Category: Archived

No. 110 February 2022

This month our Focus is on St George’s Church, Owlsmoor

Please pray for:
The Vicar:                             Revd Catherine Vaughan
The Wardens:                      Brenda Davies and Margaret Walker
Treasurer:                            Judith Dodds
PCC Secretary:                   Vicki Alan-Smith
LLM:                                       Penny Crane
Pastoral Assistant:            Linda Hewlett

In the Parish, please pray for:

• And give thanks for God’s protection and blessing over the past few months and for the joy of being able to worship together over Christmas.
• The new Intergenerational Service that we have started on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. 
• The several members of our church family who are struggling with health issues, especially those that are causing significant pain.
• Wisdom and courage as we move forward in to 2022.

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• St Mary’s, Wargrave as they review their service pattern and introduce a new pattern, service time, and ‘style’ starting on Mothering Sunday. Praying that it will be unifying and bring glory to the Lord.
• Andrew and Ros Marsden as Andrew takes early retirement from full-time ministry on account of his health.
• Crowthorne, Winnersh and Bearwood and St Sebastian’s as they are in vacancy (or going into vacancy this month).
• Crowthorne as they seek to appoint a new Choir Director.
• for every Church in the Deanery as we all continue to serve and support and encourage in challenging times.
• That the work of Cop26 will not be forgotten and that we all work together reduce climate change.

Give us today, O Lord,
a glad heart and a clear conscience,
that when we come to this day’s end
we may rest in peace with Christ our Lord.            Amen

No.109 January 2022

This month our Focus is on St James, Finchampstead + St Mary and St John, California + St Eligius, Arborfield Green

Please pray for:
Associate Priest:                           Rev Canon John Edwards
Associate Priest:                           Rev Julian McAllen
New Communities Minister:         Rev Tonia Elliott
In the Parish, please pray for:

• A successful Alpha Course starting in January
• The work in our local schools: supporting the families 
• The support of the Youth Groups within our parish:  For the young people affected by the changes to usual school events caused by responses to Covid 19.
• The elderly unable or afraid to leave their homes.
• The housing developments in Arborfield Green, the friendship and new projects at St Eligius and the growth of the family support based at the Church. For the development of Live streamed broadcasts, that they are seen by more people and the love of God is stirred in hearts of those who watch. For a speedy conclusion to the commercial conversations.
• The Church of St Mary and St John meeting in Gorse Ride primary school: that the congregation will continue to grow.
• The regeneration of Gorse Ride South: the families affected by the move, difficulties accepting necessary change and disturbance to the usual pattern of life. Thanks for the beautiful new homes with more to follow.

In the Parish, please give thanks:

• For the work to support the residents during this time and the continued success of Creative Cafe and other ventures.
• For the acts of neighbourliness shown and received. Thanks for the deepening friendships from the telephone support lines commenced at the beginning of lockdown and that we may reach more people in need of help with more people willing to assist
• For the Ministry team who have responded and guided the parish through continuing difficult times, and those who support them.
• That despite the numerous road works we remain able to visit our Churches and benefit from spiritual refreshment. 
• For the work of the PCC.
• That we live in a beautiful area.

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• Andrew and Ros Marsden as Andrew takes early retirement in February on health grounds.
• The parish of St Sebastian’s as they move into a vacancy.
• Winnersh and Bearwood and for Crowthorne, both continuing in vacancy.
• Those who have had to take on extra responsibility and leadership during the ongoing pandemic.
• All of us as in the next weeks we may face further restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus.
• That the work of Cop26 will not be forgotten and that we all work together reduce climate change.

God our creator,
who in the beginning,
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with us,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

No. 108 December 2021

This month we continue to pray for our Deanery and with a special focus on Christmas in our Churches.

Please pray for:

• All of us as we continue to take precautions against the spreading of the Covid 19 virus.
• Advent Services as we prepare ourselves for Christmas.
• All Christmas services: Carol Services, Christingles, Crib Services, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Services.
• Those coming to Church this Christmas for the first time in many months, and those for whom Christmas is their only visit.
• All our festivities and opportunities to be with friends.
• Owlsmoor, Sat 18th December 4-6pm Walk Thru’ Nativity, Sun 19th December 6.30pm Carol Service
• All Saints Wokingham giving thanks and praying for the church choir coming together to sing Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve after such a long break; and that the booking system for services will work well so everyone will feel safe and comfortable and able to focus on Christmas worship without anxiety.
• Sandhurst, Christmas buffet on the 28th December which is our lunch for the isolated in the community, and the work of Sandhurst Youth as they continue their outreach work in Sandhurst Over Christmas.
• Boxing Day Services.
• All who find Christmas a difficult time for whatever reason
• Winnersh and Bearwood, and Crowthorne, in vacancy, for the writing of Parish Profiles and for all additional work and responsibility for Church Wardens, LLMs and PCCs.
• St Sebastians, and their Vicar, Andrew Marsden, and his wife, Ros, as he is still too unwell to work, that he will regain his health and strength, and for all those taking on new responsibilities and tasks to keep things in the Parish going.

In the wider world please pray:

• That decisions and promises made at COP26 will be kept
• For all countries already severely affected by climate change.
• For all refugees and displaced people separated from family and friends, especially at Christmas time.

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 Amen