This month’s prayer diary written by Hilary Prescott is below.

WED 1 ST. DAVID  Almighty God, we give thanks for the life and witness of St. David , and for the faith of the Christians in Wales now and down the ages. We ask you to bless and guide all in the Church in Wales and we particularly commend to you the ministers and congregations of The Offa Mission Area.

THURS 2 Tomorrow is the Women’s World Day of Prayer. Let us remember before God the people of Taiwan, especially the women and those responsible for the service and prayers, and ask Him to bless them and their country. As the theme is ‘I have heard about your faith’, let us pray that our own lives, our prayers , our words and actions might reflect our faith and help bring new hope and help to those around us.

FRID 3 Lent Studies Session 1  Lord we thank you that in a world where so many Christians meet to pray and study but at great risk to themselves, the Christians in Chirk can meet safely to discuss their faith. May your Holy Spirit inspire and encourage all attending today’s meeting and may future sessions help all to grow in faith and in their Christian lives. Lord, we also pray for a helpful session when the Diocesan Eco Committee visits St. Mary’s today to discuss the Diocesan EcoFest to be held there in June.

SAT 4 O God, we pray for a successful fund-raising event for St. David’s in Fron at the Community Centre today, and give thanks for all helping on the stalls and with the refreshments.

SUN 5  Heavenly Father, we pray for all attending today’s Family Service, and ask that the families might be encouraged and enlightened by the worship and the message they hear.

MON 6  Let us give thanks for Chirk Leisure Centre and the valuable services it provides, and ask God to be with the staff and all who use the sports facilities.

TUES 7 Loving Lord God, thank you for the life-saving hard work and dedication of our ambulance drivers and paramedics. We ask that you will bless them in their work and grant them the energy and patience as well as the skill they need.

WED 8  Lord, we ask you to bless our Church secretaries and grant them the time and energy they need as they carry out their valuable work.

THURS 9  Lord, we pray for your blessing on all who live along Bee Bank in Fron.

FRID 10 Heavenly Father, we pray for your guidance at this afternoon’s meeting of the St. David’s Church Committee. May the decisions reflect your will for the church and the community.

SAT 11  You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5 14-16

SUN 12  Let us thank God for our organists and their contribution to our worship, and ask Him to inspire and help them in their important work.  May we also commend to God the new Archdeacon of Wrexham, Dr. Hayley Matthews, who will be welcomed to the area at a united MA service at Ruabon today.

MON 13  O God, we give thanks for the staff of our local hospitals and Health Centre. May they know your blessing on their work, and the time, energy , skill and compassion which they need. We pray too for your healing presence in the lives of the patients and your saving touch for all whom we know who are ill.

TUES 14  O Lord, we pray that as the tourist season gets under way in our area, it will prove a good season for the places visited  as well as providing real relaxation and joy for the visitors.

WED 15 Heavenly Father,  we commit to you the pupils and staff of our local schools and ask that any projects they are involved in will prove successful and enjoyable.

THURS 16  We pray, O God, for your blessing on this evening’s MAC  at Penycae, and ask that your will be done for the Offa Mission Area. Thank you for our MA leader and all who have taken on responsibilities for the Area and who help it to run smoothly.

FRID 17  ST. PATRICK  On this St. Patrick’s Day , let us give thanks for all St. Patrick achieved for the Christian Faith. We pray for all Christians in Ireland and for your guidance and blessing on them and their churches.

SAT 18 Tomorrow the Church remembers St. Joseph. Let us offer to God one of the prayers for the day:

Heavenly Father, whose Son grew in wisdom and stature in the home of Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth, and on the wood of the cross perfected the work of the world’s salvation: help us, strengthened by his suffering, to count the wisdom of the world as foolishness, and to walk with him in simplicity and trust; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SUN 19  MOTHERING SUNDAY  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for our churches which provide us with the spiritual nourishment and guidance and fellowship which we need.  On this day, we also give thanks for our mothers and all they have done for us. Yet, Lord, we pray for people whose experience of mothers has been or is a bad one, that they might find the love and support they need and long for.

MON 20 Blessed is he who does good to others and desires not that others should do him good.  Giles of Assisi (companion of St. Francis  d. 1262)

TUES 21  O Lord, may your blessing rest on all who live in Cilcoed in Chirk.

WED 22  O Lord,  please guide the discussions and decisions at St. Mary’s Committee Meeting this evening so that we might know clearly how you want our churches to develop.  Thank you for all who work so hard in their different areas of church worship and life, giving up their time, energy and skill to serve you and the community.

THURS 23  O Lord God, we commit to your care all who have problems with their sight, especially those who are having difficulty adjusting to the differences and restrictions it means in their lives.  May they be granted the support and encouragement they need.  Please bless too all individuals and organisations working to give help.

FRID 24  Tomorrow churches are recognising Victims of Slavery, so let us commit to God all who have been forced by various means into slavery , both here and abroad, and pray for their release and the chance to live safe new lives.  Let us ask God also to empower all who are working to help these victims. We also bring before God the staff and pupils of Pentre School, especially the Juniors attending St. Mary’s today for an educational visit.

SAT 25  ANNUNCIATION  As we remember the story of Mary and her willingness to serve God despite the suddenness, theuncertainty and the demands of the call and its meaning, let us ask God to help us respond willingly when we are faced with a challenging task or situation in his service.

SUN 26  PASSIONTIDE  Heavenly Father, as we come to mark the final challenging weeks of Jesus’s earthly existence, we givethanks for His perseverance and willingnessto suffer in obedience to your will and for our salvation. We pray for all people who are suffering in His name, and all who in support of justice, truth and love, are facing injustice, false trials, torture and death.

MON 27  My song is love unknown/my Saviour’s love to me,/love to the loveless shown,/that they might lovely be./O who am I, that for my sake,/my Lord should take frail flesh and die?

TUES 28  Thank you, Lord, for the people in St. Mary’s who have given up time to provide refreshments and companionship at the weekly Brunches, and have also helped bring in funds for the church. Please bless them and their endeavours and all who will be running the Mini Markets.

WED 29   Heavenly Lord, we commit to you the residents and staff of Chirk Court. May today’s Reserved Sacrament service led by St. Mary’s bring peace, joy and hope to all who attend.

THURS 30  Loving Lord God, we commit to you families and individuals considering Baptism this year.  May they be encouraged and convinced that belonging to you and your Christian family in a special way, is a life-enhancing experience.

FRID 31  O Lord, we pray that all who have been attending this year’s Lent Group sessions will have found their understanding of Jesus and your Kingdom deepened, and their lives enriched.