Strategy for Ministry Day of Prayer and Fasting 5 January 2013 The Strategy for Ministry agreed by the Diocesan Synod calls on the people of the Diocese of Southwark to make the season of the Epiphany a focus for prayer for the ministry of the whole people of God. To begin this, Saturday 5 January 2013 has been designated by our bishops as a day of Prayer and Fasting. All parishes are asked to take part in this day by having their church open for the day or part of the day and calling people to prayer. The Cathedral will be the focus for this day of prayer and the Harvard Chapel will become the prayer space for the day. The report draws our attention to a number of issues and these should be the focus for our prayer: Renewal of prayer, discipleship and vocation in the parishes of the Diocese. Visionary leadership which enables the Church to reach with the Good News those whom it has so far failed to reach (fresh expressions, church planting, church grafts etc.) Empowerment and enabling of the whole people of God to participate in God's mission. Financial challenges to be met by increased generosity rather than by merely cutting posts. Growth in collaboration between parishes in deaneries for the sake of mission. The day will last from 7.00am when the Cathedral will open until 7.00pm when the Cathedral will close. You are invited to join us at any part of the day or join in at home or in your own church by reading the scripture texts, using the resources and engaging in prayer. For those for whom the discipline of fasting is unfamiliar there are resources to explain this long tradition in the life of the church. In your parish you might want to organise a soup and cheese meal as a communal break of the fast. You can make a collection at that meal for our links in Zimbabwe.
Programme for the Day 7.00am Opening Prayers Bishop Christopher 1 Corinthians 13 8.00am 9.00am 9.15am Drawing near in Worship Isaiah 6.1-8 Common Worship Morning Prayer Psalm 8, 48 Isaiah 62 John 2.13-end Eucharist 10.00 Fasting as repentance Jonah 3 11.00 Fasting and the Word Matthew 6.16-21 12.00 The true Fast (NB at 12 noon the Diocesan Servers Festival Eucharist will begin in the nave of the Cathedral) Isaiah 58 1.00 Ministry and me 1 Timothy 1.3-14 2.00 Ministry and you Matthew 25.31-46 3.00 Ministry and us Ephesians 4.1-16 4.00 Evensong in the Nave of the Cathedral Psalms 96, 97 Isaiah 49.1-13 John 4.7-26 5.00 Praying for the Diocese Colossians 4.2-6 6.00 Praying through the Diocese Revelation 22.1-7 6.30 Walk of light through the Link As a final act of prayer we will gather in the Link of the Cathedral. The paving stones are marked with the names of all the parishes. You will be invited to place a lighted candle on your parish or a parish for which you wish to pray. The link will be filled with the light of Cross and in that light we leave the Cathedral to continue God s mission to the world, making Jesus known in and through Epiphany.
Readings You could read St Mark s Gospel during the day. It is good to do this alone or as a group. Fasting Fasting during the Day of Prayer Fasting has traditionally been understood as denying ourselves in order that we might become more conscious of God s presence and open to discerning his will. Many people fast by giving up food. This might mean that we give up a meal or eating during certain hours or it might be giving up particular foods this could be meat or dairy products or sweet things like chocolate! Many of these disciplines will be familiar from the way we keep Lent. But there are also other ways in which we can fast in order to draw closer to God. Fasting on 5 th January Here are some ideas about how we might fast during our Diocesan Day of Prayer You might give up one or more meals. So perhaps you might skip lunch or not eat during daylight. You might change what you eat in order to avoid meat, or rich food eating simply soup or salad instead. It might be that giving up food isn t such a good idea for you or your health or it might seem a great challenge. So perhaps you could fast from something else? Changing a regular thing you do so you notice its absence. You might give up part of the day in order to come and spend time in your parish church or at the Cathedral. You could decide to fast from watching TV or listening to the radio. Gaming fans might turn of the Xbox, DS or Wii. Perhaps you will not use the internet, look at Facebook, send text messages or tweet. It could be you will give up a days shopping or going to the sales! Try and use the time you create by fasting in order to draw closer to God. Perhaps you can use some of the Scripture passages and prayer resources provided for the day. It might be you go to your parish Church and the Cathedral will be open all day and you can join one of the Bishops in committing our Diocese and its life to the protection, guidance and loving purpose of God. There are two other documents here which can help your thinking and praying about the practice of fasting: www.southwark.anglican.org/downloads/prayer&fasting/fasting -Jul08.pdf www.southwark.anglican.org/downloads/prayer&fasting/fasting2.pdf
Prayers The following prayers can be used throughout the season of prayer. The Strategy for Ministry Prayer Father, pour out your Spirit upon your people, and grant us: a new vision for your glory, a new faithfulness to your word, a new consecration to your service, that your love may grow among us, and your Kingdom come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Faith Hope Love Prayer God of faith, deepen our faith so we may bear witness to Christ in the world; God of hope, strengthen our hope so we may be signposts to your transforming presence; God of love, kindle our love so that, in a fragile and divided world, we may be signs of the faith, hope, love which we share in Jesus Christ. A form of intercession We pray for the coming of God's kingdom. You sent your son to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to the captives, and salvation to your people: anoint us with your Spirit; rouse us to work in his name. Send us to bring help to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. Send us to tell the world the good news of your healing love.
Send us to those who mourn, to bring joy and gladness instead of grief. Send us to proclaim that the time is here for you to save your people. Father, use us, unworthy as we are, to bring in your kingdom of mercy, justice, love and peace. Empower us by your Spirit and unite us in your Son that all our joy and delight may be to serve you, now and for ever. Spend an Hour with God Download 'Spend an Hour with God' pdf: www.southwark.anglican.org/downloads/prayer&fasting/one-hour-with-god.pdf Word: www.southwark.anglican.org/downloads/prayer&fasting/one-hour-with-god.doc Focusing your prayer We repent for not using to the best resources given to us by God for lacking generosity for failing to be attentive to the call of the Lord. We pray for the raising up of leaders for God s people for our Churches, Parishes, Schools, Chaplaincies and Fresh Expressions of church for the resources we need. We seek faith, where it is lacking hope, for the future love, that binds all together.
Material for the Eucharist Invitation to the confession I set no store by life: I only want to finish the race and complete the task which the Lord Jesus assigned to me, of bearing witness to the gospel of God's grace. Conscious of our failure to proclaim the gospel, let us call to mind our sins: Confession Lord Jesus, illuminate the darkness in our hearts. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, open our eyes to your saving love. Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord Jesus, unstop our ears to hear your living word. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Collect Almighty God, who called your Church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia. Go into all the world, says the Lord, and proclaim the good news to all creation. Alleluia. Intercessions In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father. All or some of these petitions may be used God of our salvation, hope of all the ends of the earth,
That the world may know Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, That all who are estranged and without hope may be brought near in the blood of Christ, That the Church may be one in serving and proclaiming the gospel, That we may be bold to speak the word of God while you stretch out your hand to save, That the Church may be generous in giving, faithful in serving, bold in proclaiming, That the Church may welcome and support all whom God calls to faith, That all who serve the gospel may be kept in safety while your Word accomplishes its purpose, That all who suffer for the gospel may know the comfort and glory of Christ, That the day may come when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may ever be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Introduction to the Peace Christ came and proclaimed the gospel: peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near. Prayer at the preparation of the table Faithful God, receive all we offer you this day. May we so live the life of Christ that your Church may be a sign of salvation to all the nations of the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Extended Preface to the Prayer of Thanksgiving Father, we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord because you are God almighty, creator of the world and all that is in it. Through him you made the whole human race and in him you show us the mystery of your purpose. In him you will bring all things together under him as head, all things in heaven, all things on earth. Through him we have heard the word of truth, the good news of salvation, and you have marked us with the seal of your promised Spirit. We who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he is the peace between us, and has broken down the barrier of hostility. He has made of us one new humanity and reconciled us to you by the cross. Through him with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we come before you, Father, by the Holy Spirit, for ever praising you and saying: Prayer after Communion Eternal God, giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom: confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing The Father, whose glory fills the heavens, cleanse you by his holiness and send you to proclaim his word. The Son, who has ascended to the heights, pour upon you the riches of his grace. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, equip you and strengthen you in your ministry. And the blessing Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in these resources, is copyright The Archbishops Council 2006.