Join in with our prayers below and click on links to see video or audio that has been sent from all people across CofE Birmingham.
We also have a printable version to download here.
Friday 1 March
David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c.601,
| Olwyn Powell invites us to pray, | |
| We pray for all those churches in the CofEB who are gathering to worship today at the interdenominational World Day of Prayer. We give thanks for the courage of the Christian Palestinian women who have prepared the Service on the theme “I beg You, love one another.” Amen |
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Saturday 2 March
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672,
Today at Birmingham Cathedral is the Installation service for the 10th Bishop of Birmingham, The Rt. Reverend Dr Michael Volland,
| Gracious God, we ask that you bless this city, region, and diocese. Guide our leaders in wisdom and compassion, Help all those who call this place home to abide deeply in you, that your light may break forth like the dawn and your healing spring up for deliverance. For this we ask in the name of your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen |
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Sunday 3 March
The Collect of the day,
Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity:
give your people grace so to love what you command and to desire what you promise,
that, among the many changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Monday 4 March
John Nightingale invites us to pray,
We ask for prayer for our interdenominational Lent Group at Water Orton, as we discuss “Modern slavery - True freedom”.
Lord, please help us to become even more vigilant and willing to act on any suspicion of human trafficking.
May Your light shine on these situations.
Amen
Tuesday 5 March
Lord, we ask for your blessing upon all pets.
Protect them from harm and keep them safe in danger or illness.
Grant them good health, strength and vitality.
May they experience your loving presence and feel your peace surrounding them.
Wednesday 6 March
| O Lord, we thank you for our retired clergy. They have selflessly given of themselves, sacrificing their time, energy and resources to build and strengthen your church. Grant them good health, peace and joy in their retirement years. May their legacy of faith and dedication inspire others to follow in their footsteps, carrying on the work of your kingdom. Amen |
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Thursday 7 March
Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203,
We pray for the Revd Dr John White, St Peter & St Paul, Kingsbury and Baxterley Parish Church,
and Church of the Resurrection, Hurley, and The Church of Our Lady, Merevale with Bentley,
and St Michael & All Angels, Wood End, and the parishes and the incumbents of the Oversight Area,
The Revd Mark Waterstreet, St Paul, Dosthill, and St Giles, Nether Whitacre, and St Leonard, Over Whitacre,
and St John the Baptist, Lea Marston, and St Cuthbert, Shustoke,
together with the clergy, readers and churchwardens of the parishes.
Friday 8 March
Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910,
Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647,
Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929,
Our hearts are breaking with images of lives lost and torn apart by grief in Israel and Palestine.
O God of all hope and peace, we bring to you the needs of our broken and hurting world.
Help us, O Lord, to affirm our common humanity so that in our differences we may build together for justice and peace.
Amen
Saturday 9 March
John Nightingale invites us to pray,
Mothers and girls are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Drought and storms may mean: further to walk to draw water, more disease, lower income, and more withdrawals from school and more child marriages. Let us pray for all those trying to help, including our sister churches in Malawi, and agencies like the Mothers Union, Christian Aid and WaterAid.
Sunday 10 March
Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday
Loving God,
You nurture and care for all.
Today, we give thanks for our mother churches where we were encouraged and developed on our faith journey.
We lift up and thank you for the many mothers in our communities.
We remember that today is a reminder of the different ways people can mother or be mothered.
For the mothers not related by blood;
For the ones who are grieving the loss of their mother;
For the mothers, who parent on their own.
For those who long to mother but have not been able to have children.
For those estranged or separated from their children.
We thank you for the many people who walk alongside and support mothers,
May the help and skills those mothers receive be felt for generations to come.
Gather us, Lord, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.
Amen.
Monday 11 March
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude and humility.
As we enter the month of Ramadan, we seek your presence and guidance.
We acknowledge and respect the dedication and devotion of our Muslim brother and sisters
during this time of fasting, prayer and dedication.
Grant them strength and perseverance as they abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset,
and may their fasting be a source of spiritual growth and self discipline.
Amen
Tuesday 12 March
Olwyn Powell invites us to pray,
Loving God, reach out to those who experience mental illness.
Lift their burdens, calm their anxiety, and quiet their fears.
Surround them with your healing presence that they may know that they are not alone.
Amen
Wednesday 13 March
Lord, we ask for your continued love and guidance
as we pray alongside those hurting from broken relationships.
