Prayer Diary September 2018
Good News of Great Joy September 2018 sees the birth of St Gabriel’s CofE Academy in Houlton, Rugby. A great deal of prayer, planning and preparation has led to the joyous occasion when the doors open to welcome children and families for the first time. Named after the Archangel Gabriel, God’s messenger, the academy will embrace the heritage of the site as a leader in communications and will seek to transmit God’s love.
At St Gabriel’s CofE Academy, our vision is to: ‘Communicate love and inspire our community to flourish’. Everything we do will be underpinned by our loving, distinctive and inclusive Christian ethos. We want the best for our children and will have love as our core value and primary motivation. We recognise each child is gifted with unique skills, talents and interests and we will place an equal
emphasis on developing the whole child in every way. Relationships are being built on love and forgiveness; we learn and live in community with each other, serving one another generously; we humbly treat everyone with equal respect; we courageously strive to grow in every way with hope for our future; we maintain our integrity, building trust through honesty. As community at Houlton begins to form around the church and the school partnership, the Reverend Steve Gold and Headteacher Andrew Taylor share the vision as expressed in Luke’s gospel, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.’ As the Diocese of Coventry celebrates its centenary it seems so fitting that the birth of a new academy and church will provide a legacy to proclaim God’s message.
Archbishop Justin meets one of our first pupils at St
Gabriel’s CofE Academy
Canon Linda Wainscot Diocesan Director of Education
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Encouraging young vocations The vocations team at Coventry Diocese have been led and inspired by the national Church of England campaign to encourage ordained vocations amongst those in their teens, twenties and thirties. Over the last five years, the team has developed a Young Vocations Team known as ‘Nudge’ that have engaged with young people from across the diocese and beyond.
The name Nudge comes from the idea that calling to ministry often begins with a feeling that God may be nudging someone towards a particular route, and the fact that we all sometimes need a nudge from one another to take the first or next steps to exploring our vocation. Led by the Revd Ellie Clack, DDO and Vocations Adviser, the Nudge team have run evenings at the pub to encourage younger people to gather in an informal setting to talk about ministry with those who are already ordained. Since the beginning of Nudge, the vocations team have seen the number of young people enter the discernment process rise. Currently over 40% of candidates in the formal discernment and selection processes are under the age of 40 and over half of the ordinands starting training this September are also under 40. The Revd Lizzy Holland, curate at St John Baptist, Berkswell and a member of the Nudge team, is currently the youngest priest in the diocese at 27. She offers this advice to young people exploring their vocation:
“Surround yourself with people who will challenge and encourage you in love.
Be prepared to be transformed as Christ works in you, but hold onto who you are and what
makes you beautifully unique.
Hold onto everything that encourages you! I keep a scrapbook of encouraging cards, letters
and everything else that inspires me to keep going when things feel tough.
Be brave and start talking to people about it. See if there are people around who will give you
opportunities to expand your experiences of ministry and make space to chat to those closest
to you to see what their thoughts are.
Look out for the young vocations team at events in the diocese and for dates for Nudge at the
pub, which is an informal space to have vocation conversations!”
Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for vocations enquiries.
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Cycle of Prayer - September 2018 With a focus on parishes and schools in Coventry North Deanery
Sat 1 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer is devastating to sufferers and their friends and families. This annual international awareness month aims to raise support and funding for children with cancer. We pray for children diagnosed with cancer. *Giles of Provence, Hermit, c.710
Sun 2 Holbrooks St Luke. Clergy: Fr Simon Oakes CMP. We thank God for the success of our recent Summer Club for children. We pray for God's blessing and peace on the members of St Luke's, and the community of Holbrooks. *The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1901 and 1942
Fourteenth Sunday after
Trinity
Mon 3 At the start of a new academic year, we pray for all those going back to school or starting at new schools. We pray for pupils, teachers, headteachers, governors and clergy that they all may know Christ’s presence with them, ahead of them and alongside them in their new surroundings. *Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 604
Tue 4 Coventry Holy Trinity. Clergy: Graeme Anderson, Bill Walton. Readers: Sue Shepherd, Geoff Wilcox. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. *Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650
Wed 5 Allesley. Clergy: Miles Baker, Elizabeth Kerr. Readers: Fey and Colin Holtum. We thank God for the completion of our Growth Action Plan (GAP) and stewardship campaign that have revitalised the church’s ministry focus. Please pray for the formation of our new governance structure which includes new RAG groups that are designed to deliver our GAP goals.
Thu 6 Today we pray for Bishop John who is representing the Archbishop of Canterbury at the 26th International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality at Bose Monastery. *Allen Gardiner, Founder of the South American Mission Society
Fri 7 Longford, Ansty & Shilton. Clergy: Andrew Coleman. We thank God for all the good things and blessings which he has done and given for all the people who live in these parishes. Please pray for all the people who are newly worshiping at the churches of these parishes, especially for those who have not been accustomed to being in church.
Sat 8 Today is UNESCO's International Literacy Day, a day to raise awareness globally on the issues surrounding adult and child literacy. 775 million adults lack minimum literacy skills, with two thirds being women. We pray this day highlights the importance of literacy and promotes change. *The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sun 9 We pray for the ministry and mission of the Cathedral: for new connections with university students as they arrive in Coventry and for the new interns as they begin their life and work in the Cathedral community. *Charles Fuge Lowder, Priest, 1880
Fifteenth Sunday after
Trinity
Mon 10 We give thanks to God for all those who serve the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion as bishops. We pray for Bishops Christopher and John, for their ministry, positions of responsibility, their times of rest and their families. We pray for them both as they attend the College of Bishops' meeting this week.
Tue 11 Foleshill St Laurence. Clergy: Gareth Irvine. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. We pray for the Diocesan Finance Group which meets this morning.
Wed 12 Coventry St George. Clergy: Jennifer Wickham. Reader: Shirley Trafford. We thank God for the way people used their gifts during the interregnum, for our new Vicar, Jennifer, and a seamless transition. We pray that each of us will grow as disciples of Jesus who know how to make disciples, especially among the youth, so more people come to know Jesus' love.
Thu 13 Foleshill St Paul. Clergy: Ali Hogger Gadsby. We thank God for the growth in confidence amongst us over the interregnum, and we pray that with our new vicar we can seek God's will for us as we serve the people of Foleshill. We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC). *John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407
Fri 14 We pray for Linda Wainscot and all those who work with her at the Diocesan Board of Education. We give thanks to God for all that they do supporting, managing, caring for and inspiring schools in the diocese. We pray for the Headteachers' briefing taking place today. Holy Cross Day
Sat 15 September is World Alzheimer's Month. We pray for all those affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. We give thanks for the progress made in treatments and care, and we pray for greater understanding of the disease. *Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, 258
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Sun 16 We thank God for all healthcare staff who work in our local communities, our GP and dental surgeries and clinics, our community hospitals and those who work in the field of mental healthcare. *Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432 *Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882
Sixteenth Sunday after
Trinity
Mon 17 Today we pray for Greg Bartlem who is being instituted by Bishop John as Vicar of Wellesbourne with Walton d'Eivile. We pray for the Diocesan Business Committee which meets this morning. *Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen,Visionary, 1179
Tue 18 This morning the DBE are hosting a morning for RE subject leaders with a focus on 'What price peace?' a special RE day based on key events of the First World War. In the afternoon they are focusing on biblical drama. We pray that this day is inspiring for all involved. We pray for the Diocesan Mission Fund Committee which meets today.
Wed 19 We pray for Bishop Christopher who is currently chairing the residential meeting of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission. We pray for the Parsonages Committee which meets this afternoon. *Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690
Thu 20 We pray for clergy and church leaders who are unwell. We remember especially those who cannot work and minister while they recover or receive treatment. We pray for sensitivity and understanding in churches and congregations, and for unity in working together. *John Coleridge Patteson and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
Fri 21 Today marks the International Day of Peace - an annual event designed to bring peace to every individual across the globe. It is also designed to be a day of ceasefire. We pray for God's help in our own lives to cease fighting, stop arguing and make peace with others. We pray for God's dynamic intervention of peace into the most troubled places of conflict.
Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Sat 22 We pray that God may guide and encourage both the Readers being admitted and licensed today (Jonathan Broom, Margaret Bull, Amanda di Giovanni, Charon Hall, Karen Hatch, Nigel Stallard, Claire Russell) and those Readers having their Licences or Permissions to Officiate renewed. We pray for Bishop John and Jo King (Warden of Readers) as they conduct this service.
Sun 23 St Laurence's Primary School, Coventry. Headteacher: Michelle Cuskelly. We pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. We thank God for our Archdeacons and pray for God's blessing on them, their work and ministry, and their families.
Seventeenth Sunday after
Trinity
Mon 24 Keresley. Clergy: Mark Norris. We thank God that plans for our Garden of Remembrance are moving forward, and for new people who have joined our congregations in the past year. Please pray for fresh vision as we explore "Leading Your Church Into Growth" over the coming year and seek to serve our local community better.
Tue 25 We pray for our link diocese of Kaduna in Nigeria after many towns and villages have recently come under attack from armed gunmen. We pray for peace and safety for the people of Kaduna. *Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, Spiritual Writer, 1626 *Sergei of Radonezh, Russian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392
Wed 26 Creator God we give you thanks for all of our farmers as they harvest the crops that feed us. We thank you for the skills of those who will be bringing the harvest in, and we ask that the weather be favourable. We pray that the harvest is bountiful enough to share with all those who are in need. *Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942
Thu 27 During British Food Fortnight, we give thanks for the growers and producers of food in this country. We thank God for the care that goes in to making food safe for us to eat. We remember those around the world who do not have enough food. *Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Congregation of the Mission, 1660
Fri 28 Radford. Clergy: Liz Jackson. We thank God for the many blessing he pours down on us - the people who come our way, the enthusiasm they have for God and His community and the encouragement He gives us. Please pray for us as we move forward with a challenging building and people in such desperate need.
Sat 29 Coventry St John Baptist. Clergy: Fr Dexter Bracey. We give thanks for the appointment of our rector, who has now completed his first year with us. We pray for wisdom as we seek to develop our worship and our lives of prayer that we might draws others into the life of the Church through a deep and authentic catholic spirituality.
Michael and All Angels
Sun 30 Today we pray for St Barbara's, Earlsdon as Bishop John leads their annual dedication service. *Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420
Eighteenth Sunday after
Trinity
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My Small Group has a job to do! Small Groups in churches include far more than just Bible Study or Prayer groups. The PCC, groups that plan the children’s work together, the toddler group team, a group who meet to do the gardening or the cleaning are all great examples of small groups.
A holistic small group thinks of the whole person and their journey with God. They are interested in the spiritual, emotional and practical lives of each individual. As a group they care for one another, seek to connect with God and to draw others in.
This can seem like a big ask and time commitment to add, especially if your group has a specific task to do. But, there are small simple things we can do to transform these groups to be more holistic without taking more time and energy. It only takes one or two people in the group to be proactive in seeking a more holistic approach.
Every group will have conversations at some level. The question is how can we deepen those into strong relationships? A big part of it is extending the conversation beyond ‘How are you?’ It’s being interested in what people have to say and being willing to share back. It is also about following up on things that have been mentioned in the past mean people know that they are valued and the conversation can be developed and grown as needed over time. It sounds ridiculously simple, but the reality is that as trust is built so is depth.
Adding a faith aspect can seem a little more daunting if there currently isn’t any element of it within the group. It can be as simple as adding a short prayer time, a relevant Bible reading or a short personal reflection. A very gentle approach is to offer to pray when something comes up in conversation, either immediately or a promise to pray during the week.
You can use a gentle approach to deepen relationships and discuss spirituality. Prepare a question to share with the group that opens up our thinking. For example, ‘What are your gifts?’, ‘What are you thankful for?’, ‘Who or what influences your decisions?’. They do not require a faith answer but open opportunities for you to share honestly and for others to explore what is central to their lives.
There are many simple ways to build fellowship and discuss our faith based on the relationships that already exist. These small habits can transform a group to love each other more, to share about their beliefs and result in more passion for the task they do together.
Anna Naish Learning Mentor for Loving Relationships and Holistic Small Groups
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An update on our Companion Links
Companion Links is the commitment made in 2001 by the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands; the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria and the Diocese of Coventry, England, to enter into a spiritual partnership. Seventeen years on, this partnership is still strong. On the 8th January 2001, Bishop Colin Bennetts (previous Bishop of Coventry), Bishop Josiah Idowu-
Fearon (Bishop of Kaduna) and Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad (Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands) met in Jerusalem to sign an agreement “to trust one another, to be honest with one another, to share with one another, and to be ready to learn from one another, and to encourage our diocese to do likewise”. Soon after the agreement was signed, various projects were set up in the different dioceses. Three major projects have been undertaken in Kaduna - teaching and the establishment of a computer classroom in an Anglican College; supplying 10,000 plus primary age children with books and the current project of the Kaduna Water Wells. The need for water wells in this region is high with infant mortality rates still close to 25%. Each year Kaduna Diocese plants a church in rural areas of the diocese. This usually results in a church/ school being built and an evangelist being appointed. The Diocese of Coventry attempts to put a water well in each new village. By the end of 2017 54 wells has been built and a further 3 are being dug in 2018. In order to maintain the link between Kaduna and Coventry, a number of exchanges have occurred over the years. Ann and Jim Saxton have visited many times and have met with priests and teachers to train them in I.T skills, as well as meeting the Well Committee. In the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands, the main project set up was the Syrian Orthodox Christian School. For many years the Syrian Orthodox Christian community in Bethlehem dreamed of a school of their own where their traditions and especially the Aramaic language - the language Jesus spoke - could be taught. In 2000, a group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Coventry visited the community in Bethlehem and witnessed the plight of the children. Soon after the link with the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands was established a support group was set up to raise funds to help realise the community’s dream. In 2003 the school opened. Today the school has 640 students enrolled from kindergarten to grade twelve. Many individuals and churches from the Diocese of Coventry support the school financially which enables students from low incomes to attend. To find out more about our companion links and how you can get involved see the Companion Links section of the website.
