VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and that You are hopeful; that great days are ahead. With talk on social media and across the world of imminent world war with Russia, let’s be positive and see the faith, hope and love in our world for a change. Here are some biblical quotes about hope to inspire You: If … Continue reading A Prayer for Hope
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and have had an excellent week. For those of You with children or grandchildren doing exams right now, wish them the very best of luck from me and this magazine. This week let’s say a prayer for Your animals, from the dog by Your feet to the horse in the paddock, from … Continue reading A Prayer for the Animals
Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well. This week I want to focus on temptation. I was watching Last Days in the Desert recently, starring Ewan McGregor as Christ. The movie’s executive producer, Erik Lokkesmoe, describes Last Days in the Desert as an “imagined chapter in Scripture.” It’s fiction, in other words, not wholly unlike The Young Messiah. And like Messiah, … Continue reading A Prayer to Resist Temptations
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and that You are relaxed and happy. This week I would like You simply to pray for the week ahead. That is all. Keep it simple. Keep things manageable. Do not strive to over-complicate or micromanage. Simply look forward to this time next week and pray for what You want to happen … Continue reading A Prayer for the Week Ahead
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your families are well this Sunday. Where is the sun?! This week I’d like to focus on those of You, or those You know, who suffer with addictions. These addictions may involve drugs or alcohol or gambling or cigarettes, or some other form of addiction. For as long as addictive substances and behaviours … Continue reading A Prayer for Addicts
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your families are well and that Your Vitamin D levels have finally risen after We saw the sun this week. This week’s topic is cancer. If You’ve been diagnosed and ever wanted to voyage back in time and start over, hear the words of Joel 2: “I will restore to you the years … Continue reading A Prayer For Those With Cancer
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well this Sunday and enjoyed getting reacquainted with the Sun again yesterday. Lambing this year has been a struggle. Heavy rainfall has had a devastating impact on lambing and also on crops. If lambs do not have dry ground to lie on, hypothermia often affects newborns and can be fatal. Word from farmers … Continue reading A Prayer for Lambing
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and healthy and that You enjoyed Easter celebrations last weekend. The Sunday after Easter is unofficially called “empty pew Sunday”. Everybody and their brother comes to church on Easter Sunday and it is the highest attendance in the year other than Christmas Eve. The Sunday after Easter is almost a ghost town, … Continue reading A Prayer for Low Sunday
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I wish You a very Happy Easter this Easter Sunday! I trust that You are well and in celebratory mood despite the ongoing rains. Easter Sunday marks Jesus’s resurrection. After Jesus was crucified on the Friday his body was taken down from the cross and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers and … Continue reading Happy Easter
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well. Today is Palm Sunday and holy week begins for Christians across the globe. Obviously let us spare a thought and a prayer for those Christians in Ukraine this week. What is Palm Sunday and why is it considered important? On Palm Sunday Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to crowds and cheers. His triumphant entry … Continue reading Palm Sunday
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well. This week I’d like to give You a prayer for Truth. This seems particularly relevant right now as there have been interesting developments in recent weeks where liars have been exposed and those who were accused of lying about them have been shown to be truthtellers. Nothing from a biblical point of … Continue reading A Prayer for Truth
VICAR This Sunday I am publishing a prayer found in a hotel across the pond. It’s a simple and beautiful prayer which I am sure many guests read and appreciated. I particularly like the line, “We are all travellers”. I wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Sunday. Continue reading A Short Sunday Prayer
Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your families are well. This week I’d like once again to focus on Britain’s lonely. There seem to be so many people out there who suffer from loneliness and it’s such a sad feature of our country. Loneliness can affect anyone. Experiences of loneliness can vary, but its effects can be profound and wide-ranging. … Continue reading A Prayer for the Lonely
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine I trust that You are well. I thought that perhaps You might need some encouragement to continue with Your Lenten promises and so this week I will give You a short prayer to keep on track. Here are 4 areas to concentrate on: Sanctify your lifePrayer sanctifies Your life. Now is the time to pray. I recommend keeping … Continue reading A Prayer for Lent
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your families are well. If You are away on a half term holiday, enjoy and relax. I am writing this message to You last Tuesday as by the time You read it I will be on the beach in Dubai. Today We heard of the death of the DJ Steve Wright, who touched … Continue reading A Prayer for the Dead
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that my Sunday message finds You well and relaxed this February weekend. This week I ask You to spare a few minutes to pray for political prisoners around the world. Jesus himself became a political prisoner. We should look into each case and decide for ourselves whether prisoners merit their sentences. In the case of political … Continue reading A Prayer for Political Prisoners
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and happy. This week I’d like You to focus on hopes and courage. What the Bible says: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus knew that if … Continue reading A Prayer for Hope & Courage
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and having a relaxing weekend. I know that weekends and holidays do not count for farmers. They are always at work and, judging by an editorial in this magazine last Thursday, they are having a tough time of things right now, so particularly deserve Our support and prayers. If farmers are stressed, … Continue reading A Prayer for Our Farmers
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I hope that my weekly note and prayer find You well. It has been a very cold week and I trust that You have been able to keep warm and healthy. This week it is Our turn to focus on Christian unity and solidarity. The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best known passages of … Continue reading A Prayer for Unity
VICAR Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well this January Sunday morning. As I sit here the temperature outside is in the minus and I fear for our homeless who I pray have found somewhere warm to bed down overnight. This week I would ask that You pray for the hungry. 49 million people in 43 countries across the globe … Continue reading A Prayer for the Hungry
