Skip to content

Prayer focus for the week beginning 12th February

Hands

Prayer focus for the week beginning 12th February 2023:

  • Urgent World issues: Praying for the people across Turkey, Syria and the region who have been affected by the earthquake disaster.
  • Tetbury Praying the Town: Silver Street, Fox Hill & Rope Walk
  • The Parish of St Marys (especially the challenge of heating the church and the huge rise in energy costs)
  • Thank God for our Benefice administrator
  • Year’s Mind: Brian Haines (15/2). (“Year’s Mind” is to mark the first anniversary of a death –often a difficult time for family and friends).
  • Praying for St Mary’s School: Year 2 Juniper Class with Mr Brown and Mrs Smith
  • Praying for Samuel Gatter who is being baptised in Holy Trinity, Long Newnton on Sunday 12th February and his parents and Godparents
  • Local issues: for our town council, as it begins to plan how best to celebrate in Tetbury the forthcoming coronation of King Charles
  • National issues: for our care homes, that they may be adequately staffed, filled with compassion, and that staff may receive fair recompense and recognition for all that they do
  • World issues: as Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many western countries, may couples be drawn closer together in mutual love, care and understanding.

The charity, Tearfund, is offering support for prayer for the people of Turkey-Syria:
Here are three areas we can focus our prayers on: for the emergency response; for people affected by the earthquake; for the church in Syria who are responding; and for peace.

Pray for the emergency response
• Lift up first-responders and pray for energy and strength as they work around the clock to save lives.
• Pray for clear roads and bridges, so that emergency services and supplies can quickly reach those in need.
• Pray that those who are still missing will be found safe.
• Ask God for good weather so the rains and snow do not slow down the response.
• Hospitals in the areas affected are overflowing. In Syria, many hospitals have not been rebuilt since they were destroyed in the conflict there. Pray for resilience for health workers as they respond; pray for capacity to treat people who are injured and for resources – medicine, equipment and hospital beds – to be readily available.

Pray for people affected by the earthquake
• Pray for comfort for those who have lost their loved ones and healing for people who are injured. Ask God to draw near to them in this time of grief and uncertainty.
• Pray for provision of safe shelter, food, clean water and warmth for people who have lost their belongings, homes and livelihoods. Ask God to give them courage and strength to face these new challenges.
• Pray that vulnerable people – such as people with disabilities, orphans and pregnant and nursing mothers – will be protected and that no one will have to suffer alone.
• Pray for freedom from anxiety and fear for people who are feeling distressed – particularly those already in fragile situations throughout the region.

Pray for peace
• Conflict broke out in Syria in 2011. Much of the country now lies in ruin. The city of Aleppo, which was badly hit by the earthquake, is home to millions of people who have already faced devastating conflict. Many people in northern Iraq, who are rebuilding after years of conflict, and in Lebanon, also felt the earthquake tremors.
Pray for a lasting peace and recovery for Syrians who have suffered more than a decade of conflict.
Pray for peace and comfort as people are further traumatised by the earthquake and already are feeling anxious, depressed and fearful. Pray that people will not lose hope – even in these challenging times.

The Lord hears when I call to him. Ps.4 v.3

Are you, or someone you know, in need of prayer? You are welcome to hang your prayer request on the prayer tree in the prayer corner at the front of St Marys’ church

Scroll To Top