Pray for our parish every day 

Each month we produce a prayer diary for the parish, covering some of the many aspects of our common life together. Please join with us in praying for Bromsgrove and for all seeking to bring Christ's light and love to our communities. Thank you.

Bromsgrove Parish Prayer Diary for December 2022
God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46.
 
Thursday 1st December – Cost of living crisis
We offer up our prayers for those this winter who will have to choose between heating and eating.  We pray that this winter coming will not be a long and hard one
 
Friday 2nd December Bromsgrove
We pray for a sense of peace and community within all areas of this town that we all love so much and have pride in           
 
Saturday 3rd December– Café Church St. Godwalds/All Saints Christmas Fair
Please pray for these valuable outreach initiatives
 
Sunday 4th December – St Godwald’s
We give thanks for this building and the church family that inhabits it.
 
Monday 5th December – Refugees
Lord, we pray at this particularly stressful time for all of those forced to leave their homes and places of safety to travel to lands that are alien with totally different cultures.  We are thinking especially of people forced to leave Ukraine, Afghanistan and the Yemen among others
 
Tuesday 6th December – Food banks
An increasing number of people have come to rely on these establishments as we have had to come to terms with the period of austerity that the country is living through.  Please ensure these priceless community assets continue to receive the support that is vital to the work they do.  We also give thanks for those who have been moved by the plight of people struggling and have contributed financially or by providing items of food.
 
Wednesday 7th December- All Saints
We give thanks for this building and the church family that inhabits it.
 
Thursday 8th December– Pharmacies/Doctor’s surgeries
We thank you, Lord, for all the people working on the front line in pharmacies and surgeries.   We pray for their safety as they serve others and for their anxious families at home.  We pray that the people who visit these places seeking help will be responsible and avoid putting these dedicated people at risk.  May their religious faith sustain and inspire them?
 
Friday 9th December- Parish Staff
Please pray for Irene and Lauren, our administrators, Sharon and Gemma our bookkeepers and Jayne, Dawn and Emma, our cleaners.
 
Saturday 10th December – Catshill Carol Service
We pray for this special service which has been requested by the villagers of Catshill as an opportunity to remember loved ones at Christmas time
 
Sunday 11th December- Baptisms
As with weddings rules covering baptisms have now relaxed and we pray for all families who are preparing for baptisms in the coming weeks
 
Monday 12th December - – LLM’s and ALM’s
We give thanks and ask your prayers for these groups of people who provide a valuable and often unsung ministry to the parish.  

Tuesday 13th December – Catshill Connect
Please pray for this new undertaking which will take place 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month designed to provide a cup of tea and a chat to those of us who do not see and socialise with as many people as they would like
 
Wednesday 14th December– Christ Church Catshill
We give thanks for this building and the church family that inhabits it
 
Thursday 15th December– St John’s and St Andrew’s
We give thanks for this building and the church family that inhabits it
 
Friday 16th December – Bromsgrove Schools
We remember our schools as the finish the Christmas term and look forward to their holiday.  Many of our schools will have visited our churches towards the end of term and we pray that they will have enjoyed the experience
 
Saturday 17th December- Care Homes
There are a few care homes throughout the parish for which we would ask that you wrap your arms around.  Enable the carers in those places to have sufficient protection to be able to provide the level of care that is needed to ensure the residents maintain a level of physical and emotional wellbeing. We give thanks that people living in these homes are now allowed to see one of their loved ones.
 
Sunday 18th December– Farmers
We give thanks for those who continue to work tirelessly to produce food that makes its way onto our supermarket shelves.  Once again this is a group of people who we have tended to take for granted because somehow the food we eat continues to arrive on our table.  Once we are through this time of struggle lets ensure that we place buying from our own farmers ours, and this country’s priority. 
 
Monday 19th December– Finances
Over the coming indefinite period money will continue to be an issue. At a personal level jobs will be lost, incomes will be lost or at best reduced.  Churches and the Diocese of Worcester will not be immune to this, and we pray that severe hardship in all areas can be avoided.
 
Tuesday 20th December-– Local Hospitals
For the sacrifice and work undertaken by Nursing staff, paramedics, porters, cleaners, catering staff.  Keep them safe and make sure they have all the protective equipment they need and give thanks that they are working to keep us all safe.  Now that the number of Covid related patients is decreasing we pray that you will be with them as they cope with the high number of procedures that have built up.
 
Wednesday 21st December-Winter Equinox
We give thanks that the days will get longer, and more light will be brought into our lives as we look forward to warmer times
 
Thursday 22nd December–– Church Wardens
Please remember our Church Wardens as they give their time willingly and unselfishly and sometimes do not always get the gratitude their service deserves
 
Friday 23rd December - High Street shops bars restaurants and cafes
For so long we have taken for granted our ability to shop, eat and drink where we like at almost any time we want.  These establishments have faced unprecedented strains on their ability to survive this storm.  Perhaps we can take this time to appreciate what we have, cherish it, and invest our money in these businesses to help in their recovery.  We give thanks for a loosening of the restrictions around these businesses, and we pray for their survival and growth
 
Saturday 24th December– Christingle
Lord, we give thanks that churches who have struggled to offer this service in the joyful manner will be able to welcome families to celebrate the start of Christmas.
 
Sunday 25th December– Christmas Day
We welcome a time where families and friends can meet and celebrate this special day together while remembering in our prayers those who have no one and will be  celebrating alone.
 
Monday 26th December – Dodford
We give thanks for this building and the church family that inhabits it.
 
Tuesday 27th December – Funeral Directors and staff
We remember this group of people who will have to work and provide this vital service over the holiday period
 
Wednesday 28th December – Those living alone.
Lord, we think today and pray for those people who have had to self-isolate and who hunger for the touch of a hand or to see a friendly face in their homes.  We pray that there will be people who will give some solace by making a phone call or some form of social media to let them know they have not been forgotten.  Thank you for the kind generous souls who have volunteered to shop for essential food items.  We give thanks for the loosening of restrictions which mean that more people can receive the reassurance that only a hug from a loved one can give
 
Thursday 29th December -  Retired clergy
We give thanks and ask your prayers for this group of people who provide a valuable and often unsung ministry to the parish
 
Friday 30th December – Those who keep our community functioning.
We ask God to bless all those who must work at this time for the good of the whole community.  Especially we remember those who deliver milk or post and those who collect our rubbish and our recycling materials.   We remember the lorry drivers and van drivers who keep our supermarkets and homes stocked with essential goods. May they realise how we value their work. Thank you for those who have continued to work to stock supermarket shelves, serve on deli counters, work on the tills, and generally help around the stores.  .
 
Saturday 31st December – New Year’s Eve
Lord, we give thanks for all that has happened over the past year and we look forward to whatever you have in store for us all in 2023
 
 







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