Prayers of the People


February 5th 2012

Today is The Fifth Sunday of the Year

Year B

Today’s Theme: Christ who makes us free to serve.

Withput Christ our lives would be pure drudgery. We would be like slaves, or like workmen with nothing to look forward to but our wages. But the healing power of Christ has transformed our lives: now we are free to make ourselves like him, the slaves of everyone, offering men the good news without asking for anything in return.

Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care,

that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace,

they may be defended always by your protection.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

First Reading

Job 7: 1 - 4, 6 - 7
Psalm 146
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 9: 16 - 19, 22 - 23
Gospel

Mark 1: 29 - 39


Sunday February 5th The Fifth Sunday of the Year Sung Mass 10.00 a.m.
  Eritrean Orthodox Church   2.00 p.m.
Monday February 6th
S paul Miki and Companions Mrr
 No Mass  
Tuesday February 7th Feria No Mass  
Wednesday February 8th S jerome Emiliani Pr Academy Service 11.10 a.m.
Thursday February 9th Feria (Monthly Requiem) Low Mass 12.30 p.m.
Friday February 10th S Scholastica V No Mass  
Saturday February 11th Our Lady of Lourdes Low Mass 9.00 a.m.
Sunday February 12th The Sixth Sunday of the Year Sung Mass 10.00 a.m.
  Eritrean Orthodox Church   2.00 p.m.

Beverages and Biscuits are available after Sunday Mass.

Confessions: by appointment.
Ecclesiastica

The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham.

For the Honorary Assistant Bishops

For Bishop Andrew

For Pope Benedict XVI and the Roman Catholic Church.

For the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Eastern Churches.

Archbishop Rowan Williams

Archbishop John Sentamu 


Diocese 

Today is Poverty Action Sunday. Poverty Action Sunday was Unemployment Sunday at a time when Unemployment was the most important social issue impacting on poverty. Perhaps we’re moving towards / have moved to that time again, writes Barbara Hayes of the Churches Industrial Group, Birmingham and Solihull.

Churches are being encouraged to set up job clubs to provide space and support for unemployed people. We give thanks for the job club in Solihull and for other churches catching that vision. Please pray for all those who are seeking practical ways to respond to unemployment locally.

The importance of Christian discipleship and insight within work and economic life is vital, especially now. The Churches Industrial Group, Birmingham and Solihull, is a network of Christians responding to this challenge and being a resource to the church. Please pray for CIGB as we plan for the future in times of change.

The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Provincial Episcopal Visitor The Rt Revd Jonathan Baker SSC
Deanery of Kings Norton Colin Corke - Area Dean
Deanery of Coleshill Brian Castle - Area Dean
St Agatha's and St Barnabas' Churches Revd John Hervé
St Anne's Roman Catholic Church The Revd Pat Browne
Highgate Baptist Church The Revd Paul Walker
St Columba United Reformed Church Fiona Elvins 
Shilonite Gospel Church Minister-in-Charge John Adegoke
Birmingham Central Mosque Dr Mohammed Naseem
Forward in Faith Ministries International Birmingham East Assembly (ZAOGA) Pastor Richard Sabvute

Pray Daily For:
Each individual member of our congregation,
that they may be faithful to their vocations as they go about their daily lives,
and worthy ambassadors of their Catholic Faith.

For Our Parish and Our Sister Parishes of S Agatha and S Barnabas
Strengthen and increase the faithful, visit and relieve the sick,
turn and soften the wicked, arouse the careless, recover the fallen,
restore the penitent, remove all hindrances to the advancement of thy truth,
and bring us all to be of one heart and mind in the knowledge of thy Holy Church.

For our neighbouring Faith Communities within or near the Parishes

S Anne's Roman Catholic Church
Highgate Baptist Church
The Shilonite Gospel Church
Birmingham Central Mosque
Birmingham Central Synagogue
The Eritrean Orthodox Church

Malawi 

We remember our dear friends in Malawi, our twinned Diocese and pray that we all might be of very  real assistance to them.


S Alban's Academy

We pray for the Staff and Students, and the Governors and Trustees.

We pray for Fr Pervaiz, the Academy Chaplain.


Called to a New Kingdom 

May God re-shape His Church and set us free by the power of the Spirit to witness and to serve others.

 

Transforming Church

We pray for the Transforming Church initiative, as we move forward with the help of our Diocesan Consultant.

Community
 
Men and Women of other Faiths and for goodwill amongst people of all faiths and none;
especially our neighbours and all who live in
the Parishes of Highgate, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath, and throughout greater Birmingham.

Relief 

Please protect those who are held in captivity; or missing.  We ask that you continue to pray for their release and for a peaceful resolution of the issues which precipitated these events.


For good will among people of all faiths and none, for all the Armed Forces overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, and those still serving in Macedonia; for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, 
 the United Nations; and for the trouble spots around the world. 
Pray also for peace throughout the world, remembering especially Iraq, Afghanistan,Turkey and the Holy Lands, all other areas of the Middle East, especially Lebanon and Gaza.
Please also pray for  Russia, Georgia, the Balkans and Chechnya, 
as well as the Philippines, Indonesia, the Western Pacific, 
North Korea, Burma, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Far East,
We do well to also remember all those in Africa, in particular, the Congo, 
those facing famine throughout the Continent and especially in Sudan, 
 and our beloved Sister Diocese of  Malawi.
For those killed or injured in the recent demonstrations in Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria and for all those involved in or suffering as a result of the war in Libya, and for all those who are victims of natural disasters or civil unrest.


Well-being

We pray earnestly for all those who are hungry, sick, injured, wounded or homeless throughout the world, and nearer to home here in Birmingham, and commend the good work of the Fireside Centre to all.  Help us to continue to support them practically through an on-going collection of clothing, sleeping bags, gloves, toiletries, nappies etc. and especially tinned goods.

Any and all who are anxious, ill, in pain or distress, and who need God's Holy Healing touch, especially those known to us by name,

Jon Clark Marjorie McGrath
Sharon Clark Marjorie Preston
Betty Golding Abdul Rashid
David Just Connie Winwood
Frederick Justine  

 

Thanksgiving to God;

We give thanks for the recovery of those who have been sick, and for those who have prayed for them in their need.

 

Requiem

Those who mourn, and those who have entered the larger life:

The recently departed,

and any who have died alone, 
on the roads, on the railways, on the seas or in the skies.

May their souls rest in peace and rise in glory

and their loved ones find comfort and solace from these prayers.

Those whose year's mind occurs this week

George Trevelyan; priest

Ronald Spaull

 Ted Wassall
Lily Brandwood William Priday Eric Ayers
  Mary Aspinall  

If you would like someone added to our prayer list and remembered at our Daily Masses, or to the Year's Mind Memorials,  please either E-Mail us or sign our Guest Book giving us the details or asking us to contact you.  It is also possible to sponsor an eight day Sanctuary Lamp on the High Altar in honour of someone dear to you or to celebrate a special occasion in your life.


We attempt to update this Web Page every Sunday, but all immediate and urgent prayer requests should be submitted directly to the Vicar's Warden, Mr. E. J. Fellows 0121 777 1120 or Edward.Fellows@blueyonder.co.uk.


Parish Petition - Restoration Intercession  

May God enthuse and equip us all, Community and Congregation, to re-build, renew and repair His Holy House here in Highgate.


Details of S Agatha's, Sparkbrook
and S Barnabas', Balsall Heath
may be found at
www.saintagathas.org.uk