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Work and Pray
Regular prayer for the world of work can be a significant feature in Sunday services, and ICF seeks to provide various resources to help those who prepare these. Prayer of this nature can be important for various reasons:
· It encourages Christians to see their working lives as part of their Christian Identity
· It helps those involved in the world of work, particularly when their job makes it difficult to participate in church activities, to feel affirmed and valued.
· It is a vital part of our intercessory responsibility to the community around us.
· It communicates a faith that is relevant to real issues to those who visit our churches
Each week, different groups of workers can find a place in prayers at Sunday worship, with individual members including them in personal devotions during the preceding and/or following weekdays. Consider what might be said in the context of the congregation’s thanksgivings, confessions and intercessions, both for the workers concerned and for those present. The list below is wide ranging but by no means comprehensive and should be complemented by knowledge available to each local congregation.
This page is regularly updated to provide a whole year programme. Use the links to find more resources.
Week 26 - commences Sunday 27th June
Those who work in horticulture and gardening
Market gardeners, ornamental & landscape gardeners, allotment holders, seedsmen, organic gardeners, bulb-growers, landscapers, foresters, fruit growers, florists, flower arrangers, suppliers of fertilisers, developers of new varieties; manufacturers and servicers of horticultural equipment and lawnmowers, garden centre and nursery staff, agricultural chemical manufacturers, makers of sheds, greenhouses and garden tools.
Week 27 - commences Sunday 11th July
Those who work to study, protect and maintain our environment
Staff of the environment agency, forestry commission, British Waterways, National Parks and other agencies concerned with the protection of our environment. Weather Forecasters, Marine Biologists and manufacturers of pollution monitoring equipment. Environmental Campaigners, recyclers and recycling centre staff. Staff at wildlife sanctuaries, wetlands, those who manage sites of special scientific interest and other natural habitats.
Week 28 - commences Sunday 18th July
Those who work in handling, management and production of money
Currency speculators, those who work in the money markets and staff at bureau de change. National Lottery staff, bookmakers and betting shop staff, bingo organisers and callers, casino proprietors, racecourse owners and scratch card sellers. Staff at the Royal Mint; bank tellers and staff, Cash delivery crews, payroll staff, cash machine engineers and slot machine manufacturers
Week 29 - commences Sunday 25th July
Those who work in the provision of clothing
Designers, manufacturers and suppliers of baby wear, footwear, maternity wear, work wear, wigs, belts, suits, separates, underwear, nightwear, wedding gowns, academic and preaching gowns, overcoats, oilskins, sweaters, hats, hosiery, neckwear, gloves, beachwear, party wear, corsetry, uniforms, jeans, bibs and aprons, fancy dress.
Week 30 - commences Sunday 1st August
Those who work in the media
Television and Radio presenters, reporters and newsreaders. Camera and sound operators along with other technical and production staff. Religious Broadcasters and programme makers. Photographers, Graphic Designers, layout and finishing staff, journalists, press-agency staff, illustrators, cartoonists, critics and columnists. Station managers, screen writers, set makers, researchers and sports commentators. Publicists, spin doctors, PR agents and press officers. News vendors, magazine and newspaper editors, newsagents and wholesalers.
Week 31 - commences Sunday 8th August
Those who work with Children
Parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, godparents, grandparents and guardians. Family court officials, staff of children’s societies, children’s homes and child care agencies. Child-line personnel, au pairs, nannies, paediatricians and childminders. Nursery Staff, those who run play schemes and after-school clubs.
Week 32 - commences Sunday 15th August
Those who supply stationary, office products and support services
Clerks, receptionists, telephonists, secretaries, book keepers, keyboard and computer operators, copy typists and proof readers. Manufacturers and suppliers of printers, fax machines, photocopiers and office equipment. Contract cleaners, office hygiene contractors, janitors, security and door staff and providers of office services. Repair and maintenance engineers of office equipment, office furniture makers, archive and storage providers and those who work for office moving companies.
Week 33 - commences Sunday 22nd August
Those who work in Local Government
Local government councillors and executives, environmental health staff, pest control staff, animal wardens, housing benefit officers, issuers of travel permits, careers information staff, child protection workers, trading standards officers, family placement staff, home helps, parks staff, registrars of births, deaths and marriages, urban regeneration staff, electoral registration officers, refuse collectors, issuers of licences and social workers.
Week 34 - commences Sunday 29th August
Those who work in the retail industry
Supermarket and hypermarket staff, corner and village shop proprietors, market traders, staff of convenience stores, jewellers, DIY stores, drapers, booksellers, newsagents, greeting card shops and tobacconists. Staff of second hand shops, clothes exchanges and department stores. Those who manage shopping precincts, retail parks and markets. Window Dressers, shop fitters and suppliers of shop fittings and point of sale equipment.
Week 35 - commences Sunday 1st September
Those who work in tourism
Hoteliers, guest house proprietors and staff, providers of self-catering accommodation, travel agents, couriers, youth hostel wardens, providers of activity and study holidays, National Trust remunerated and voluntary staff, sightseeing tour operators, paid and voluntary staff of steam railways, tourist information providers and compilers of phrase books.
This resource is adapted from Touching the Pulse - worship and where we work by permission of the publisher and copyright owner Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London, England N3 1DZ http://www.stainer.co.uk Tel. 44 020 8343 3303 Fax. 44 020 8343 3024 |
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Industrial Christian Fellowship - Worship and Prayer Resources |
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