Prayer Diary Looking out for people in need five doors down

May 2020 St Francis of Assisi in Coventry has started a new project to encourage the people of North Coventry to look out for others and be good neighbours during the coronavirus pandemic. Named ‘5 Doors Waiting Down’ the project asks people to look five doors

I began writing this reflection in Holy Week, as we walked the way of down in each direction (or up and down if living in the cross; marveling at the love of our Lord for us, drawn to worship in flats) to see if anyone needs help or assistance. tears, because of his suffering for us. In Easter season once again, we now celebrate resurrection hope, rejoicing in God’s ‘power to save’, People are encouraged to drop a note through the wisdom of God displayed two thousand years ago, but as relevant their neighbour’s door to offer assistance if they today, as ever. The risen Jesus told his disciples to wait for the are able, or to give the helpline and email of the 5 Doors Down project outpouring of the Holy Spirit which would be given at Pentecost. ([email protected] / 07555607575). A dedicated group of

volunteer drivers are working for the project to deliver supplies to those in need. The The promise of the Father came to ‘birth’ the church, filling Jesus’ followers with the life, love and power of the Spirit. emergency parcels include food basics, toilet paper, soap and nappies for those with babies. In ‘lock down’ we are waiting with an eye on the future, when we will emerge into our more usual daily routines. Perhaps in this ‘waiting time’, we like the early disciples could be As well as delivering emergency supplies, the project also offers other methods of pondering, thinking, praying, and asking Jesus to fills us afresh with the life of the Holy Spirit, support. There is a dedicated helpline for those who are struggling (07555607575) that we might respond again to his commissioning of us, to share his life with others in new which is operated by DBS trained support workers deployed from St Francis’s usual ways. projects. The volunteer team can also help with practical support such as sorting out benefits, assisting with Food Bank referrals and Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, calling GPs / pharmacists. and have it abundantly”. John 10.10

Coronavirus has felt like a thief that has broken into the daily lives of most of the planet; All the volunteers working for the project are indiscriminate in nature, no respecter of age, social standing, wealth, privilege, rank or following health and safety precautions including wealth of a nation. A thief that has disrupted family life, all social norms, caused hundreds of wearing gloves and staying 2 metres away from thousands of deaths, serious illness, even robbing families of being able to properly bury other people. their dead. In the midst of this it has been moving and humbling to see the church grow in new ways of loving and serving our communities. If you would like to find out more about the project see their Facebook page, 5 Doors Down. These months will be etched in the collective memory of a generation, but as we emerge may we be encouraged and empowered by the One who breathes his life into all who desire it; and so speak afresh of the reason for our hope. Barry Dugmore Archdeacon Missioner

Page 1 Page 2 Cycle of Prayer - May 2020 Fri 8 Dunchurch with Thurlaston. Clergy: Pat Townshend. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. With a focus on parishes and schools in Rugby Deanery *Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417

St Gabriel’s Houlton. Clergy: Steve Gold, Margaret Simmons, Lindsay Hughes, Fri 1 Provost Williams Primary School, Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Headteacher: Claire Sat 9 Ted Lyons. Reader: Paul Thomas. We thank God for the new families God has Hall. We pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in Philip and blessed us with this year. Please pray for the continued development of the this school community. James, relationship between school, church and community as Houlton grows. Apostles Today is World Lupus Day. Lupus is a global health problem that affects Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Newton and Brownsover. Clergy: Interregnum. Reader: Sat 2 Sun 10 people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and ages. However Catherine Hammond. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members many people have not heard of lupus and do not know its symptoms and the and the local community. Fifth Sunday of impact it can have on sufferers lives. We pray that today will help raise *Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 Easter awareness of lupus. Bilton Junior School. Headteacher: Alex Norton. We pray for God's blessing on Rugby St George. Clergy: Alan Scrivener. Readers: Carol Davies, Mike Iredale.

