The Chaplaincy of the Holy Spirit is entirely self-supporting and relies totally on donations from members, friends and visitors - please would you consider making a donation here
For the following weeks, our chaplaincy will celebrate each Sunday as indicated until Christmas - we will try to provide readings following the lectionary and readings for the specific day which we will use within the chaplaincy, if different
Fr Rodney has prepared two information leaflets which you may find useful to guide members of the our congregations in presenting both the readings and the intercessions - they are available in .pdf form to read here (intercessions) and here (readings), and can also be downloaded to print from our resources page here
Our prayer calendar is
November 9th 2025 - Remembrance Sunday
November 16th 2025 - Second Sunday before Advent
November 23rd 2025 - Christ the King
November 30th 2025 - Advent Sunday (Year A in the lectionary begins)
December 7th 2025 - Advent 2
December 14th 2025 - Advent 3
December 21st 2025 - Advent 4
The prayers set out below should be carefully read and, where necessary, amended for YOUR use
Intercessions for Third Sunday of Advent Year A - December 14th 2025
Everlasting God, as we continue prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for time to be quiet where we can, through prayer and reflection, appreciate the wonder of your love. As we revisit the story of Jesus' birth through our Advent worship deepen our joy invigorate our prayers and our praise and help it to challenge the way that we live our lives.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Faithful God may we like Mary worship in such a way that our joy in you grows through the recognition of the countless ways we have benefitted from your blessings throughout our lives and the goodness and mercy that you show to us despite our shortcomings. Help us to pass on our faith to the next generation of our families that they too might praise with the same joy that Mary did.
(Short Silence)
Merciful God, we pray for the nations of the world especially where pride interferes with power to produce tyranny, where the divide between rich and poor is beyond imagination and where people have been hungry for so long that many have never experienced a satisfying and sustaining meal.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God we pray for those whose children cannot take part in Christmas celebrations because of the expense; those who put themselves seriously into debt attempting to meet expectations; those who may have to use food banks for a Christmas meal. Help us to do all that we can through our prayers and through our giving to the local and international charities that are helping the less fortunate.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, we raise before you the sick and the suffering, that you would show the strength of your arm and scatter everything which prevents them from enjoying health and wholeness in body, mind and spirit.
(add names of those requesting prayer)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Mighty God, we rejoice for those who now experience the joy of heaven according to the promises you made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to us his descendants, forever. We especially pray for.
(add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth.
(From the Roman Missal)
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
You can also find these prayers here
Using this link will open a .pdf file which can be read online or downloaded for printing
Yours in Christ
Rev’d Steve Foster
We have been asked by The Archbishops of Canterbury and York to continue to pray for Ukraine:
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We write to you as the world is in
turmoil following recent events in Eastern Europe
I am sure that you will agree that the horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil
Now, more than ever, we need to place our trust in Jesus
Christ, as we remember that God is not the author of confusion but of
peace; and so I urge you to pray for a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Russian
forces and for peace to prevail
Pray for the innocent – the women, men and children who are displaced, whose lives are disrupted, and who live in fear of the atrocities of war
Pray for those with power – that they may make a resolute and public decision to never use force, to actively work for peace and seek peaceful solutions to dispute and disagreement
Pray that there may be a recognition of common and shared humanity and God’s promise of flourishing life for all people
The Bishop in Europe has asked us to join them in prayer for the chaplaincy in Kyiv and the churches that serve Ukraine
At this time of great uncertainty, we place our hope and trust in God, whose love never fails. Lord, have mercy
Fr Steve Foster
The Singing Vicar
Email: singingvicar@gmail.com