We give thanks to God for the continued drawing together of the benefice of Martock, Ash and Kingsbury Episcopi. Especially their community focus and outreach work with ‘Coffee’n Chat’ at the Pavillion in Ash, the ‘active living’ and singing groups at All Saints Bearly House and the exciting ‘Storytime and Rhymes’ at Martock Library. We pray for David and Mike, for Denise and Bridget and all involved in ministry within the benefice.
Wed 1
Thu 2
We pray for Jonathan and Emma Hunter-Dunn at St Peter and St Paul, Shepton Mallet, for the churchwardens and their plans to establish a new congregation in the town to be culturally relevant and accessible to the ‘un-churched’. Pray for Bishop Rob Martin from Frome who is in Kenya to join Centenary Celebrations at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi where he was Bishop. Pray for peace for its people following the unrest and violence leading up to their recent election.
Fri 3
We pray for the schools across Ivelchester deanery. For the primary schools at Ilchester, Somerton, Charlton Mackrell, Long Sutton, Curry Rivel, Langport, Martock, Stoke sub Hamdon, High Ham, Ash, West Chinnock and Montacute. For the secondary schools of Stanchester and Huish Academy. Pray for staff and governors as they work tirelessly to provide chances and opportunities for children to flourish and achieve.
Sat 4
We pray for all those taking the next step in their faith journey by being confirmed in the Cathedral in Wells today. Pray for Reader Council, meeting in Wells today. Be with them in their thinking and planning on behalf of all Readers in the diocese.
Sun 5
We pray for the Venerable Adrian Youings, being licensed as Archdeacon of Bath today. We pray for the ecumenical links across our deaneries with brothers and sisters from Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Free Church and United Reform traditions. We also remember our fire and emergency services and pray for safe firework celebrations.
Mon 6
We pray for the benefice of Ashwick Oakhill and Binegar as they move forward together exploring becoming one parish and for Richard and Mandy Priestly as they lead them, for their Fresh Expressions, 4th at 4, and Outdoor Worship. For working together in the benefice on all social, missionary and fund raising activities in 2018. For £250,000 to start the refurbishment of Holy Trinity Binegar.
Tue 7
We pray for CLYP project worker Helen Weld, who provides a Christian pastoral ministry to the schoolchildren and staff to Huish Academy. We pray for the Christian union, JAM and for the work and ministry undertaken through the weekly ‘Youth Alpha’ and ArchiesXtra that Helen leads for the area’s children.
Wed 8
Today we pray for ecumenical links as both centres of population in the Shepton Mallet Deanery meet; Christians Together in Shepton Mallet and Christians in the Wells area.
Thu 9
We give thanks for the famers and food producers of the deanery. Pray for the challenges that ever tighter finances bring to those who work and are sustained by rural agriculture. We especially pray for the Diocesan Rural Adviser, Rob Walrond and for the unseen but vital work of the Farm Crisis Network.
Fri 10
We pray for Christine Butler and team at Croscombe, Pilton, North Wootton and Dinder, for their plans for new prayer meetings, social activities and links with the primary schools, particulary for the St Peter’s Cares initiative, North Wootton and for those in Croscombe who are preparing to apply for funding from Heritage Lottery Fund for a new church roof.
Pray for the personnel, families and chaplains at RNAS Yeovilton, the largest helicopter base in Europe, especially those deployed on anti-piracy duties off E. Africa, assisting with clear up work in the Caribbean and in various conflict zones. Armistice Pray for the work of the Chaplains Eddie, Nigel, Tommy, Peter, the pastoral support workers and the Associate Chaplains, Bruce and Jean Patrice.
Sat 11
Sun 12
As Interfaith Week begins we pray for all working to build good relationships and working partnerships between those of different faiths and beliefs. We pray for Paul and Rachel Clarke and the exciting things happening in Coxley with Godney, Wookey and Henton, for their plans for a weekend away at Lee Abbey. For Coxley church and for Henton church as they move forward with their plans to refurbish the building.
Mon 13
Give thanks for the new benefice of the Levels’ Arc. Pray for the parishes as they build on a history of working together and embrace the opportunities and challenges living and working as a smaller benefice will bring. We pray for wisdom for Jane as she leads this new venture.
Tue 14
We pray for Graham and Margaret Hendy, for all the teams in the Fosse Trinity Benefice and for their Joint PCC meeting tonight. We give thanks for the way they work together serving the parishes of East Pennard, Pylle, Ditchett and Alhampton.
