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“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!” Psalm 118:1
Pray to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit for:
MONDAY 1 Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes: Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga - Vicar, Krou Assoua, Grace Hunting. For the process of the Episcopal Visitation taking place at Christ the Cornerstone. For the election hustings taking place in different places of the new city of Milton Keynes and church participation.
TUESDAY 2 Deddington Deanery: Alicia Baker, Graeme Arthur, Chris Gaynor, Lynne Philpot, Christopher Hurst. For our new Area Dean, the Revd Alicia Baker, as she settles into her role. For outgoing and incoming clergy and for the change it will bring to our deanery.
WEDNESDAY 3 Ironstone, nr Banbury: Alicia Baker - Rector, Guy Edwards, Ian Paul, Lindy Bridgeman. For the life and work of the eight parishes within our benefice and all who look after them.
Shenington CE Primary School, Wroxton CE Primary School.
THURSDAY 4 Adderbury, nr Banbury: Liz Simpson - Vicar. That our summer events will build and strengthen our links with our community. That more volunteers will offer to help with regular outreach events e.g. lunches for the elderly, as well as the more mundane e.g. cleaning rota.
Christopher Rawlins CE Primary School.
FRIDAY 5 Banbury St Francis: Chris Gaynor - Vicar, Lynda Spokes, Richard Cook. For prayer as we go through the Living in Love & Faith material together. For our involvement with our local secondary school (Camp Labyrinth) and primary school (It’s Your Move assembly).
SATURDAY 6 Deddington with Barford, Clifton and Hempton: Nick Fielden - Vicar, Christopher Hall, Christine Turner, Allan Doig. For the successful recruitment of a new Parish Administrator and that new volunteers would step forward to take on the roles of Treasurer and EcoChurch rep. For our major fundraising project to renovate Barford St Michael’s Church to help us better serve the community, also giving thanks for the hard work of the project team and for all the generous donations and grants received so far.
Deddington CE Primary School.
MONDAY 8 Bloxham with Milcombe and South Newington: Dale Gingrich - Vicar, Michael Campling, Hazel Scarr, John Smith, Olwen Smith, Brian Fairbank, Carolyn Oley, Christine Turner. For the pupils, teachers, staff and governors of our local schools as the end of term approaches, that the summer will bring refreshment and fun for all: Bloxham CE Primary School, All Saints' School, Warriner School, Bloxham Grove Academy. For the churches in our work and witness, engaging in our communities and welcoming all into fellowship with Christ.
TUESDAY 9 Shire’s Edge, Banbury: Sarah Fenby - Vicar, Lynda Alco*ck, Sue Upton, Honorary Assistant Bishop Jonathan Meyrick. Giving thanks for our praying life as a benefice. For Cropredy CE Primary School's new headteacher, our Benefice Confirmation preparation and Christian Basics offer to all ages, our mission development, and the strengthening of good relationship across the five village communities of the benefice.
WEDNESDAY 10 Wykeham, nr Banbury: Jocelyn Merris - Licensed Lay Minister. We give thanks for the ministry of Canon John Tattersall, who has led during the vacancy, and for the help of retired clergy. We look forward to welcoming the Revd Emily Robotham Scott in August to minister and live amongst us as our new rector. We look forward to continuing in working together to minister to all who live and work in the Wykeham Benefice.
Bishop Carpenter CE school.
THURSDAY 11 Banbury St Hugh: We give thanks for all the support local retired clergy are giving us during our vacancy. That God will prompt someone to hear the call to come and lead us in the next part of our journey.
FRIDAY 12 Banbury St Leonard: Kudzayi Bvekerwa - Vicar. That the new House Group initiative will be a blessing to those who come and stir up a desire to study God's word. That people will come forward to run social events for families over the summer school holiday.
St Leonard’s CE Primary School.
Bishop Gavin confirming at HMP Huntercombe.
SATURDAY 13 Banbury St Mary: Serena Tajima - Vicar, Sarah Cotterill, Louise Adey Huish. We pray for the Revd Louise as she is in Taize in July. We pray for our ministry to young people through music and for all the events our music director Dylan McCaig will be running over the summer.
St Mary’s CE Primary School.
MONDAY 15 Banbury St Paul: Dan McGowan - Vicar, Steve Short, Jeannette Law. For our ongoing preparation to establish a new church in January 2025 on the Bretch Hill Estate, in particular a suitable venue for meeting in. That by God's strength we will reach the lost for Christ. For our Associate Minister Steve Short preparing to lead that plant. That, with us, he would lean on our faithful God for all he needs.
TUESDAY 16 Bodicote: Sarah Sharp - Vicar. For a restful, reflective and productive sabbatical for the Revd Sarah Sharp. For the churchwardens, PCC and the parish as they prepare to go into vacancy. For the community within the village and the new housing developments in the parish.
Bishop Loveday CE Primary School, The Grange Primary School and Longford Park School.
WEDNESDAY 17 Milton Keynes Deanery: Mike Morris, Paul Oxley - Area Deans, David Thorn, Ian Watson, Bob Scarff. For all who have contributed to the Deanery Synod’s recently developed new Mission Action Plan, and for the work of mission, which now begins to gather pace. For the young disciples from across the deanery, that they might grow in confidence in their faith and that the number of children in our church communities would grow.
Bishop Olivia confirming in Maidenhead & Windsor.
THURSDAY 18 Stony Stratford with Calverton: Matthew Salisbury - Assistant Curate. For the appointment of a new parish priest and for our churchwardens during this time of vacancy. For those to be baptised and confirmed in the coming weeks and months.
St Mary & St Giles CE School.
FRIDAY 19 St Mark’s Milton Keynes: Paul Oxley - Associate Clergy. St Mark’s Meals serves food to hungry children through 118 schools and children’s centres across MK. For these children and their families as we approach the summer holidays, which can be a stressful time for those on a tight budget. For the children and teenagers connected to St Mark’s as we seek to involve them in all that we do, to model the ways of Jesus, which we hope they will embrace throughout their lives.
SATURDAY 20 Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes: Victor Bullock - Vicar, John Hibbard. For all who visit our parish and gift shop. That the gifts of the Holy Spirit may be ours so that we may grow our parish and serve the people of Fenny and Bletchley.
MONDAY 22 Stantonbury and Willen, Milton Keynes: Members of the ecumenical ministry team. That our new full-time stipendiary ministers will quickly settle into their new roles in the partnership on their arrival in September. That the partnership will be able to grow and develop in new ways following the retirement of the Revd Dr Paul Smith at the end of September.
St Andrew’s CE Infant School.
TUESDAY 23 Walton, Milton Keynes: Matt Trendall - Rector, Ruth Maxey, Alison Drury, Philip Derbyshire, John Robertson. For our new curate, the Revd Alison Drury, joining our parish this summer. For the Church of Christ the King, Kents Hill, as they begin the process of finding a new minister.
St Mary’s Wavendon CE Primary School.
WEDNESDAY 24 Watling Valley, Milton Keynes: Mike Morris - Team Rector, Ruth Harley, Adedayo Adebiyi, Barry Lotz, Liz Breuilly, Roger Clegg, Peter Sharrocks, Dave Talks. For Ruth Harley as she finishes her curacy here and takes up the post of vicar of Cowgate Benefice and Priest-in-Charge of Newbiggin Hall Benefice. For Kath Long as she finishes her curacy in the Boldons, South Tyneside, and takes up the post of team vicar here.
Christ the Sower Ecumenical Primary School.
THURSDAY 25 Wolverton, Milton Keynes: Gillian Barrow-Jones - Rector, Francesca Vernon, Chibuzor Okpala, Marian Balance, Celia Donald, Hilary Webb. For Chi as he prepares to leave our benefice and lead the neighbouring parish as team rector, for him (and for all congregations) in this period of change. Giving thanks for the focus on creation care in our two churches and the work of the churchyard teams to use these outdoor spaces as places of outreach and mission. For our newer mission projects of ‘the Drop Inn’ and ‘Come for Coffee, Stay to Pray’ and discerning God’s calling for how to engage our wider community and what these programmes are showing us.
FRIDAY 26 Woughton, Milton Keynes: Ian Herbert - Rector, Paul Norris, Mike Davidge. For Woughton Local Ecumenical Partnership, for the ongoing positive relationships between our five churches, for continued growth of our congregations.
SATURDAY 27 Bletchley: David Mcdougall - Rector, Rachel Ciampoli, Peter Landry, Ben Thorpe, Maryann Brooks. For the wisdom to manage well as church attendance continues to flourish, and to help so many people feel they are included and can be involved. That as our Community Outreach continues to flourish, we have the volunteer base to be able to sustain the work.
Coldharbour CE Primary School.
MONDAY 29 The work of the Mothers’ Union in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with which we have a diocesan link.
TUESDAY 30 Water Eaton, Milton Keynes: Catherine Butt - Vicar, Ayo Audu. For our continued growth into our role as a Resourcing Church in the diocese for community organising and church growth. For those who attend our community lunch and food larder on Tuesdays.
WEDNESDAY 31 Our link Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, Southern Africa.
Prayer on Sundays
SUNDAY 7 For Yellow Braces, our diocesan annual youth weekend away on the 12-14 July. For the final preparations as the leaders bring together final plans. For the 27 young people attending, that they grow in their faith and encounter God over this weekend and for friendships and faith to blossom.
SUNDAY 14 Bishop Steven confirming in St Nicholas, Old Marston. Bishop Humphrey Southern confirming in St Helen’s, Abingdon.
SUNDAY 21 For an end to the plastic waste that is ending up in our oceans, wildlife and food, that is being burned abroad, and that is damaging the health of our oceans. This Plastic Free July, for new innovations that enable us reduce and avoid single-use plastic, for courageous global legislation, and for thoughtful consumerism.
SUNDAY 28
Links
Prayers from Christian Concern for One World: ccow.org.uk
Topical prayers from the Church of England: churchofengland.org/topical-prayers
