Prayer Cycle for August

No. 92 August 2020

This month we continue to pray for all the churches and communities in our deanery as following the easing of restrictions we are able to re-open our Churches for public worship and are able to move around more freely.

Please pray for:

  • The individual churches in our deanery, our Area Dean, all clergy, ministry teams and PCCs.
  • The teams of people who have given many hours carrying out risk assessments in preparation for us to resume worship in church, so that everything can be done safely and reverently in these new circumstances.
  • Churches where the size and structure of the building makes it difficult to accommodate more than a small number of people for worship at a social distance, that solutions will be found.
  • Welcome teams responsible for making sure that social distancing is observed in church.
  • Those responsible for cleaning the churches after services.
  • Those who will not feel safe to return to church attendance and will miss services being streamed or videoed.
  • Business and social meetings which have to continue to be held on Zoom.
  • Our children and young people whose Sunday Schools and Youth Groups may have been disrupted during Lockdown.
  • Wisdom to discern ways in which we can continue to reach out to those outside our usual worshipping community who joined us in our video and live-streamed services,
  • A continuing sensitivity to the needs of all around us, particularly all carers and those living alone.
  • Those who are still ill or with the viral aftermath of Covid 19, facing long weeks of limitation and exhaustion.
  • Cara Smart and her family as they move to Emmbrook as she joins the staff team at St Paul’s Wokingham and for her preparation to be ordained deacon in September.
  • Julie and David Ramsbottom as they retire to Oxfordshire.
  • Our use this autumn of the document ‘EMERGING FROM CORONAVIRUS – A tool to aid reflection’.

Please give thanks:

  • That there can now be weddings and baptisms in Church once more – that those special days will be blessed and joyous.
  • For the patience and understanding shown by so many people over the last months.

In the wider world please continue to pray for:

  • The world leaders, that the advice they receive may lead them to make the right decisions to bring the spread of the Corona virus under control.
  • Those in leadership in our country, the Government, all our MPs and local politicians and for the scientists and other advisors.

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing be well. 
Julian of Norwich