Pray for the communities of Stockton & Pensax wrestling with the question of a future
for their buildings. Give thanks for the Pastoral Care Scheme and the off-shoot of new
communion services at Menith Wood Old Chapel (closed to services for decades).
… Continue Reading
Pray for the communities of Lindridge & Knighton. Give thanks for the Pastoral Care
Scheme, for the parent & toddler group and for new people joining our church. Pray
for the links with Lindridge School and new outreach. Clergy: Ted Whittaker; Reader:
Marjorie Workman; Children’s Worker: Liz Whitehead
Diocese of Iowa (USA): Bishop Alan Scarfe, Diocese of Kansas (USA): Vacant
Today is Freedom Sunday. With the help of the Clewer Initiative, we’ve been looking in
this diocese at how we can help combat modern slavery. Recently Doug Chaplin met
Jared and Helen Hodgson, of Bromsgrove, who’ve founded a charity to help churches and
Christian volunteers offer support to freed slaves. This is what they say about their work:
“We became aware that modern slavery still existed on a family trip to India. On our
return, we discovered that slavery is rife in the UK and survivors are often left destitute
and open to being re-trafficked. We decided that, like William Wilberforce, we couldn’t
‘look away’ so opened up our home to survivors thus beginning the small seed of Hope
at Home.
“Several years later, Hope at Home
now provides a hosting scheme
across the UK for survivors unable
to access other housing. We
train support hosts and arrange
placements for survivors. Our hosts offer a stable home, giving the opportunity to
breathe out and focus on recovery. We also work alongside professional agencies able
to provide long term support.”
Please pray for the survivors to find sustainable freedom, for ongoing funding for our
work and for more hosts to open up their homes to meet this need.
Stourport Deanery – Rural Dean: Mark Turner, Lay Chair: Andrew Quinn
The Church of the Province of West Africa: Archbishop Dr Daniel Sarfo
Diocese of Växjö (Sweden): Bishop Fredrik Modéus
Diocese of Oxford: Bishop Steven Croft with Bishops Andrew Proud (Reading), Colin Fletcher
(Dorchester), Alan Wilson (Buckingham)
Give thanks for Open the Book, our ALMs and for two people beginning ALM training.
For the faithful ministry of now-retired churchwarden Muriel and new warden Marcus.
Pray for renewed vision for ministry to schools and community and for new heart for
m… Continue Reading
Give thanks for links with Great Witley Primary School, for water now piped to Shrawley
Church, for our ALMs and those starting training, for the increase in weddings and
baptisms and for our small groups. Pray for Shrawley’s hospitality project, Little Witley’s
links with its village, and Great Witley’s focus on Mission. Clergy: Ted Whittaker; Reader:
Marjorie Workman
Diocese of Ilesa (Nigeria): Bishop Olubayu Sowale
Pray for the Community Café and Café Church on the Walshes. For St Bartholomew’s
School, Head: Susan Helps and St Peter’s School, Head; Ali Reakes-Williams. Give thanks
for the Friends of St Peter, Astley. For our Prayer Square knitting ministry, churchwardens
and ALMs. Clergy: Mark Turner, Josie Calam; Reader: Sue Matthews
Diocese of Ile – Oluji (Nigeria): Bishop Samson Adekunle
On the eve of St Luke’s day, pray for all working in health and care, in a wide range
of roles – front line medical and social care, support services and managers. Pray for
wisdom as funding of health and care continues to be debated.
Diocese of Ilaje (Nigeria): Bishop Fredrick Olugbemi
Pray as we grow together. For our dementia friendly, accessible worship, our monthly
afternoon service at St Michael and our family service at Wilden to encourage even
closer links with our church school, Head: Francesca Fishwick. For our Associate Cle… Continue Reading
Pray for the deanery clergy and Vikki Day, Lay Mission Developer, recently licensed as
a Reader. For us all as we grow our spiritual and prayer life as a deanery. Rural Dean:
Mark Turner; Lay Chair: Andrew Quinn Diocese of Ikwo (Nigeria): Bishop K… Continue Reading
National Adoption week runs
from 16 – 22 October
Adoption Sunday is an opportunity
each year for the Church to share the
good news of our adoption into God’s family and to respond to the needs of children
and young people in the UK care system. Home for Good has a voice into 10 churches
in Worcestershire. Could you be next? All Saints’ in Worcester is hosting an Adoption
Sunday service on 28 October.
At Home for Good, our vision is a home for every child who needs one. We want every
child to have a stable, loving home where they can thrive. We know that for children
in care, it’s crucial to find the right placement at the right time – whether that’s a
short-term foster placement in an emergency, a long-term foster placement or a new
adoptive family.
Currently, this isn’t always possible. In the UK there is an urgent need for more than
7,000 foster families and there are not enough people coming forward to adopt
children who wait the longest for adoption – children over the age of four, with additional
needs, from black and minority ethnic communities and who are part of a sibling group.
We believe the Church is well-placed to ensure that every child has the home they need
and that families that foster or adopt receive the support that they need.
So, the invitation to be involved in Home for Good through the local church is one we
must accept. All Christians are adopted, and the Church must bear witness to this new
family. Let’s offer an extraordinary, radical alternative family where all are welcome by
God’s invitation.
Please pray for all those families who foster or
adopt children and for the many children waiting
for a family to care for them.
Stourport Deanery – Rural Dean: Mark Turner, Lay
Chair: Andrew Quinn
The Church in Wales: Archbishop John Davies
Diocese of Truro: Vacancy, Bishop Chris Goldsmith (St Germans)
Diocese of Tönsberg (Norway): Bishop Per Arne Dahl
Diocese of Strängnäs (Sweden): Bishop Johan Dalman
