St John's Prayer Diary...

This is "virtual version" of a list to guide our prayers, which St John's aims to produce each year, after the revision of the St Johns Electoral Roll. These are a few suggestions for how we might pray especially for our lives together at St John's. One of Fr. Andrew's tasks is to pray for you, and one of the things St Johns members agree to do is to pray for the parish and for Fr. Andrew! This is spelled out in the service held whenever a new priest is licensed to work in a parish. At such services, the bishop says,

"It is the duty of the people to deepen their own faith by reading and meditation, by private prayer and by public worship: to pray continually for the parish and especially for their priest..."

This is suggested Diary is not finished or exhaustive: it is a suggestion and it will be amended and updated, but it is the basis on which Fr. Andrew prays for you. There are only 28 days represented: all months have at least 28 days, and rather than have some people and places missed out, there are up to 3 free days at the end of most months! There are a thousand other things and people we could pray for (e.g. the police, local councillors, mission agencies etc): this Diary covers St Johns' corporate life, the deanery and local Churches.

Let us know what else you'd like to see included... If you are interested in joining one of our Prayer Chains, further information is available via the Contact Us page. To use the Diary, click on the day of the month...

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

DAY 1

Electoral Roll Names

Mavis & Augustine Abson
William Allen
Lillian Barden
Jennifer Barfoot

Street Names

Addington Close
Albany Road
Springfield Road

Churches in Hastings

St Clements & All Saints, Old Town: Fr Robert Featherstone

St Johns

The Tuesday Group

DAY 2

Electoral Roll Names

Luke & Jo Baxter
Gwen Beecher
Janet Benkyi
Colin & Nicola Bewes

Street Names

Alexandra Road
Anglesea Terrace
Springfield Valley Road

Churches in Hastings

Emmanuel Hastings: Rev Philip Coekin; Rev Rachel Browning

Hastings Schools Christians Worker

DAY 3

Electoral Roll Names

Gabby Blankson
Patina Blankson
Carol Blythe
Anne & Jim Boles

Street Names

Ascot Mews
Belvedere Park
Stainsby Street

Churches in Hastings

Christ Church Blacklands: Vacant

Mission to Seafarers

DAY 4

Electoral Roll Names

Rosemarie Brandt
Emily Bridges
Maureen Broscheit
Barbara Buckley

Street Names

Boscobel Road
Boscobel Road North
Sunningdale Drive

Churches in Hastings

Holy Trinity Hastings: Vacant

The Sea View Project (working with those who are homeless and badly housed)

DAY 5

Electoral Roll Names

Celia & Martin Burge
Irene Carter
Stanford Chiripanyanga
Trevor Chittenden

Street Names

Branksome Road
Brittany Mews
The Drive

Churches in Hastings

Church in the Wood: Rev Deryck Charnock; Rev Val Doidge

St Michael's Hospice & The Sara Lee Trust

DAY 6

Electoral Roll Names

Bernard Clark
Jean Clarke
Mike & Clare Cooper
Christine Cox

Street Names

Brittany Road
Burhill Way
The Fairway

Churches in Hastings

St John Hollington: Rev Clive Redknap; Rev Colin Rudge; Rev Maureen Hinkley

Nursing homes, rest homes & residential care homes in the parish

DAY 7

Electoral Roll Names

Andrew & Lesley Crighton
Greg Crittal
Zena Davies
May Davis
Alison Day

Street Names

Capel Court
Caple Gardens
The Fairway

Churches in Hastings

St Helens Ore: Rev Chris Key; Rev Andrea Williams; Rev Annette Hawkins

Hastings and Rother Home Start

DAY 8

Electoral Roll Names

Peter Dengate
Darren Easton
Richard Eldridge
Caroline Ellwood
Barbara Fentiman

Street Names

Carnoustie Close
Cavendish Avenue
The Green

Churches in Hastings

Christ Church Ore: Rev Ron Elverson

Shoe Boxes for Romania

DAY 9

Electoral Roll Names

Marjorie Fibbens
Jackie & Brian Fitch
Bryan & Carol Forster
Carol Frost

Street Names

Charles Road
Charles Road West
The Links

Churches in Hastings

St Leonard's Marina & St Ethelburga: Rev Mike Mills; Rev Sr Eileen Wheeler

Church Army

DAY 10

Electoral Roll Names

Julie Fuller
Gwen Gedgen
Veronica & Tony Goddard
Mollie Green

Street Names

Clinton Crescent
Clyde Road
Tower Road West

Churches in Hastings

St Matthew's, Silverhill: Rev Mike Coe

Christian Aid

DAY 11

Electoral Roll Names

Eve Grimstead
Katy Harper
Emma Harrington
Christopher Harvey

Street Names

Collingstone Close
Collinswood Drive
Turnberry Close

Churches in Hastings

Christ Church, St Leonard's; Fr Roger Jupp; Fr Richard Ralph

DAY 12

Electoral Roll Names

Jude Harvey
Val Harvey
Amber Heasman
Jo Heywortht

Street Names

Combermere Road
Cumberland Gardens
Tudor Avenue

Churches in Hastings

St John's, Upper St Leonard's: Fr Andrew Perry; Rev Penny Sayer; Reader Elaine Noonan; Pastoral Assistant, Celia Burge

