JANUARY - MARCH 2020 PRAYER DIARY Launde Abbey is a retreat house in the heart of the country with God at its centre January - April 2020 Retreats at Launde Abbey For more information and to book MAKING CHURCH CONFLICT CREATIVE please call or see our website Led by David Newman and Louise Corke 13th-14th January Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire, LE7 9XB GROWING UP INTO THE CHILDREN OF GOD Led by David Newman 14th-16th February DEEPENING DISCIPLESHIP: THE ENIGMA OF FORGIVENESS Led by Stephen Cherry 17th February THE CONTEMPLATIVE HEART Led by Ian Cowley 17th-20th February LIVING WITH LOSS Led by Abi and John May 17th-21st February LENT RETREAT: SEASONED BY SEASONS Led by Michael Mitton 9th-12th March POST BEGINNERS RETREAT Led by Helen Newman and Cathy Davies 13th-16th March HOLY WEEK RETREAT: CARRYING DEATH, REVEALING LIFE Led by David and Helen Newman 6th-9th April TAIZÉ EASTER RETREAT Led by Cathy Davies and Emily Walker 14th-17th April © Matt Musgrave Serving the Dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough www.laundeabbey.org.uk • 01572 717254 • [email protected] • Charity No: 1140918 FOREWORD FROM THE BISHOP OF LOUGHBOROUGH The idea of Lent as Jesus faces temptation journeying is a and eventually turns his face towards noble and age the cross. old Christian tradition which Journeys may sometimes be about a acknowledges physical move to pastures new but often that in faith we they are an internal activity. As well as seldom stand having our eyes on that which lies ahead still. Rather, we and draws us forward, to journey well are called to means being aware of the past and all be ever on the that has shaped us and being rooted in move, always the present and all that God is doing now. seeking fuller and deeper understanding. To journey well requires an openness With our eyes on Christ who goes to being changed and to gaining new before us, we are led (both through insights. As I prepare to journey round the times of suffering and joy), towards Diocese this Lent (see Sunday 1 March new ways of being and perceiving. We “Salt of the Earth”) I expect to be both are shaped and reshaped, renewed and challenged and encouraged. My prayer transformed. The lectionary helps give is that God will open my heart, mind and shape to our Christian journey, enabling eyes, so that I may learn more about what and encouraging us to explore different it means to be a faithful and obedient themes along the way. In this edition of the disciple of Christ. May each of you too Prayer Calendar we continue reflecting be blessed in the journeys you undertake on the journey of the magi through the during this season of your life. season of Epiphany, we travel with the Holy Family to Jerusalem where they meet Simeon and Anna who bless the Christ child, and we step into the wilderness of www.laundeabbey.org.uk • 01572 717254 • [email protected] • Charity No: 1140918 WELCOME Welcome to the new edition of the diocesan calendar of prayer, which takes us through spring, from Epiphany to Candlemas, Lent and to the beginning of Holy Week. If you know of anyone else who would like to receive a paper copy of this document, then please contact the Bishop’s Chaplain as below. It can also be downloaded from www.leicester.anglican.org/everyday-faith/calendar-or-prayer/ Every day we pray for Bishops and our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world using the Anglican Cycle of Prayer and the Porvoo prayer calendar (www.porvoochurches.org) – these are included in italics at the bottom of each day. You will also find one of our own partner dioceses featured every week. The Anglican Communion have changed their practice and now only include the name of the diocesan bishop, asking us to pray for the people, clergy and bishops of the names dioceses. The key to the parish entries is as follows: C = Clergy; R = Reader; PA = Pastoral Assistant; Pio = Pioneer Minister; Evng = Evangelist; PTO = Permission to Officiate. Do let the Bishop’s Chaplain know if you’ve got a story to feature on a Sunday in a future edition – with as much notice as possible please! Email Revd Rosie Woodall at [email protected] or phone 0116 270 3390 or send it c/o Bishop’s Lodge. We are very grateful to Revd Canon Brian Davis for his work on gathering parish prayer requests. SUNDAY 5 JANUARY EPIPHANY “It becomes ever clearer that climate local church participation in the scheme (https:// change is the greatest challenge that we ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/denominational- and future generations face. It’s our sacred awards/eco-diocese/) Several dioceses in duty to protect the natural world we’ve the Church of England have already achieved so generously been given, as well as our this status, and many others have registered neighbours around the world who will be first their intent to become an Eco Diocese. On and worst