• Pray, at Candlemas (Feb 2nd/3rd), that we may be ‘lights to lighten the nations’, and that the Church will be strengthened to show Christ’s light to the world.
  
  
• Pray for our keeping of Lent, for the Lent Programme, for Lent house groups, and that our worship and our faith may be strengthened this Lent.
  
  
• In National Marriage Week, around February 14th, pray for all those who are married, for those preparing for weddings this year, and for those who marriages are unhappy or in difficulties. Pray also for our Marriage Preparation Afternoon on Feb 10th.
  
  
• Pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury in his ministry to this nation and to the Worldwide Anglican Church, and in particular for his visit to this Diocese at the end of the month.
  
  
• Pray for parishes in the Deanery looking for new Vicars at this time, and particularly for Maybush Parish, which hopes to interview at the end of the month.
  

Prayers of the Month

Some Collects for Lent

ALMIGHTY  and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou has made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent:  Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
(BCP, Ash Wednesday)

Holy God, our lives are laid open before you: rescue us from the chaos of sin and through the death of your Son bring us healing and make us whole in Jesus Christ our Lord
(CW Alternative, Ash Wednesday)

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(ASB, Lent 1)