“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
FRIDAY 1 Bloxham with Milcombe and South Newington: Dale Gingrich - Vicar, Michael Campling, Hazel Scarr, John Smith, Olwen Smith, Brian Fairbank, Carolyn Oley, Christine Turner. For those preparing for summer baptisms and weddings. For a fruitful Giving in Grace campaign in Bloxham.
Bloxham CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 2 Bodicote: Give thanks that a vicar has been appointed and pray for Emily as she makes plans to move to our benefice in the autumn. For rest and refreshment during the holidays for the staff and pupils of the three primary schools in the parish: Bishop Loveday CE Primary, The Grange and Longford Park School.
MONDAY 4 Shire’s Edge, Banbury: Sarah Fenby - Vicar, Lynda Alcock, Honorary Assistant Bishop Jonathan Meyrick, Sue Upton, Siobhan and Rebecca Croft. Give thanks and pray for the opportunities of the summer: Fairport Festival and visitors to the benefice. Give thanks for our growing work amongst families and young people and pray for relationships, generational understanding, inclusion and belonging.
Cropredy CE Primary School
TUESDAY 5 Wykeham: Emily Robottom-Scott - Rector. For all teachers and pupils as they take time for rest and rejuvenation during the holidays. For our churches as we begin to discern what God’s call and priorities are for us as individual parishes and as a benefice united in Christ.
Bishop Carpenter CE school.
WEDNESDAY 6 Claydon Deanery: Robert Cronk - Lay Chair, Stephen O’Connor, Paul Cresswell. For the appointment of a new Area Dean. For the PCC at St John the Evangelist, Whitchurch and the Shorne team during the vacancy. For the PCC at St Mary’s, Marsh Gibbon and the Swan and Claydon team during the vacancy.
THURSDAY 7 Winslow with Great Horwood and Addington nr Buckingham: Stephen O’Connor - Rector, Alan Hodgetts, Daphne Preece, Derry French. For continued healing and growth after events in the parish that caused distress. For a fresh vision and more volunteers for our work with children, young adults and families.
Great Horwood CE School, Winslow CE School.
FRIDAY 8 The Claydons and Swan (parishes situated between Buckingham, Bicester and Aylesbury): Geoff Strutt, Geoff Ball. For the appointments of a Team Rector and two Team Vicars; for everyone living in our eight parishes, and the wonderful lay ministry of members of our ten churches.
East Claydon CE School, Marsh Gibbon CE School, Twyford CE School.
SATURDAY 9 Schorne, Aylesbury Vale: Petra Elsmore, Caroline Wainman, Stephen Flashman, Janet Bayly, Jane Vowles, Alison May. For the benefice in a time of vacancy and that the right person would be led to us to fill the post.
North Marston CE Primary School, Quainton CE School, Waddesdon CE School, Westcott CE School.
MONDAY 11 Reading Deanery: Mike Smith - Area Dean, Peter Day, Elizabeth Ratcliffe, Mark Burton, Alan Cross, Roger Moore, Sue Mott, Richard Canning, Mark Burton. For those taking up incumbent posts over the summer and early autumn, and the churches they will serve. For those parishes without an incumbent, especially those struggling to recruit.
TUESDAY 12 Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham: Mike Smith - Rector, Penny Cuthbert, Rachel Ross Smith, Catherine Ratcliffe, Anthony Wisdom, Philip Blackburn, Anna Clarke, Ben Nicholls. For 16 members of our congregations travelling to Romania this month on mission. For our continuing bereavement ministry, as we prepare to start a new Bereavement Journey course in September.
WEDNESDAY 13 Emmer Green St Barnabas with Caversham Park: Kevin Lovell - Vicar. That the Holy Spirit would inspire us with renewed energy, passion and vision for mission this month. For the resources and people we need to go on building ministry and missional capability in Emmer Green and Caversham Park.
THURSDAY 14 Reading St Mary the Virgin: Sonya Wratten - Vicar, Judith Sumner, Alan Race. For all who will come to the Minster over the summer period seeking quiet, reflection and a listening ear. For all the ministry team at the Minster in a time of change.
FRIDAY 15 Reading Gateway: Nick Hill - Rector, Anika Parker, Helen Winter, Richard Winter, Geoff Hassett, Jackie Vaney, Nina Chandler, Sam Whaites. For our mission to see South Reading experiencing, and being transformed by, the good news of Jesus.
SATURDAY 16 Tilehurst St Catherine and Calcot St Birinus: Jackie Fountain - Vicar, Tony Bartlett, Michael Heather. Give thanks for a good number of people regularly attending our Messy Church. Pray that God will continue to speak into their lives and draw people to himself. For our holiday club running from 18-20 August.
MONDAY 18 Loddon Reach, Reading: Nigel Beer - Team Rector, David Little, Catherine Spence, Janet Beer, Chris Leslie. For the Benefice Joint Council as we consider mission priorities for the next year. For the discussions about the role of Children and Family Minister and the way forward.
Shinfield St Mary’s CE Junior School, Grazeley CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 19 Reading St Luke with St Bartholomew: Christine Blackman - Associate Clergy. Give thanks for all those who have requested baptism recently and pray that the church will continue to flourish. That we will be able to advertise for a new incumbent in the near future.
WEDNESDAY 20 Reading Greyfriars: Rachel Bedford - Vicar, Chris Hall, Natalie Worsfold, Christopher Greaves, Philip Giddings, Dan Bright, Abi Ord, Emma Rose. For Rachel, who was licensed as our new Vicar on 21 July, for her family and her ministry. For the congregation as they adapt to changes that come with new leadership and new seasons.
THURSDAY 21 Tilehurst St George and St Mary Magdalen: Adam Carlill - Vicar, Polly Falconer, Anupama Kamble-Hansell, Peter Mayers, Lesley Sutcliffe. For both parishes as they prepare for a vacancy in 2026 and develop their respective Mission Action Plans.
FRIDAY 22 Earley St Nicolas: Emma Major, Daphne Cook - Licensed Lay Ministers. For Mark Laynesmith and his family as they move into St Nicolas parish and prepare for his ministry here, starting today. Give thanks for how we pulled together during the vacancy and for all the visiting clergy who supported us.
SATURDAY 23 Woodley Emmanuel, Reading: Rose Jones - Vicar, Claire Jones, Heather Aitken, Laurie-Ann Price. For our church camping weekend over the August bank holiday, that it would be a time of deepening relationships across generations and lots of fun. For those on the fringes of our church and those beginning to seek Jesus to come to faith through the Start course running in the autumn.
MONDAY 25 Caversham St Andrew: Nigel Jones - Vicar. For more engagement with local schools. For growth in our daily time being "Silent Together”.
TUESDAY 26 Earley St Peter: Katie Wakeman-Toogood - Vicar, Kajsa Longuere, Libby Newman, John Collins. For Kajsa as she begins her curacy with us. For our Mission Partners in Peru and Shinyanga, and REinspired in the UK.
Earley St Peter’s CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 27 Earley Trinity: Jon Salmon - Vicar, Sam Ruck-Pender, David Hare, Edith Lau, William Lau, Petrus Wong, James Tim, Paul Chu. For our Hongkongers ministry that continues to develop and is increasingly an important part of Trinity.
THURSDAY 28 Reading Christ Church: Fr Peter Day - Vicar, Fr John Croton. For progress in our building works and heating upgrades. For our wonderful church choir and young people.
New Christ Church CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 29 Reading Holy Trinity: For the church in vacancy, and that we would soon appoint a parish priest of our own. For Fr Martyn Griffiths and Fr Desmond Banister who are looking after us during the vacancy.
SATURDAY 30 Reading St John the Evangelist: Claire Alcock - Vicar, Hamish Bruce, Richard Croft, Jeremy Thake, Mark Laynesmith, Christine Bainbridge. For our new Time for God intern, who starts in September. For our youthwork and the life of our café space, that it might be fruitful for outreach.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 3 For all church food projects addressing hunger during the school summer holidays and for those offering additional support to build community resilience and respond to the underlying causes of hunger.
SUNDAY 10 Bishop Gavin confirming at Appleton.
SUNDAY 17 Bishop Gavin confirming at Thame.
SUNDAY 24 For all those preparing for the new term in our church schools.
SUNDAY 31 For Bishop Mary and all those who will be attending the summit of our link diocese, Kimberley and Kuruman, this week.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers