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.
Wednesday 1 May
Philip and James, Apostles
Lucille Arlidge, The Parish of St Matthew with St Chad, invites us to pray,
O Lord, as we sing your praise and thank you for all your blessings, guide and lead us to fulfil your will, so we may be all you designed us to be.
Amen
Thursday 2 May
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373
Olwyn Powell invites us to pray,
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Father God as we enter the month of May we pray for all those young people who are becoming anxious about taking examinations, may they have the facilities to study calmly. |
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Friday 3 May
We pray for the Revd Paul Day, the parishes and the incumbents of the Oversight Area, St James the Great and Christ the King, Shirley, and St John The Divine, Tidbury Green together with the clergy, readers and churchwardens of these parishes.
Saturday 4 May
English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era
Almighty God, we lift up to our Church family as members of our Oversight Areas come together for Formation Days. Grant us the patience to work together with understanding and compassion in our hearts.
Sunday 5 May
The Collect,
God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Monday 6 May
We pray for the Revd Jenni Crewes, St Hilda’s Warley Woods, the parishes and the incumbents of the Oversight Area, Revd Sara Moore, Smethwick Old Church, Revd Lucille Arlidge, St Matthew with St Chad and Revd Ben Baker, St Mary’s Bearwood, together with the clergy, readers and churchwardens of these parishes.
Tuesday 7 May
Canon Claire Laland, Malawi Task Group invites us to pray,
| Heavenly Father, we pray for all students and school children in Malawi. Especially those who are hungry and those whose parents struggle to pay the fees. Dear Lord please give them hope and enable governments and charities to support them. Amen. |
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Wednesday 8 May
Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417
The Project Management Office (PMO), invites us to pray for Pype Hayes Church,
Dear God, we pray that funding may be found for the building works at Pype Hayes Church so the building works can go ahead and we may continue to utiltise this wonderful space for church and community.
Amen
Thursday 9 May
'Today is Ascension Day and the first day of Thy Kingdom Come, a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to know Jesus.'
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Heavenly Father, we come to you in the greatness of your love and lift up our hearts in prayer and praise. We thank you that the way to your presence is always open through Jesus Christ and that you invite us to draw near in full assurance of faith. Help us to pray simply and sincerely, unselfishly and gratefully, remembering others, and giving thanks always for everything in the name of Christ our Lord. |
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Friday 10 May
Lord, we pray for the recruitment of two Children and Families Missioners, in Yardley and Solihull, and Handsworth and Central Deaneries, we lift up to you the candidates seeking to join in and support this work across parishes.
Saturday 11 May
The Project Management Office (PMO), invites us to pray for CofEB Fresh Expressions,
We join with the Forest Church at The Whitacres, Lea Marston and Shustoke, to give thanks for the volunteers, for their generous hard work and as they consider opportunities to step up into different roles. We pray for further encouragemnt for them, and a strong sense of your presence.
Amen
Sunday 12 May
Gregory Dix, Priest, Monk, Scholar, 1952
The Collect,
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Monday 13 May
Olwyn Powell invites us to pray,
Lord in the current difficulties surrounding the cost of living crisis we pray for both Christian & other organisations that are seeking justice and relief for vulnerable people. We remember especially and give thanks for Christians against Poverty.
Amen
Tuesday 14 May
Matthias the Apostle
Prayer today is inspired by Ephesians 1:18,
"so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,"
Wednesday 15 May
National Doughnut Week - the Salvation Army created National Doughnut Day in 1938 to honour the women who served doughnuts to soldiers in World War I.
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Almighty God, |
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Thursday 16 May
Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877
Mental Health Awareness Week,
During this Mental Health Week, we lift those who carry the heavy burden of climate anxiety and grief. We pray each one will find moments of connection - with others, with the beauty of creation and with you, Lord. May each one be inspired again by nature's variety and guided by your wisdom. Help us all to surrender our worry to You, taking captive every thought and finding peace in Your loving presence.
Friday 17 May
| God of silence and God of all sound, help me to listen. Help me to do the deep listening to the sounds of my soul, waiting to hear your soft voice calling me deeper into you. Today help me hear you anew. Amen |
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Saturday 18 May
John Nightingale invites us to pray,
Today as part of Retrofit Week there is a conference at Balsall Heath Church Centre. Please pray for those attending, adults and children of all faiths and none. May they be enthused and informed, so that they can save energy in their homes and look after the environment.
Sunday 19 May
Today is Pentecost,
Prayer today is inspired by Matthew 28:19,
“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Heavenly Father, we pray for the first day of Pentecost and celebrate with thanks the global Thy Kingdom Come prayer community of the past 10 days.
Monday 20 May
Alcuin of York, Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804
Prayer today is inspired by Foster Care Fortnight 2024,
Lord, we pray for encouragement and strength for the foster parents within our communities. Give them understanding, patience, and grace as they open their homes and families to children in need. We pray also for all those in need of foster care, that they would know a strong sense of your love and provision, and your joy and delight in them as individuals.
Amen
Tuesday 21 May
Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330
Prayer today is inspired by Psalm 91,
"You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord,
My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust."
Wednesday 22 May
Walk to School Week,
Lord Jesus, during Walk to School week, we thank you for the world we walk through as we learn new things, the clean fresh air and the sky above our heads. Help us to take time to notice our world and to take good care of it.
Amen
Thursday 23 May
Mark the Evangelist
John Nightingale invites us to pray,
Please pray for Ben Smith, as he takes up his new appointement as the CofEB Net Zero Carbon Project Manager in his work of helping parishes improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
Friday 24 May
John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788
| Father, hear the prayer we offer: not for ease that prayer shall be, but for strength that we may ever live our lives courageously. Not for ever in green pastures do we ask our way to be; but the steep and rugged pathway may we tread rejoicingly. Not for ever by still waters would we idly rest and stay; but would smite the living fountains from the rocks along our way. Be our strength in hours of weakness, in our wanderings be our guide; through endeavour, failure, danger, Father, be thou at our side. |
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Saturday 25 May
The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735
We pray for the Revd Patrick Gerard, the parishes and the incumbents of the Oversight Area, St Michael’s, Baddesley Clinton and St Mary’s Lapworth, and St Giles, Packwood, together with the clergy, readers and churchwardens of these parishes.
Amen
Sunday 26 May
Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595
Lucille Arlidge, The Parish of St Matthew with St Chad, invites us to pray,
Lord, you call us to listen so we hear your plans and purposes. This day we thank you for fulfilling all that you promise.
Amen
Monday 27 May
Father of creation as we walk through this beautiful yet broken world, help us sow seeds of your hope and transformation in the places you have planted us. We pray for all our Eco Churches up and down the country as they protect and restore nature in their local communities, thus bringing a glimpse of your kingdom where all creatures praise your name.
Tuesday 28 May
Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089
Prayer today is inspired by World Hunger Day,
| Almighty father, we pray for all, and especially at his time the women and children, who are facing malnutrition due to war, famine, climate change and more. We ask that you offer your strength to pregnant woman with chronic hunger and minimise suffering to their newborn children so that they epxericence a joyous life surounded by your love. |
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Wednesday 29 May
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers,
| On The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we celebrate the people who serve, we give thanks to veterans of the service and we pay tribute to those who have lost their lives trying to make the world a better place. Lord, protect us all. |  |
Thursday 30 May
Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431
Prayer today is inspired by World MS Day,
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Living Lord, Your love holds us through suffering. O Lord, the oil of your healing flows through us like a living stream. I give you all that I am, and rest in your peace. I hold tightly to your promises. They are like a spring that overflows with goodness. |
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Friday 31 May
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
The Collect,
Mighty God, by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and greeted her as the mother of the Lord: look with favour on your lowly servants that, with Mary, we may magnify your holy name and rejoice to acclaim her Son our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.