregon (USA) 1 Tuesday Bp Patrick Bell  Diocese of Newcastle:  Diocese of Seoul (Korea) Bp Peter Lee For Bishop Christine in her diocesan and Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and national responsibilities Labrador (Canada) Bp Geoffrey Peddle  Morpeth Deanery:  Diocese of Newcastle Deanery Secretary: Joyce Templey For all who support our in their Finance Officer: Linda Rudd ministry  CLIMATE CHANGE  Morpeth Deanery: Area : John Park Help us play our part in reducing Lay Chair: vacant our country’s carbon emissions. Grant us the personal and political will to make a difference.

 Diocese of Newcastle: For the work of 3 Thursday education throughout our diocese and Francis Xavier, missionary, apostle of the Indies, region in schools, universities, colleges, and 1552 lay education  Diocese of Bp  Morpeth Deanery: Diocese of Eastern Zambia (Central Africa) St Andrew’s Parish Church, Bolam Bp William Mchombo  SEA CREATURES Diocese of Easton (USA) Bp Santosh Murray May we prevent the pollution  Diocese of Newcastle of our seas and rivers, For Mark, Bishop-designate of Berwick and maintain the integrity  Morpeth Deanery: Benefice of Holy Sepulchre of our blue and beautiful planet. Priest-in-Charge: Christopher Groocock Reader: Paulette Thompson This coming week …  The Mothers’ Union ‘He will feed his flock like a shepherd ...’ We pray for the work of the MU in (Isaiah 40:11) supporting local refugees and for all families affected by domestic violence. Let us pray that all of us will be generous with  THE OCEANS God’s transforming gifts, that we will be In your mercy protect all who work mindful of all that God has given us rather than what we do not have, and willing to work in and travel on the sea, partnership and share what God has provided. and preserve the teeming life of coral reef and ocean depth. 6 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 4 Friday (Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 * )  Porvoo Communion: John of Damascus, monk, teacher of the faith, c.749 Diocese of Kuopio (Evangelical Lutheran Nicholas Ferrar, , founder of the Little Church in Finland) Gidding Community,1637  Anglican Communion:  Diocese of Sinyanga (Tanzania) The Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain Bp Johnson Chinyong’ole (Extra-Provincial to the Abp of Canterbury) Diocese of Eau Claire (USA) Bp Carlos López-Lozano Bp William Jay Lambert  Diocese of Newcastle: For St Nicholas’  Diocese of Newcastle: For all who work at Cathedral, its mission and ministry, and for Church House, North Shields all involved in the ongoing Development  Morpeth Deanery: Project Benefice of Bolam with Whalton &  Morpeth Deanery Hartburn with Meldon & Netherwitton St Andrew’s Parish Church, Hartburn Ministry team: Fiona Sample and  * The , Pamela Walker  FARMING  LANDSCAPES We pray for all who make their living As the environment forms us, from the land. may we form an environment Defend them from disease, and help them that is beneficial to all your creatures. to protect the animals in their care. 5 Saturday This Prayer Diary can be downloaded each month from the  Diocese of Gasabo (Rwanda) Newcastle diocesan website: Most Revd Laurent Mbanda, Primate www.newcastle.anglican.org/prayerdiary Diocese of (Scotland) Bp John Armes  Morpeth Deanery: 7 Monday Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Ambrose, bishop of Milan, teacher of the faith, Whalton 397  Whalton C of E First School Diuma, apostle to Mercia, 658 [CNS]  WEATHER PATTERNS  Diocese of Shyira (Rwanda) As we read the signs Bp Samuel Mugisha of the ever-changing weather, Diocese of Edmonton (Canada) Bp Jane Alexander help us also to understand  Diocese of Newcastle: the signs of the times in which we live. For all those responsible for diocesan finance and parish giving 10 Thursday  Morpeth Deanery:  Diocese of Singapore (S E Asia) Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Meldon Bp Titus Chung  REDUCTION OF CONSUMPTION Diocese of Egbu (Nigeria) Grant us wisdom and restraint Bp Geoffrey Okoroafor in our spending and consumption, Province of Alexandria (formerly the Diocese and make us mindful of the value of Egypt) Abp Mouneer Hanna Anis of simple gifts.  Diocese of Newcastle: For all those involved in the development of Discipleship and Ministry for Mission Tuesday 8  Morpeth Deanery: Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Benefice of and Pegswood with  Diocese of Shyogwe (Rwanda) Longhirst Bp Jered Kalimba Vicar: John Park Diocese of Egba (Nigeria) Reader: Jane Park Bp Emmanuel Adekunle  Praying for Unity Diocese of Lafia (Nigeria) For all Bodies in Association with Churches Bp Godwin A Robinson Together in Britain and Ireland  Diocese of Newcastle:  LAKES AND PONDS For all who guide candidates through Help us to preserve selection and training for lay and ordained the precious waters of the earth, ministry and the flora and fauna  Morpeth Deanery: St Giles’ Parish Church, Netherwitton that depend on their presence.  NUCLEAR POWER We pray for wisdom in our response to the apparent promise of nuclear power. Help us to weigh up the carbon-free Embertide in Advent In addition to our regular prayers for those benefits and the radioactive dangers. preparing for ordained or lay ministry, and those who support and encourage them, 9 Wednesday Ember Day please pray this Advent  Diocese of Sialkot (Pakistan)  for those feeling a call to ministry, but Bp Alwin John Samuel have not yet talked to anyone about it; Diocese of Egba West (Nigeria)  for the Bishops’ Advisers and all those Bp Samuel Oludele Ogundeji preparing to attend a Panel in 2021.  Diocese of Newcastle: For our Archdeacons Mark Wroe and Catherine Sourbut Groves

