Please pray for our work with children and young people, giving thanks for ‘Singing Angels’ at St Andrew and the Junior church at All Saints, and the uniformed organisations at St Peter, praying for their leaders and helpers and the development of our ‘Worship for All Services’. Clergy: Guy Hewlett, Catherine Mitchell, Reader: Jan Humphries
Diocese of Brechin (Scotland): Bishop Nigel Peyton
The Church Buildings Team at the diocesan office has changed. Mark Carter has been appointed as Church Buildings Officer and comes to the Diocese from five years as Operations Manager at Hereford cathedral.
Mark said: “I am looking forward to working with PCCs throughout the Diocese and gaining a better understanding of the range of ways in which parish churches are used, from worship to being accessible and welcoming community groups as parishes implement the Kingdom People vision.”
We have also been fortunate to secure funding to appoint a Buildings Project Manager to support churches in some of our most deprived areas. Kate Andrew is working alongside Andrew Mottram, helping those parishes whose areas include some of the lowest income communities in the country to achieve projects on their buildings, in particular providing support with applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Kate said: “I like church buildings and heritage and I love working with volunteers, so am looking forward to using my skills to help churches to improve their buildings.”
Both Mark and Kate, as well as Andrew, will be working with parishes thinking about how they can make their buildings ft for purpose as both a spiritual and community resource.
Please pray for Mark, Kate and also Andrew in the Church Buildings team as they work with parishes across the Diocese.
Kingswinford Deanery – Rural Dean: David Hoskin; Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesey
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Latvia: Archbishop Janis Vanags with Bishops Einars Alpe, Hanss Martins Jensons
Diocese of Lichfield: Bishop Michael Ipgrave with Bishops Mark Rylands (Shrewsbury),
Geoff Annas (Stafford), Clive Gregory (Wolverhampton),
Diocese of St David’s (Wales): Bishop Joanna Penberthy The Anglican Church in Hong Kong and Macao: Archbishop Paul Kwong
Please pray for the three churches in the team; St Andrew the Straits, St Peter Upper Gornal and All Saints Sedgley as we seek to work closely together across the parish continuing to build God’s Kingdom following the appointment in 2017 of a new ministry team. Clergy: Guy Hewlett, Catherine Mitchell; Reader: Jan Humphries
Diocese of Brasilia (Brazil): Bishop Maurício Jose Araujo De Andrade
For our new places of welcome initiative, our playgroup, and the Primary Schools we visit as Open the Book. Clergy: Emma Stanford, Tim Westwood; ALM: Bob HillDiocese of Brandon (Canada): Bishop William Cliff Continue Reading
Give thanks for the wonderful congregation at St Mark’s, the New Service and the faithful witness of so many: Clergy: Sue Oliver, Sue Hale; Reader: John Lawrence
Diocese of Botswana (Africa): Bishop Metlhayotlhe Belemi
We give thanks for the recent marriage of Bishop Godfrey to Tumaini and, as we pray for their continued happiness, so we, also, pray that their marriage will be a great blessing for the Diocese of Morogoro, and for Tumaini as she takes up the role a bishop’s wife is expected to play in the life of the Church.
Diocese of Bor (South Sudan): Bishop Ruben Ngong
Pray for our Lay Pastors/Visitors and ALM’s For after-school Sticky Church & Pathfinders at St Mary’s and Worship-After-School, Open-the-Book, Jigsaw Family Service & Homegroups at the Church of the Ascension. For St Mary’s & Ascension CE Primary Schools, Headteachers: Beverley Roberts & Steve Hudson. Clergy: Giles Kendall, Jane Arnold; Readers: Jill Nicholls, Deborah Filgate, David Cousins
Diocese of Bondo (Kenya): Bishop Johannes Angela
Please pray that the congregation may be able to keep heart and give thanks for continued provision for traditional Anglicans. Thanks also for financial stability in difficult times. Clergy: Julian Mott.Diocese of Bolivia (South America): Bishop Raphae… Continue Reading
Mothering Sunday is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent and is traditionally the day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.
Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their ‘mother’ church – the main church or cathedral of the area. Inevitably this return became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home and most historians think that this led to the tradition of children being given the day off to visit their mother and family. As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.
Mothering Sunday was also known as Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed that day. Simnel cakes have particularly been associated with the day. A Simnel cake is a fruit cake with two layers of almond paste, one on top and one in the middle. The cake is made with 11 balls of marzipan icing on top representing the 11 disciples (Judas is not included).
Pray today for all mothers across the diocese. And also for all those who will fnd this day diffcult.Kingswinford Deanery – Rural Dean: David Hoskin; Lay Chair: Anthony Lovesey
Diocese of Chelmsford: Bishop Stephen Cottrell with Bishops Roger Morris (Colchester) and Peter Hill (Barking)
Diocese of Karlstad (Sweden): Bishop Sören DaleviThe Church of England: Archbishop Justin Welby
Give thanks for our church and its organisations. Pray for our ongoing parish review to help us to see our strengths and weaknesses and plan for our future, particularly in the light of our vicar’s forthcoming retirement. For our work with children. Clergy: Alan Howes; Reader: Denzil Smith; ALM: Paul Love
Diocese of Boga (Congo): Bishop Mugenyi Bahemuka
