Watch and Pray during Lent

Special Message from the Chaplaincy Wardens

There is some exciting news we wanted to share. We are delighted to be able to send you the following announcement from the Archdeacon about our new Chaplain: 

The Bishop in Europe is pleased to announce that he has offered the post of Chaplain in the Aquitaine Chaplaincy, France, to the Revd Canon John Bavington, currently Vicar of the Benefice of Great Horton and Lidget Green, in the Diocese of Leeds. 
John has accepted this, though of course the offer is subject to completion of the usual formalities. 
John and his wife Jeanie expect to move to the Aquitaine region once he has fulfilled his notice period to his current role and the necessary formalities have been finalised.”

Archdeacon Peter adds “this is really excellent news and almost brings to an end the process to find a new Chaplain for the Aquitaine Chaplaincy. I would particularly like to give thanks to those who have been part of this discernment process. Thanks also to all who have worked so hard in keeping the mission and ministry activities of the Chaplaincy on-going. I would also ask that you hold John and Jeanie in your prayers as they bring to an end their ministry in the Leeds Diocese and prepare to come to join us in the Archdeaconry of France.”
Further information regarding a licensing date will be confirmed once all the formalities have been completed.

Thanks so much to everyone for working so hard to keep our Chaplaincy running smoothly during the vacancy and especially for all those who have been praying so faithfully for our new Chaplain. 
Praise the Lord that he has brought our search to this very exciting conclusion. We are looking forward to welcoming John & Jeanie to Aquitaine as they begin their new ministry with us.

With our love in the Lord Jesus

Tina Marshall & Tim Heathfield
Chaplaincy Wardens

Join us for weekly for a time of online prayer on Tuesday evenings at 18:30 (CET)

Having been praying together weekly 6.30pm – 7pm on Tuesdays for the recruitment of a new chaplain, we now want to use this slot to Watch and Pray During Lent (Matthew 26:41).
Jesus faced the greatest temptation of His life and ministry in Gethsemane and needed the companionship and prayer support of His closest friends as He faced up to the burden and horror of the Cross. And it has remained the Prayer Task ever since of all His disciples to be those who Watch and Pray….as Tom Wright has written:

‘What counts is persistence. This isn’t just a routine or formal praying, going through the motions as a daily or weekly task. There is a battle on, a fight with the powers of darkness, and those who have glimpsed the light are called to struggle in prayer – for peace, for reconciliation, for wisdom, for a thousand things for the world and the church, perhaps a hundred or two for one’s own family, friends and neighbours, and perhaps a dozen or two for oneself.’

So, what is God saying to us at the present time? We won’t find out unless we spend time with the Lord in prayer. So please join with us on Tuesday evenings during Lent for 30 minutes of prayer at 6.30pm. My hope is that though we may only be together for 30 minutes, we will set aside at least that amount of time each day individually to watch and pray and hear what the Lord speaks into our hearts. We begin on Tuesday 11th March and every subsequent Tuesday in Lent (up to and including the 15th April).
David Marshall Clergy Ministry Team

Join us in praying for the following points:

As a worshipping Christian community,

we invite you to join us each week as we continue to pray for the next steps.

  • For the Chaplaincy Wardens and our Chaplaincy Council, and all who are preparing to welcome a new Chaplain, with the focus  constantly on God’s will for us.
  • That the remaining practical processes go ahead smoothly for our nominated Chaplain, protected from adverse and undesirable influences.
  • That all those leading and preaching in our services of worship may continue to be inspired and enabled by the Holy Spirit.
  • That the Holy Spirit will endow us with a spirit of anticipation about what new things God will lead us into.
  • For Tony and Ingrid who have retired and moved away from the Chaplaincy.
  • Anything else regarding this that comes to people’s hearts.

If you can join these meetings on Zoom on Tuesday evenings  please do, and if you cannot please join us in spirit. If you can only join us occasionally or if you can join us every week that will also be wonderful. We are intending to pray every week together and at other times separately until the Lord has sent us our new Chaplain.

The meetings are led by Chaplaincy worship leaders, including priests, readers, and congregational worship leaders.

These are exciting times and let us join in prayer for God’s blessing on us.

Please pray for the Timeline of dates:

  • More dates to follow as progress is made, with the Lord’s guidance

For more information or the zoom link:

Please contact the Mission and Outreach Team: aquitaineprayer@gmail.com