11 Friday Ember Day 13 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  Diocese of Sittwe (Myanmar)  Porvoo Communion: Bp James Min Dein Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Diocese of Eha-Amufu (Nigeria) Diocese of Borg (Church of Norway) Bp Daniel Olinya  Anglican Communion:  Diocese of Newcastle: For all clergy and The Falkland Islands readers who continue to serve the Church in (Extra-Provincial to the Abp of Canterbury) many ways beyond retirement Bp Timothy Thornton  Morpeth Deanery:  Diocese of Newcastle: St Andrew’s Parish Church, Bothal For all who seek to inspire children  TREES AND WOODS  Morpeth Deanery: As we give thanks Parish Church of St John the Evangelist, for the company of trees, Longhirst remind us of their power to heal  PLASTICS the minds and spirits of a fallen humanity. Help us to reduce our reliance on plastic, in bottles and bags and consumables of all kinds. 12 Saturday Ember Day  Diocese of Ekiti (Nigeria) Bp Christopher Tayo Omulunde 14 Monday Diocese of Ekiti Kwara (Nigeria) John of the Cross, poet, teacher of the faith, Bp Andrew Ajayi 1591 Diocese of Ekiti Oke (Nigeria)  Diocese of Sodor & Man Bp Peter Eagles Bp Isaac Olubowale Diocese of El Camino Real (USA) Diocese of Ekiti West (Nigeria) Bp Mary Gray-Reeves Bp Rufus V A Adepoju  Diocese of Newcastle: For all who in church  Diocese of Newcastle: and community reach out to encourage and For all who at Diocesan and local level share support young people in the care of church buildings  Morpeth Deanery:  Morpeth Deanery: Benefice of Cresswell and Lynemouth St Margaret’s Chapel, Pegswood (a Local Priest-in-Charge: Mina Munns Ecumenical Partnership) Associate Priest: Debbie Baker  BIRDS  William Leach Campus of the As we consider the birds of the air, C of E Academy give us the wings of faith  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT to see your kingdom As we borrow the earth from our in the world around us. children, may we not take for ourselves

