Church of England Birmingham ..... praying together

Join in with our prayers below and click on links to see video or audio that has been sent from all people across the diocese.

We also have a print out version here.

We'd love to receive prayers focusing on current events from local to global, prayers of thanksgiving for the many acts of kindness we witness at this time, prayers for reconnecting with nature and wildlife as we focus on wellbeing. We are very much interested in creative expressions of prayer. Your prayer can be a short written expression, or try your hand at phone filming or recording a voice track. Submit your expressions of prayer here.

Saturday 1 August

Our young person Beckah is moved by the situation currently going on in America and asks us to pray that young people's voices can be heard.

Sunday 2 August | Thanksgiving

From Sharon, St Stephen the Martyr: Recently, my mum needed a job after not working for about six years to take care of us. She desired a particular kind of job but couldn't get it. But just as she was about to give up and settle for something else, God surprised us and gave her the job of her dream. We give thanks to our God who answers prayers!

Monday 3 August

Christine, St Mary, Moseley, invites us to pray with music:
God in all things, God made all things holy.
God in all all times, places and stories.
God at the end, and God the beginning.
Above and beyond, within and involved.
God is God, God in all things.
Bless you God, God in all things. Amen

Tuesday 4 August

Malawi Mothers’ Union ask for our prayers for members as they seek to serve by planting trees and making PPE for hospitals. They give thanks for past gifts of sewing machines that enable them to sew whatever is required.

Wednesday 5 August

David, St John Baptist and SS Lawrence & Anne, Knowle, invites meditation on the lyrics of the song ‘The Splendour of the King’

Thursday 6 August

The Revd Canon Janet Chapman, St Laurence, Northfield, invites us to pray the end of Psalm 79: 
"When faith is scorned and love grows cold,
then, God of hosts, rebuild your Church
on lives of thankfulness and patient prayer;
through Christ your eternal Son. 

Friday 7 August

The Revd Dr Sharon Prentis, Intercultural Mission Enabler and Dean of BAME Affairs, invites us to pray for the diversity of races and cultures.

Saturday 8 August

From Sarah Smith, CofEB Director of Education: Dear Lord, we pray for teachers and all who work in our schools. Thank you for sustaining them during the last few months. We thank you that there is now a time for rest. We pray for refreshment and renewed energy, a time to think about family and to engage with interests and to relax. Amen

Sunday 9 August | Thanksgiving

From Jenny, St George with St Michael, Edgbaston invites us to give thanks with the congregation as they look forward to the arrival of the Revd Dr Sam Gibson as their vicar, we pray in the words of St John Henry Newman: 'God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work'.    

We give thanks for the discernment and process that led to Revd Sam Gibson coming to St George's, for the faithfulness and mutual care of the congregation, for the skills and talents revealed and offered during vacancy and especially during the time of restrictions, for the deepened contact with our church school.

Monday 10 August

From Laura, St John the Evangelist, Perry Barr: Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are preparing to receive Holy Orders. Strengthen our hands for service and may you always be our example and guide. In this time of waiting and anticipation of this Holy Sacrament we lay before you all we are and everything we have. Of your mercy accept, transform and bless these gifts and use them for the glory of your name. We ask this through Christ. Amen

Tuesday 11 August

Kate, Shirley Parish, asks us to pray for their Messy Church families. Pray for their engagement with the activities that have been put up on line for them.

Wednesday 12 August

From Fr Bob Stephen, St Mary, Handsworth: We give thanks that the COVID restrictions have forced us to look beyond ourselves and for the financial support in making live-streaming a permanent feature. Not only can we now include those unable to come to Sunday worship, but also those who would have had to travel to baptisms, weddings and funerals. Thank God that he still finds ways to help us do things we wouldn't have thought possible. Amen

Thursday 13 August

The Revd Canon Janet Chapman reflects on the churchyard of St Laurence, Northfield, and invites us to pray for those who grieve for loved ones.

Friday 14 August

From The Revd Penny Harrison, St Leonard, Marston Green: We pray for all the schools, staff, children and families who are returning in September, perhaps for the first time since March. We pray that this time will be peaceful, safe and that all will feel supported by God's love and our prayers.