Sun 3 pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. Mon 11 We give thanks for our wardens and all those who are helping to keep the We pray for the chaplains serving at HMP Onley and HMP Ryehill: Sarah ministry of our church alive during this difficult time. Please pray that as we Fourth Sunday Gillard-Faulkner, Rosemary Lowdon, David Spademan, Peter Ireson, Kate stream our services and try to support the housebound we might sustain the of Easter Hitchcox. May the Lord bless them and the prisoners they work with. faith and hope of our church family. Wolston and Church Lawford. Clergy: Kevin Flanagan, Paul Simmonds. Leam Valley Benefice. Clergy: Anne Hinks. Readers: Karen Hatch, Alec Parker. Mon 4 Tue 12 Readers: Jayne Flanagan, Helen Simmonds, Isobel Wickens, Jayne Hayward, We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local David Gadsby. We give thanks for the completion of the restructure of St community. Margaret’s and the joy of moving back to the church building. We pray for *English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era the safety of both clergy and congregations during the present crisis. Leamington Hastings CofE Academy. Headteacher: Suzanne Marson. We pray St John’s Hillmorton. Clergy: Steve Gold, Margaret Simmons, Lindsay Hughes,

Tue 5 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. Wed 13 Ted Lyons. Reader: Paul Thomas. We thank God for continuing growth in our This week is Deaf Awareness Week. One of the aims of this week is to church family, and the completion of a new servery and accessible toilet. promote social inclusion for deaf people. We pray that our churches are Please pray for wisdom for next steps in our children and families ministry, places where deaf people can feel included and welcomed. and to build on widening connections in our community with God's love. Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore Primary School. Head of School: Lisa Bernard. We St Andrew's Benn Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Abi Huggins. We pray

Wed 6 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Thu 14 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. community. This week is ME Awareness Week. ME is a long-term neurological condition Matthias the We pray for everyone currently working from home. We pray that they find a that can cause many symptoms including debilitating pain and fatigue good balance between work and home life. Apostle 250,000 people in the UK suffer from it. We pray for all those with ME. St Oswald's CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Hillary Lorimer. We pray for

Thu 7 Draycote Benefice. Clergy: Interregnum. Interregnum. We pray for God's Fri 15 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school blessing upon the church members and the local community. community. We pray for the Bishop's Council which meets today. We pray for all the NHS staff and care workers who are working tirelessly to care for the sick, elderly and vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic. Page 3 Page 4 We thank God for all the headteachers who lead schools Sat 16 The Revel Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Mr A Edwards. We pray for Sun 24 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school across the diocese. We pray for them and their staff as they support the children of key workers and children with special needs in school and also community. Seventh provide work for children who are currently being home-schooled. *Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877 Sunday of Easter *John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788 Rugby St Peter and St John. Clergy: Sheila Bridge. We thank God for the

Sun 17 completion of Phase 2 of Project Welcome meaning we have a new front Mon 25 Dunchurch Boughton Junior School. Headteacher: Ian Dewes. We pray for door where there was no door before. Also we were awarded £26000 from God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. Sixth Sunday of ASDA which has helped us put in a new boiler. Pray for us to recover after the *The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735

Easter current pandemic crisis. *Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709

May the blessing of God be upon our farms and on all the cereal crops of our Wolston St Margaret's Primary School. Headteacher: Julia McLeod. We pray

Mon 18 countryside. May they receive rain to swell the grain and sun to ripen it. We Tue 26 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. 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 St Matthew and St Oswald, Rugby. Clergy: Alan Hulme, Jane Hulme. Readers:

Tue 19 Mervyn Hill, David Long, Mairi Mowbray. We thank God for the appointment Wed 27 Bagington, Bubbenhall and Ryton-on Dunsmore. Clergy: David Wintle, Penny of Alan and Jane as our ministers. Please pray for a deepening of our Hughes. Reader: Rosemary King. We pray for God's blessing upon the church corporate prayer life and dependence on God as he leads us into new things. members and the local community. *Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988 Newbold-on-Avon with Long Lawford. Clergy: Paul Wilkinson, Diane Bussey,

Wed 20 Peter Beresford, Sara Bowie. Reader: Jonathan Broom. We thank God for a Thu 28 The Revel Group. Clergy: Interregnum. Reader: Charon Hall. We thank God for visible deepening of many people's faith within our churches during the last all the lay leaders in our 6 churches. Please pray for a successful search for a year. Please pray for us as we try to deal with significant financial difficulties. new Rector in challenging times.

*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 St John’s Hillmorton. Clergy: Steve Gold, Margaret Simmons, Lindsay Hughes,

Thu 21 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Fri 29 Ted Lyons. Reader: Paul Thomas. We thank God for continuing growth in our community. church family, and the completion of a new servery and accessible toilet. Ascension Day We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches. Please pray for wisdom for next steps in our children and families ministry, *Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330 and to build on widening connections in our community with God's love. Bilton. Clergy: Tim Cockell, Jonathan Smith. Reader: Glenn Lowde. We pray Knightlow Primary School. Headteacher: Jill Vavasour. We pray for God's

Fri 22 for God's blessing on this parish. We thank God for our the way in which Sat 30 blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. people have responded to the current crisis with offers of help and support. *Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906 Please pray for the parish as it learns to adapt to new ways of working and *Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431 further integrates the use of technology in online worship *Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933 Harris CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Roberta Harrison. We pray for

Sat 23 Rugby St Andrew. Clergy: Interregnum. Readers: Gwyneth Hickman, Wendy Sun 31 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Coleman, Sue Goddard. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members The Visit of community. and the local community. Mary to We thank God for our brothers and sisters who serve and worship in other Elizabeth Christian denominations. Page 5 Page 6 Saturday Breakfast at St Paul’s, Bishop Simon Barrington-Ward has Foleshill died The Right Reverend Simon Barrington-Ward, former Bishop of Our breakfast has been running for several years, Coventry, has died at the age of 89. providing free hot food and community to 100 homeless or vulnerable people each week. This is a The current , the Right Reverend Christopher short report made by BBC CWR last year. As the Cocksworth said: coronavirus situation worsened, we had to shut our building, but knew we needed to continue the "On Holy Saturday, Bishop Simon Barrington-Ward died. Simon essential provision if safe and possible. was Bishop of Coventry from 1985 to 1997, and was dearly loved. Indeed, he remains in people’s hearts across the Diocese. Many people across the For the last two weeks we have provided a were ordained or first licensed or confirmed by him. Bishop John stripped-down version of the breakfast, still with worked closely with Simon during his curacy and, like many of us, has many stories to tell hot food and drinks, but to take away during a one of Bishop Simon’s faithful and loving ministry. -hour time slot. We serve from the carpark, with a minimal number of volunteers gathered now from different local churches, as several of our usual volunteers are aged over 70. It has been an amazing exercise in faith building, working out the risks and logistics of socially Before coming to Coventry, Bishop Simon was my Spiritual Director and, throughout my distanced provision, but knowing that those who come may not have hot food otherwise. time as one of his successors, Simon’s example has been an inspiration. I learnt so much from him and I join with the Diocese of Coventry as a whole in being indebted to this kind This is what some of our guests have said: and holy Father-in-God.

“The other places where we normally get food are closed, so this is a lifeline” Bishop Simon taught me to pray a very simple prayer, called "The Jesus Prayer". He told me that, like him, I would need to use it during the day as bishop "to come up for air". We “I’m in emergency housing provided by the council, but there is nowhere to get hot food or give thanks for this person of prayer who knew how to dwell in the presence of God, and drink. We need you to keep going!” who will now breathe the sweet and pure air of the new creation. And we pray for his dear wife Jean, for their daughters, Helen and Mary and for the whole family." “I’m so grateful that you’re doing this for us”. After his retirement from Coventry, Bishop Simon continued as a bishop with pastoral “The shops are increasing their prices and I can’t keep up” care of the University of Cambridge, and an honorary assistant bishop in the , Those we serve are vulnerable both physically and mentally to Covid-19, and continuing to be a presence that feeds their bodies and brings encouragement feels like an essential activity Bishop Simon returned as an honorary assistant chaplain of Magdalene College, where of the body of Christ, and a privilege. he was an honorary fellow since 1987, and a chaplain to the staff of Ridley Hall,

Cambridge. We are working out what it means to be church in a time of crisis, and therefore we can’t reproduce our old ways of ‘doing’ and need to listen for God’s prompting and wisdom. This He was knighted as a Knight Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George time reminds us of our own fragility, and that God will use us broken as we are. Please pray for us as we respond to growing need. (KCMG) in 2001.

Ali Hogger Gadsby Vicar of St Paul’s Foleshill

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