Wherever we are on our journey in faith, prayer is a significant part of it. Prayer is for everyone, and everyone can pray.
As part of living out our values in every corner of our diocese, Bishop Richard has called us all to join in a Year of Prayer in 2023. This invitation is offered to explore different ways of praying, there are activities to join in and opportunities to create your own prayers and prayer activities either as a church or as part of a small group, or in the quiet of your home.
We hope through prayerful engagement across many communities, villages and towns of our diocese that lives will be transformed and that more people will come to know Jesus Christ.
The key events for the Year of Prayer begin in January 2023 with a special Festival of Light at Hereford Cathedral
To join any of our Year of Prayer events, please visit the relevant month on the events section of our website and register your details.
The last of our four Exploring prayer days will be hosted at Holy Trinity Church, Much Wenlock - everyone is welcome
We also have a very exciting Bishop's Study Day in October with the former Bishop of Oxford Rt Revd John Pritchard and Bishop Richard will be hosting 10 days of continuous 24-hour prayer at The Palace in Hereford, ending with the Year of Prayer celebration at Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday 12 December.
Do watch this space for further details and please regularly visit our events page for more updates. Events are advertised regularly in our weekly eNews, do sign up to receive this email update from the Diocesan comms team
You can create an event of your own. We encourage churches to advertise their events in all the usual places. If you are looking for ideas and inspiration, please take a look at our ideas guide for churches. Don't forget to update your website or Church Near you webpage or get in touch with the team for more help, support and guidance.
We have also created some templates in Canva to help you with branding your own creations
We have created some branding guidelines to help you advertise your own prayer events as well as social media. If you are looking for ideas and inspiration, please take a look at our ideas guide for churches.
The following are ways to help you advertise your event locally:
A Church Near You / Your Church website
List your onsite and online prayer events on AChurchNearYou.com.
Print / Email
Don't forget to add events to your social media pages and any printed or email newsletters, magazines or pew sheets. We have created some easy to use templates on Canva.com which you can edit and use locally:
Printed materials
We have produced prayer cards for key seasons and festivals throughout the year. Download a low-colour print version here.
We have created some A6 postcards designed to be given by congregation members to their friends and family, inviting others to join them at any Year of Prayer event held in church. The design can be edited to include details about the event
They offer space to write details of the event as well as contact details for more information.
This A4 poster can be used to promote a Year of Prayer event on a church or village noticeboard. It can be resized to print on A5 for use in parish magazines. The design can be edited to include details about the event
There are a number of useful resources available to help you with our small group prayers. Including our seasonal prayer cards
Please check out our ideas guide for churches and communities.
We also have 2 booklets available with prayers:
Ascension Day prayer walk Resources:
Pathways in Prayer Resource Sheet - Reverend Canon Andrew Mayes
National Day of Prayer for Schools - online prayer meeting Friday 29th September 2023 12:00-1:00pm. Register here
Let us pray anywhere? Research Project
As part of the Diocesan Year of Prayer, our education team is running a research project with six of our schools. This is being funded by the Growing Faith Foundation. We are exploring the following question:
How can we as churches and church schools encourage primary school children to develop a prayer life outside of the school setting?
This project involves interviewing pupils about prayer. We will then be developing and trialling prayer resources before reinterviewing the children to evaluate which tools have helped them to pray or reflect more.
As part of this project, we have produced a booklet for parents to help nurture their child's prayer and spiritual life.
Download 'Don't Burst Our Bubble Guide'
Prayer Space Resources
We also have developed a pack of prayer resources that church leaders or schools can use to help explore prayer. There are lots of similar activities and online training available from Prayer Spaces in Schools.
Download Prayer Space Activities
There are a number of useful resources available to help you with developing prayers with and for Young People.
Here is a link to a website with useful infomation on Prayer Spaces In Schools
Year of Prayer branding and resources
Prayer Ideas Find Events