Praying the Way: Diocesan Prayer topics for February

PRAYING THE WAY

February 2018

For the world

Pray for: all who have suffered loss of family, friends, home and more in the mudslides in California and for all working to help them;  those in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and other countries enduring much suffering and political turmoil;  Zimbabwe and for our diocesan links;  international relations, especially between the USA and North Korea; our care and awareness of the environment that all countries may pledge themselves to improve how we look after the natural world.

For our country

Pray for: Archbishop Justin;  for both a short-term and longer term solution to the funding of the NHS and for all who work in the health service; all the negotiations over Brexit;  Canon Anne Dyer (previously of Rochester Diocese) as she is enthroned and consecrated as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney on Thursday, 1 March, and for the parish of Holy Trinity, Haddington, Scotland, where she was incumbent.

For the diocese

Pray for:  Bishop James and all those involved in appointing a Bishop of Tonbridge; all Lent courses and groups that all may encourage one another to observe a holy Lent.

BROMLEY AND BEXLEY ARCHDEACONRY

Beckenham Deanery

Beckenham Holy Trinity

Pray for:  our teaching series on Whole Life Worship; growth in numbers and faith of our youth group, Ignite;  preparations for Alpha, starting in April;  resources to meet the growing need of people who attend Living Well.

Beckenham St Paul

Give thanks:  that we started a new Sunday night youth group in January

Pray for:  our youth and children’s work;  visions for St Paul’s

Bromley Deanery

Pray:  that our churches will respond to new housing and business developments within Bromley and be ready to welcome those who move in.

Bickley

Pray for:  our confirmation candidates, to be confirmed by Bishop Norman Banks on the 11 February.

Bromley  St Andrew

Pray for:  those confirmed at St Andrew’s on 28 January;  for work in, and links to, the community

Bromley St John the Evangelist

Pray for:  our half-term Holiday Club from 12 to 14 February, “Lord of the Jungle”

Bromley St Mark

Pray for:  the St Mark’s Square development of apartments and businesses, which opens in April.

Bromley St Mary

Pray for:  the encouragement and support that we wish to give to our volunteers.   We are also looking at new ways of managing our communications both to the congregation and parish; please pray for imagination and clarity.  Looking further ahead, we are seeking to work with A Culture of Invitation.  Please pray that we will find ways to develop our Autumn and Christmas services and find ways to be inviting and welcoming.

Chislehurst The Annunciation

Pray:  that all in our church will benefit from a worthy observance of Lent.

Erith Deanery

Pray for:  Synod meeting on the 7 February;  Lent courses and groups

Barnehurst

Give thanks for:  the large number of people who joined our Christmas services

Pray:  that many who came at Christmas will visit again;  that our six-week Growing Together course, starting on Ash Wednesday, will lead participants to a deeper understanding of our faith.

Belvedere All Saints

Pray for:  our Lenten Stewardship campaign;  the setting up of a Friends of All Saints, Belvedere.

Belvedere St Augustine of Canterbury

Pray for:  our mission partner parish of St Mary, Chitungwiza, Harare, Zimbabwe;  political stability in that country

Bexleyheath Christ Church

Pray for:  our continuing Making Disciples course;  Messy Church in half-term week.

Bexleyheath St Peter

Pray for:  fundraising for the remodelling of our hall toilet facilities and exterior hall redecoration.

Bostall Heath

Pray for:  newly-confirmed church members; Bible study groups;  a refreshed vision on outreach

Crayford

Pray for:  our new Rector, Father Paul, and the PCC as we begin the process of shaping our vision for the future.

Slade Green

Pray:  that our new home study groups will be well received;  for those preparing for confirmation;  plans for the establishment of a Dementia Café at St Augustine’s

Welling

Pray for:  the Thursday morning Alpha group running from January to March;  Sunday groups, Thursday toddler group and Messy Church on 22 February , especially as many team members are in Uganda this month.

Orpington Deanery

Cray St Barnabas

Pray for:  children back at school; planning meeting and preparations for Messy Church; families attending Messy Church and the helpers

Orpington  All Saints

Pray for:  the institution of our new Vicar, Robert Parker-McGee, on the 28 February;  for his whole family as they move to Orpington during the month

Sidcup Deanery

Sidcup St John the Evangelist

Pray for:  our new Priest-in-Charge and Vicar designate;  the proposed reorganisation of our parish and All Saints Foots Cray;  our new Sunday Club;  Saturday Space, a new venture involving community prayer

ROCHESTER ARCHDEACONRY

Cobham Deanery

Pray for: our Deanery Synod and Chapter meetings this month; a reflective and holy Lent.