affected. Without swift decisive 23rd November 2019, a motion was agreed action the consequences of climate change unanimously by Leicester’s Diocesan Synod to will be devastating.” seek Eco Diocese status within two years and encourage Eco Church across our Diocese. Archbishop Justin Welby, 7th October 2019 In total, there are eight elements to achieving Within the Diocese of Leicester there is Bronze Eco Diocese status (the first level). already much going on within our churches, These include: an environmental policy agreed fresh expressions, schools and chaplaincies by Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod; to respond practically to this call to action. achieve the appropriate levels of local church One example is Eco Church - an award scheme registration (10% of churches) and award administered by Christian mission agency A (5%); achieve the relevant award in relation to Rocha UK for churches in England and Wales diocesan offices; embed environmental issues who want to demonstrate that the gospel is in the curricula of ongoing ministerial education; good news for God’s earth (https://ecochurch. manage diocesan investments ethically; work arocha.org.uk/) There are currently around 20 with other dioceses/faith groups to encourage parishes in Leicester Diocese with Eco Church greater environmental action; and record and status or which have begun this process. celebrate individual environmental initiatives. Arising out of the parish-based scheme, Eco Diocese (is an initiative to encourage diocesan- Please pray for: level engagement with Eco Church, and promote • those working towards Eco Diocese status • more churches to pursue a calling to become an Eco Church • our diocesan environmental officer, Revd Andrew Quigley, and the environmental group The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Taranaki: Archbishop Philip Richardson; Pihopa o Aotearoa: Archbishop Don Tamihere; Polynesia: Archbishop Fereimi Cama MON 6 JANUARY Epiphany Please pray for those who, like the Magi, are on a journey of faith, and that more people will come to see Christ as he really is. Lake Rukwa (Tanzania): Bishop Mathayo Kasagara; Southern Highlands (Tanzania): Bishop Julius Lugendo; Gitega (Burundi): Bishop John Nduwayo TUES 7 JANUARY Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro Bishop Stanley Hotay Pray for wisdom from God for Bishop Stanley and his team as they enter a New Year and seek to be led by God in their mission and ministry. Lango (Uganda): Bishop Alfred Olwa; Southern Malawi (Central Africa): Bishop Alinafe Kalemba; Glasgow & Galloway (Scotland): in vacancy WED 8 JANUARY Licensing services for Sr Liz and Anthony Lees-Smith Please pray for Anthony Lees-Smith, licenced as Area Dean of the City of Leicester Deanery this morning; and for Sr Liz Heaton, to be licenced as Rector of the Upper Soar benefice this evening. Langtang (Nigeria): Bishop Stanley Fube Southern Nyanza (Kenya): Bishop James Ochiel THURS 9 JANUARY City of Leicester Deanery Area Dean: Anthony Lees-Smith, Assistant AD: Adrian Jones; Lay Chairs: Les Mitchelmore & Margaret Terry Give thanks for recent appointments and pray for those new to the deanery and for our new Area Dean; celebrate the amazing diversity of our deanery and the many creative ways churches are reaching out to their communities. Lebombo (Southern Africa): Bishop Carlos Matsinhe; Southern Ohio (ECUSA): Bishop Thomas Breidenthal; Southern Philippines: Bishop Danilo Bustamante FRI 10 JANUARY The Martyrs, Leicester Bertin Hermo, Gareth Hutchinson (C); Shayne Ardron, Chris Freeman, David Shepherd, Evernice Tirivanhu (R); Michael Dampier (R-PTO); Margaret Farrell, Peter Coopey (PA) We’ve recently spent time revisiting the Good News of Jesus, personally, corporately and missionally. This spring we’re running Alpha, encouraging the church community to attend and inviting new people. Pray for us to see faith deepening and new faith commitments. Leeds: Bishop Nick Baines SAT 11 JANUARY Watermead Mission Partnership Co-convenors: Steve Delaforce & Nisar Masih Please pray that the clergy from the four churches may find ways in being able to meet each together to explore what might be best for the future of the Mission Partnership. Leicester: Bishop Martyn Snow; Southern Virginia (ECUSA): Bishop Herman Hollerith; Gloucester: Bishop Rachel Treweek SUNDAY 12 JANUARY BAPTISM OF CHRIST The Revd Rob Marsh writes: Before I was ordained, I had a very active role in Scouting. During more recent times, myself and a colleague, Michael Smith, have been offering chaplaincy to some of the international Scout and Guide camps held around the UK. This might require us to be away from home and parish for up to two weeks. For us this not an insignificant role - some camps can host up to 10,000 young people, plus adult leaders and other staff. We do not see our role as being exclusively Anglican but open.