PRAYER FOR A NEW RECTOR – 6 January 2026
For seven hours we prayed, one church per hour. Starting at a frosty 9.00am on Epiphany through to 4.00 pm that afternoon prayer flowed gently round our Benefice and up to Heaven.
The idea had been mooted by one of our Readers at a Ministry team meeting that perhaps some more concentrated prayer was needed in our search for a new Rector. Hours were allocated on a “first come first served” basis and each church given the space to do what suited them best with help available from the Ministry Team if wanted.
Some sat in a circle together, some in the pews. One church set up prayer stations for silent prayer next to the font and the high altar, the table of past Rectors and in the nave. Music was played in some churches, Taizé in one and harp music flowing like living water in another, while others chose silence. Bible references to God’s love and concern and the need for hope and patience in our faith were available. People stayed for the whole hour or just a few minutes and some prayed at home. One church member prayed in a church in Paris on his holiday. Someone’s Godson in Australia gathered his friends together to pray in the late evening there. One of our Patrons said he would pray at his Morning Prayer service, we sent the Benefice Vacancy prayers to the Bishop and our Area Dean came to the last hour of the day.
Was it a success? That isn’t the right question really. It is far too early to know who will eventually come to us as our new Rector. But the comments we received said yes it was. Two of the churches said we should do this more often. Another person commented on the beautiful sense of peace in their church.
It wasn’t difficult to organise and used the creativity that exists in so many of our churches. We would certainly recommend others to try it in this year where the Diocese wants to focus on prayer.
PEACE CANDLE FOR UKRAINE
The congregation of St Catherine’s weeps with the people of Ukraine. In our sadness we are trying to obey Jesus teaching and to also love the people of Russia. Please pray with us…….
Every day there is a lit candle on the nave altar together with prayer materials and appropriate scriptures to help us as we seek for justice, peace and reconciliation.
Supporting St Catherine’s
You can help St Catherine’s in its work of sharing Jesus good news and telling his story – and help us maintain our beautiful and historic church by donating here.
St Catherine's Montacute Parish Church 