For all the people that find Christmas a hard time of the year. A time when memories are more potent and painful. A time when the present thoughts of christmas brings sorrows and unanswered longings for people. I ask God to be close to those people and to help us to open our hearts and do what we can when we can to share Gods love and give people some thing of the gift that was given to us all at Christmas. Amen 

Chritsmas is a busy time for all of us, but it puts particular stress on the clergy and their families. Who when most of us are winding down, they are at full working pace with the extra family hassels familiar at Christmas thrown in to the mix. I want to pray that as a community we support them in what ways we can. That God would give them his strength and peace to carry them through. That he will surrounded them in his love. Amen

Especially at this time as stand between to camps. As she sort out the last remaining things and says good bye to hillingdon and prepares for a new start. 

We trust to you Lord that all will go smoothly with the practicalities of the move and that she will find warm welcoming people in her new parish that help her too feel at home quickly.

For Rob while he is on retreat, Trusting that it will be a time of rich blessings and the gentle touch of your Holy 

Spirit. That you will speak clearly to him and you will refresh him.

To be able to move forward and sort life out.

Things have got to change and need strength

and energy to do so.

For classmates, victims and perpetrators of violent behaviour in local schools- especially those of primary school age- and for those who have to deal with it: teachers, parents etc.

Lord, please rescue these kids. 

Please pray for my dear friend who is going through a hard time. As she is grieves with many family anniversarys approaching and Christmas looming. Things are not easy for her at the moment.

Please Lord give her the strength to carry on even though she doesn't feel like it.

Help her to have the courage to get through the next few months and to make the relationships in her life better.

Pray she gets the help she needs from her family and friends and for her to know that she is dearly loved by those around her.

We want to do things God's way, not everybody else's. But there are so many little decisions we make every day and we don't always notice ourselves being swept along by the tide...Please open our eyes.

For David, in his health struggles, and Jean. They give so much! May they be aware of receiving that same generous measure of God's mercy poured out, "pressed down, shaken together, running over"...

Offering a prayer for a family I know who's daughter has been diagnosed with bi-polar after suicide attempts & self-harm. She's only 12. Thankfully the medication is beginning to help. Lord please help them continue to find the strength to support & love her as she comes to terms with her condition and its implications.