There’s been a hiatus in the Faith at Work Prayer Guide over the past few months since Dick Johnson left us to move to Japan. Partly in response to his moving on more than was originally anticipated, I offered to help FWW if there were ways that would be useful. I was Dick’s predecessor as team leader for some years prior to myself moving away from Worcestershire in 2017 to be a vicar of a team of five churches in Stoke-on-Trent. Last year I retired and moved back to Worcestershire. I now find myself a trustee of FWW and have volunteered to resurrect the Prayer Guide (if that’s an appropriate phrase in this Easter season).
I’m very much aware that things have, of course, moved on since I was last involved with Faith at Work and also that I’m no longer an active chaplain. I’d therefore, very much appreciate help and suggestions of topics and concerns for future prayer diaries (please email me at: revphillip.e.jones@outlook.com). There may be other prayer diaries for your churches or denominations that it might be helpful for me to be aware of (I know, for example, that Martin Allen is now compiling the monthly Economy and Daily Life contribution to the CofE Diocese of Worcester Prayer Diary).
In this Easter Season as we move towards Pentecost, we see Jesus’s disciples move from personal encounters with the risen Lord to small groups and eventually to share that new faith with the wider world. May we respond to the love of God seen in the crucified and risen Lord, and in the power of the Spirit be inspired and strengthened to share that love with others.
Risen Chrst,
your wounds declare your love for the world
and the wonder of your risen life:
give us compassion and courage
to risk ourselves for those we serve,
to the glory of God the Father.
(CofE Alternative Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter).
At the time of writing, it is unclear how the fragile ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran and Lebanon will unfold:
- We pray for continuing discussions, both visible and behind the scenes, that a way forward may be found and that this may lead to some kind of longer-lasting peace and stability.
- For the people of Iran and other countries affected, and all who have died, have been injured, have lost homes, livelihoods, neighbourhoods. For all traumatised and trying to pick up the pieces of life.
- We pray too for people in many places throughout the world affected by the economic fall-out from this conflict.
- Those struggling with higher fuel and energy costs.
- Those in businesses that will be affected by higher energy and transport costs. Farmers and others affected also by shortages and higher cost of fertiliser.
- Those who will struggle to make ends meet as prices go up and those whose jobs may be threatened in organisations where cost go up and sales fall.
- And as we ponder the longer-term impact of higher oil and gas prices, we pray for wisdom in thinking about the way we use energy and moving towards alternative renewable sources; that this may be an incentive to care more for our environment, God’s creation.
- We pray too for those affected by conflicts in other places: Ukraine, Sudan and many other parts of the world.
- We pray for the work of FWW, its supporters, volunteers and particularly trustees: Chris Harvey (Chair), Stuart Sandys, Paul Lawlor, Christine Dodd, Martin Allen and Phillip Jones.
Phillip Jones
