VICAR

Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your families are well and enjoying the summer.

This week I’d like to extend a prayer to those serving in the forces, those who have served in the forces, as well as those serving and who have served in the police. These men and women do and have done extraordinary things – they put themselves on the line to defend our peace.

I’d like to pay special attention to the policeman Andrew Harper who died on Thursday. Andrew, just 28 and married just 4 weeks ago, was responding to a burglary report on Thursday in Berkshire, when he was dragged along the road by a vehicle. Please dwell on his sacrifice and the pain that his wife Lissie and their families are going through, for that is the cost which the men and women of our forces can pay each and every day.

I wish You all a peaceful and happy week ahead. Although it is tempting for me to have You all pray for Jofrey Archer – that he may find inspiration – I could not ask for such a thing. So, let us pray for the forces and let us dwell on our own fallibility and vulnerability as humans before God this Sunday.

God Bless.

Heavenly Father,
we commend to your gracious care and keeping
all the men and women in our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace;
strengthen them in their trials and temptations;
and give them courage to face the perils that beset them;
and help them to know that nothing can separate them from your love;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.