Prayer and Prayer Diary
There's so much about our church that we can pray for. Please build these suggestions into your own prayers, day by day.
Prayer Diary for December 2020
1 Tue Charles de Foucauld 1916, for those in isolation because of Covid-19
2 Wed Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637, for those nursing Covid-19 patients
3 Thu Francis Xavier, 1552, for Alistair Warwick providing our Daily Prayers
4 Fri, that we are alert to the good mental health and well - being of all ages
5 Sat for those attending the Meeting of the General Synod today by Zoom
6 ADVENT 2 for a better recognition for all Carers & understand what they do
7 Mon Ambrose of Milan, for the Revd Christoph Wutscher, our Rector
8 Tue Conception of Mary, Mother of the Lord, for the Revd Val Nellist
9 Wed for HM Queen Elizabeth & HRH Prince Philip
10 Thu for PM Boris Johnson & FM Nicola Sturgeon & Advisers
11 Fri Altar Servers: Brian, Mike & Suzanne & those who keep church buildings safe
12 Sat for HT Kidz & leaders Sarah, Gen & Alistair
13 ADVENT 3 for students uncertain where they will stay & study this Christmas
14 Mon John of the Cross, Priest, 1591, for the Revd Graham Willey
15 Tue for the continuing fellowship of the ‘Tiny Tots Café’
16 Wed Ember Day, for the Scottish Episcopal Institute
17 Thu for Director of Music Alistair Warwick, Choir & Music Group
18 Fri Ember Day, for those preparing for Ordination at this restrictive time
19 Sat for Helen Kemp, Safeguarding and PVG Coordinator at Holy Trinity
20 ADVENT 4 that generous giving to charities and those in great need is sustained
21 Mon Thomas, Apostle, for Ian our Bishop
22 Tue for Robert Nellist our Treasurer & Diocesan PVG Officer
23 Wed for those attending & supervising the Test, Trace and Protect Centres
24 CHRISTMAS EVE that we all listen for & hear the Angels sing this Holy Night
25 CHRISTMAS DAY, consider the words “Love came down at Christmas”
26 Sat Stephen, Deacon & Martyr for all who provide and serve at Food Banks
27 CHRISTMAS 1 for those seeking, testing & distributing Covid-19 Vaccines
28 Mon Holy Innocents for ‘Save the Children’ workers in war zones
29 Tue John, Apostle & Evangelist, ‘Love can jump more than two metres’
30 Wed Josephine Butler, 1906, for sexual abuse and exploitation victims
31 Thu New Year’s Eve, for all who find this is a stressful time of the year
Saints and Heroes inspiring our prayers in December
21st Thomas, Apostle travelling with Jesus when he was popular and sought by
the crowds was easy and secure, but different when the opposition grew and
danger was brewing in Jerusalem. Thomas said, “Let us also go that we may die
with him”, an act of real courage, faith and loyalty. He has the title “Doubting
Thomas”, when he wanted to see and touch the Body of Jesus before believing in
the Resurrection. But he is the follower who initially was ready to go with Jesus
without fully understanding Jesus and he remained steadfast to take the Gospel as
far as India.
26th Stephen, Deacon & Martyr He is also titled ‘The Proto- Martyr’.
The first of a multitude of Christian witnesses and their number is added
continually all over the world, most known only to God. Stephen is remembered
because of the full account of his death in Acts. When he became a member of the
Church he was a Deacon who served meals to poor elderly people: food that had
been donated to a “Food Bank”.
28th Holy Innocents These little children who were contemporaries of The Infant
Jesus, and their mothers contemporaries of Mary, were the victims of the ruthless
cruelty of the baffled King Herod. Across the world mothers, babies and children
are the innocent victims of wars. There is a sacred responsibility caring for young
and vulnerable children.
29th John, Apostle & Evangelist. He and his brother James were called “Sons of
Thunder” because they were dominated by the old Jewish idea of the God of
Wrath. But by the end of his long life he was so dominated by the love of Jesus
that he could write: “Those who do not love do not know God, for God is Love”
30th Josephine Butler, 1906 She was born Josephine Grey in Northumberland in
1828. Her father was a cousin of Earl Grey the reforming Prime Minister and
educated in a reforming home. She married the Revd Dr George Butler with whom
she shared a hatred of social injustice. It was her Christian Faith that inspired and
drove her as a devoted campaigner against the sexual exploitation of women. She is
now recognised as one of the UK’s greatest humanitarians. Another passion was
promoting the higher education of women. So it is so appropriate that the most
recent college of Durham University is dedicated in her name.
Prayer Diary for January 2021
1 FRI THE NAMING OF JESUS, We begin this New Year “In the Name of Jesus”
2 Sat Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah 1874-1945, for the Revd Val Nellist
3 CHRISTMAS 2 for our young people, HT Kidz & leaders Sarah, Gen & Alistair
4 Mon for the continuing fellowship of the ‘Tiny Tots Café’
5 Tue for those testing & distributing Covid-19 Vaccines across the world
6 WED THE EPIPHANY, despite Covid-19 we “worship in the beauty of holiness”
7 Thu for Director of Music Alistair Warwick, Choir & Music Group
8 Fri for Cathy Johnston, our Lay Representative
9 Sat for members of Mountain Rescue Teams
10 EPIPHANY 1 for those who have lost businesses and those out of work
11 Mon David, King of Scots, 1153, for wise governance during the Covid-19 Crisis
12 Tue for Secretary General John Stuart & General Synod Office staff
13 Wed Kentigern (Mungo), Bishop c603, for Ian our Bishop
14 Thu Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop c367, for The Revd Christoph Wutscher, our Rector
15 Fri for an end to the tension and violence in The Horn of Africa
16 Sat for Libby, Liza, Mike, & Ann and all who produce HT Magazine
17 EPIPHANY 2 for the good mental health and well - being of people of all ages
18 Mon Confession of Peter, for the Revd Graham Willey
19 Tue for Rachel Campbell our Vestry Secretary & Alt Lay Rep & Vestry Members
20 Wed US Inauguration Day, for President Joseph Biden
21 Thu Agnes, Martyr, c304 for Helen Kemp, Safeguarding & HT PVG Coordinator
22 Fri, for Carol Aitchison, Bishop Ian’s Secretary
23 Sat, that those with gambling addiction seek and find help
24 EPIPHANY 3 for Mothers Union and their stand against women global violence
25 Mon Conversion of St Paul, Apostle, that we try to follow Paul’s example
26 Tue Timothy & Titus, Bishops, for Altar Servers: Brian, Mike & Suzanne
27 Wed, for Dental Practices and those seeking dental care
28 Thu Thomas Aquinas, Teacher 1274, for those in education at this difficult time
29 Fri for Robert Nellist our Treasurer & Diocesan PVG Officer
30 Sat Charles 1, King, 1649, for the Diocese of Edinburgh (founded by King
Charles 1)
31 EPIPHANY 4, for refugees exploited by offers of ‘safe’ escapes
Saints and Heroes inspiring our prayers in January
2nd Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah 1874-1945. He was the first Indian bishop in
India, Burma and Sri Lanka. A firm believer in the co-operation between local and
“missionary” workers and a great advocate of the development of indigenous
leadership in the Church. Our Diocese has a partnership with the Diocese of
Kolkata and Bishop Paritosh.
11th David, King of Scots, 1153. The youngest of six sons of Queen Margaret (St
Margaret) and King Malcolm of Scotland succeeded his brother Alexander in 1123.
He was deeply religious, overseeing a religious revival and organising the building
of many abbeys and monasteries. He also made practical administrative
improvements by granting town charters and a standard coinage.
21st Agnes, Martyr, c304 Agnes is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutherans and the Patron of young girls, chastity,
and rape survivors. Although when only 12 or 13 she was expected to marry, and
many eligible young men chased after her. She refused saying she would not marry
as Jesus was her only spouse. There are several (some lurid) tales of torture and
death by a sword during the Persecution of Emperor Diocletian. In art she is shown
with a palm branch in her hand, the sign of martyrdom and holding a lamb, the
sign of innocence.
25th Conversion of Paul, Apostle. Nothing of more importance than the Conversion
of Paul has taken place in the Church since Pentecost. No doubt initial questioning
came to him when he heard the speech of Stephen and witnessed his execution. On
the Damascus road God revealed himself. He had gone to destroy what he firmly
believed to be wrong, only to discover the true Gospel of God. Then he had to
discipline his strong personality and make it work with Peter, James, John and
others and be accepted and trusted.
26th Timothy & Titus, Bishops. Both invaluable to Paul on his journeys, in
correspondence and in establishing churches. Timothy grew up in a Christian
household with his mother and grandmother who taught him the Faith in the
fellowship of their friends. Paul saw the young man’s potential and his ‘training
manual’ came in ‘The Letters to Timothy’. He was the first Bishop of Ephesus.
Titus was Paul’s companion, friend and secretary and sent by Paul on some
difficult missions, including establishing the Church in Crete.
A selection of our favourite prayers, to help you express your feelings to God and to draw comfort and support from Him.
Saints and Heroes