more than we can return. This coming week … ‘.. he has sent me to bring good news to the 15 Tuesday oppressed …’ (Isaiah 61:1)  Diocese of Sokoto (Nigeria) Bp Augustin Omole Let us pray that all of us will be more Diocese of El Salvador (Central America) engaged in God’s transforming mission in Bp Juan David Alvarado Melgar our communities, giving thanks for our  Diocese of Newcastle: engagement in schools, foodbanks, debt For the developing work and witness of our relief, care homes, hospices and hospitals, Resource Church at St Thomas’ in the city, community development, outreach to and for all those reaching out to people of children and families, and many others. all ages through Fresh Expressions of Church  Morpeth Deanery:  Morpeth Deanery: Benefice of Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle St Wilfred’s Church, Kirkharle and Kirkheaton and Cambo  Praying for Unity Priest-in-charge: vacant For all who are losing faith, for whatever NS Minister: Frances Dower reason, with the ecumenical movement  LIGHT POLLUTION  WATER POLLUTION We thank you Help us to nurture for the lights of the natural world the living water of our faith, and for the lights of human ingenuity. and to protect May we continue to see the stars, the springs and rivers of the world. and wonder at our place in the universe. 18 Friday 16 Wednesday  Diocese of South Kerala (S India)  Diocese of South Ankole (Uganda) Bp Dharmaraj Rasalam, Primate Bp Nathan Ahimbisibwe Bp Diocese of Eldoret (Kenya) Diocese of Embu (Kenya) Bp David Ireri Bp Christopher Ruto  Diocese of Newcastle: For all the Church’s  Diocese of Newcastle: musicians and worship leaders, especially in For all involved in building and promoting this Advent and Christmas season. links and partnerships ecumenically,  Morpeth Deanery: internationally and through inter-faith and St Bartholomew’s Parish Church, ethnic relations Kirkwhelpington  Morpeth Deanery:  THE RAINFORESTS Holy Trinity Parish Church, Cambo Bless native peoples and forest dwellers,  Cambo First School and help us with them  AIR POLLUTION to learn the lesson of our shared We give thanks for the air in which belonging and interdependence. we live and move and have our being. Help us to make amends 19 Saturday when we pollute its purity,  Diocese of South Rwenzori (Uganda) for the sake of all your creatures. Bp Jackson Nzerebende Enugu (Nigeria) Bp Emmanuel Chukwuma 17 Thursday Diocese of Enugu North (Nigeria) O Sapientia Bp Sosthenes Eze Eglantyne Jebb, social reformer, founder of ‘Save  Diocese of Newcastle: For those living with the Children’, 1928 disabilities who need to rely on others to  Diocese of South Dakota (USA) support them during the festive season Bp John Tarrant  Morpeth Deanery: Diocese of El-Obeid (Sudan) St Bartholomew’s Church, Kirkheaton Bp Ismail Gabriel Abudigin  FARM ANIMALS  Diocese of Newcastle: For all responsible We ask your blessing on all for the safeguarding and protection of beasts of burden and food production. vulnerable people, including children Forgive us when we are careless of your creatures.  WASTE REDUCTION This coming week … Help us to reduce what we waste, ‘He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty …’ (Luke 1:53) and to remember that, as the earth is our only home, Christmas feels strange this year. As we nothing is altogether thrown away. remember the values of the King born among us, let us pray that we will know Tuesday comfort and joy this Christmas and that each 22 of us in our churches will be able to speak of,  Diocese of Etche (Nigeria) and offer, comfort and joy to those in need. Bp Precious Nwala Diocese of Etsako (Nigeria) Bp Jacob Bada  Diocese of Newcastle: For all engaged in FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 20 chaplaincy in hospitals, schools, prisons, the  Porvoo Communion: armed forces and with older people Diocese of Oslo (Church of Norway)  Morpeth Deanery: Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness Mitford (Scottish Episcopal Church)  ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS  Anglican Communion: May we taste and see Pray for mission agencies and their ministry how good the world is. throughout the Anglican Communion, including the Mothers’ Union throughout Raise our awareness of the world the beauty and susceptibility of the earth.  Diocese of Newcastle: For all engaged in ministries of healing, deliverance and 23 Wednesday pastoral care  Diocese of Evo (Nigeria)  Morpeth Deanery: Bp Innocent Ordu Benefice of Longhorsley Bp Robert Atwell Priest-in-Charge: Audrey McCartan  Diocese of Newcastle: For all involved in  Longhorsley St Helen’s C of E First School community action with homeless and  GLOBALIZATION AND FAIR TRADE destitute people this Christmas, including We give thanks for the diversity of foods the food banks and shelters and products available to us,  Morpeth Deanery:

