“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
WEDNESDAY 1 Slough St Paul: Tim Wambunya - Vicar, Naomi Hill, Lara Dean, Nadeem Azam, Umair Asif. For the mission-envisioning dinner that we are supporting the area dean to host on 2 May at St George's, Britwell. For the Dutch delegation visiting to establish a partnership from 24-26 May.
THURSDAY 2 Easthampstead: Gareth Morley - Rector, Roy Burgess. For the Church of St Francis and St Clare as it transitions to being a midweek missional community. At Pentecost it will be closing as a Sunday worshipping community, and in its place a new midweek missional community will work with Jennett’s Park School to provide support to the community through Thrive. For our vision day planned at Christ Church Cathedral on 8 June where we will be discerning the call of our benefice as a whole for the next five years.
St Michael’s CE Primary School, Jennett’s Park CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 3 Warfield: David Brown - Senior Minister, David Chislett, Mike Summers, Beth Gomm, Chris Osinaike. That we will continue to “make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit” as we face a number of potentially divisive issues. That all those involved in drawing up the Parish Profile will be given wisdom to present the parish well in order to recruit our next incumbent.
Warfield CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 4 Ascot Heath: Darrell Hannah - Vicar, David Saunders, Sheila Shrigley. For growth in our ministry to children, youth and families. For our music ministry, especially for the appointment of a new director of music.
MONDAY 6 Binfield: Luke Taylor - Rector, Daisy Ridell. For our altogether Father’s Day service which will be followed by a community BBQ. That families attend both events, enjoy them, are well fed, meet Jesus, and the food is good and safe. For our altogether service on 21 July, to celebrate and thank everyone who serves in the church, in whatever role. That people feel thanked and appreciated and enjoy the summer break.
Binfield CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 7 Bracknell: Robin Sharples - Rector, Nicola Shepherd. For the arrival of our curate, Beth Quainton, after her ordination at Petertide. For the continuing development of the youth and children’s work which began this year - give thanks for everyone who has been working as volunteers in both our congregations.
Ranelagh CE School.
WEDNESDAY 8 Winkfield and Cranbourne: Patrick Mukholi - Priest-in-Charge, John Kimbel, Tracey Barnard. That God may grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, a deep and intimate knowledge of his mission and purpose for our lives and parish. That we will be enlightened, understanding what God has called us to, and enabled to live the life of resurrection for a witness to all around us. For oneness of mission and vision of our three congregations for our future together as we put together our Parish Profile, seeking a new incumbent for the parish as our interim minister leaves.
Winkfield St Mary’s CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 9 Sunningdale: Jon Hutchinson - Vicar, Dolapo Ogunbawo, Terry Ward-Hall. For this, our busiest year of the Transforming Trinity project, raising funds, applying for faculty and planning, and lining everything up so that, God willing, we start the building work in June 2025. For the plans of being church in exile which we need to make now for 38 weeks using the local school and other premises.
Holy Trinity CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 10 Burnham and Slough Deanery: Janet Binns - Area Dean, Chris Ferris, Javed Gill, Steven Dass, Sheila Warburton. For the continued process of formulating our deanery plan and our efforts to seek ways for parishes to fully engage with the vision. For our actions and endeavours to be guided by the Holy Spirit’s direction. For all parishes currently in interregnum as they navigate the process of profiles, adverts and interviews. For our efforts to bear fruit, leading to the appointment of the right candidate for each parish.
SATURDAY 11 Colnbrook and Datchet: Janet Binns - Assistant Curate. For both parishes as they navigate the interregnum and pastoral reorganisation of the benefice. For wisdom and discernment for all involved, that they make decisions in alignment with God’s will, for the greater good of the community. For the schools in the area; give thanks for the growth in the young people and children attending each Sunday, and for their participation in church services. For creative ways of encouraging them and their families in their faith journey, and that our efforts to engage them will continue to bear fruit.
Colnbrook CE Primary School, Churchmead CE School, Datchet St Mary’s CE Academy.
MONDAY 13 Farnham Royal with Hedgerley: Chloe Thomas-Wilson - Rector, Gordon Briggs. For our new Sing Care Away weekly sessions starting up in May. For our monthly healing service.
St Mary’s, Farnham Royal CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 14 Upton-cum-Chalvey: Scott Lamb - Team Rector, Linda Hillier, Barry Marsden. For Fr Andrew Wickens, who joins us as Team Vicar at St Peter's, Chalvey and Chaplain at Slough and Eton School on 22 May, for his family as they settle into Chalvey, and for a good start to his pioneering ministry in the school.
Slough and Eton CE Business and Enterprise College, St Mary’s CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 15 Sunninghill and South Ascot: Tansley Jordan - Vicar, Michael Francescon, Mary Nichols. For our new churchwardens and PCC. Give thanks for all God has done here. For discernment for what he is calling us to do next.
