We encourage everyone to develop an intentional and life‑giving routine of prayer, and to become involved in the prayer life of the Benefice. We support this by organising prayer events: quiet days, prayer days, a week of guided prayer, individual guidance on prayer, teaching on public and private prayer, and opportunities to pray regularly with and for others. There is a strong home‑group tradition within the Benefice, with meetings throughout the week for Bible study and prayer. The healing ministry plays an important part in the life of all three churches, with special services each month and regular times of prayer.

Click here for Archbishop Justin Welby's lecture on 'The risk of prayer', focusing on the renewal of prayer and why we should pray.

Thanksgiving

Gracious God

for your love for us

gentle as a shower

healing our pain

binding our wounds

We give you thanks.

For your love for us

sure as the dawn

transforming our darkness

revealing your truth

We give you thanks.

For your love for us

mercifully steadfast

calling us to you

raising us up

We give you thanks.

For your love for us

encouraging questions

open to doubts

making us vulnerable

We give you thanks.

Urge us on, O Christ

to find wholeness

through serving you

by serving others

in the power of Your Spirit.

Kate McIlhagga, The Pattern of our Days, Wild Goose Publications, 1996

Giving and Receiving

Generous God,

we love to receive.

Help us to love to give too.

May our experience of receiving good things,

the gift of life, the gift of grace, the gift of your creation,

transform our lives.

And may that lead to a desire to give to others around us

the gifts of listening, learning, loving.

Above all, help us to receive and give, in equal measure,

the hope that your Son showed us.

Amen

Rupert Bristow, Prayers for Inclusion and Diversity, Kevin Mayhew, 2012