The prayer diary is written by Hilary Prescott

SUN 1  NAMING OF CHRIST  Almighty God, whose blessed Son was circumcised in obedience to the law for our sake and given the name that is above every other name: give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit, and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world. Amen (collect)

MON 2  Let us bring before God our vicar and curate and those who work with them to offer services and opportunities for mission. May they know your love and power and know a real joy in their service.

TUES 3  Loving Lord, we commit to you all whom we know who are ill, that they might know your healing power and comfort.  Bless too the patients in our local hospitals and Health Centre, and empower the staff as they carry out your work of restoration of body and mind .

WED 4  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely , and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame , and has taken his seat at the right hand of God.  Hebrews 12:1,2

THURS 5  Lord, we give thanks for the staff of Chirk Library and the valuable work they are doing in the community; we ask you to bless them and the help they offer.

FRID 6  EPIPHANY  The Magi rejoiced when they saw Christ and felt his special presence; may we, too, O God, see Christ clearly in the journey of our lives, and experience his radiance and love, willingly offering to him those gifts which we in fact owe to you in the first place.

SAT 7  We give thanks, O God, for our churchwardens who work so hard to ensure our worship and witness function smoothly. Please bless them and grant them the time, energy and wisdom they need. We also pray for those people who help them out when needed.

SUN 8  BAPTISM OF CHRIST  On this day when we consider the Baptism of Christ, let us look back at the start of our particular Christian journey and mission, and give God thanks for enabling us to follow Him and His blessings on the way. Let us pray for that blessing in the year ahead.

MON 9  Lord God, we pray for your blessing on all who live along Gate Road in Fron.

TUES 10  Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit might guide all attending this evening’s Churches Together Committee meeting, and so help in the planning of this year’s joint churches events.

WED 11  Almighty Father, we bring before you St. David’s Church in Fron, and pray that you will encourage and guide those members attending Friday’s Church Committee meeting so that discussions about future events might prove fruitful and effective.

THURS 12  Loving Lord God, we pray that you will be with all attending the Reserved Sacrament Service at Chirk Court today, that they might know your comfort and peace. Please bless all the residents and staff at Chirk Court.

FRID 13  Almighty God, we pray for all who have been recently bereaved, that you might bring them hope in their sadness and light in the darkness of their grief. We ask that any who attend this morning’s Good Hope Cafe might find the reassurance and comfort they need. Please guide the helpers to find the right words to provide the support needed.

SAT 14  Teach me, my God and King/in all things thee to see;/and what I do in anything/to do it as for thee.    All may of thee partake,/nothing can be so mean/which, with this tincture, ‘For thy sake,’/will not grow bright and clean.

SUN 15  O God, we pray for the families who attend our churches and for the work with children. Bless and guide all who are involved in Sunday Club and in nurturing the faith of the young.

MON 16  Heavenly Father, we give thanks for all who organise and help with catering at church events and after services, giving up much time to give refreshment and pleasure to people. Please bless them in all they do.

TUES 17  Lord, we pray for the ministers and congregations of the Offa Mission Area, and ask that today’s Zoom Meeting of the Mission Area Conference will be an interesting and productive session and help further the work of the MA in the year ahead.

WED 18 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY  Heavenly Father, we commit to you your body, the Church, and ask that in the year ahead it will achieve greater unity: more willingness among its members to listen to each other, to accept differences and to celebrate its shared faith, so that others might be drawn to belief in you and the Christian way of life.

THURS 19  Holy Lord, we pray for all attending this morning’s Holy Eucharist at St. Mary’s, and ask that they find joy, strength and comfort in the service.

FRID 20  Heavenly Father, we pray for the staff, pupils and governors of our local schools as they start a new term and ask that they will face the challenges they meet with confidence and wisdom.

SAT 21  Let us pray for the future happiness of the couple being married today at St. David’s in Fron and ask that God might bless them and their family as they celebrate their union at the wedding.

SUN 22  Thank you, O God, for the way in which the different denominations in Chirk work together in worship and mission. May this evening’s ecumenical service be a joyful time of fellowship and praise as we celebrate our links and our shared ministry.

MON 23  Heavenly Father, may your blessing rest on all who live in Linden Avenue, Chirk.

TUES 24  Lord, as tomorrow is the St. Mary’s Church Committee Meeting, we ask that you will encourage and guide all attending so that the decisions made are in accordance with your will for our church.

WED 25  CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL  Almighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth. Amen  (Collect)

THURS 26  TIMOTHY AND TITUS  As we think of the two followers of Christ in the early Church, Lord, help us also to have the courage to step out into a world bewildered by Christianity, and declare our allegiance to Christ in our words and work.

FRID 27  Let us pray for the diocese of South West Tanganyika which our Mission Area is supporting, and ask God to bless the people and projects with which our churches have been particularly involved.

SAT 28  O Almighty Creator and Judge, we pray for peace in the world; for justice, and freedom of action and speech; for release from oppression and the greed and tyranny of corrupt leaders. Please empower all working to bring help and hope to those in need, and may those people who suffer know you have not forgotten them.

SUN 29 Let us give thanks for the members of our congregations who lead the Intercessions in our services and ask God to bless and inspire them as they lead us in prayer.

MON 30  Each day you must say to yourself, ‘Today I am going to begin.’  Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751) French Jesuit

TUES 31 Thank you, O Lord, for the people who have worked so hard and will continue to do so, to raise funds for the work of our churches. Please encourage and bless them in all they do. We also give thanks for the success of their endeavours and for the generosity of supporters.