Reading this week's prayers is Mark Rathbone. "I’m Mark Rathbone and I am married to Elizabeth, with one grown-up son, Tim. I am an LLM at Lytchett Minster and St Dunstan’s Upton, where I enjoy preaching, leading services and doing pastoral work. As a Trustee of the Poole-Wau Partnership, I recently travelled to South Sudan, where we led a training course on Luke’s gospel, and took part in the opening ceremony of a new building at St John’s College, Wau. I enjoy visiting historic buildings and going to concerts along with Elizabeth, singing, writing History articles, cycling, reading The Guardian and driving my MG. "
Read our daily Cycle of Prayer below, listen on our social media (Diocese of Salisbury).
Read all of April 2025's prayers
Monday 14 April: Verwood, Wimborne Deanery
Jesus, Our Saviour,
In your name, we pray for the communities of Verwood. We pray for the people who live and work there, and those who minister to them, including Revs Deborah Matthews and Mike Eaton.
We ask for your blessing on the pupils, families and staff of: Verwood First School
Verwood Emmanuel Middle School and
Verwood Trinity First School
Three-Legged Cross First School
Hillside First School
Amen
Tuesday 15 April: West Moors, Wimborne Deanery
Compassionate God,
Today, we give thanks for the communities of West Moors, for all who work and live there. We ask for your blessing on the ministry of lay leaders and volunteers in the benefice and its clergy, Elizabeth Campbell and Mike Eaton.
We raise to you the pupils, families, and staff of West Moors St Mary's First School.
Amen
Wednesday 16 April: West Parley, Wimborne Deanery
Loving Lord Jesus,
We raise to you today the benefice of West Parley and Rev Charles Booth. We pray that you would fill all with your Holy Spirit so that they might be inspired to continue to seek your truth and serve with love.
In our link diocese, we pray for Rt Revd Peter Yuol Gur, Bishop of Tonj in South Sudan.
Amen
Thursday 17 April: Maundy Thursday
Wimborne Minster and Wimborne Villages, Wimborne Deanery
On today, Maundy Thursday, we pray for all those reflecting and holding services.
We pray for the benefice of Wimborne Minster and Wimborne Villages for all who work and live there. We pray for the clergy who minister to the community: Andrew Rowland, Marianne Mangham, Heather Waldsax, Sharon Boyle, and we ask you to bless the lay leaders who minister in this place.
We pray for the families, staff, and pupils of:
Witchampton First School
Gaunts Common St James' First School
Wimborne Queen Elizabeth's Secondary School
Pamphill First School
Amen
Friday 18 April: Good Friday
Poole and North Bournemouth Deanery
This Good Friday as we remember your sacrifice for all We pray for those across our diocese who are working hard this weekend to spread your word at this Easter time. We ask that where the seed falls, it will be richly blessed with love and truth to grow in faith. We ask for your blessing on the communities of Poole and North Bournemouth for all who live, work, pray, and play there. We pray for Rural Dean, Simon Evans and Assistant Rural Dean, David Price.
Amen
Saturday 19 April: Holy Saturday
Branksome Park All Saints, Poole Deanery
God, this Holy Saturday,
We pray for Your abundant blessing on Branksome Park All Saints and all who lead and worship and meet there. We thank you for the clergy, Luke Steven, and Kate Edwards. We pray they know Your presence and guidance with them this week.We pray for the worship leaders, school leaders, churchwardens, treasurers, PCC members, and clergy of this benefice, and all those who serve in these ways across the diocese.
Amen
Sunday 20 April: Easter Sunday: Branksome St Aldhelm, Poole Deanery
On today Easter Sunday, join as us we pray:
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
We raise to you in prayer the benefice of Branksome St Aldhelm. We pray for Revd Robyn Golden-Hann, and we pray you may bless all who work and play there.
We ask you to bless the staff, students and parents of Bishop Aldhelm's Primary School.
In our prayers for the Anglican church, we pray for Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui.
Amen