This month’s prayer diary, written by Hilary Prescott:

SUN 1 ALL SAINTS Lord God, we give thanks for the Christians down the ages who have given their lives to your service and that of humanity, bringing your kingdom here on earth. We pray that we too, as part of this great company past and present, might carry out your will and find joy and fulfilment in knowing and sharing your love.

MON 2 ALL SOULS DAY  Loving Lord, we ask you to bless and comfort all who at this time are remembering loved ones who are no longer with them. Thank you for all those people whose lives have touched our own and made a difference to us.

TUES 3 At this difficult time, Lord, we ask you to bless, guide and strengthen our vicar and curate as they deal with the changes in worship, community life and pastoral care.

WED 4 Let us pray for the leaders and governments of the United Kingdom and all round the world, that they might make the right decisions about coping with the Coronavirus problem . Let us also pray for scientists and medical experts that they too might be guided to find the right answers to dealing with the situation.  May all be motivated by truth and deal with their people with honour and honesty.

THURS 5 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul,/and why are you so disquieted within me?

Hope in God;/for I shall again praise him , my help and my God.

 Ps 42.11

FRID 6  Heavenly Father, we pray for the staff and pupils of our local schools , for their safety and for continued enthusiasm and determination.

SAT 7  Thank you, O Lord, for our churchwardens and all who have been giving extra time to sorting out and carrying out new practices and methods at church; may they know your blessing and find the time and energy they need .

SUN 8 REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY  On this special day, as we remember all who have given their lives , their health and strength in service of their country and for the benefit of their fellow citizens, let us give thanks for their sacrifice and ask thatif any today needhelp and encouragement , that they might receive it. Let us especially give thanks for the people in our own area who have fought bravely for peace. Let us pray for the services and ceremonies in Chirk and Fron, that although they cannot be as usual, they will be a helpful witness to all involved and any who see them.

MON 9  It is Interfaith Week, so let us pray for greater understanding between different faiths so that ignorance does not breed suspicion and hostility. May God enable leaders and congregations to work together for the good of mankind, and help us all to see where we might be going wrong in practice or belief.

TUES 10  For the healing of the nations,/Lord, we pray with one accord;/for a just and equal sharing/of the things that earth affords./To a life of love in action/help us rise and pledge our word.

WED 11 Armistice  Day   Lord God, we bring before you all who are bereaved because of war and violence, and we pray for peace among nations and a willingness to discuss matters and compromise where it is honourable and just.

THURS 12   Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all members of our congregations who have devoted much time and energy to cleaning our churches so that we might worship you together. We ask you to bless them and keep them safe.

FRID 13  Let us give thanks for St. Mary’s Churchyard Group and their continuing work and ask for God’s rich blessing on all they do.

SAT 14 Almighty God, we bring before you the businesses in our area which have been suffering from the Covid 19 outbreak and the changing Lockdown situations. We pray that they will be able to carry on successfully and receive any support which they need.

SUN 15  Thank you, O Lord, for the strength and comfort which we receive from the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and also give thanks for the opportunities which our churches have offered us to participate in the worship. However, Lord, we know that we can always remember the sacrifice of Jesus and rejoice in the salvation it offers, wherever we are.

MON 16  Heavenly Lord, we ask you to bless all who live along Canal Side in Fron.

TUES 17  Loving Lord God, we bring before you the staff of Chirk Hospital, who have had to adjust to many changes during the past months and put themselves at risk in order to minister to people in need. We ask you to bless and protect them. We also pray for your healing power to touch the patients, especially those feeling lonely, frustrated as well as ill.

WED 18  Don’t imagine that if you had a great deal of time you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of that idea! Again and again God gives more in a moment than in a long period of time, for his actions are not measured in time at all.

Nothing is small if God accepts it.  

Teresa of Avila 1515 -1582 Spanish Carmelite mystic

THURS 19  Lord, we pray for the staff of Chirk Court and give thanks for their dedicated hard work over the past months; we also ask for your blessing on the residents, especially those missing contact with friends and relatives.

FRID 20   Almighty God our Father, we pray for the ministers and congregations of the Offa Mission Area. Grant them the power of your Holy Spirit so that they might know your will for your people and be able to carry it out. May they find comfort from the links with each other.

SAT 21 Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church  O Lord, we commit to your love and protection all who are suffering because of their faith in you, even to the extent of imprisonment, torture and death. Grant them a real sense of your Holy presence and support. Lord, their faith challenges our own loyalty and witness: may we too be ready to stick up for you whatever that might entail.

SUN 22 CHRIST THE KING   Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit, and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Collect for the day.

MON 23  Lord, we give thanks for all who have been keeping Chirk tidy and attractive  during the last months, and for those whose hard work at Chirk Station have won the station an award. Please bless them in all they do for the community.

TUES 24  Let us pray for the staff at Chirk Leisure Centre, for their safety and that of their clients, and give thanks for their work in keeping residents of the area healthy and happy.

WED 25  Heavenly Father, giving thanks for their hard work and all they do for our country and countryside, we pray for the farmers in our area, for their well-being and for their animals and crops.

THURS 26  Loving Lord God, we commit to you all whom we know who are ill and the unwell in our area. May they receive the gift of your healing and know your comfort and strength. We pray especially for those suffering because of delayed diagnosis, treatment or operations.

FRID 27  Heavenly Father, we pray for your blessing on all who live in John Street, Chirk.

SAT 28  We give thanks, O Lord, for all carers- professionals, family and friends. Bless them in all they do and grant them the love, skill and compassion that will help them to be of use, and grant also the acknowledgement and support which they themselves need.

SUN 29  ADVENT Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen  (Collect for the day)

MON 30  Thank you, O God, that Advent reminds us that you have not forgotten your children in their pain and suffering and you long for our wholeness of body , mind and soul. Let us therefore look forward with lack of fear, trusting in you, and full of the hope embodied in the coming of Christ.