WEBSITE PRAYERS September 2017 World Pray for: God s Spirit to restrain warlike intentions in the Korean Peninsula; the crisis in Yemen; wise decision-making to avert climate change; reconstruction of Syrian cities devastated by war Our country Give thanks for: our Queen and Royal Family; a stable system of government; the chance to visit new places, take up new activities and meet new friends in the summer Pray for: ongoing Brexit negotiations Diocese Give thanks for: all the Holiday Clubs and Holidays at Home; times of rest and refreshment during the summer for clergy and lay ministers; the huge number of people who have been involved in the strategic framework for mission in the Diocese Pray for: ongoing preparations for the strategic framework and its launch in November; that those who attended Holiday Clubs will have met God in a special way; churches celebrating Harvest; teachers and students starting the new school year; clergy and licensed lay ministers as they face new challenges; young people leaving home for college and university; families who support them BROMLEY AND BEXLEY ARCHDEACONRY Beckenham Deanery Beckenham Holy Trinity Pray for: Andy, Rachel, Tibby and Caleb Bond as Andy takes up a new post in Derby; the Alpha initiative involving four churches in Penge, which starts this month; wisdom for our PCC as it progresses the five-year mission plan and discusses children and communion Beckenham St James Pray: that God will show us opportunities to serve the needs of the local community; for funds to carry out necessary repairs; our Sunday school and schools celebrating harvest festival in our churches; wisdom and discernment for clergy seeking to encourage lay pastoral ministry and to form a ministry team; renewed commitment to midweek worship and prayer Beckenham St John the Baptist Pray for: our youth group going to Soul Survivor; Alpha beginning in the autumn term; Transforming Work course starting in the autumn term Beckenham St Paul Give thanks for: our new vicar, Rev Simon Couper Pray for: him and his family as they settle into Beckenham and begin their ministry 1
Bromley Deanery Pray for: the Deanery Youth Network involving six Bromley churches, whose new programme begins on 17 September; that young people will take the initiative and invite their friends to social events that take place every month Bickley Pray for: our PCC Away Day on 2 September; our participation in A season of Invitation, encouraging the congregation to invite friends and family to church Biggin Hill Give thanks for: the children who attended Holiday Club Bromley St John the Evangelist Pray for: our Church Family Barbecue on 3 September, especially for non-church-attending spouses Chislehurst Christ Church Pray for: Tony and Nadine Piper, Florence and Sienna, who left for Kingston Jamaica last month to work with inner city churches; Becky Wilson, who took up the post of Children s Worker last month Chislehurst The Annunciation Give thanks for: the provision of inner glass doors on to the High Street to make the church more welcoming Pray for: our annual Gift Day and Open Day on 9 September; parish pilgrimage to Walsingham on 16 September Erith Deanery Give thanks for: the service of our Area Dean, Rev Julie Conalty Pray for: Julie as she prepares for her appointment as Archdeacon of Tonbridge; the Deanery Fun Day for children and families, held at St Martin s Barnehurst on 16 September Bexleyheath Christ Church Give thanks for: the popularity and hard work of our Knitting Group, which met three times in August Pray for: consultation with the congregation regarding the admission of children to Holy Communion; Paul, our curate, being priested this month Bexleyheath St Peter Pray for: lots of visitors to our School Start Service on 3 September Bostall Heath Pray for: our PCC as it plans outreach; our Bible study groups; our Thursday afternoon tea and coffee group; our monthly breakfast 2
Erith Christ Church Pray for: the PCC, wardens and lay and ordained ministers during the interregnum; Christ Church Primary School and the new school year Welling Give thanks for: the hundreds of people who attended Spark in the Park, a summer outreach in Danson Park Pray for: everyone experiencing change, especially children and teenagers as they change schools; Danielle, our curate, being priested at the end of this month; at least six guests for each of our two autumn Alpha Groups, which meet on Wednesday mornings and Monday evenings; those joining youth leadership teams Orpington Deanery Orpington All Saints Pray for: the team responsible for the ministry and mission of the church during the interregnum; discernment in finding a suitable new vicar; the second of our All Age Services on 10 September Sidcup Deanery Pray for: filling of vacancies at St James Blendon and Holy Redeemer Lamorbey Footscray with North Cray Pray: that our Dog Show and Pet Service on 9 and 10 September will bring new opportunities for outreach in the community Lamorbey Holy Trinity Pray for: our new School Mass, which begins this month; a new course for enquirers Sidcup Christ Church Pray for: the completion of our proposed annexe; the development of our ministry to teenagers Sidcup St John the Evangelist Pray for: the reestablishment of a Sunday Club for primary age children; progress in our plans for developing the west end of our church ROCHESTER ARCHDEACONRY Cobham Deanery Pray: that all children and young people starting new schools or colleges will be blessed as they find new friends Ash with Ridley 3
Give thanks for: all the families who brought children to baptism this summer; for good progress on the kitchen and toilets project at Ash. Pray: that children who have been baptised will be blessed as they begin their Christian journey; that our refurbished building will bring opportunities to welcome people into God s house; for those who lead Junior Church and the Boys Brigade and Girls Association, and new members starting this term; those who lead services at our sheltered housing complex and care home; God s blessing on all who attend these services Cobham with Luddesdowne and Dode Pray for: the success of plans to restore the Church Room at St Mary s; work on St Mary s chancel Longfield Pray for: Langafel CE Primary School, the Head Teacher and Chair of Governors; Paul, Liz and Pat, who faithfully teach our children and young people in Sunday Funday; our Harvest Festival on 24 September Meopham with Nurstead Pray for: those among our church members and friends who are unwell and need extra care; St Mildred s PCC as they make decisions about a toilet for the church RNWK (Rural North-West Kent) Group Pray for: Jim, our Area Dean, as he returns to Group and parish life from his sabbatical; Messy Church and a greater awareness of this initiative across the Group; our Group Council and new Council members; Group-wide conversations to discuss how we might better serve young people in our area Dartford Deanery Pray for: our Rural Dean, Rev Kenneth Clark, and those supporting parishes in interregnum; that the right people will be found to become new incumbents Crockenhill Give thanks: that the building of the Community Room has commenced; that God is there in every aspect of our lives Pray: that we may put God at our centre; that the Community Room will become a beacon for the big plans God has for Crockenhill; that those who are unwell and their carers will feel the closeness of God; for all affected by recent events Darent Valley Give thanks for: our newly appointed vicar, joining us in November Pray for: our ministry team as they oversee our work; success with all events planned over the next few months; the boosting of funds for each of our church buildings Dartford Christ Church Give thanks for: our successful Holiday Club 4
Pray for: those grieving the recent loss of a loved one; those preparing for confirmation in November; those attending the Natural Evangelism course in preparation for next year; the launch of our monthly café Refresh ; preparations for our parish weekend in October Dartford Holy Trinity Pray for: God s blessing on our church and community Dartford St Alban and Dartford St Edmund Pray for: Margaret Gibson as she retires from her work as Pastoral Assistant; the Memory Café being held at St Edmund s on 12 September Stone Pray for: Carol Avery s ordination on 30 September Swanley St Mary the Virgin Pray for: God s blessing on our church and community Swanley St Paul and Hextable St Peter Give thanks for: Holiday at Home in August Pray for: applicants for the post of our new incumbent; selection and interviews; wisdom and discernment for those on the interview panel; that God s choice for us will be appointed; our building project; completion of the new vicarage Wilmington Give thanks for: our successful Holiday Club and Holiday at Home; the Village Fair Pray for: Harvest Festival and Barn Dance on 23 and 24 September; preparations for the Model Railway Exhibition in October Gravesend Deanery Give thanks for: the support of Food Banks; the work of Macmillan Cancer Care Pray for: Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride, a sponsored walk and bike ride on 9 September; the Macmillan Cancer Care Big Coffee Mornings taking place throughout the Deanery on 29 September Gravesend St Aidan Give thanks for: the ministry of Rev Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy and his family as he moves to take up an appointment in Leicester Diocese Pray for: our parish, PCC and churchwardens during the interregnum Rochester Deanery Chatham St Philip and St James Pray for: our fortnightly Kidz Club meetings 5
Chatham St Stephen Give thanks for: all the schools in our parish and the children we have got to know through Holiday Club, Messy Church, school assemblies, RE lessons and special services; the uniformed youth organisations who visit the church Rochester St Justus Give thanks for: a successful Holiday Club Pray: that ongoing follow-up with families will be positive; for our Alpha Course starting this month; the continuing growth of our Tuesday morning Community Café Strood Deanery Pray for: God s blessing on all the churches in the Deanery; someone in the Deanery with a heart for prayer to collect prayer requests TONBRIDGE ARCHDEACONRY Malling Deanery Barming Pray for: wisdom for the PCC as we consider the next stages of our planned building project; the teachers of Barming School as they adapt to their new classes; our Men s Breakfast on 23 September; our Ladies Breakfast on 30 September Paddock Wood Deanery Pray for: God s blessing on all the churches in the Deanery and the communities they serve Sevenoaks Deanery Kippington St Mary Pray for: three of our young people going to Trinity School; that each pupil will enjoy their time and grow in Christian faith; three weddings in our church this month, and that children in these homes will be nurtured in Christ; CMS Sunday on 10 September with guest speaker Raj Patel; our Mission Partners Kylie, Mark and Jenny; Mark and Jenny s preaching on 17 September; wisdom as we consider whether our service times meet people s needs Knockholt with Halstead Give thanks for: the well-supported and enjoyable Holiday Club; the hard-working, inspired leaders, and the opportunity for more children to learn about and find joy in the Christian faith Pray for: Tim, our vicar, and his wife Debbie as they settle into the parishes following Tim s institution in July; those involved in autumn activities; village groups as they start again 6
Sevenoaks St Luke Pray for: the church during our interregnum; Anne Bourne, our Associate Vicar; those being confirmed at our church on 24 September Weald Give thanks for: our new community shop, set up at short notice on the closure of our only general stores in the village; church and village all working together. Pray for: a permanent home for the community shop; St George s 10K run and 2K fun run on Sunday 3 September in aid of charities, starting with a service on the Green, and involving village and church; Harvest Supper and Barn Dance on 30 September Shoreham Deanery Pray for: God s blessing on all the churches in the Deanery and the communities they serve Tonbridge Deanery Give thanks for: the Bishop s Visitation to the Deanery in July, which was much appreciated Chiddingstone with Chiddingstone Causeway Pray for: Martin and Ruth as they prepare to leave Chiddingstone to retire to Somerset; those who have left Chiddingstone School and moved on to senior schools Crockham Hill Give thanks for: wonderful 175 th Anniversary celebrations Pray: that the course What do Christians believe? commencing this month will attract people to come and explore Edenbridge Give thanks for: the smooth running of the parish during Fr Stephen s sabbatical; his safe return Pray for: a replacement Sunday Club coordinator and new premises for this weekly event; a replacement Treasurer; an independent external Financial Examiner; coffee morning planned for 30 September Hever, Four Elms and Mark Beech Pray for: our Wedding Ministry Hildenborough Pray for: Marcus, our Youth Worker, his wife Annoushka, and baby Caleb as they move and adjust to their new home; preparations for the Harvest Service Leigh Pray for: our link with the local school; those children in the next stage of education; the Wednesday morning Coffee Shop 7
Penshurst and Fordcombe Pray for: Sunday services; those married in our church Tonbridge St Peter and St Paul Pray for: Wendy Carr, our new curate, who will be ordained in the Cathedral on 30 September; Wendy and the family as they settle in; all visiting our Open Churches during the Heritage weekend on 9 and 10 September Tonbridge St Stephen Pray for: Refresh on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when the church is open and people can drop in for a chat Tunbridge Wells Deanery Tunbridge Wells St James Pray for: the new Family Worker as she starts her job; that she may settle well and make new friends and contacts Tunbridge Wells St Luke Pray for: our new Pure Gold course starting on 24 September Prayer topics for October should be sent to Judith Howard, 10 Mount Pleasant Road, Weald, Sevenoaks, TN14 6QE Tel 01732 458285 judithhoward@weald.plus.com by 9 September. 8