Prayer resources
The process explained
How you can have your say through our consultation which will open on 11 May.
The implications of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Prayer resources
The Very Reverend Nicholas Henshall, the Dean of Chelmsford has produced some prayer resources for use during the discernment process.
You can download the resources here
We encourage you to use these as we embark on this important journey together. Please also consider whether there is a prayer you wish to submit to us as an offer for sharing
more widely during the appointment process. There will be an opportunity to submit your prayers when the consultation opens.
A prayer for discernment
God of provision and care,
discernment and knowledge:
lead us in your love,
empower us by your Spirit,
and equip us with your gifts;
give us hearts full of love for all people,
minds open to the signs of the times,
and wisdom to know how to respond
to the voice of your calling;
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The implications of the coronavirus pandemic on the process
The Chelmsford Vacancy in See process takes place in unprecedented circumstances because of the coronavirus pandemic. The response of the Church of England in Essex and
East London gives us huge confidence in our collective capability to make this a success.
Our church buildings are closed but the response of our churches has been compassionate, imaginative and energetic. We have seen the Holy Spirit at work through new ways
of worship and service to our communities.
There are two significant implications of the pandemic that will be at the heart of our approach during the Vacancy in See process:
- In our consultation we will need to harness the new and imaginative approaches to communication that many of our churches have pioneered. At the same time we must
ensure that nobody is excluded because they aren’t comfortable with new technology
- The coronavirus pandemic and our recovery from it as a church and in our communities must be central to our thinking and discussions about the new Bishop of Chelmsford
and the landscape that they will serve in