RNWK – Rural North West Kent Group

Pray for:  our planning meeting about youth work provision and the possibilities of employing a youth worker; our services on Ash Wednesday at Ridley and Fawkham; Jim, Dylan and Elizabeth, our clergy; all in RNWK that we would enter and keep a holy Lent; our lay ministers and those in training who do so much to share the gospel in RNWK.

Ash with Ridley

Give thanks: for all the people who attended services in our churches over the Christmas period, especially those who only visit us at this time of year, and pray that they will have been touched by the Holy Spirit and that the message and true meaning of Christmas will stay with them throughout the coming year.

Pray for: those who care for our two precious medieval church buildings, as they struggle with the heating and maintenance, that they may be kept open, accessible and provide welcome; all the people who visit our churches during the week, that they may find peace and comfort in the presence of God; all in our communities who are lonely, sick or mourning that they also may find peace and comfort; that our parish profile will reach out to inspire a new incumbent to come and lead us forward; Ruth as she settles into retirement and the Group clergy as they support us through the vacancy.

Cobham with Luddesdowne and Dode

Pray for: a new treasurer for Luddesdowne, and a new organist/worship leader for Cobham;  all those attending a Bishop’s Advisory Panel exploring ordination; an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 2018

Fawkham and Hartley

Pray for: our PCC Awayday and future plans to be discussed; our Messy Church gathering.

Istead Rise

Pray for: the panto event held at the church on the 24 February, that the preparations will go smoothly and that it will be well attended and enjoyed by the community; the ladies attending the Bountiful Women’s Conference on the 3 February that all will be inspired and encouraged to grow in their God-given gifts; all the young people associated with the church in different ways, that God will empower them by the Holy Spirit to grow in their faith and connect with him on a deeper level.

Longfield

Pray for: Jane, our wonderful organist and the choir who lead our sung worship; those who lead our children’s activities; church wardens, Paul and Gill, and their families

Meopham with Nurstead

Give thanks:  for our renewed links with Meopham Community Academy and pray that ideas for further links will come into being and bear fruit.

Pray for: The Lego Club that enjoyed a restart last month, and give thanks for volunteers to chat and provide refreshments; the families who will come along;  that we will be able to share God’s love in our conversations and actions; as our study groups take time looking at the book of Revelation, starting this month, pray for hearts and minds to be open to God revealing himself in fresh new ways; for the work being done by Nurstead PCC in developing facilities at St Mildred’s;  that in the year ahead we may see a deepening of our spiritual lives and always be ready to care for the needs of our neighbours in many areas of daily life.

Southfleet

Give thanks: for those who are helping us during our interregnum and especially for Joanna, Don and Mike as they shoulder most of the responsibility.

Pray for: those who attended church for the first time over the Christmas season that they may reflect upon what they have heard and feel the need to come to worship again with us; those who have been bereaved that they may receive comfort;  those who are unwell or just feeling off colour for the strength to face another day; for our Messy Church, for those who help and those who attend, that this will be an opportunity for outreach into the wider community.

Dartford Deanery

Pray: that people who were drawn into our churches over the Christmas period will want to return and to discover more of the Good News of our Saviour Jesus Christ; for Dartford Churches Together Winter Shelter that there will be sufficient funds and volunteers and pray especially for those who will use the facilities that their circumstances will improve; for the plans and preparations for the Swanley Churches Together Lent courses, which will begin the  week starting the 18 February; for the season of Lent, that it will be a time of spiritual preparation and renewal before Easter; for those in our worshipping communities who faithfully and selflessly give of their time to volunteer in the many organisations which help and support so many vulnerable people of all ages: for Rev Kenneth Clark, our Rural Dean, and all those who are helping to run parishes that are still in an interregnum; for all the plans and preparations for the Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday, 2 March; that the Holy Spirit will guide us all and we will do God’s will for our parishes and the communities we serve.

Crockenhill

Give thanks:  for the Christmas Tree Festival and all events and services over Christmas.

Pray:  a blessing on all the work that has opened up with our new Church Community Room.

Darent Valley Benefice

Give thanks:  for successful events, which have raised the necessary funding for the maintenance of our buildings.  Praise the Lord for the repair to the heating at St John’s.

Pray for; people to come forward to fulfil roles in the church and for our prayer groups in the Benefice.

Dartford Christ Church

Pray for: God’s peace and blessing for the Torch Trust meeting for the Blind on the 3 February; the Men’s Breakfast on the 10 February  and all those attending the New Wine Conference from 27 February – 2 March;  all those involved with and attending the Winter Shelter on Tuesdays.

Dartford Holy Trinity

Pray for: God’s blessing on all that he is doing in the church and the community in which they serve

Dartford St Alban and Dartford St Edmund

Pray for:  the work of our churches at this time and as the applications close for the new Vicar, that the right person will be appointed.

Stone

Give thanks:  for our services and outreach over the Christmas period.

Pray for:  all that we are doing here and in our community.