We pray for patience, as heartfelt emotions are experienced.
Stay with us as we reflect on times gone by, both happy and sad.
Help us understand that the pain and suffering will become less
and remind us that you’ll be there right with us the whole time.
Though we may have difficulty letting go, we pray that you surround us with people
that help us through and lift us up in prayer, in love and in support.
Thursday 14 March
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength.
And grant to Charles our King, comfort and sure confidence in you,
and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Friday 15 March
| Father, we thank you for the opportunity to pursue our hobbies, to express our creativity, explore our passions and develop new skills. We thank you for blessing us with the gift of connection and friendship which can help bring balance to our days, allow us to recharge our spirits and find renewed energy and inspiration. Amen |
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Saturday 16 March
Today is Disabled Access Day,
O God, you created all things. The works of your hands are faithful, just, glorious and beautiful.
We pray this day that you would help us to welcome all diverse gifts and abilities that you have given to your people.
Amen
Sunday 17 March
Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460,
The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passiontide)
The Collect of the day,
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Monday 18 March
Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386,
We pray for the Revd Nick Parker, Priest in Charge of Solihull, and the parishes and the incumbents of the Oversight Area,
Revd Dominic Wright of St Margarets Olton, Revd Bekah Clark at St Mary’s, Hobs Moat, St Alphege & St Helen’s
and Revd Simon Marshall at St Michaels, Solihull, together with the clergy, readers and churchwardens of the parishes.
Amen
Tuesday 19 March
Joseph of Nazareth,
Dear Lord, we pray for our MPs, that they will make wise decisions for the good of their constituents and that they will be able to cope with the stresses and strains of public office.
Bless them and inspire them, as they endeavour to do their best and help them to adjust quickly to the various needs that arise.
Amen
Wednesday 20 March
Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687,
Today is International Day of Happiness,
| O God, please help me to find rest and happiness within your plan. Make my lips smile longer as I think of moving to an amazing sunlit place. Let me awaken each morning with hope for everything that the world has to offer. |
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Thursday 21 March
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Reformation Martyr, 1556,
Today is the first day of spring,
| For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee! For blue of stream and blue of sky; For pleasant shade of branches high; For fragrant air and cooling breeze; For beauty of the blooming trees, Father in heaven, we thank Thee! —Ralph Waldo Emerson (from “We Thank Thee”) |
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Friday 22 March
Today is World Water Day,
| You, Lord, give refreshment to the soul through the living waters of your love. Let the waters of all lands be made safe, clean and cool, that they may bring life and health to our bodies. |
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Saturday 23 March
The Parish of St Matthew with St Chad invites us to pray,
Wondrous, surprising and faithful Lord God, you call us to work with you in your mission to save all who will turn to you.
Help us to reach out to others and to share with them your love, so they turn from all that damages and destroys your image within them.
Amen
Sunday 24 March
Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Augustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396,
Paul Couturier, Priest, Ecumenist, 1953,
Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980,
Palm Sunday
Christ Jesus, open our hearts so we may sing your praise.
Help us to welcome you into our lives and to see you in all our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Amen
Monday 25 March
Holy Week
We come to you, the One who weeps with us.
Through your sorrows, soothe our deepest despair;
through your sufferings, draw us into the comfort of your divine embrace.
Amen
Tuesday 26 March
Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of St John the Baptist, 1883
Father, we ask for your guidance in promoting a culture of peace, respect and understanding.
Help us to foster dialogue, empathy and reconciliation among individuals and communities, so that differences can be resolved without resorting to violence.
Teach us to value every life as sacred and to work together to build a world where the use of guns and knives are deemed unnecessary.
Wednesday 27 March
For World Autism Acceptance week, prayer today is inspired by Psalm 139:13,
‘For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.’
Thursday 28 March
Maundy Thursday
Dear God, in my moments of weakness, grant me strength.
When I feel lost, guide me.
Help me face the challenges before me with confidence and faith.
Amen
Friday 29 March
Good Friday
Prayer today is inspired by the painting, ‘The Descent from the Cross (1612-1614) by Peter Paul Rubens.
Saturday 30 March
Holy Saturday,
O God, you enlightened this most holy night with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection.
Preserve the spirit of adoption which you have given to all your people,
so that renewed in body and soul, we may serve you in all purity;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Sunday 31 March
John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631,
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
