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3 churches newsletter, Sundays 25 August & 1 September 2019
Download our double edition 3 churches newsletter for Sundays 25 August and 1 September 2019.
…and now the clergy news
There’s quite a lot happening on the clergy front at the moment…
We were very grateful to Fr Gareth Leyshon for being able to supply while I was away, and to be in residence at the presbytery. He has now returned to Coventry, his base for his work with the Sion Community. He is busy planning and preparing for their forthcoming missions in parishes in various places. These include Merthyr Tydfil later in the autumn.
Meanwhile, I am looking forward to welcoming Fr Andy Bord to our 3 Churches. He will be moving in later this week. It will be a big change for him as he has been ministering in St Mary’s, and latterly also Holy Family, with Canon John Maguire for thirteen years – that’s quite a wrench. It’s also of course a big change for me and for us all. While we were blessed to have Frs Modest, James and Tomy from Kerala from 2004 until a few years ago, it’s a long time – twenty years for me – since I have shared a home and parish life with a priest from our own diocese. Luckily Andy and I know each other well, and I think his arrival will be a real blessing for all of us. Unfortunately, Andy had already planned his summer holidays for September – at the same time as our September Pilgrimage! So, while we will both be here next weekend, 1st September, we will not be really firing on all cylinders until the weekend of 22nd September.
Fr Peter Davies has also been on annual leave from his hospital ministry and will continue to assist us on most Sundays, for which we are very grateful.
One last piece of clergy news – Archbishop Stack has recently accepted Christian Mahoney from our 3 Churches as a candidate for the permanent diaconate. Christian has already started his formation, centred around monthly weekend sessions at Wonersh Seminary near Guildford. Please remember him, Esther and their family in your prayers.
That’s it – bulletin over!
Fr Matthew
Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 20th Sunday of the year C, 2019
CELEBRANT: We gather together to petition our loving Father, for the needs of the world, the community, and ourselves.
READER: The response is Lord graciously hear us
READER: We pray for the church, that it is seen as relevant to the people of the world.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us
READER: That we recognise the spark of God which is within all human life.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us
READER: That all people live with a greater care for the planet, recognising our role of stewardship for all that is living.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us
READER: That intolerant regimes be undone.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us
READER: In expectation and silence we pray our own personal prayers.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us
READER: We ask Mary the mother of Jesus to pray with us as we say Hail Mary……
CELEBRANT: Guide us, give us strength to love you. Help us run the race set before us and answer our prayers laid before you today, we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary time, August 2019
Celebrant: Trustfully we bring all our needs to God in prayer;
Reader: We pray for the Church, that it may be a sign and instrument of unity for all peoples, according to God’s plan.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: We pray for all victims of violence and terrorism especially remembering those killed or injured in the mass shootings in the United States. We pray that those who govern may be blessed with the wisdom and courage to outlaw deadly weapons and be advocates for justice and peace.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: We pray that, filled with love for Christ, we may show it by our efforts to bring peace and unity wherever we are.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: We pray for the healing of those who are sick in mind and body:
may they experience the power of the resurrection in their lives.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: We pray for those in our own community who have died remembering particularly Mary Howard, whose funeral will take place this week and Sadie Jones, mother in law of Peter O’Toole. May their faith in the resurrection lead them into eternal life.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
We ask Mary, the Mother of the Lord, to pray with us as we say –
Hail Mary.……
Let us pray for a while in silence.
Celebrant: Most loving Father, You sent Your Son to show us the human face of your Divine Love. Send us Your Spirit that we may be true witnesses of this Love, and bind men ever closer together.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2019
PRIEST –Heavenly Father, confident of your love and mercy, we place before you the needs of the church, the world and ourselves.
READER – As we listen to the readings today, we pray that we may not be concerned only with our own possessions but be generous in our concern for the needs of those less fortunate……..Lord in your mercy………Hear our prayer.
We pray that the leaders of the major countries of the world will use their influence to bring about an end to conflict where ever it exists…….Lord in your mercy…..
We pray that our Holy Father, all church leaders and all Christian people will, by their teaching and their lives be good examples for others to follow…..Lord in your mercy……
We pray for all who are sick, ill, infirm or disabled in any way may have God’s healing comfort and also receive compassionate care ……..Lord in your mercy…………
We pray for Emily Harper Rowlands who is being baptised this weekend, that she may grow in faith with the help of family and God-parents……….Lord in your mercy…….
In a few moments of silence let us listen for the voice of our Heavenly Father and place before him our own needs…………..
Mary, our Mother was the best example for us and we ask that she may join with us in prayer as we say…….Hail Mary
PRIEST –We make all our prayers through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ…………Amen