Wed 15
We pray for the hopes for mission and ministry contained in the Ivelchester deanery plan. We pray for parishes developing their sense of mission vocation, for growth in prayer and discipleship. We pray for all gathered in Wells Cathedral today to hear about the local picture of modern slavery.
Thu 16
‘God has created me to do Him some definite service: He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission’. We pray for all of the church, for every member that they may find their calling in the love of Christ. We pray for the work of the vocations team, for David the deanery’s local adviser. For those exploring formal ministries and those looking for their ministry within the gifts of the Spirit.
Fri 17
We pray for the people and congregations in Somerton, The Charltons and Kingsdon. We give thanks for the close relationships between the various denominations and for their active engagement in Christian witness and mission. We hold Alan and Jenny before God as the church communities adapt to new forms and patterns of ministry as they seek to bring the story of Jesus to their neighbours.
Sat 18
We pray for Curry Rivel, Fivehead and Swell. As relative newcomers to Ivelchester deanery we pray that they may find themselves at home, supported and celebrated for all they are to God and for all they bring to his Kingdom work. We give thanks for the new appointment of a minister at Fivehead Baptist Church and pray for ever closer working relationships between the churches in the village.
Sun 19
We pray for Sam and Paula Denyer at St Cuthbert’s Wells as it continues to focus on its welcome to visitors, and building up the basic structures of parish life, and Wookey Hole’s priority to make the church community and building part of the wider village life. Please pray for the program of church visioning in Northern Diocese, Zambia as they relook at their faith in God in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord. For their lay ministers and the evangelists who are being prepared for the ministries in their diocese. And for the environment, may we conserve it so it can sustain and preserve us.
Mon 20
Pray for our chaplains as a new school week starts, for Juliette Hume at the Cathedral School and for the Blue school as it seeks to explore the role with Joy Hawes having left at half term.
Tue 21
As the new benefice of Aller, High Ham with Low Ham and Huish Episcopi cum Langport comes into being we pray for Jess and the work of the lay leadership team as they forge a benefice centred on prayer, on God’s love and follow his call to reach the marginalised and the outcast in the area. We pray for the Angel Café, for their work amongst families and those on the edge of the community.
Wed 22 Thu 23
We pray for those meeting and preparing for the Lunch for the Community at 12:30 pm in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Cranmore and for their partners in Doulting.
Fri 24 Sat 25
We pray today for the 11 Lay Readers across the Shepton Mallet deanery, giving thanks for their willingness to serve in assisting in leading our parishes and preaching.
Sun 26
Pray for Tobie and Jill Osmond, Jan and John James, Nick and Fiona Fridd and the people of St Thomas Wells w. Horringtons as they welcome Bishop Peter. He will dedicate their refurbishment and new building as part of a weekend of celebration of ‘Place and Space’, marking the building as one for all the community.
Mon 27
Pray for the authorised lay ministries, 26 Lay Worship Assistants and 32 Lay Pastoral Assistants in the Shepton Mallet Deanery, for their six-monthly forums of support and training. We give thanks for Scott their ‘mission facilitator’ and pray for the appointment of our ‘prayer and discipleship’ Transition minister early in 2018.
Tue 28
We pray for Howard and Fiona Latty and the congregations of Chewton Mendip, Ston Easton and Litton; for its Church School and Clare Rice the head; for the willingness of the congregations to work together over the years and a strengthening of the relationships in the coming months; for Clare Hall the nursing home, the staff and those that live there.
Wed 29
As Advent approaches and the excitement of Christmas grows we pray for a sense of adventure within Christ’s church. We pray especially for all of the preparations underway for seasonal worship services, for celebration events and remember before God those who will find the season lonely or who risk entering debt due to commercial pressures.
Thu 30
We give thanks for the parishes of Ilchester with Northover, Limington and Yeovilton with Podimore. We pray for the challenges and opportunities that villages who think and act like towns bring for rural mission and ministry. We give thanks for the community service by St Mary Major, Ilchester, for the village centre and resource that St Mary’s Limington is becoming and for the heart of the village that the community of St Peter’s Podimore feels called to be.
We pray for the formation of the Ham Hill Villages benefice. Long planned and awaited, this work is due to come to fruition very soon. We pray for the renewed sense of mission this scheme has both generated and supported.
We give thanks for The Dean and chapter of our Cathedral as they celebrate their patronal festival today. For the ongoing Andrew relationship between the Cathedral and the local churches in the the deanery it stands in. Apostle