Swanley St Mary the Virgin

Pray for:  God’s blessing on all that he is doing in the church and community in which we serve.

Swanley St Paul and Hextable St Peter

Pray:  that the Lord will give our new Vicar, Rev Johnny Douglas, all that he needs as he meets his congregations and community;  give him wisdom and anointing; for Johnny’s wife, Julie, and family as they settle into their new home; for the Vision Weekend 10 – 11 February.

Wilmington

Give thanks:  for successful events over the Christmas season and a blessing on all our work here.

Pray for:  Wilmington itself;  that people will step forward to become trustees or involved in the running of the Wilmington Memorial Hall.

Rochester Deanery

Chatham St Mary and St John

Pray for: the church plant in the Tap ‘n’ Tin, Railway Street; Matt Bird, worship leader, and Stephen Ramshaw, Church Army evangelist; our witness in central Chatham.

Chatham St Philip and St James

Pray for: our Pancake Party on the 13 February and for the children and families attending.   Last year over 500 people came.   Pray that we make the most of this opportunity.

TONBRIDGE ARCHDEACONRY

Pray for: the launch in our Archdeaconry of  “Called Together – Let’s Start Together” at 2.00pm at Trinity School, Sevenoaks on Sunday, 25 February

Malling Deanery

Aylesford

Pray for: our three Lent courses, that many of the church family will encourage each other as we look towards Easter

Barming

Pray for: those attending our Lent course, looking at different ways of praying; those in St Margaret’s completing the Hearing and Speaking God’s word course; our Pokemon Club that, as it develops, we can continue to build relationships with the children and carers; wisdom as we look to launch our youth football club

Snodland with Lower Birling

Pray for:  our rededication of All Saints now that our restoration has been completed.

Paddock Wood Deanery

Give thanks:  for all our church choirs, singers, organists and musicians.

Pray for:  Staff and patients of Pembury Hospital and their Chaplain, Rev Stephen Baker, and lay  chaplains; Hospice in the Weald, Pembury, and the volunteer chaplaincy team as they wait for the new chaplain to start.

Sevenoaks Deanery

Kippington St Mary

Give thanks:  for all the celebrations of Christmas and the joy of sharing this with scores of visitors.

Pray for: the monthly youth get-together on Sunday, 4 February, a pancake evening, including the plan to introduce something ‘spiritual’ on each occasion; Isaac Little and Jemima Bill, two children being baptised on the 11 February, that they and their parents may grow in faith and trust in Christ;

Rev Lynette Leithead as she leads the Ash Wednesday service;  The Rt Rev Evariste Nijimbere,  Bishop of Buhiga in Burundi, who is due to preach here on the 18 February; David lived in Buhiga in the sixties. He has also been invited to the annual conference in Canterbury for new Bishops; his visit, not least that his visa application is successful; our church weekend at home from the 24 – 25 February and for the Rev Andrew Procter and his wife, Elizabeth as they lead this occasion; good attendance as we look together at various themes around wholeness, physical, emotional and mental in the context of Christ’s healing and peace.

Sevenoaks St Luke

Give thanks:  for the work of our Associate Vicar, Anne, and for two retired priests helping with services.

Pray for: our parish during the interregnum.

Sevenoaks St Nicholas

Pray for:  Restored Lives Course (for those recovering from relationship breakdown) beginning on 1 February; a Bible Overview course, an evangelistic course, and a Discipleship Explored Course this term – all starting this month;  Special Toolbox Sunday evening seminars 18 and 25 February at 6.30pm;  Sunday@3 at Lady Boswell’s 18 February at 3.00pm (Fun, craft, games and activities for all the family to explore Jesus’ teaching, followed by a very short talk and tea for everyone)

Weald

Pray for: Shrove Tuesday Flipping Marvellous pancake party on 13 February; the development of our links with St Francis Strood.

Shoreham Deanery

Give thanks:  for all God’s blessings on all our churches and our links with our communities

Platt

Pray for:  ‘Open the Book’, a new venture for our parish which has recently begun in our church school; more volunteers to assist with our Explorers’ group (Sunday school)

Tonbridge Deanery

Hildenborough

Pray for: our clergy, especially for Rev Tim Saiet for good health; young people to join the choir and music team

Tonbridge St Peter and St Paul

Pray for:  “Big Questions” – a small group meeting at St. Saviour’s on a Monday evening;  a time to explore questions about faith and life; on the last Sunday of each month from 3.25-4.30 pm family games and gathering meeting at St Andrew’s.

Tunbridge Wells Deanery

Bennett Memorial School

Pray for: all staff and students.

Burrswood

Pray for: God’s continued blessing on our programme of events and for all staff, guests and visitors.

Tunbridge Wells Night Shelter

Pray for: all who use this shelter that their circumstances may improve and for all who volunteer.