“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:
MONDAY 1 The work of the Mothers’ Union in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with which we have a diocesan link. The Diocese of Kinshasa elected its new bishop on 31 August. Please pray for the newly elected bishop, as he begins his ministry. For the diocesan Mothers' Union as they continue their work of prayer and outreach. For the Kimberley and Kuruman Summit, taking place all this week online and across both Oxford and K&K dioceses.
TUESDAY 2 Reading St Giles: David Harris - Rector, Sebastian Way, Stephen Cousins. For our ministry of providing a hot meal to local people twice a week working together with volunteers from Churches Together in Reading Drop-in Centre.
WEDNESDAY 3 Reading St Laurence: Chris Jones - Vicar, Candice Booth, Andrew Wilson. For open doors and meaningful opportunities to connect with unchurched young people in Reading, especially through schools work. For Candice as she joins the St Laurence team — for a smooth transition, clarity of calling, and deep joy in the work ahead.
THURSDAY 4 Reading St Mark and All Saints: Jo Williams - Vicar, Sylvia Cummings, Diana Matthews, Jane Lewis. For our school communities of All Saints CE Infant School and St Mary and All Saints CE Primary School. For volunteers to support our Eco Church explorations.
FRIDAY 5 Southlake St James: Laurence Smith - Vicar, Peter Clarke, David Fulford, Linda Galpin. Thanksgiving as God has blessed us so far this year in our desire to develop our discipleship as a church. We pray that we may continue to walk more nearly to Jesus as a whole church, whatever age or stage of faith. For God's help to improve our communication as a church, both among ourselves and out to our wider community. May God help us to deepen our connection with each other and effectively communicate our mission and the Gospel around Southlake.
SATURDAY 6 Tilehurst St Michael: Elizabeth Ratcliffe - Rector, Amy Sykes, Tracy Watkins, June Hardcastle, Nigel Hardcastle, Bernard Metcalfe, Duncan White. Our confirmation candidates, as they prepare for this important step on their journey of faith. Our weekly toddler group, that God would continue to build community and draw families to our regular missional events.
MONDAY 8 Reading St Matthew: Lynn Everett. Following a year of interregnum we welcome a new vicar, Revd Rudy Tan, on 1 October. We pray for a smooth transition and for fruitfulness in the coming years. We pray that St Matthew’s will, by God’s Grace, be able to flourish once more and be a beacon of God’s Grace in the parish.
TUESDAY 9 Woodley St John the Evangelist: Mark Nam - Vicar, Dawn Nicholls, Suzanne Knight. The continued growth of our ‘Home-Ed Hub’ that connects with families on Monday afternoons. The Sunday morning BCP service, that has moved to the slightly later time of 9am.
WEDNESDAY 10 Henley Deanery: Jeremy Tayler - Area Dean, David Benskin, Ben Phillips, Sylvia Warner, Judith Hogg. For our new Area Dean and Assistant Area Deans, that with God's help they may grow into their new roles and work well together. For our Deanery Quiet Day on Saturday 4 October.
THURSDAY 11 Nettlebed with Bix, Highmoor, Pishill and Rotherfield Greys: Mark Ainsworth - Rector, Hugh Balfour. Give thanks for a slight increase in Sunday attendance and the faithful work of many lay people.
FRIDAY 12 Rotherfield Peppard and Kidmore End and Sonning Common: James Stickings - Rector, Sarah Van Der Watt, Karen Broadbent. For the benefice Alpha Youth course starting in October. Give thanks for the completion of the improvement works to Christ the King. Kidmore End CE Primary School, Peppard CE Primary School.
SATURDAY 13 Goring and Streatley with South Stoke: Ben Phillips - Vicar, Wendy Middleton, Judith Aguda, Judith Hogg, Liz Dowding, Clive Windebank, Leighton Thomas. For the church’s communication among families in our villages and our hope to support them better, in providing knowledge and experience of God’s love for them and their children to grow in. For the right people to offer to serve as treasurers in 2 parishes. For those asking for Baptism or Confirmation and their preparation and life ahead. Goring CE Primary School, Streatley CE Primary School.
MONDAY 15 Henley-on-Thames Holy Trinity: Sam Brewster - Vicar, Peter Greenman, John Ryeland. Praise God for good numbers of newcomers most weeks. Pray that we would extend the welcome of Jesus and many would settle into the church family and find new life in Christ. Praise God for the faithful ministry of our children's minister, Peter, who moved on to a new role in Doncaster in January. Pray that God would help us to continue resourcing the excellent work he has led among our children. Trinity CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 16 Langtree, Henley: Kevin Davies - Team Rector, John Blair, James Leach, David Benskin, Brian Turner. For Revd Romey Poston, who has completed her curacy training, and was licensed as an Associate HfD priest in the Saffron Walden Team Ministry, in the Diocese of Chelmsford, on 2 Sept. For Mrs Sam McDougall, of Woodcote, starting the LLM training course this month. Give thanks to God for all those he calls to serve him in ministry, whether full or part time, paid or voluntary. Pray for all those involved in ministry training, either at a diocesan, or a local level.
