Diocesan Prayer Cycle 1st April – 30th June The great theologian Karl Barth says that prayer is ‘primitive’. Many of us therefore naturally turn to prayer, especially in times of great need. Yet, as we pray, we also discover that it is God’s Spirit who has put this desire to pray in our hearts. The purpose of this new format of the Prayer Diary is to help us to channel and develop our primitive prayer responses so that we become both intentional and focused in our praying for others. The word ‘prayer’ in all its forms is mentioned 375 times in the New Testament. The Prayer Diary will offer us at least 365 opportunities to express our prayer in a way that draws out our petitions to God on behalf of others – for those in the Diocese and for those across the world. Our Archbishops have asked us to especially pray, during the fifth week in Lent, for the wider Anglican Communion. As we do this, let’s also pray for those involved in the re-arrangements now needed due to the postponement of the Lambeth Conference until 2021. We also particularly pray in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One personal petition is for the homeless who already experience ‘social distancing’ by social exclusion. So my prayers are for them and for those who continue to provide care for the homeless in the midst of all the complexities that the virus imposes on human contact. You may want to use this prayer composed by Canon Roly Riem, Vice-Dean at Winchester Cathedral: Lord Jesus, Who in your earthly life Bore our grief and carried our sorrows, Stand with us, we pray, In our fear, distress and uncertainty. Draw near to all who are suffering: Strengthen those who care for them; And guide those involved in research. Lead us all, through the depths of the cross, To the height and joy of resurrection. Amen May the Lord grant you the Spirit of prayer as you journey with him during the Lent and Easter seasons. This month… how might you pray for workplace issues? For example, you might focus on your own workplace; local businesses; those who commute; those who are unemployed; those facing redundancy… How might you be part of the answer to your prayers? For example, you might choose to shop locally rather than online; make sure you give positive feedback when you receive exceptional service; spend some time in your local Job Centre; campaign to support outsourced workers… Wednesday 1st April Anglican Communion Cycle: Mbhashe (Southern Africa) The Rt Revd Elliot Williams Wernyol (South Sudan) The Rt Revd Gabriel Kuol Garang Deanery Team: Area Dean: David Chattell Finance Committee Chair: Gerry Stacey Lay Chairman: Gillian Gray Knight Synod Secretary: Alexandra Hardie Thursday 2nd April Anglican Communion Cycle: Meath & Kildare (Ireland) The Most Revd Patricia Louise Storey West Ankole (Uganda) The Rt Revd Johnson Twinomujuni West Buganda (Uganda) The Rt Revd Henry Katumba-Tamale Churches: Bighton: All Saints, New Alresford: St John the Baptist, Old Alresford: St Mary the Virgin, Ovington & Itchen Stoke: St Peter Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Priest in Charge: Julia Myles Assistant Curate: Tasha Anderson Parish Administrator: Penny Forbes LLM: Ian Waring-Green LLM: Peter Colquhoun LLM: Sue Armstrong LLM PTO: Angela Peel BCM - Worship: Roger Parsons BCM - Worship: Rosie Waring-Green Web Address: www.stjohnsalresford.org.uk Thursday 3rd April Anglican Communion Cycle: Medak (South India) The Rt Revd A.C. Solomon Raj West Lango (Uganda) The Rt Revd Alfred Acur Okodi Churches: Bishop’s Sutton: St Nicholas Ropley: St Peter West Tisted: St Mary Magdalene Church School: Ropley Church of England Primary School: Sarah Vittle Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Priest in Charge: Clare Welham BCM - Pastoral: Seamus Smith BCM - Worship: Norma Day Web Address: www.stpetersropley.org.uk/ www.bishopssuttonhants.org.uk/church Saturday 4th April Anglican Communion Cycle: Melbourne (Australia) The Most Revd Philip Leslie Freier West Missouri (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Martin Field Churches: Bradley: All Saints Brown Candover and Chilton Candover: St Peter Cliddesden: St Leonard Dummer: All Saints Ellisfield: St Martin Farleigh Wallop: St Andrew Northington & Swarraton: St John the Evangelist Preston Candover with Nutley: St Mary the Virgin Wield: St James Church School: Preston Candover Church of England Primary School: Simrit Otway Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Rector: David Chattell Associate Rector: Stephen Mourant BCM - Worship: Julian Gibbons LLM: Ruth Chattell Others to Pray for: Cliddesden Primary school and all staff and governors. Preschools and Toddlers groups Small local businesses Mission Initiatives: Lent Course and follow on New services Men’s Breakfasts Mums and Toddlers (Cliddesden) Web Address: www.farleighcandoverandwield.org.uk Sunday 5th April Palm Sunday Anglican Communion Cycle Pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean The Most Revd James Richard Wong Yin Song - Archbishop, Province of Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Seychelles Diocesan life Our Vocations Team and all in our diocese involved in encouraging, nurturing and discerning vocations to both lay and ordained ministry. Monday 6th April Anglican Communion Cycle: Meru (Kenya) The Rt Revd Charles Mwendwa West Malaysia (South East Asia) The Most Revd Ng Moon Hing Idaho (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Brian Thom Churches: Avington: St Mary Easton: St Mary Itchen Abbas: St John the Baptist Martyr Worthy: St Swithun Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Priest in Charge: Alex Pease Parish Administrator: Beccy Clark LLM: Gerry Stacey BCM - Pastoral: Lavinia Owen Mission Initiatives: Couples recently completed the Marriage Course. The children and families attending Little Rainbows (toddler Group) and the older people, organisers and helpers attending Cameo (regular lunch club and communion). Alpha. Planning the Way of the Cross service, encouraging people on the outskirts of our worshipping community to take part and for people attending to have open hearts to see and hear the message. Web Address: www.itchenvalleychurches.org.uk Tuesday 7th April Anglican Communion Cycle: Meru (Kenya) The Rt Revd Charles Mwendwa West Malaysia (South East Asia) The Most Revd Ng Moon Hing Idaho (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Brian Thom Churches: Beauworth: St James Bramdean Common: Church in the Wood Bramdean: St Simon & St Jude Cheriton: St Michael & All Angels Hinton Ampner: All Saints Kilmeston: St Andrew Tichborne: St Andrew Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Rector: Christopher Durrant Assistant Curate: Jan Brookshaw Parish Administrator: Gillian Gray Knight BCM - Worship: Gillian Gray Knight BCM - Worship: Sarah Gill BCM - Pastoral: Brenda Sims LLM: Bruce Newson, Others to Pray for: The Rev’d Caroline Strudwick Sarah Gill (BPP) Churchwardens- Alex & Richard (Ss. Simon & Jude, Bramdean) Phil (St. Michael & All Angel’s, Cheriton) Angus (St. Andrew’s, Tichborne) Chris & Alastair (St. Andrew’s, Kilmeston) Alan & Roly (St. James’, Beauworth) David & Rosebie (All Saints, Hinton Ampner) Mission Initiatives: South Downs Awakening 2020 Lent Course Confirmation Classes New Organist for Cheriton Web Address: www.upperitchen.org Wednesday 8th April Anglican Communion Cycle: Michigan (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Bonnie Perry West Texas (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd David Reed Deanery Team: Area Dean: Brian Pritchard Assistant Area Dean: Andrew Micklefield Finance Committee Chair: Elspeth Mackeggie-Gurney Lay Chair: Derek Gurney Synod Secretary: Margaret Bell Thursday 9th April Maundy Thursday Anglican Communion Cycle: Milwaukee (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Steven Miller West Virginia (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Willam Michie Klusmeyer Western Izon (Nigeria) The Rt Revd Edafe Emame Churches: Bentley: St Mary Binsted: Holy Cross Froyle: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church School: Binsted Church of England Primary School: Sharron Morton Bentley Church of England Primary School: Katy Pinchess Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Vicar: Yann Dubreuil Assistant Curate: Christopher Ogilvie Thompson Parish Administrator: Hannah Dubreuil Parish Administrator: Lora Bowden LLM: Harold Fish Others to Pray for: Pax Hill and Bentley Lodge Nursing Homes Ordination of Zoe Paine Work of Pastoral Assistants, Sam and Gemma Ball PTO Preb. David Perryman Anna Chaplain, Nicky Smallwood (also getting ordained!) Mission Initiatives: Confirmation Service 8 March 24-7 Prayer week in May Alphas in Summer Term (daytime and evening) Youth Alpha in Autumn Messy Church Weddings Funerals Commissioning of Anna Friends Reordering of Binsted Church Web Address: www.benbinfro.co.uk Friday 10th April Good Friday Anglican Communion Cycle Minna (Nigeria) The Rt Revd Daniel Abu Yisa Western Kansas (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Michael Milliken Our Link Provinces/Diocese: Province of Chile Province of Myanmar Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo Province of Uganda Province of Rwanda Province of Burundi Diocese of Newcastle Saturday 11th April Holy Saturday Anglican Communion Cycle: Minnesota (The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Brian Prior Western Kowloon (Hong Kong) The Rt Revd Andrew ChanIdoani (Nigeria) The Rt Revd Ezekiel Dahunsi Churches: Bentworth: St Mary Lasham: St Mary Medstead: St Andrew Shalden: St Peter & St Paul Church School: St Mary’s Bentworth Church of England Primary School: Joanna Ayres Medstead Church of England Primary School: Jane Oborn Clergy, LLM’s and BCM’s: Priest in Charge: Ed Pruen Parish Administrator: Sarah Rees BCM - Pastoral: Sarah Bankhead Mission Initiatives: That the four parishes will grow closer as one parish with