Day of Prayer for Bishop Andrew

Message from The Bishop of Dorking, The Right Reverend Paul Davies

The sudden news of Bishop Andrew’s inoperable cancer has shocked and saddened us all. Through the challenges of the past month, Bishop Andrew has continued to be inspirational in his faith and trust in the Lord whom he loves and serves with such devotion, and in his leadership and commitment to us as the Body of Christ in the Diocese of Guildford.

In his letter to the Diocese last week, Bishop Andrew’s request of us was for prayer. He asked us to pray for him and his family, and for the diocese at this challenging time. His words were ‘those with great faith might wish to pray for my complete healing, and that, of course, would be wonderful; but ‘cheerfully persisting’ towards a good death also bears testimony to our living Lord, and St. Paul’s testimony – that ‘for me to live is Christ, to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21). I know that he is enormously grateful to all those who are praying for him, Beverly and the family – and particularly appreciative of those who have assured him of this in the many messages that he has received.

As a Bishop’s Leadership Team, we have organised a Day of Prayer for Bishop Andrew in Guildford Cathedral on Monday 23 February from 12 noon to 10.00pm. All are welcome and encouraged to join us at any stage during the day for as long as you are able to stay. There will be opportunity for silent prayer, to pray with others, or to light a candle. Teams from each deanery will be present throughout the day to welcome people and to pray with them. At 5.30pm, there will be the usual Choral Evensong, at which we will pray in particular for Bishop Andrew. We hope that as many as possible will join us for this act of worship so that we can pray together as a diocesan family.

Meanwhile, please do continue to keep Bishop Andrew and his family in your daily prayers.

God of our hope and salvation,

we thank you for Andrew, our brother in Christ and father in God:

for his discipleship and leadership, and for his love and care of our diocese.

At this time of his illness, we pray that you would visit him with your healing love,

comfort and strengthen him with your Holy Spirit,

and protect him and his family with your holy angels.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Please know that, during this time of Bishop Andrew’s illness, I will do all I can, together with our

Bishop’s Leadership Team, to care and support him and his family, and you – as the precious family of CofEGuildford.

With love in Christ and prayers,

Paul

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