Checkendon CE Primary School, Stoke Row CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 17 Shiplake with Dunsden and Harpsden: Pam Gordon, Heather Turner. For Pam who is Interim Coordinator for Ministry during our interregnum. That we would soon fill the position of Rector.
Shiplake CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 18 Henley-on-Thames with Remenham: Jeremy Tayler - Rector. Giving thanks for the many couples being married in our churches this year and praying that they would grow in love for each other and for the Lord. Giving thanks for successful fundraising efforts at St Nicholas Remenham and praying for help with the (much larger) fundraising efforts needed at St Mary's Henley.
FRIDAY 19 Nuffield, Henley: Mark Ainsworth Rector. For the PCC as it faces the challenge of an aging congregation.
SATURDAY 20 Oxford Deanery: Gavin Knight - Area Dean, Christopher Woods, Prudence Dailey, Christopher Fletcher-Campbell. For the work of promoting the ministry to and with children and young people across the deanery and the collaborative relationships between churches. For the Kidlington benefice and the licensing of Oliver Harrison at St John's as he settles into a new and exciting ministry.
MONDAY 22 Osney, Oxford: Clare Sykes - Rector, Rachel Cross, Simon Cross, John Chorlton, Martin Henig, Jo Moffett-Levy, Phillip Nixon, Graham Sykes. For Irim Sarwar beginning contextually based training for ordination in the benefice this term. For North Hinksey CE Primary school returning to an upgraded building. For a smooth transition.
TUESDAY 23 Oxford St Aldate: Stephen Foster - Rector, Daniel Hames, Mark Brickman, Samuel Jones, Daniel Kim, Reema Shinhmar, Sara Parsons, Hannah Webster, Simon Ponsonby, Ditie & Lauren Eradiri, Jonny Abbott. For all our ministries as they meet the needs in a busy new term with lots of new students and people joining the church, and that we would have wisdom in responding well to all that God is doing.
WEDNESDAY 24 Oxford St Andrew: Dan Heyward - Vicar, Elizabeth Pitkethly, Tom Murray, Thomas Howell, Henry Swayne, Jessica Wyatt, David Wright, Tim Howles, Mia Smith, Godfrey Stone, Arthur Franklin, Lesley Dentry, Liz Trenckmann. For the appointment of a new Associate Vicar as we advertise and interview and for our new Ministry Trainees starting their one-year ministry experience programme in September. For church growth at St Andrew’s and on the Cutteslowe estate as the Cutteslowe church holds its first church weekend 26 – 28 September.
THURSDAY 25 Oxford St. Barnabas and St. Paul with St. Thomas the Martyr: Christopher Woods - Vicar, Susan Gillingham, Lucie Spears, Jenny Pittaway, Joy Tetley. Giving thanks for progress on our organ project and prayers for fundraising efforts to bring the project to completion. For the Jericho Community Pantry, a free drop-in service held twice weekly in the Community Centre to provide emergency essential supplies.
St Barnabas CE Primary School
FRIDAY 26 Oxford St Ebbe with Holy Trinity and St Peter le Bailey: Vaughan Roberts - Rector, James Poole, Benjamin Vane, Anthony Bewes, Piers Bickersteth, Daniel McKinlay, James Weaver, Tobias Collins. That the many children and young people who attend our activities would grow to maturity in Christ. For a door to open for a possible church plant to the north of Oxford.
SATURDAY 27 Oxford St Mary the Virgin with St Cross with St Peter in the East: William Lamb - Vicar, Hannah Cartwright, Alan Ramsey, Naomi Gardom, Sorrel Shamel-Wood, John Record, Sue Stevens, Bruce Kinsey, Judith Maltby, Alvyn Pettersen. For all those exploring their vocation, particularly ordinands and prospective ordinands. For the church's ministry of hospitality to the many visitors, pilgrims and tourists who visit Oxford each year.
MONDAY 29 Oxford St Matthew with St Luke; Jennifer Williams - Vicar, Jon Williams, Michael Rayner, Robert Rogers, Yvonne Morris, Bethan Willis, Janet Taft, David Crouch, Laura Evans. The appointment of a new Youth and Children’s worker. Our new Workspace café: that it may be a blessing to home workers in the neighbourhood.
St Ebbe's CE Primary School.
TUESDAY 30 Wolvercote and Wytham: Kate Tuckett - Vicar, William Whyte, John Kimberley, Tony Lemon, Viv Bridges, Joanna Coney, Shei Crowther, Carol Kimberley, Stacey Van Dyk. For our after-school drop-in clubs on Mondays and Thursdays, and that these will continue to offer new ways of engaging with children and their families. Give thanks for the newly restored organ at All Saints' Wytham and pray for all the ways this will enhance our worship in this beautiful place.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 7 Pray for the young adults starting their journeys in YouShape communities, lifting the hubs and their year ahead to God, asking that YouShape is built not on shifting sand but on Christ the solid rock. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…”
SUNDAY 14 Pray for Florence as she is ordained today in Cowley.
SUNDAY 21 Pray for those being confirmed in Bicester Benefice (St Edburg’s) by Bishop Gavin.
SUNDAY 28 Pray for those being confirmed in Dorchester Benefice by Bishop Gavin.
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers