Our monthly prayer diary written by Hilary Prescott

SUN 1  Presentation of Christ  Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (Collect)

MON 2 Heavenly Father, we bring before you the ministers and congregations of the Offa Mission Area, that they might know the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit in their worship and work.

TUES 3 Caring Lord God, we pray for all whom we know who are unwell, and for the patients cared for by our local hospitals and surgeries, that they might know restoration to health and hope. Guide and empower, we pray, the staff who care for them.

WED 4  O God, we pray for all who live in Crogen, Chirk, and Green Fields, Fron, and ask for your blessing on them.

THURS 5  Lord, may this morning’s Holy Eucharist at St. Mary’s be a time of spiritual refreshment and joy for all who attend.

FRID 6  To God be the glory!/great things he hath done;/so loved he the world /that he gave us his Son;/who yielded his life/an atonement for sin,/and opened the life-gate/that all may go in.  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! /let the earth hear his voice;/praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice. Etc.          

SAT 7  Tomorrow is Racial Justice Sunday , so let us pray for all who are the subject of racial prejudice and persecution, whatever their race, colour or creed.  Let us also pray that God will help us bring about greater willingness to understand and value people from other cultures and creeds.

SUN 8  Heavenly Father, we give thanks for our congregation members and leaders involved in helping young people grow in faith. May today’s Family Service help all who attend see you and your Son in a fresh light.

MON 9  Let us pray for the governors, staff and pupils of our local schools, and also ask our Lord to help them in any difficulties they might be experiencing.

TUES 10  How easy it is, O Lord, to take our sight for granted; we bring before you all who are losing their sight or who are having problems with poor sight, and ask that they might receive the support which they need. We pray for all hospital departments and organisations seeking to offer that help.

WED 11 Lord, we give thanks for all members of our congregations who offer help, friendship and company to their fellow members and people in the community. Please bless and guide them in their acts of loving fellowship.

THURS 12  Let us thank God for all who help to keep our churches and churchyards clean and tidy and ask Him to bless them and grant them the time and energy they need for their important acts of service.

FRID 13   O God, we commit to you the Church in Wales: its leaders, ministers and congregations, that it might carry out your Holy Will and reflect your love and light in its worship and mission.

SAT 14  Let us commit to God’s care all who work for the charities supported by our two churches and the people whom they serve.

SUN 15 Let us give thanks for all who help administer the Chalice at Communion and ask God to bless them in their service.

MON 16  Sever me from myself that I may be grateful to you; may I perish to myself that I may be safe in you; may I die to myself that I may live in you; may I wither to myself that I may blossom in you; may I be emptied of myself that I may be bound in you; may I be nothing to myself that I may be all to you. Erasmus 1467-1536 Dutch humanist scholar

TUES 17 SHROVE TUESDAY  As we move into Lent, let us ask God, through His Grace and  the power of the Holy Spirit, to help us make the coming weeks a special time of enlightenment in our faith and a strengthening of our commitment to Him.

WED 18 ASH WEDNESDAY  Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect)

THURS 19  Let us pray for our local industries, for their success and for their commitment to the community in which they operate.

FRID 20  As the Churches Together Prayer Group meets this afternoon, we Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities we have to study your Holy Word, to consider our discipleship afresh, and to pray, alone or together. We pray for all Christians whose faith and its practice place them in danger. May they know your protection and blessing.

SAT 21 O Lord, we give thanks for those organising today’s Pancakes and Coffee social event at St. Mary’s today, and pray for a well attended occasion.

SUN 22  Let us thank God for all who read the lessons in our churches and pray that He will help them as they seek to convey the power and meaning of the texts.

MON 23  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.  Psalm 32

TUES 24  O God our Creator, we pray for our local  farmers and their families and staff as they care for their land and stock and so help provide us with food and drink and also enable the environment to flourish.

WED 25 Loving Lord, we ask for your blessing on the staff and residents of Chirk Court; we pray especially for any new residents as they settle into to a new home and new life.

THURS 26   Thank you, Lord, for our churchwardens. We ask you to support and bless them in their vital and time-consuming work for our churches and communities. May we never fail to show our appreciation for their key ministry.

FRID 27  Heavenly Father, we pray for a lively and successful Charity Auction to be held today in aid of St. Mary’s and for plenty of items to be offered and plenty of good bids.

SAT 28  As we come to the close of a month often known for its gloom and bad weather, let us ask ourselves what light and warmth and joy we have brought to those around us in the past days, whatever we have been going through in our own lives. Let us turn to the Light of Christ and his love for our guidance and support in the weeks ahead.