As the pandemic continues to impact all our lives and the death toll sadly rises at an alarming rate, nearly 50 people took the opportunity to come together over Zoom to pray for God's mercy.
After a short reflection from a passage in the book of Lamentations by Bishop Mark Ashcroft, people prayed in breakout groups for our nation, the government, people making difficult decisions to control the pandemic, and for the Church response, particularly how best to support people facing hardship and poverty.
Healthcare Chaplain, Canon Anne Edwards, shared statistics on local hospital admissions, intensive care beds and infection rates. In groups, people then prayed for the sick, the dying and the berevaed, the NHS, staff working under enormous pressues, and patients facing longer waits for routine medical care.
Finally, Revd Janie Cronin, team leader of the developing Rochdale Resource Church that hopes to have a significant ministry among young people, invited prayers for children, young people, parents, teachers and schools. With schools closed once again, these groups have faced huge disruption to their lives and are under strain, both mentally and emotionally.
The prayer evening closed with a blessing from Bishop Mark, and the request from participants for a repaet event in the future.