Category: Prayer

Supporting Ukraine

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Information on the Bristol response to Ukrainian Refugees – click here

Information on volunteering with Love Bristol helping refugees with the visa process – click here

We are currently in discussions with Bristol City Council and South Glos Council about becoming a Welcome Hub for providing support and space for Ukrainians to access. One of the requirements of a Welcome Hub is that they have a Welcome Hub Leader – if you feel that this is an area of Ministry that you would like to be involved in please get in touch.

If you are interested in hosting a refugee please go to the Gov website to register your interest.

 

Donate items via Barnabus Fund Food Gives Appeal

Thank you to all those who have bought items in and those who have taken them to the Swindon collection point for the Ukraine Barnabus Fund appeal. We have taken lots of full car loads of essential items so far which is fantastic! 

The current need is for the following:

Food  tinned food with pull lids, energy bars and food you can eat on the run.

 

Donate Financially

Donating financially is one of the quickest ways to practically help. Below are four different ways.

Donate to the UK Disaster Emergency Committee Fund Click here

DEC charities are in Ukraine and neighbouring countries meeting the needs of all refugees and displaced people: By donating to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, you’ll help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.

  • £30 could provide essential hygiene supplies for three people for one month
  • £50 could provide blankets for four families
  • £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month

Donate to Moldovan Mission

Moldovan Mission’s CEO, Mark McCormick, is the founder and former leader of Gotesti Baptist Church. He works closely with St Michael’s Mission Partner Ruslan Telpiz and other Pastors throughout Moldova.  Click here

Message from Mark: “We are at this moment supporting our Pastor Partners, as they help those who are fleeing the Ukraine. They are meeting the refugees on the border and giving food and accommodation. If they wish to go to Romania then they are transporting them. All this they are doing at their own expense. So we are trying to raise funds for them. If you would like to help please use our donations page and mark your donation Refugees. Thank you“.

Donate to Epaphras Trust

Epaphras Trust works in four countries: Kenya, India, Nepal and Ukraine and is a Mission Partner of St Michael’s Church. Trustee and church member Ken Hart has been to Ukraine around 20 times in the last 18 years. More info and details on how to give: Click here

Donate to the #HelpUkraine Emergency Appeal. Click here

This campaign is being organised by a community partnership of Ukrainian churches and organisations in Great Britain,  and the funds raised will provide accredited and registered Ukrainian charities with medicine, food and vital services. Donations can also pay for blankets, hygiene packs and trauma counselling.
  • The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London
  • Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Great Britain
  • Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)
  • Association of Ukrainian Women (AUW)
  • Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM)
  • Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Great Britain
  • Association of Ukrainian Teachers (AUT)
 

Prayer

  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.
  • At Kidz Club, the children wrote some prayers for Ukraine. They are simple and heartfelt. Let’s join in praying them together.

Prayer for Bristol: 30 days of prayer for peace

Posted on by Laura Thomas

We have been invited to join churches across the city to pray for Bristol at this time in the run up to the elections and after the unrest of the recent protests. So far 50 Churches have committed and it’s running from 6 April- 6 May.
We are committed to pray on 30 April for one day.

The vision is that there would be a canopy of prayer and worship over Bristol as we all join as one church praying. 

“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare”. Jeremiah 29:7.

You can sign up through the 24/7 prayer page here to choose a timeslot for your prayers on 30 April

You can pray however, or wherever you like. Perhaps you would like to gather 5 others and have a prayer walk? Tom and Sara are planning one for 11am that day so contact Tom  if you’d like to join them Or simply pray where you are.

Feel free to pray for the whole hour or if you have less time, then simply pray for half an hour. There may be people already signed up for your chosen timeslot but do still sign up for that time – the more the merrier!

If you have any words or pictures, do send them to Tom and he will forward them to the ’30 days of prayer for peace’ Whatsapp group.  

We will also have two dedicated times of prayer together online:

Prayer Breakfast at 8am on Zoom

Morning Prayer on Facebook live at 9.30am.

National Day of Reflection

Posted on by Laura Thomas

We’re supporting the National Day of Reflection on 23 March, the first anniversary of the UK lockdown, to commemorate this tragic loss of life and to stand together with everyone who’s grieving.

Organised by Marie Curie, and supported by the Church of England, the National Day of Reflection looks to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

Take a minute’s silence at 12 noon on 23 March to show your support for the millions of people who are bereaved and take a moment to connect with someone.  You could light a virtual candle here

You can download an Act of Prayer that you can do from home during the day

Reflect

Loving God, 
You hold all our times in your hands, our past, our present, our future. Be close to us now as we remember all the difficulties and disappointments of the past year. Be especially close to all of us who are thinking of someone we loved and knew, but see no longer, whether family, friend, colleague or neighbour. Help us to trust that they are at peace with you, and comfort us with your presence. 

Connect

Loving God, 
You place us in families and communities, and we give you thanks for all those around us who serve us and help us in so many ways. Give wisdom to community leaders, to our schools, hospitals, care homes and other agencies who make a difference to our lives. Help each of us to have the courage to reach out with thanks and kindness to those around us and to speak words of faith as we share the good news of your love.

Hope

Loving God, 
As we journey towards Easter, help us to live as people of hope, knowing that beyond the pain of the cross lies the joy of resurrection. Inspire us in our worship, through our churches and in our homes, that we may bring glory to you and joy to others. Be with those who are struggling in mind, body or spirit, and give courage to those who are facing uncertainty and change ahead. Help each of us to keep our eyes fixed on you, that we may reflect your light to all whom we meet.

Prayer for the Nation – November 2020

Posted on by Laura Thomas

On Wednesday 4 November, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and Bishop of London called the Church of England to prayer for the nation throughout the month of November. Click here to read the letter

Throughout the month, we are encouraged to pray daily for a specific area of national concern, wherever we are, culminating in a collective moment of prayer at 6pm each evening.

Click here to download a printable resource

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “On the brink of this second lockdown we might understandably feel helpless, anxious and vulnerable. And we do what we can to halt the spread of this virus – but we can still feel powerless. Is there anything else we can do? Really do?
Yes. Yes there is. We can pray. Prayer is my first response when I feel out of my depth, when I need help, when I am worried, when I am concerned for those I love. It is a gift that God gives to all – whether you are a regular pray-er or not – bring your cares and the cares of the nation to God. For God loves and hears and holds. Prayer changes things.”
 
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said: “Prayer changes things. It changes things by inviting God into the room. At this challenging time when all of us are fearful and anxious, and when so many are suffering, it is the one thing we can all do. We can pray and invite God to change us, giving us the solace, strength and comfort we need for the difficult winter that is ahead of us. Let’s pray together at this difficult time.”

Head here  for the full list of resources from the Church of England

Members of our Operations Team share the prayer for each day below

Monday

Schools and colleges, children and young people.

We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives. We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education. We pray that all might be nurtured and cared for and that every needful resource would be made available – that all lives can flourish even in these difficult times and that no-one would be overlooked.

Tuesday

The elderly, isolated and vulnerable.
We echo God’s commitment to
those most at risk of this virus
by praying today for those who
are particularly vulnerable and isolated: praying for their deliverance, protection and comfort. We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

Wednesday

Businesses, the workplace and economic wellbeing.
In this time of great challenge,
we pray for the economic
wellbeing of the country. We remember before God those
who face great uncertainty in
their work. We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future. We pray for a renewed commitment to our common life together

Thursday

The NHS and other key workers.
Our God is the great healer –
and the agent used more than
any other is the NHS. Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray for that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would all be encouraged in their continued
work of sacrifice and care amongst us

Friday

National and Local
government
We pray for those who are
in positions of authority with
responsibility for decision
making at national and local
level at this difficult time. We
ask that God would give great
wisdom, deep commitment to
all and right judgment.

Saturday

All who are grieving, and all suffering with physical and mental ill-health

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind, spirit or with grief. We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain. We pray for those who are stretched beyond their own capacity to cope and remain hopeful – that in the roar of these waterfalls God would bring a sense of coherence, comfort and strength.

Sunday

Family, friends and
loved ones.

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their health, their well-being and their sense of hope.
We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together they would not feel apart. We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring.