Prayers with the Archbishop

'A solid prayer life is essential for every Christian - regardless of their ministry - and taking time to be with God is what we should be about'. John Sentamu

In the summer of 2007, the Archbishop of York sent every MP in the country some summer reading: the 100-Minute Bible and a guide to slowing down. The 100 Minute Bible gives a synopsis of every book in the Bible and takes less than two hours to read.

The guide to slowing down, written by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, is entitled Do Nothing to Change Your Life. The book urges its readers to create pauses in daily life to benefit their own, and society's, health and wellbeing. The book argues that this fresh perspective of relishing every moment with a greater attentiveness will improve our relationship with God.

Do Nothing to Change Your Life is a passionate plea for the nation to ditch endless 'to do' lists, constant streams of emails, and an increasingly '24/7' culture. The book was published following news that an international study had shown that the pace of life in our cities has increased by 10 per cent in the last decade. The Bishop's warning about the danger of not taking rest and play seriously is a timely one.

The Archbishop invites you to join him in prayer today.  Some topical prayers said in Bishopthorpe Chapel include prayers for peace for peoples of the Middle East and Zimbabwe, for world leaders, for military personnel and those caught in conflict and for higher purpose. You can find these by clicking on the links above.

Alternatively you could choose from the Church of England's Common Worship at a time that suits you.

Morning Prayer    (Common Worship)

Evening Prayer    (Common Worship)

If you are looking for a place to pray, you may wish to find a quiet place to reflect and pray on your own, or have you considered visiting your local church?  To see where your nearest Anglican church is, please visit the Church of England website for more information.

For more prayers, visit the Church of England prayers section of the website for prayers taken from the Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship.