Church of England Birmingham ..... Praying Together - August 2023

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 print out version, click here.

 


Tuesday 1 August

Anniversary of slavery abolished in the British Empire - Emancipation Day

Liberating God,
We offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise,
for you hear the cries of the oppressed.
God thank you for the freedoms we experience,
let us not take for granted at what cost we experience it.
We pray for all who remain in bondage and ask for wisdom
and strength for all to seek their freedom. Amen


Wednesday 2 August

Olwyn Powell, invites us to pray

Lord, we pray for families on holiday at 
this time that they may travel safely. In their 
excitement help them to appreciate that nature 
and places with deep water, can be dangerous. 
We seek your loving care for all children as they 
play outside, Amen


Thursday 3 August

Prayer today is inspired by John Nightingale,

“Fear no more the heat of the sun...” wrote 
Shakespeare. Let us pray for those in UK and 
worldwide who suffer from the heat. Give us the 
foresight and skill to insulate buildings, to track the 
coolest places indoors and outside where people 
can shelter, to share information with the most 
vulnerable, and involve churches in this process.


Friday 4 August

Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d’Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859

Lord, we praise and thank you for the beauty 
and goodness of creation around us. Amen


Saturday 5 August

Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642

Lucille Arlidge invites us to pray,

Lord of awe and wonder and glory. We give 
you thanks that you love and care for humankind. 
We pray that all who call themselves your children 
will show love to all they meet and carry forth the 
message of good news to them. Amen


Sunday 6 August

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Father, please bless all those mourning a 
loss. Life may be different for them now. 
Please help them feel the love and peace only 
you can provide. Amen


Monday 7 August

John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866

Barrie Scott invites us to pray, 

Almighty God, through your Holy Spirit you 
created unity in the midst of diversity; 
We acknowledge that human diversity is an 
expression of your manifold love for your creation;
We confess that in our brokenness as human 
beings we turn diversity into a source of 
alienation, injustice, oppression, and wounding.
Empower us to recognize and celebrate 
differences as your great gift to the human family.
Enable us to be the architects of understanding, of 
respect and love;
Through you Lord, the ground of all unity, we pray.
Amen


Tuesday 8 August

Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221

John Nightingale invites us to pray,

Loving Lord, we pray for our newly 
appointed volunteers assisting Patrick Gerard, 
the Bishop’s Adviser for the Environment: 
Caroline Egan as Assistant Diocesan 
Environmental Officer with responsibilities 
for training, and Heather Holmes as Lead 
Environmental Champion coordinating our Eco 
Church programme; may they be given vision 
and energy, endurance and hope. Amen


Wednesday 9 August

Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers’ Union, 1921

Lord, Jesus, today is Your day, and I want 
Your will to be done. So, whatever happens, 
hold my hand and let’s face it together. Amen


Thursday 10 August

Laurence, Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258

Heavenly Father, we pray for Birmingham 
and its surrounding areas - our city, region 
and home. We pray that you guide the leaders 
and policy makers to make good choices that 
reflect their communities best interests. Amen


Friday 11 August

Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253

Father, help me to set my eyes and heart on 
you this Friday. Revive my spirit, fill me with 
your Holy Spirit. I love you, Lord, and want more 
and more of You in my life. So, please help me to 
draw closer to You. Amen


Saturday 12 August 

International Youth Day

Creator God, we give thanks for the 
generosity, energy, creativity, and enthusiasm 
which so often characterises young people. We 
give thanks for the inspiration they are for each 
other and for those of us no longer young. May 
they have ever growing courage, vision, and 
persistence, as we work for a better world for 
all. Amen


Sunday 13 August

Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667

Lucille Arlidge invites us to pray,

Lord, we thank you for guiding and 
helping us to connect with people through our 
gathered and online worship provisions. Amen

 


Monday 14 August

Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941

Lord, when I’m worried about tomorrow, 
bring me back to your presence with 
me today. And when I can’t escape the 
anxiousness of what could come, pour out 
your peace in my heart and mind. Amen


Tuesday 15 August

The Blessed Virgin Mary

Almighty God,
look mercifully on your Church and on all 
who offer themselves for ministry training;
so that by their labours your light may shine 
in the world, and the coming of your kingdom 
may be hastened; through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen


Wednesday 16 August

Lord God, almighty and everlasting 
Father, you have brought us in safety to 
this new day: Preserve us with your mighty 
power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be 
overcome by adversity. In all we do, direct us 
to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen


Thursday 17 August

Lord, may we who have plenty live simply 
so that others may simply live. Amen


Friday 18 August

Father, today we pray for our new Oversight 
Areas. Please lay your hand over all 
those involved in bringing them into being, 
and supporting them. Please may their new 
beginnings go smoothly and let your Wisdom 
and Grace flow through these areas and their 
communities. Amen


Saturday 19 August

World Humantitaran day

Amazing God, today we give thanks for the 
humanitarians around the world. We pray for 
these amazing people - helping across pandemics, 
wars, refugee camps and more. We pray for their 
strength and dedication, but more so we pray 
that the need for their services decreases as your 
people learn to love and look after each other 
more. Amen


Sunday 20 August

Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153

Outgoing vicar Revd Debbie Collins prays 
for Holy Cross, Billesley,

Dear Lord, as we move into a new season, 
first sitting with the sadness for a while, then 
turning it into a new song of love for you, 
enliven your people for service. Enrich their 
lives with your joy and equip them in new 
and surprising ways. Help them to be seekers 
of your kingdom with all the possibilities and 
blessings you shower upon us. Amen


Monday 21 August

Today’s prayer is inspired by Psalm 23:1, 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” 
Lord, thank you for caring and tending to us as 
your flock, thank you for providing everything 
we need at the right time - in your grace, Amen


Tuesday 22 August

God, sometimes life gets me down and I 
find it hard to see things to be thankful for. 
Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me 
in my life. Amen


Wednesday 23 August

Prayer today is inspired by Psalm 104:30,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your 
faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. 
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. 
And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen


Thursday 24 August

Bartholomew the Apostle

The Collect for the day, 

Almighty and everlasting God,
who gave to your apostle, Bartholomew, 
grace truly to believe and to preach your word:
grant that your Church
may love that word which he believed
and may faithfully preach and receive the same;
through 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


Friday 25 August

Today’s prayer is inspired by the song ‘I Thank God’ by Maverick City Music and UPPERROOM
You can watch this video on YouTube or choose your own.

He picked me up, He turned me around
Placed my feet on solid ground
I thank the Master, I thank the Saviour
Because He healed my heart, He changed my name
Forever free, I’m not the same
I thank the Master, I thank the Saviour
Oh, I thank God


Saturday 26 August

International Bat Night

Lord, grant us the wisdom and kindness 
to care for the earth and all the creatures you 
placed here.
Help us to conserve the beauty you have 
provided us with for years to come.
Help us to become instruments of a new creation,
Founded on the covenant of your love. 
Amen


Sunday 27 August

Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387

Day by day, as the pages of my own 
life turn over, remind me that you 
write my name on the palm of your hand. 
I ask this prayer through Jesus, who is your 
Word, living amongst us. Amen


Monday 28 August

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430

We pray today for those who will 
be enjoying this bank holiday. We 
thank you Lord for blessing them with 
an extra day of rest from the daily 
demands of work life, and we pray that your 
spirit refreshes them in body and soul. Amen


Tuesday 29 August

Today, prayer is inspired by Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your 
steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be 
glad all our days.


Wednesday 30 August

John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688

The Collect for the day,

God of peace,
who called your servant John Bunyan
to be valiant for truth:
grant that as strangers and pilgrims
we may at the last rejoice with all Christian 
people in your heavenly city;
through 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


Thursday 31 August 

Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651

Transforming Church prayer

Sovereign God,
in Christ you make all things new.
Clothe us with power from on high,
that with generous lives and hearts on fire
we might work with you 
to grow your church and transform your world.
To you be glory through Jesus our Lord.
Amen



 

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