Saturday 15 August

A prayer of thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord our God.
How sweet are your words to the taste,
sweeter than honey to the mouth.
How precious are your commands for our life,
more than the finest gold in our hands.
How marvellous is your will for the world,
Unending is your love for the nations.
Our voices shall sing of your promises
and our lips declare your praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Amen

Sunday 16 August | Thanksgiving

From The Revd Canon John Nightingale: In the global south debt payments are crippling the response of poorer countries to the pandemic and climate change. Thank God that so far there has been some debt cancellation and some rescheduling of debt payments.

Let us continue to pray as so much more is needed, pray that this autumn the G20 richer countries may agree to debt cancellation.

Monday 17 August

From The Revd Carole Young, SS Peter & Paul, Kingsbury:
Loving God, Thank you…..
for the gift of love and friendship
for helping us to find ways of being community
when we have not been able to be with each other physically
for life having been slowed down
so, we have time to notice your fabulous creation
for the colours of dawn and eventide
for the fragrance of flora and sounds of fauna
for walking alongside us on the pathway to a new normal. Amen

Tuesday 18 August

From The Revd Barrie Roberts - a prayer from Rowley Regis: Creator God, 'we' love our church and the distinctive community it seeks to serve. Whilst being conscious of our history and local culture, help us to harness the necessary wisdom, energy and enthusiasm to reach out to ALL sections of the population; especially to families and children/young people. Amen

Wednesday 19 August

Sharon, St Stephen the Martyr, Rednal, sings prayer with her children and invites us to join in: Thank you Father for you listen to us when we call. Thank you for always loving and showing us grace and mercy. Accept our thanks in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday 20 August

The Parish Mission Support Team share an Irish blessing to pray: May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again; may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Friday 21 August

Today, together we pray the CofEB People & Places prayer:
Gracious and merciful God, as we pray for the future of the Church of England Birmingham, we thank you that the whole earth, its people and places, are equally precious to you. By your Spirit, equip us to meet the challenges of these times with generosity and courage; hold our fears and uncertainties in your love, and grant us the needfull gifts of grace to share your love and reflect your light throughout our communities.
In the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Amen

Saturday 22 August

Ophelie, our young person, asks us to join with prayers for students and the uncertainty and struggles they face through this period.

Sunday 23 August | Thanksgiving

From The Revd Duncan Hill-Brown, St Philip, Dorridge: After many years of praying for and working on our vision for the demolition and rebuilding of St Philip's Church Centre, building work has finally begun!
They invite us join in praying their Building project prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are building us together in Dorridge and Bentley Heath, to become a living temple filled with your Spirit. We pray that as you are building us, so we would trust you to build for the future, and reveal your glory in us and through us. We pray for the sake of Jesus the Saviour. Amen

Monday 24 August

The Parish Mission Support Team share a thought for the day - try asking God in prayer for just what you need to get through today

Tuesday 25 August

The CofEB Communications Team invite you to pray with them: Thank you for the art of communication. Help us to listen carefully to others and respond with kindness. And to remember that a smile is very contagious ... so to pass it on. Amen

Wednesday 26 August

The Revd Canon Janet Chapman reflects on one of the old Nailer's cottages in the village of Northfield and asks us to pray for all who are going hungry at this time.

Thursday 27 August

The Revd Paul Hinton invites us to pray while walking, he feels he is able to stop and listen to the Lord, to be reminded of the extraordinary beauty of this world and love the place that God has put you in.

Friday 28 August

From Sarah Smith, Diocesan Director of Education: Dear Lord, we pray for children we know through our church or though schools in our parish. We pray that during August they have enjoyed their break from ‘school work’ and enjoy the thought of being back with their friends in September. Amen    

Saturday 29 August

The Collect for today:
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 
Amen.

Sunday 30 August | Thanksgiving

From Fr Bob Stephen, St Mary, Handsworth: When we planned the reordering at St Mary's we hoped that it would strengthen our links with the community and that we would have an attractive building in which people would celebrate life's events and to include God. God has answered our prayers in this, as we have had many more enquiries about marriages than we have had in recent years. It is exciting to share with a couple in how they can use space creatively. Join in with their prayers of thanksgiving.

Monday 31 August

A CofE prayer for family life:
God of compassion,
whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and in sorrow
we may know the power of your presence
to bind together and to heal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen