From 13-19 June, churches across the diocese along with households, schools and diocesan staff joined together in a week of prayer for young people.
Coordinated by the Go Team as part of their 2021 focus on young people 11+, people across the region were encouraged to join in praying specifically for young people, their families, schools and colleges. Themes set for each day were: Young people, Opportunities, Understanding, Transitions and Home - spelling out the acronym YOUTH - and the daily prayers available to view on YouTube and posted on social media, were voiced by young people from Cheddar, Chilcompton, Shepton Mallet, Twerton and Watchet.
The Go Team along with Education Team colleagues would usually be involved in Pilgrim Days in June, welcoming over two thousand 10 and 11 year olds to Wells Cathedral, and so felt they wanted to turn some of that time over to prayer, gathering on Zoom at midday each day and inviting people across the Diocese to do the same – whether in person or online.
As the week began the team received a number of messages from people saying they were joining in, including this one from Cath in Bath:
“Oh how glad I am to hear you are doing this! As a leader of a small church and as a mum of teens, I’m so pleased to be joining with this initiative. Last week we formed a WhatsApp group for parents of teens who are facing real parenting challenges at the moment so that we can pray for one another’s families, and this week of prayer with the daily content is great! Amen and thank you!!”
Phil and Morey, Chaplains at Bridgwater & Taunton College also took to Instagram with a short daily video offering prayers for students, whilst numerous churches included the themes in their usual pattern of prayer and encouraged parishioners to keep young people in their private prayers throughout the week.
Tony Cook, Go Team Leader commented,
“It has been incredibly special to take time each day this week to focus our prayers on young people across the diocese. As we have prayed, it felt as though God took us much deeper into some of the issues they face, what matters most to them and to pray for a renewed sense of hope for this generation. It was also lovely to have others join us, and the theme each day meant that our prayers felt more purposeful. We definitely need to do this more often.”