and pray for those who provide St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Hebron the goods that we enjoy.  Tritlington C of E First School  INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON 21 Monday CLIMATE CHANGE We give thanks  Diocese of South West Tanganyika (Tanzania) Bp Matthew Mhagama for all those who have raised our Diocese of Esan (Nigeria) awareness of climate heating. Abp Friday Imaekhai May we, together, create the  Diocese of Newcastle: For all involved with political climate for effective action. the administration of trusts and charities in our Diocese and local communities 24 CHRISTMAS EVE  Morpeth Deanery:  Diocese of Ezo (South Sudan) Benefice of Mitford with Hebron Bp John Kereboro Zawo Priest-in-charge: Alyson Lamb Diocese of Faisalabad (Pakistan) Readers: Sean Fugill, Paul Kidd, John Bp John Samuel Laurenson, Liz Hawkins, Jane Clark and  Diocese of Newcastle: For all engaged in Janice Robinson evangelistic and faith-sharing projects this Christmas  Morpeth Deanery This coming week … Benefice of Morpeth ‘We declare to you what was from the Rector: Simon White beginning, what we have heard, what we Associate Priest: Elizabeth Brown have seen with our eyes …’ (1 John 1:1) Assistant Curates: Jeremy Cooper and Paul Rusby As we approach a New Year, we pray for our Readers: Harriet Gilfillan, Janet Hedley and next steps in growing church bringing hope, Val Cowan that each of us will have renewed boldness  Morpeth All Saints C of E First School to trust in and to declare the good news of  Praying for Unity God in Jesus Christ in word and action. For all that the churches seek to do together to bring aid to the homeless, needy, 27 FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS suffering and forgotten people of our region (William, Lord Armstrong, industrialist, scientist  FLOODING and philanthropist [CNS]* ) Help us, as a society,  Porvoo Communion: in our flood protection and prevention, to work with, not against, Diocese of Mikkeli (Evangelical Lutheran the natural way of things. Church in Finland)  Anglican Communion: CHRISTMAS DAY 25 Pray for Christians in other denominations  Anglican Communion: Pray for the peace of and the work of the ecumenical movement Jerusalem and for the people of Bethlehem  Diocese of Newcastle: For all involved in the  Diocese of Newcastle: For all spending this work of Streetpastors, Samaritans and day alone ChildLine.  Morpeth Deanery:  Morpeth Deanery: St Aidan’s Church, Stobhill St Mary’s Parish Church, Morpeth  CHRISTMAS  * Canon David Bilton Being found in human form, Christ  ORGANIC FARMING embodied his love for the material world. We give thanks for those who respect Help us, like him, to give substance the earth and maintain its natural balance. to our concern for the environment. We pray for an encouraging market 26 STEPHEN, DEACON, FIRST MARTYR for those who produce organic food.  Diocese of Fianarantsoa (Indian Ocean) Bp Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo 28 THE HOLY INNOCENTS Diocese of Florida (USA)  Diocese of Fond du Lac (USA) Bp John Howard Bp Matthew Alan Gunter Diocese of False Bay (Southern Africa) Diocese of Fort Worth (USA) Bp Margaret Brenda Vertue Bp Scott Mayer  Diocese of Newcastle: For all our brothers  Diocese of Newcastle: for all involved in and sisters in our Link Dioceses: Møre, the continuing development of the church’s Botswana and Winchester ordained and lay ministers  Morpeth Deanery:  Morpeth Deanery: The Church of St James the Great, Morpeth Benefice of Woodhorn with Newbiggin  BIODIVERSITY Vicar: Anthony O’Grady Make mindful of the rich diversity of life Reader: Deborah Ehala and Carol Todd in all its fullness,  Grace Darling Campus of Northumberland C and help us to protect of E Academy the biodiversity of the natural world. Continued >>>>  ACCESS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE Wednesday May we respect the green spaces 30  Diocese of Gahini (Rwanda) round our towns and cities, Bps Alexis Bilindabagaboa for the refreshment of urban dwellers, Diocese of Gambia (West Africa) and the well-being of rural communities. Bp James Allen Yaw Odico  Diocese of Newcastle: 29 JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST For guidance and grace as we face the Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, promises and challenges of a new year of martyr, 1170 growing church bringing hope  Diocese of Fredericton (Canada)  Morpeth Deanery: Bp David Edwards St Andrew’s Parish Church, Seaton Hirst Diocese of Freetown ()  TRANSPORT Bp Tomas Arnold Ikunika Wilson Help us to discern  Diocese of Newcastle: the true cost of transport, For all who support others through the and tread lightly on the earth, ministry of spiritual direction wherever we go.  Morpeth Deanery: Benefice of Seaton Hirst Priest-in-Charge: David Twomey 31 Thursday Associate Priest: John Swinhoe John Wyclif, reformer, 1384  The Josephine Butler (Primary and  Diocese of Gasabo (Rwanda) Secondary), Thomas Bewick and James Bp Onesphore Rwaje Knott campuses of the Northumberland Diocese of Gboke (Nigeria) C of E Academy Bp Emmanuel Nyitsse  Northumberland C of E Academy  Diocese of Newcastle: Executive Director: Andrew Day For all involved in the Diocesan Synod, the Chaplain: Sally Milner Bishop’s Council and the Mission and  NATURAL DISASTERS Pastoral Committee Help us to understand  Morpeth Deanery: St John’s Parish Church, Seaton Hirst the powers at work in your creation,  Praying for Unity and to support our neighbours For all planning ecumenical initiatives in 2021 when natural disasters devastate their  TOURISM lives. In all our journeys may we travel thoughtfully, and reduce the impact of humanity upon a fragile ecology.

Canon Rob Kelsey’s book, Praying for the Earth, aims to be a resource for the Church and for individual Christians, in the belief that environmental concerns should be an integral part of the public and private prayers of all Christian people. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to an environmental good cause, and copies can be ordered from here: https.//www.sacristy.co.uk/books/ministry-resources/prayers-earth-environment.

We shall include a further selection of condensed versions of Rob’s prayers in the January Prayer Diary. About this Prayer Diary

We continue to include in the Prayer Diary all those commemorated in Celebrating the Northern Saints, [CNS] and to remember our lay, residentiary and honorary canons on the day of the saints and influential people who have given their canonry its designation and/or stall in the Cathedral.

SUNDAYS

For each Sunday, we follow a well-established pattern:  First are intercessions for the Porvoo Communion (https://www.ireland.anglican.org/resources/493/porvoo-prayer-diary-2020). The Porvoo Declaration commits the churches which have signed it to “share a common life” and “to pray for and with one another.”  Second are intercessions from the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, available at www.anglicancommunion.org. Prayers on Sundays are for a Province of the Communion.  Thirdly we pray for our own Diocese of Newcastle.  Fourthly we remember the Morpeth Deanery, its churches, people and organisations, including Church Schools, where possible, on the same day as the parish of which they are part.

WEEKDAYS

The pattern is similar on weekdays, but without the Porvoo Communion:

 Firstly, dioceses from the Anglican Cycle of Prayer  Secondly, our own Diocese of Newcastle.  Thirdly, people, parishes, churches and schools in Morpeth Deanery.  On Thursdays, we pray for the work of the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese (first week) and for Christian Unity (subsequent weeks).

We pray for our Link Dioceses as follows: Botswana during January, April and October. Møre during March, June and September. Winchester during May, August and November.

The Deaneries are incorporated in the Prayer Diary in such a way as to include the Benefices (with names of ordained and lay ministers) and also, for benefices with more than one church, the constituent churches, in order that every congregation – and the local community in which it is set - can be remembered at least once during the year.

January Morpeth (cont.) and July Newcastle East February August Newcastle West March Bellingham September Tynemouth April October May Hexham November Bamburgh & Glendale June Newcastle Central December Morpeth

I try to mark important days in the life of the Diocese (e.g. Diocesan Synods, Institutions and Licensings, ecumenical occasions) with a special note, but can only do so if I have the information early in the previous month. Please don’t hesitate to send me information and prompts in good time.

Richard Hill 0191 284 1108 07597 933 367 [email protected]