THE BISHOP of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge, received a warm welcome in Pershore to mark Ash Wednesday.
Bishop John led prayers with representatives from all four churches in the town as they joined together to go out into the community to gather prayers to be read during the Ash Wednesday service.
This is part of the National Church of England ‘Pray One For Me’ scheme Bishop John himself started back in 2009 when he stood outside the job centre in Redditch hoping to help those who had been most badly affected by the economic downturn.
“People often ask me to ‘say one for them’.” said Bishop John.
“So many people have been affected by the financial crisis and I want to let them know that their local church is there to offer support and prayers.”
Originally called ‘Say One for Me’, in 2010 it became a national project, with people across the country stepping out in public to collect prayers.
Now, The Church of England also has a website at www.prayoneforme.org where anyone can post their prayer requests and know they will be prayed.
‘Pray One for Me’ is supported by church groups and prayer communities across the Church of England who pray the prayers posted there.
Ash Wednesday is a day when the focus of attention is on being sorry for the wrong things we have done.
It’s a day to cleanse the soul as the Lent fast begins. Many churches across the nation have Ash Wednesday services at which worshippers are marked with ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin.
The prayers gathered were offered during the service held at Pershore Abbey on Wednesday (February 26) evening.
