Pray as we prepare for a vacancy, as our Priest in Charge retires. Give thanks for the work with
young people and for the growth in lay ministry. For the work of our retired/retiring Readers,
Roy Peacock, Kanthi Ariaraj; for Roger King as he prepares t… Continue Reading
Last year, the Revd Dick Johnson became
the first Joint Lead Chaplain for both West
Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester
Fire and Rescue Service, alongside
continuing to work with Faith and Work in
Worcestershire (FWW) part-time.
Dick said: “I have always enjoyed
chaplaincy so working with both Services is
an exciting opportunity. The two services are increasingly working more closely together
so it makes sense to have a joint chaplain.”
Dick began chaplaincy with the Fire Service in 2007 as part of his work as Industrial
Missioner with FWW. The work was valued to the extent that the Service has now allocated
funds to a partnership with West Mercia Police that employs Dick for three days a week.
“Much of my role is about listening,” Dick said. “Quite often I’m talking to staff about
what is worrying them and it has little, apparently, to do with God and faith. But of
course it does, as the work of emergency services, with all its tragedy and success,
is very much part of God’s world. It’s about being a Christian presence keeping the
rumour of God alive in a largely secular world. A particularly important part of my role
is to provide support to crews who have been to difficult incidents – giving them the
opportunity to talk through that experience with someone independent and process
what they’ve seen.”
The Joint Chaplain role makes up 60% of Dick’s time, with the other 40% funded by the five denominations involved in Faith at Work in Worcestershire. “I’m a full time Chaplain
with a number of portfolios. It’s challenging, but immensely fulfilling and enjoyable.”
Please pray for Dick and those in the Police and Fire and Rescue services with whom
he works.
Stourbridge Deanery – Rural Dean: Andrew Sillis; Lay Chair; John Nicholson
The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea: Archbishop Allan Migi
Diocese of Newcastle: Bishop Christine Hardman with Bishop Mark Tanner (Berwick)
Diocese of Moere (Molde) (Norway): Bishop Ingeborg Midttoemme
We pray for all those who live, work or worship in the Black Country on this day to
celebrate the special heritage and community of this area. Diocese of Egba (Nigeria): Bishop Emmanuel Adekunle Diocese of Egba West (Nigeria): Bishop Samuel A… Continue Reading
Pray for the growing of God’s Kingdom in our churches, schools & communities. For all
who minister to and with us in the Joint Benefce of Norton and Wollaston. For ‘All Sorts’
Cafe-Church Leader: Richard Green; Children & Families Worker: Sian Morgan; Mission
Enabler: Anne Batchelor; Clergy: Nick Kaleniuk, Diana Farmer, Tom Chapman; Reader:
Dan Muthuveloe
Diocese of Edmonton (Canada): Bishop Jane Alexander
Please pray for close friendship with Pedmore Primary, Head: David Dunn, and for
our children’s and families’ worker Beth Parry. Clergy: Sarah Northall, Paul Hedworth,
Readers: Corrinne and Richard Sarjeant, Linda Kitto, Alan Sibley, Mary German
Diocese of Edinburgh (Scotland): Bishop John Armes
Pray for the congregation of St Elizabeth’s Church in Tunguli, who are seeking to rebuild
their church after its destruction in a violent storm. We give thanks for the work of their
pastor, Dickson Dyahila, and for all the 258 people who are registered members of the
congregation as they seek to make Christ known to the people of their area.
Diocese of Easton (USA): Bishop Santosh Marray
Diocese of Eau Claire (USA): Bishop William Lambert
Give thanks for the continued repair of the Cathedral fabric, especially the recently
restored Great West Window. Pray for the plans and fundraising to convert the monastic
Undercroft in the Cloisters into our new centre for learning, for the benefit o… Continue Reading
Pray for the Dean & Chapter (Peter Atkinson, Michael Brierley, David Bryer, Georgina
Byrne, Vanessa Godfrey, Alvyn Pettersen, Anne Penn), Chief Operating Officer (Val Floy)
and all worshippers, staff, volunteers, friends, & visitors. Pray for the day t… Continue Reading
Kate Andrew, Church Buildings
Project Manager, been supporting
three churches in the Dudley area
in the delivery phase of their building
conservation projects, all with major
grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
St Thomas & St Luke has now finished a £275,000 project to provide safe access to
the roof and functioning rain water disposal. The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF) was complemented by awards from seven other Trusts and foundations plus lots
of volunteer time.
Although watertight, the church is still on the At-risk Register and the remarkable
painted East window is one of the 100 most significant at-risk ‘church treasures’. We
are meeting HLF to explore the best way to approach the next stage of work.
St John’s, Brockmoor has also been on the At-risk Register for many years. Some
damage was all too obvious; peeling paint, falls of plaster and failures of sections of
the electrical system. However, less visible was severe rot due to water getting into
the building. A £280,000 project began in January and will deal with all these issues.
Building work is due to finish in mid-May and the contractor will be back on site for
some traditional skills demonstrations at a public event with heritage displays on Black
County Day, 14 July.
St Edmund King & Martyr’s appearance on the At-risk Register is partly due to a very
obvious hole in the porch ceiling caused by a failure of the drainage from the tower
roof. Scaffolding started going up just after Easter and work on the £280,000 project
will repair the tower roof as well as ft a new kitchen and toilets. A separate project to
create a much needed access ramp for those with mobility impairments is planned to
happen once the conservation work is complete.
Please pray for all of Dudley’s Churches and for Kate Andrew as she works to help the
parishes ensure their buildings are ft for purpose and accessible to the community.
Stourbridge Deanery – Rural Dean: Andrew Sillis; Lay Chair; John Nicholson
The Church of Pakistan (United): Archbishop Humphrey Peters
Diocese of St Albans: Bishop Alan Smith with Bishops Richard Atkinson (Bedford)
& Michael Beasley (Hertford)
Diocese of Linköping (Sweden): Bishop Martin Modéus
Pray for connecting more deeply with the local area, the way forward for the Rufford
Brickworks church plant, outreach through the internet cafe and Open Door coffee
morning, and making the most of the many opportunities we have with children and
young… Continue Reading
