29 December 2017

Praying at Christmas with USPG
and Lichfield Cathedral
(5): 29 December 2017

Snow at Lichfield Cathedral and in the Cathedral Close earlier this month (Photograph: Steve Johnson, 2017)

Patrick Comerford

Today is the feast of Saint Thomas Beckett [29 December 2017].

Until the end of December 2017, I am continuing a practice I began at the beginning of Advent this year. I am spending a short time of prayer and reflection each morning, using the prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency, USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) and the Advent and Christmas Devotional Calendar from Lichfield Cathedral.

USPG, founded in 1701, is an Anglican mission agency supporting churches around the world in their mission to bring fullness of life to the communities they serve.

Under the title Pray with the World Church, the current prayer diary (22 October 2017 to 10 February 2018), offers prayers and reflections from the Anglican Communion.

This week, the Prayer Diary visits the Holy Land, and this theme was introduced on Sunday by Salwa Khoury, who is based at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Nablus on the West Bank.

The USPG Prayer Diary:

Friday 29 December 2017:


Give thanks for the work of the USPG supported Saint Luke’s Anglican Hospital in Nablus in the West Bank (see article), as it reaches out to people of all faiths.

Lichfield Cathedral Advent and Christmas Devotional Calendar:

The calendar suggests lighting a candle each day as you read the Bible and pray.

Today, the calendar suggests reading Luke 2: 22-35.

The reflection for today offers this challenge:

Give thanks for the new-born, for all we do to nurture them. Pray for new parents that they may provide love, care and wisdom.

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow.

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