During the first week of July, churches, individuals and schools joined in a Week of Prayer for Children and Young People. Inspired by the Prayer Guide put together by the Go Team, we heard from parishes and schools across our diocese who were focusing their prayers on children and young people in a variety of different ways.
Amongst those who got in touch to say they were joining in were the churches in Wincanton and Pen Selwood and St Nicholas Chantry CE Primary School in Clevedon.
At Middlezoy, prayers were displayed on the church noticeboard for the many passers-by to read and know they were being prayed for, and at the benefice service on the Sunday the Week of Prayer was explained and special prayers were said. Meanwhile, a small team at Christ Church Weston-super-Mare have started to meet and pray for children and young people; those already coming to church and their families, and those they would like to connect with more.
Bev Hall from Christ Church explained, “We have a children and families worker who looks after a group of about 8 families with, mostly, under school-age children. We want to prepare through prayer for when these children get older and are joined by more families.
“Only one of our group is directly involved with the youngsters but we have a desire to serve that ministry through prayer.”
Revd Clive Jennings, Vicar at Christchurch in Clevedon, wrote to say a prayer written by Go Team Lead Tony Cook over 20 years ago was still inspiring people to pray for young people.
“I guess it’s as fresh today as it was then, and I pray we will forever be focused on a move of the Holy Spirit in this generation; for existing, new or innovative opportunities for our Church to connect and actively welcome, support and encourage young people and their families, and to experience that Jesus is with them and for them.”
Throughout the week, the Go Team gathered online at midday to pray with colleagues from other diocesan teams and, following Clive’s message, were inspired to re-write the prayer for the 2020s which you can download below.
If you joined in the Week of Prayer where you are, do let us know. The Go Team would love to hear if there are particular things that God has shown you and work with you on what might be possible in your locality.
Downloads
Prayer for Young People (revised 2023)