Caring & Sharing

DAY 13

Electoral Roll Names

Linda Hinde
Trevor Holloway
Heather Howarth
Norman & Sheila Illman

Street Names

Cypress Close
Dane Road
Upper Maze Hill

Churches in Hastings

St Michael's Hospice: Fr Geoff Driver

Chichester Diocesan Family Social Work Fund

DAY 14

Electoral Roll Names

Doreen Jacobs
Louise Jaggers
Stephen James
Margaret James

Street Names

Epsom Close
Essenden Road
Westerleigh Close

Churches in Hastings

Conquest Hospital: Fr Clive Woodward

SHADES Christian Theatre Group

DAY 15

Electoral Roll Names

Jenny Keeling
Andrew & Gina Knight
Maureen Lane
Peter & Monica Lane

Street Names

Fern Road
Filsham Road
Welbeck Avenue

Churches in Hastings

St Leonard's Baptists: Rev John Western

Hope Kitchen

DAY 16

Electoral Roll Names

Jeremy & Sally Lee
Paul Levere
Margaret Levett
Wendy Lewis

Street Names

Filsham Valley
Fulford Close
Wellis Court

Churches in Hastings

St Thomas of Canterbury: Fr Ian Byrne

Hastings Deanery Tertiary Education Chaplain

DAY 17

Electoral Roll Names

Victoria Lloyd
Barrie & Sarah Loynes
Audrey Lyons
Ann & Steve Mann
Tim Massey

Street Names

Furze Croft
Ganton Place
Wellis Gardens

Churches in Hastings

His Place Community Church: Rev Chris Sears

St John's Social Justice & Peace Group

DAY 18

Electoral Roll Names

Sam McBride-Newman
Emily McMorran
Ian & Anna McNulty
Karen & Paul Meek

Street Names

Gensing Gardens
Gleneagles Drive
Wentworth Way

Churches in Hastings

Servants For Jesus

St John's Choir: for organist Richard Eldridge

DAY 19

Electoral Roll Names

Sue Mendousse
Russell & Judith Meredith
Linda Naylor
Louise Newham

Street Names

Gilbert Road
Harting Combe

Religious Communities in Hastings

The Hastings Muslim Community

St John's Serving Team, for co-ordinator Jude Harvey

DAY 20

Electoral Roll Names

Jacqui Nightingale
Elaine Noonan
Clive & Pauline Peacock
Jack & Margaret Pennington

Street Names

Hatherley Road
Highlands Gardens

Religious Communities in Hastings

The Hastings Jewish Comunity

St John's PCC

DAY 21

Electoral Roll Names

Clive & Pat Potter
Alan & Jenny Privett
Kath Quigley
Pam Reade

Street Names

Hogarth House
Hotel Croft

Religious Communities in Hastings

Those of other faiths

St Johns

The Eucharistic Ministers

DAY 22

Electoral Roll Names

John & Jilly Rhodes
Patrick Rice-Oxley
Alison Rickard

Street Names

Knoll Rise
Lazonby Court

Religious Communities in Hastings in Hastings

Those of no faith

St Johns

The future of St John's

DAY 23

Electoral Roll Names

Eric & Mary Robson
Val & Dan Rodney
Ann Rolstone
Margaret Ross

Street Names

London Road
Lytham Close

Churches in Hastings

Hastings Deanery Synod

St Johns

The FROGs; their leaders; the children

DAY 24

Electoral Roll Names

Len Rowland
Georgina Rowlands
Gene Ruffhead
Julian & Michelle Rumball

Street Names

Markwick Terrace
Merrimead Close

Churches in Hastings

For all those who are searching for faith

St Johns

St John's Emmaus Groups: members & leaders

DAY 25

Electoral Roll Names

Olga Russell
Kath Sellwood
Peter Shaw
Janet Smallman

Street Names

Muirfield Rise
Pevensey Road

Churches in Hastings

For all who are searching for faith

Bishop John Hind, Diocesan Bishop of Chichester

DAY 26

Electoral Roll Names

Lucinda & Martin Shepherd
Mel Sorrenti
David & Louise Spice
Gladys Stewart

Street Names

Quebec Mansions
Regency Gardens

Churches in Hastings

For all who are searching for faith

Bishop Wallace, Area Bishop of Lewes

DAY 27

Electoral Roll Names

Rose & Tom Tagoe
Rachel Tagoe
Willian & Lami Tagoe
Claris Tawodzera
Margarita Timothy

Street Names

Southwater Road
St Dominic Close

Churches in Hastings

For all who are searching for faith

Diocesan Synod

DAY 28

Electoral Roll Names

John Townsend
Jean Trott
John Vaughan
Caroline Wilson
Elizabeth Wilson

Street Names

Sandwich Drive
Southport Close

Churches in Hastings

For all who are searching for faith

St Johns

PCC & for the future of St John's

Prayers

We try to keep a supply of individual prayers on laminated and on coloured card at the back of church for people to use, take away, share, whatever... below are some of the prayers which we've selected:

Collect for Trinity 19 (BCP)

O God forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Benediction (Dorothy McRae-McMahon)

Go in peace to live among the signs of God. And may Christ Jesus break bread at your table, the Creator spread a cloth for the feast and the Spirit dance in the centre of your gathering. Amen

A Prayer for the Morning (Celebrating Common Prayer)

The night has passed and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

(silence may be kept)

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day so may the light of your presence O God set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen

A Prayer of St Teresa of Avila, Spanish Carmelite Mystic

"Know that even when you are in the kitchen, our Lord moves amidst the pots and pans..."

Before sleep (from CCP Night Prayer)

In peace we will lie down and sleep

For you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety

Abide with us Lord Jesus

For the night is at hand and the day is now past

As the night watch looks for the morning

So do we look of you O Christ

Come with the dawning of the day and make yourself known in the breaking of bread

May the risen Lord Jesus watch over us and renew us as he renews the whole of creation.

May our hearts and lives echo his love. Amen

Creeds (Archbishop Michael Ramsey 1904-1988)

Christians do not 'believe in the Creeds', but, with the Creeds to help them, they believe in God.

A Confession (Dorothy McRae-McMahon)

God of joy, even though we sing hymns of worship to you sometimes our lives do not reflect the life of passion and abundance that you lived.

We may even stand out in the community as those who are eminently serious, who don’t often lead the songs of celebration among the people.

If our songs have become a ritual rather than overflowing from the heart...Forgive us O God.

If we have lost the lightness of soul the attractiveness of people within whom you live...Forgive us O God.

If songs are things we argue about rather than an echo of your joyful soul...Forgive us O God and break forth into our life. Amen

The Easter Anthems (from 1 Cor 6, Rom 6 & 1 Cor 15)

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us so let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Christ once raised from the dead dies no more death has no more dominion over him.

In dying, he died to sin once for all; in living he lives to God.

See yourselves therefore as dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ has been raised from the dead; the first fruits of those who sleep.

For since by one man came death by another has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive!

Kyrie Eleison (From RS Thomas, Mass for Hard Times)

Because we cannot be clever and honest, and are inventors of things more intricate than the snowflake...

LORD HAVE MERCY

Because we are full of pride in our humility, and because we believe in our disbelief...

LORD HAVE MERCY

Because we will protect ourselves from ourselves to the point of destroying ourselves...

LORD HAVE MERCY

And because on the slope to perfection when we should be half-way up we are half way down...

LORD HAVE MERCY

Speaking with God (St Alphonsus de’ Liguori - the "Great Doctor of Prayer" b. 1696)

Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with him. Speak with familiarity and confidence as to your dearest and most loving friend. Speak of your life, your plans, your troubles, your joys, your fears. In return God will speak to you - not that you will hear audible words in your ears, but words that you will clearly understand in your heart. These may be feelings of peace, hope, interior joy, or sorrow for sin... gentle knockings at the door of your heart.

From 'The Night' (Henry Vaughan - b.1622 - based on Nicodemus' visit to Jesus)

There is in God, some say,

A deep but dazzling darkness, as men here

Say it is late and dusky, because they

See not all clear.

O for that night! where I in Him

Might live invisible and dim!

Prayer of an unknown confederate soldier

I asked for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of all.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for,

but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all people most richly blessed.

After St Augustine of Hippo

O God, you have made us for yourself and our heart is restless till it finds its rest in you; give us grace to seek you, courage to obey you and peace as we walk with you now and for ever. AMEN

Knowing God (St Simeon C10th)

We can know God in the same way a man can see a limitless ocean when he is standing by the shore with a candle during the night. Do you think he can see very much? Nothing much, scarcely anything. And yet, he can see the water well, he knows that in front of him is the ocean, and that this ocean is enormous and that he cannot contain it all in his gaze. So it is with our knowledge of God.

Collect for Christian Aid Sunday (May 12th 2002)

God of life, you have called your people to be one. Grant that we who seek to follow you may no longer be content with doing well, but may seek to do good, so that those from whose resources we benefit may see the just reward of their labour until we come into your presence together, without fear and with great joy, through the grace of Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

Summary of Faith (David Jenkins, formerly Bishop of Durham)

Bishop David Jenkins summarised the Christian faith in thirteen carefully chosen words:

"God is. He is as he is in Jesus. Therefore there is Hope."

17th Century Nun's Prayer

LORD thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless detail: give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet: I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. And, give me O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.

Prayer of St Benedict

O gracious and holy Father

give us wisdom to perceive you

intelligence to understand you

diligence to seek you

patience to wait for you

eyes to behold you

a heart to meditate upon you

and a life to proclaim you

through the power of the Spirit

of our Lord Jesus Christ

Reinhold Niebuhr

God grant me the grace to accept with serenity the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace, taking as you did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that you will make all things right, if I surrender to your will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with you forever in the next.

From "How to Pray" (p96 SPCK 2002 - John Pritchard Bishop of Jarrow)

"When we pray, we aren't throwing paper darts at some iron wall of natural law. We're co-operating with God in his massive enterprise of healing creation, bit by bit. When I pray I'm not asking God to interrupt the ordinary workings of the universe. I'm asking him to work within the created order of things so that the full potential and capacity of that part of creation may be released. I'm looking for the natural order to be at full stretch, just as it was in Jesus (which is why amazing things happened around him). This approach to prayer therefore sees God not as over-ruling anything so much as under-ruling it. He rules from within his created order."

Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

Thanks be to thee my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits which thou hast won for me, for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may I know thee more clearly love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly. Amen

Litanies

Johan Alain (1911-1940), a French organ scholar was killed in the Second World War. He wrote a piece called “Litanies”, and this is a translation of the note attached to it:

"When the Christian soul in distress finds no new words to implore God's mercy, it ceaselessly repeats the same prayer with vehement faith. Reason comes to an end. Only faith can take it further."

After Psalm 66 (in the Celebrating Common Prayer Psalter)

How generous is your goodness O God,

how great is your salvation,

how faithful is your love!

Help us to trust in you in trial,

to praise you in deliverance

and to rejoice before you with overflowing hearts,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

From St Matthew's Passion (J.S. Bach - translation by Sir Henry Baker)

In this thy bitter Passion

Good Shepherd think of me

With thy most sweet compassion

Unworthy though I be:

Beneath thy Cross abiding

For ever would I rest,

In thy dear love confiding

And with thy presence blest

(trans Sir Henry Baker)

Courage, strength, joy, delight (Angela Ashwin)

For the courage of the martyrs, I thank you.

For the courage to stand up for what I believe, I ask you.

For the strength of all who died for you, I thank you.

For the strength to stand firm when the crowd disagrees, I ask you.

For the joy of the saints, I thank you.

For the delight in the gift of each moment of life, I ask you.

Father of mercy, bless my efforts to love you and help me in spite of my uncertainties to hear your call, trust your victory of love and surrender my life into your hands. Amen

After Psalm 148 (from Celebration Common Prayer)

O glorious God the whole of creation proclaims your marvellous work; increase in us a capacity to wonder and delight in it, that heaven's praise may echo in our hearts, and our lives be spent as good stewards of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Prayer of Abandonment (Charles de Foucauld)

Father, I abandon myself into Your hands. Do with me what You will. Whatever You may do, I thank You. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me and in all Your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into Your hands I commend my soul. I offer it to You with all the love of my heart. For, I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence. For You are my Father.

Guidance (Carmina Gadelica)

Be Thou a smooth way before me

Be Thou a guiding star above me

Be Thou a keen eye behind me

This day, this night, for ever.

I am weary and forlorn

Lead Thou me to the land of angels

Methinks it were time I went for a space

To the court of Christ, to the peace of heaven.

Fruits (Mother Teresa)

The fruit of silence is prayer.

The fruit of prayer is faith.

The fruit of faith is love.

The fruit of love is service.

The fruit of service is peace.

What's good for us

Give me give me give me

I asked God to give me patience.

God said "No, patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is earned."

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said "No, I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you."

I asked God to give me all those things that I want to enjoy in my life. God said, "No, I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things."

From Hebridean Altars (The Northumbria Community)

Even though the day be laden and my task weary and my strength small, a song keeps singing in my heart. For I know that I am Thine; I am part of Thee. Thou art kin to me and all my times, all my times are in Thy hands.

A prayer from Christian Aid

God of all places and this place: you promised a new earth where the hungry will feast and the oppressed go free. Come Lord, build that place among us.

God of all times and this time: you promised a new day when the fearful will laugh and the sick find healing. Come Lord, speed that time among us.

God of all people, our God: take what we have and what we hope for make this a world where the poor find good news. Come Lord build your kingdom among us.

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