Category: Archived

No. 107 November 2021

This month our special focus is on St John the Baptist Crowthorne

Please pray for:

Church Wardens:       Leigh Welham and Leslie Richardson

LLMs:                           Gillian Gyenes, Hazel Berry, Julia Norton

PCC Secretary:           Mary Harwood

Treasurer:                    Rebecca Al-Jadir

In the Parish, please pray for:

• Wisdom and discernment for those with responsibility for making decisions about the future for our parish.
• The Church Wardens, LLMs and PCC as we work together during this time of vacancy.
• Carol Frost as she is Licensed as an LLM at Christ Church in Oxford on 7 November.
• The regular Sunday 10am Eucharist and the midweek Wednesday 10am service.
• Our whole church community, those attending the services, those listening online and for all who make it possible for these services to take place safely at this difficult time.
• The Sunday Club at St John’s for children aged 5-11 starting monthly on Sunday 7 November.
• Minus 5s at 9.30 on Wednesdays starting on 3 November.
• The Remembrance Day Service on 14 November at the Lych Gate our War Memorial.
• The office and those who volunteer.
• Our Church School and our input leading assemblies there.
• The pastoral outreach personally and through the weekly news online and delivered personally.
• The Mothers Union meetings and pastoral outreach.
• The Friday prayer Group
• And give thanks for all the clergy who are visiting week by week to conduct services

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• Deanery Standing Committee on Wednesday 3rd November on Zoom
• Deanery Synod on Wednesday 24th November on Zoom
• Winnersh and Bearwood, who are in vacancy
• St Sebastian’s Church and Andrew Marsden working reduced hours because of his health.
• All Saints Wokingham giving thanks for the amazing generosity and support so far for our spaceforall community project to reorder the church building, that the right tender price will come in this month for the project, and that work can proceed without further delay.

In the Wider World please pray for:

• The COP 26 Conference 11 October – 12 November, that it will produce action for the good of the planet, not just talk.
•  All refugees arriving in this area, especially at this time those from Afghanistan and Hong    Kong.

Loving God,
We praise your name with all you have created.

You are present in the whole universe,
and in the smallest of creatures.

We acknowledge the responsibilities you have placed upon us
as stewards of your creation.

May the Holy Spirit inspire all political leaders at COP26 as they
seek to embrace the changes needed to foster a more sustainable society.

Instil in them the courage and gentleness to implement fairer solutions
for the poorest and most vulnerable,
and commit their nations to the care of Our Common Home.

We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Amen      (CAFOD)

No. 106 October 2021

This month our special focus is on Arborfield with Barkham and Christ Church Wokingham

Please pray for:

• Arborfield – Give thanks for God’s safe keeping of the church family over the summer, and the opportunity this autumn to consider once again the wonder of Jesus as we look at Matthew’s gospel together.
• Barkham – Give thanks for the number of new babies born to the church family over the past year. Pray that we will be able to re-establish a safe and welcoming creche that not only serves new parents, but that encourages other young families to join us.
• Christ Church – Please pray for the appointment of a new minister to serve the church
• Church at the Green – Please pray for our children’s groups, as we now have 40 children under 13; giving thankfs for the many children and for wisdom in the organising of teams of leaders

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• Sonning Deanery Synod as we meet to discuss the Deanery Plan for 2021/22
• The elections for General Synod which are happening in the next weeks, and for those standing, giving thanks for their willingness to serve and lead.
• The congregation at St Nicholas, Emmbrook who are dealing with a number of deaths at the moment in a relatively small and tightly knit congregation.
• For Winnersh and Bearwood and Crowthorne as they settle into a time of vacancy, and for the possibility for reflection and development which that stage allows.
• As our Parish activities restart, that we will all continue to respect the advice about social distancing and other measurers to keep ourselves and others safe.
• Our special services celebrating Harvest.
• Our local Food Banks and the vital role they fulfil.

In the wider world, continue to pray for:

• All those affected by the regime-change in Afghanistan especially the women and that we will show compassion to those coming to settle in this country.
• That we will all read and take seriously the IPCC climate report, and act responsibly.
• Those who will be adversely affected by the ending of the £20 enhancement of Universal Credit on 6 October.

Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea, and the rhythm of the seasons. As we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

No. 105 September 2021

This month our special focus is on our Sonning Deanery Synod

Please pray for:

Area Dean:                  Rev Richard Lamey

Assistant Area Dean:  Rev Jane Kraft

All Deanery Synod Members

• The work towards the new Deanery Plan for the year ahead, that it will be focused, effective and blessed by the Holy Spirit
• The Deanery Standing Committee as they meet on 8th Sept that they form a good team and work well together
• Deanery Synod meeting on 22nd September
• Give thanks for John Sutton who has been elected as Lay chair and praying for him as he takes on this role
• Give thanks for Lynne Paine who has been elected Deanery Treasurer and praying for her has she takes on this role

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• Rev Leonard Onugha as he settles in as Rector of Finchampstead, and for his family.
• Rev Becky Medlicott as she settles in as curate at Wokingham All Saints and for her family.
• Rev Richard Eves as he settles in as Curtate in Wargrave and for his family.
• St Georges Owlsmoor as they start an Alpha Course on Tuesday 14^th September that God will send the right people to join the course.
• Rev Lisa Cornwell as she leaves Crowthorne to take up a post in the Guildford Diocese, and for her husband Mike, that they will be blessed as they journey on.
• All at St John the Baptist Crowthorne as they begin the vacancy and especially those carrying extra responsibility for caring for the parish.
• Those who still feel uncertain, isolated and forgotten that we will continue to care for them and make provision for their needs.
• All children and young people as they return to school and college. May the measures taken to keep them safe from the virus be effective so that their study can continue uninterupted.

In the wider world, please pray for:

• The people of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, for all those killed or injured and those who lost family, friends, home and livelihood
• All those affected by the regime-change in Afghanistan for those who are fleeing that they will find asylum, and those who are staying that they will be kept safe.
• That we will all read and take seriously the IPCC climate report, and act responsibly.

God of love,
turn our hearts to your ways;
and give us peace.
Amen.

No 104 August 2021

This month our special focus is on the holiday season.

Please pray and give thanks:

• For the holiday season, that it will be a real time of rest and refreshment for all.
• For the excitement and anticipation of planning, for freedom from routine and for new experiences and opportunities.
• For our wonderful world that wherever we go we are surrounded by your creation and the rich variety in nature.

Please remember:

• Those who for whatever reason are unable to have a holiday.

In the Deanery, please pray for:

• Winnersh and Bearwood in an interregnum.
• Crowthorne as the Parish moves into an interregnum at the beginning of September.
• Lisa Cornwell and her husband Mike as Lisa takes up a tutoring post in the Guildford Diocese.
• Finchampstead and California as Leonard Onugha and his family settle into the Parish and community.
• Judi Hattaway mourning the death of her husband Mick and for Mick may he rest in peace.

In the wider community please pray:

• For the continuing role out of the Corona virus vaccine, for those involved in administering it and for the re-assurance it gives us.
• The relaxation of restrictions that we will all continue to take the necessary measures to keep ourselves and others safe.

A Blessing for the holidays

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Traditional Celtic Blessing