Changing Market Towns - Prayers for Lent

Changing Market Towns - Prayers for Lent

During this season of Lent, Bishop Steven is encouraging us to continue to pray for the church and its mission within the market towns and surrounding areas.

All are invited to participate, in which ever way most appropriate to their context:

• by joining weekly prayers on zoom, the zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3908909155, these will take place at noon on:
  • Tuesday, 8th March
  • Wednesday, 16th March
  • Thursday, 24th March
  • Friday,1st April
  • Monday, 4th April
• by incorporating the prayers into existent services or prayer groups
• by organising a prayer meeting
• by distribution to individuals within parishes

As previously, the suggested prayers and prayer pointers below may be used, but any others would be just as welcome. God hears all prayers and answers them, how ever and wherever they are offered.

Here are some examples of prayers that might be used without the need for permission:

Changing Market Towns Prayer

God of hope,

we pray for our market towns, and the churches that serve them.

We thank you for your faithful care, that has made us who we are

and we trust in you for our future.

Unite us, give us heart and hope and build up your Kingdom

in the places we love.

We pray in the name of the carpenter of Nazareth,

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Prayer for Lent

Eternal God, giver of life in all its fulness,

We come before you to offer ourselves, our parishes and our towns to you.

As we set our faces towards Holy Week,

we are aware of your presence with us on our own journeys of faith,

and that you are alongside us as we venture into new missional territory.

We thank you for our churches and for our towns,

for their faithfulness through the generations,

and for the story of hope they offer to their communities.

As we journey through Lent,

help us to be mindful of those things which mar our way,

or hinder us from holding out the hand of Christ to others.

Help us not to lose heart at those things which are proving difficult;

and give us confidence that you are at the centre of everything we do.

As we approach the Cross,

may we be ever more aware

of the gracious company of the one who sacrificed so much for us.

In his name we pray,

Amen

Individual Prayer Pointers

All or some of these may be used alongside others which are particularly applicable.

• Please pray, by name, for those tasked with leadership and administration, at deanery and diocesan level, focusing particularly on the CMT project review and Deanery Planning process which are underway…

[pause]

May all who serve in this way be open to hearing the voice of God and those of the towns; acting with vision, wisdom and clarity.

• Please pray for the incumbents, clergy, lay minsters and all the who serve in a voluntary capacity, giving valuable time and energy to the work of the Church…

[pause]

At a time when many are tired out by the impact of Covid, and reserves are running low,
may space and time be provided for healing,
and may those who are inspired to move forward at a much faster pace be granted patience.
May all those involved with the work and ministry of the Church fall into step together,
so that recovery and restoration and renewal are made possible at an appropriate pace.

• Please pray, by name, for those employed through the Market Towns initiative,

and for the situations where vacancies are unfilled or on hold…

[pause]

May God direct the project, so that all are confident of what can be achieved,
and that certainty can emerge where uncertainty still prevails.

• Please pray for those who are served by the Church,

especially any you know by name…

[pause]

May they may see and know the love of Christ,
made manifest in the care and concern expressed by others in his name.

Pray especially for those who are experiencing particular stress due to the ending of lockdown restrictions, asking that our churches may be experienced of places of safety and security as well as sources of hope and optimism at this time of uncertainty.

[pause]

• Please pray for the community,

focusing especially on the work to which God is calling the church to in your town…

[pause]

May people be encouraged to grow, communities to thrive, and the church come to be known and appreciated by all as a place of love, witness and positive influence.