CAPTION: Bishop Jackie said she would love people to join her for the day of prayer on Saturday 2 December
Bishop’s Invitation to ‘Come and Pray’ Together at Exeter Cathedral Event
The Acting Bishop of Exeter is inviting people across Devon to take part in a Diocesan day of prayer, Come and Pray, on Saturday 2 December.
The Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle said she wanted to make prayer a priority for the next 12 months as the process to appoint the next Bishop of Exeter continues.
Come and Pray will include a day-long prayer and worship event at Exeter Cathedral, which will feature different forms of prayer, prayer stations for all ages, acts of worship led by Bishop James and Bishop Jackie and music from the Christian singer songwriter Andy Flannagan and the Exe Valley Community Choir.
The day of prayer will include different forms of prayer for people and situations
It will run from 11am to 4pm with the main worship being livestreamed to allow people to join in online. In addition there will be an online prayer room and prayers and liturgy published so people can take part in the day wherever they are.
Bishop Jackie said “It’s so much on my heart that to pray is to know God and to seek God, and that is at the very top of our diocesan vision.
“We want to grow in prayer and we want to pray particularly in this year and in this season.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to come together in the Cathedral, amplify our prayers and expect the Holy Spirit to empower us and our Diocese.” Rev’d Sarah Mounoury
“There’s so much to pray about, some real needs in the Diocese, some of our finances, some of the issues that we face – but there’s also a real joy in gathering together to pray.
“I’d love as many people as possible to come and join me for this day of prayer, so please get the date in your personal, church, school and youth group diaries and plan to come and join me if you can for our day of prayer together!”
The Bible verse for the day of prayer is Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Rev’d Sarah Mounoury, from the Sid Valley Mission Community, is leading the group organising Come and Pray. She said “Uniting is prayer is immensely encouraging and powerful.
“As a Diocese, it will be wonderful to come together in prayer and fellowship, to unite and pray in ways that may be new to us, to join together in worship, to encourage one another and be united in Christ.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to come together in the Cathedral, amplify our prayers and expect the Holy Spirit to empower us and our Diocese.”
The 2 December marks the start of Advent, and churches are also being encouraged to hold their own local prayer events if possible.
Bishop Jackie has chosen Philippians 4:6 as the verse for the day: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Themes for the day will include unity, creation care, praying for people encountered through the Come and See weekend of mission, generosity and the Vacancy in See process.
People will also have the opportunity to pray for people in need and to receive prayer for themselves.
Watch Bishop Jackie talking about the Diocesan day of pray in the video below.