Cheapside CE Primary School, St Michael’s CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 16 Burnham: Ian Fordyce - Licensed Lay Minister. For Ian, Revd Sue Smith, Revd Janet Binns and visiting clergy who are taking services during our vacancy. That we may soon find a “good shepherd” to lead us. For our WOW children's service team, and for our monthly Communion Café ministry, led by the Revd Sue Smith.
St Peter’s CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 17 Iver: Robert Gooding - Vicar, Sarah Smith, Jim Dashper. For our Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 19 May; that we would find another churchwarden, a new treasurer and more PCC and Deanery Synod members. For unity, and more volunteers to support the mission and ministry of the parish.
SATURDAY 18 Langley Marish: Chris Ferris - Team Rector, Shola Aoko. For the three mission initiatives agreed at the recent Away Day: putting children, families and young people at the heart of our mission; enabling pastoral care through listening and storytelling; celebrating God's creativity in music and arts. For the emerging new website and engagement on social media. That we keep alive the rumour of Jesus in a post/pre-Christendom society.
Bishop Gavin confirming in the Deddington Benefice.
MONDAY 20 Manor Park St John the Baptist and Whitby Road St Michael, Slough: Suzanne Johnson - Vicar. For a positive response to our community consultation questionnaire which has been hand-delivered to 8000 households. For our building project.
TUESDAY 21 Horton and Wraysbury, Slough: Beryl Walters - Licensed Lay Minister. For the congregations, staff, volunteers and residents of the parishes of St Thomas's, Colnbrook, St Michael's, Horton and St Andrew's, Wraysbury, who are coming together as a new benefice and are currently advertising for a new incumbent.
WEDNESDAY 22 Cippenham: Neil Popham - Vicar, Angeline Ruredzo, Sophia Popham. For our co-operation with the local Baptist church on numerous joint ventures. For our ministry to families and those with learning disabilities.
THURSDAY 23 Taplow and Dropmore: Jane Cresswell - Vicar, Nick Plant. Give thanks for the dedication of the churchwardens at both churches over recent years and pray that God will bring the necessary support and help to Nicola, now the sole warden at St Nicolas. For the continued sustaining of Sue and Anne at St Anne's, Dropmore. For St Nicolas as we seek to involve the wider village community in the life of church, and live out our vision to have open hearts, open minds and open doors. For the Friends of St Nicolas Church Open Gardens and cream teas event in June, and the guest talk by Rabbi Jonathan Romain on the subject of assisted dying in July.
St Nicolas CE Combined School.
FRIDAY 24 Britwell: For the benefice in vacancy, that God will lead the right person to be our new vicar.
SATURDAY 25 Eton, Eton Wick, and Boveney and Dorney: Carole Gooding - Assistant Curate, Anne Casson, Jill Bell, Paula Darrall. That our churches in vacancy be guarded and blessed, and that we will be faithful in prayer and worship, hearing God’s voice as we move forward. For those given the responsibility of seeking our new priest, that they would be given vision and energy so that we may be led to a wise shepherd of God’s people, and together continue to grow his kingdom in our communities.
Eton Porny CE First School, Eton Wick CE First School.
MONDAY 27 Iver Heath: For the benefice in vacancy following the retirement of Fr Andrew Montgomerie.
TUESDAY 28 Hitcham: Alan Bignell, Jeremy Brooks. For continued love and understanding as we prepare for the Revd Chris Hassell to join us as, together, we grow in the love of Christ and share his love with others.
WEDNESDAY 29 Stoke Poges: Natasha Brady - Vicar, Sydney Quartey, Pat Hegarty. For our curate, Sydney, who will be ordained priest in June.
THURSDAY 30 Wexham: Andrew Parry - Rector, Tracey Jones, Jill Bell, Chris Collinge, Gordon Briggs. For the Community Hub, a place where people of all ages from the local area can come for a couple of hours to meet others and enjoy their company. For our service of prayer for wholeness and healing; that everyone who comes will experience God’s healing love.
FRIDAY 31 Cowley Deanery: Geoff Bayliss - Area Dean, Tony Phelan, Trevor Jones. For the new incumbents of Iffley and St Clement’s as they settle in. For the appointment process for All Saints and St Andrew’s in Headington, that God will call a Spirit-filled leader for them. For the deanery as it explores how to best serve families, young people and youth. For the standing committee as they, together with Synod, look to review the current Parish Share distribution.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 5 Bishop Jonathan Meyrick confirming at Bodicote; Bishop Gavin confirming in the Radley, Sunningwell and Kennington Benefice.
SUNDAY 12 Bishop David Jennings confirming at Bradfield College; Bishop Olivia confirming at Downe House School.
SUNDAY 19 Bishop Gavin confirming at Brightwell cum Sotwell. Bishop Olivia confirming at Wokingham St Paul's; Bishop Steven confirming at St Giles, Oxford.
SUNDAY 26 Bishop Gavin confirming in the Damascus Benefice.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers