How to Start a Prayer Cycle

Please read "How to Begin" in the "How to Start a Prayer Group" Section

A Prayer Cycle is simply a list of people and concerns for whom prayer is desired. Prayer cycles may be organized on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis. For instance, The Anglican Cycle of prayer is an annual listing of Anglican dioceses and bishops throughout the world. It is used regularly in churches throughout the Anglican Communion both for daily intercessions and Sunday services.

Diocesan Prayer Cycle.

Many dioceses (depending on the size of the diocese) have a monthly prayer cycle where the bishop(s), clergy, and all the parish churches are prayed for in turn (usually by deaneries or regions). Special events like diocesan convention, diocesan prayer conference or Cursillo may also be included. Copies of the cycle are mailed to ail the parishes and these usually become the basis for parish intercessions at Sunday worship services.

If your diocese does not have a prayer cycle, ask your bishop if he/she would like you to prepare one and circulate it. Before printing and circulating a diocesan prayer cycle, be sure to check it first with the bishop or someone designated by the bishop. One firther note: Your bishop may not want you to prepare a diocesan prayer cycle, and then you may later discover that the responsibility for this has been given to someone else, such as a staff member in the diocesan office. Do not be discouraged! The bishop obviously feels that this is a diocesan responsibility, and your offer to prepare a cycle may have helped him to recognize the omission.

Parish Prayer Cycle.

A parish prayer cycle is intended to help parishioners pray for the mission and ministry of their church. The roster will usually include the clergy. secretary, organist, youth worker, janitor, and any other paid staff as well as regular volunteers like Sunday school teachers. It may also include organizations like A.C.W., parish outreach ministries, newcomers to the church and members of the confirmation class. Some churches pray for all their members! A parish prayer group or prayer chain could prepare such a cycle and make it available to the parishioners.