Diocesan Intercessory Prayers - Gloucester

From Bishop Michael Perham - Diocese of Gloucester:

• For the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Indivisible Trinity in Gloucester, for its mission as the mother church of the diocese, and for Nick Bury, the Dean.
  
  
• For the more than 300 parishes and Chaplaincies of the diocese and for their clergy at a challenging time.
  
  
• For Bishop Michael’s senior staff team - John Went, Suffragan Bishop, Hedley Ringrose & Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacons, Nick Bury, Dean, Jane Kenchingtoh, Dean of Women Clergy, David Hoyle, Director of Ministry, Kevin Brown, Diocesan Secretary.
  
  
• For the engagement of the diocese in “The Year of the Child” with a launch in 312 January at Tewkesbury Abbey, for Sandra Millar the Children’s Officer.
  


• For the diocese’s links with the Dioceses of Karnataka Central (Bangalore) and of Dornakal in the united Church of South India and with the Lutheran Diocese of Vasteras in Sweden.
  
  
• For the 14 Deaneries of the Diocese as they engage with a deanery restructuring to equip them better for ministry and mission, and for the Area Deans.
  
  
• For the diocese’s engagement with the Millennium Development Goals, and for Canon Adrian Slade, who is taking the lead on this.
  
  
• For Local Ministry Teams across the diocese encouraging the ministry of all the baptized and for (Lay) Canon Kathy Lawrence who leads in this area of diocesan work.
  
  
• For a continuation in the upturn of vocations to the ordained ministry, for those in training, for John Witcombe, the Director of Ordinands, and Catherine Williams, the Vocations Officer.
  


• For the twin initiatives, “Prepare for Easter”, aimed at church-goers through Lent, and “Experience Easter”, aimed at those who do not attend church regularly.
  
  
• For the team Bishop Michael is putting together to develop the triangular partnership and for those travelling with him from Gloucester to Tanzania.
  


• For the 117 Church Schools in the diocese, for the Board of Education, and for Helena Arnold, the new Director of the Department for Children and Young People.
  
  
• For the diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre, Glenfall House, for all who make use of it, for Liz Palin the Director and her staff.
  

Diocesan Intercessory Prayers - Western Tanganyika

From Bishop Gerard Mpango - Diocese of Western Tanganyika:

• Give thanks to God for our my Episcopal Ministry in 25 years. Join us in prayers of thanksgiving on 28th December 2008
  
• Pray for our preparations for your forth-coming visit to our diocese
  
• Pray for our Bible College in Kasulu as they close for holidays and prepare for next term. Pray for provision of funding
  
• Pray for our project for roofing churches. We have 15 un-roofed churches some of which have been that way for over 3 years
  
• Pray for widows especially clergy widows during these times of economic hardships
  
• Pray for our ministry to children especially ophans as we seek to help them with educational needs
  
• Give thanks for our youth ministry. Thank God that our churches are full of young people on Sundays. Pray that they may find true faith of a living relationship with God and a passion for service to God and fellow human beings
  
• Pray for the real poor folks and refugees; pray that the church may find ways and means to walk along their side and bring hope in the midst of hopelessness

I am sending this with my love from here in Mozambique, Southern Africa. + Gerard

Diocesan Intercessory Prayers - El Camino Real

There has been much dialogue between Bishop Mary and Bishop Michael of Gloucester and Bishop Gerard of Western Tanganyika since the formalizing of our Triad Companion Relationship. One of the first fruits of this conversation has been the development of intercessory prayers which will be offered by each of the Companion partners. Intercessory prayers authored by Bishop Mary of the Diocese of El Camino Real are below. Prayers from Gloucester and Western Tanganyika are expected shortly.

From Bishop Mary:

• For continued healing and renewal in our diocesan relationships;


• For a deeper understanding of our life in the grace of Jesus Christ and our own personal as well as corporate transformation;


• For our diocesan staff, +Mary, Brian, Jesus, Susan and JoAnn, and our effectiveness in serving and growing our congregations;


• For continued awareness of the spiritually hungry in our communities, and our increased capacity for welcome and incorporation into the body of Christ;


• Awareness and empowerment to serve the poor in our communities, and for all those already serving in this area of ministry, especially Santa Maria Urban Ministry, our food banks and individuals throughout our diocese who feed the hungry;


• Prayers for our ability to reach and spiritually nourish youth in our congregations;


• Prayers for a new ministry for prisoner re-entry in the Santa Clara deanery;


• Prayers for our World Missions Network and our companion relationship, especially for the upcoming retreat, fundraising, mission planning and travel planning.


• Prayers for the many efforts in our congregations for overseas ministry and support including Rwanda, Uganda, the Dominican Republic and especially for the good work happening in Haiti and Sudan.


• Prayers for an increase in cultural diversity within our church that is more reflective of all who live in our diocese.

Readers of this blog are encouraged to add to these prayers using the comments section.