You can view the other four parts here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

I went to the Plough Service yesterday at the beautiful little church at Saunton (left). The service was to celebrate Plough Sunday which is a traditional English celebration of the beginning of the agricultural year and attended in particular by the local farmers. You’ll see the plough at the front of the church and as well as that and hymns such as ‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’ and ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ one of the farmers also asked Vicar Anne to bless the seed which she duly did. The service is traditionally held on the Sunday after Epiphany which is therefore the Sunday between 7 January and 13 January. The tradition was that work in the fields did not begin until the day after Plough Sunday: Plough Monday.

Intercessions, St Brannocks, 23/10/11

Lord, we pray for all those in our local community who are in need. In particular we pray for those who are searching spiritually, that you will guide them into your fold and show them the love and joy that comes from opening up their hearts to you. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Lord we pray for those around the world who are suffering. We pray in particular for those who are starving in the Horn of Africa, for those who are affected the flood in Thailand and for the people of Libya as they come to terms with the enormous changes they have experienced. We pray also that you guide our political and economic leaders around the world so that they may be blessed with your wisdom and steer the world economy through its time of trouble. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Lord, we think of your creation, of the beauty in nature which is all around us. Help us to be good stewards over your world and to give the environment the respect which all of your creation is due. We pray in particular for those who are helping to clear up the oil spill in New Zealand. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Lord, we pray for those who have suffered injustice around the world. In particular for those who have been unjustly imprisoned or whose human rights have been curtailed. We pray for those who are being persecuted for practising their faith in you and we remember quite how lucky we are to live with the freedoms with which we are blessed in this country. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Lord we pray for your clergy and all those who work so hard in your name. We think in particular in this parish of Anne, John, Jean and David. We pray also for all those around the world who are working in your name to help alleviate people’s suffering and bring people closer to you. In particular we think of the missionaries in Africa and pray that you may give them strength. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We pray to each person of the Holy Trinity. Heavenly Father, we pray that this day we may live in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, we pray that this day we may take up our cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, we pray that this day you will fill us with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.