January 2026

Bishop Michael’s Call to Prayer in 2026

“Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you." (Matthew 7:7)

These are the promises - the invitations - that Jesus makes to us. To be people who pray.

He says those words immediately after He has given His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’s invitation to grow in relationship with Our Father in heaven, so that we can become the people that we are called to be. People who are in relationship with God, knowing God better, living His life for us, doing the things God invites us to do in the world.

It is for this reason that I'm inviting our whole Diocese of Bath and Wells, in 2026, to make the year one of especial focus on prayer.

I know you're all praying already but what would it be like in 2026 if we gave some extra focus to all that we are about.

So please, in 2026, would you join with me to Ask – Seek - Knock - to our Father in heaven who longs to hear us so that we can be His people through prayer to Him?

Our Diocesan Prayer for Growth and Transformation.

Loving God,
You alone bring growth to your Church and transformation to our communities.
We give thanks for the ways in which you are already at work in our lives and world. As we look to the future, send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, and grace in living and telling your story.
Help our churches to grow in commitment to you, in numbers and diversity, and in partnership with our local communities in all that gives life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please get behind Bishop Michael’s call to prayer in 2026, to pray that more people would come to faith in Jesus Christ and for the flourishing of our communities. A great starting point is to pray the diocesan prayer for growth and transformation, and we will include this in our services. You may also like to unpick the Lord’s Prayer using the attached template in your prayer life – all the churches in Bath and Wells will be exploring this year. The letters in Stay Connected this year will all be prayer related.

It is great to see lots of you signing up to the Bible reading notes. This is so important to deepen our own discipleship which is the first place to start in participating in God’s mission.

I would love to hear any ideas you have about how to get us praying more in our two church families and together as a benefice so please do get in touch with me.

Finally, at this sad time for the whole of WSM please pray for the family and friends of Aria Thorpe. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Blessings Larissa