This is the official website of The Downs Benefice Winchester, Hampshire.

We aspire to be a vibrant Christian Community with Jesus at the heart of our ministry - making a difference.
We aim to do this by being a relevant, welcoming, inclusive worshipping community, embracing all people, serving others and sharing the message of Jesus.
And we want to do this with humility, grace, love and prayer.

Daily Prayers

Notices in brief...

For all the notices and more information, please see our Notices page

In Emergency 

The Benefice Office

(01962 880 845 / office@downsbenefice.org.uk) is open from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays,  however if you need to contact a minister in an emergency outside of these hours, please call either:

Revd Kevin Rogers: 07584 162 594

or

Benefice Office: 07857 512 053

Further information about the phone line is available

here

The Downs Benefice Safeguarding Information and Contacts

If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a Safeguarding Advisor or if necessary report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay.

 

If you have any concerns please email the appropriate Safeguarding Officer 

(email addresses below)

 

Chilbolton - stmarythelesssafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Crawley - stmaryscrsafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Littleton - stcatherinessafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Sparsholt - ststephenssafeguarding@outlook.com

 

Wherwell - stpeterandholycrosssafeguarding@outlook.com

 

 

or contact the Safeguarding Administrator c/o The Benefice Office

Tel: 01962 880 845 - Email: Downs Benefice Safeguarding 

Prayer Requests

If you have any prayer requests, for any concerns lying on your heart or to give thanks, please email the office on office@downsbenefice.org.uk

All prayer requests will be made anonymous before being passed on  to our Prayer Team.

Parish Magazine Deadline

Copy for June/July edition of the Benefice Parish Magazine should be submitted by 12.00 noon - Friday 9th May.

 

Prayer Requests

If you have any prayer requests, for any concerns lying on your heart or to give thanks, please email the office on office@downsbenefice.org.uk

All prayer requests will be made anonymous before being passed on  to our Prayer Team.

This month's Prayer List

Prayer for Friday 14th March

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Prayer for the Week 

First Sunday of Lent

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Prayers for the Middle East

O God of all justice and peace, we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.

Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.

 

 

Father God,

We cry out to you on behalf of the people seriously affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Our hearts break at the devastation and suffering that we see, and we know it breaks yours, too.

We ask that you would stretch out your mighty hand to bring an end to this war.

We cry out for people who have been injured or traumatised, who have lost loved ones or their homes.

Please provide everything they need and be their comfort, their hope, their healer, and their safe refuge.

We pray for your peace to reign.

We look to you as our Saviour and the hope of the world.

Amen

A Prayer for Ukraine.

Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine,

for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world, that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world.

Amen.

A Prayer for Refugees:

 

O God, please hear our prayer for all refugees everywhere,

that we

amidst plenty,

in comfortable homes,

where it is safe to go out,

may open our borders,

open our hearts,

and open our homes

to all those, everywhere, fleeing

violence, 

persecution,

terror,

and loss.

Amen

 

 

A Prayer for Our Planet

 

O God, please hear our prayer that we may avert climate change.

Send down your Holy Spirit into the hearts and minds of

our engineers,

our scientists,

our politicians,

those who guid public opinion,

and those who bank and invest money on our behalf

that, together, we may step back from the brink

and stop spoiling this beautiful world

over which you have made us stewards.

Amen

 

Prayers for the World

 

God, our refuge and strength,
bring near the day when wars shall cease
and poverty and pain shall end,
that earth may know the peace of heaven
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.