Coventry Pilgrimage 2018

What is it?   

To be a pilgrim is to undertake a journey with a spiritual purpose. We invite you to walk some or all of the Coventry Pilgrimage route in 2018.

We will walk the almost 50 mile route, circling Coventry from church to church around the Coventry Way footpath and reaching the Cathedral down the Sherbourne Valley Way. We will walk a section of about 4 to 6 miles on the last Saturday morning of each month for 9 months from Easter Eve, March 31st, to the Eve of Christ the King, November 24th.

Why are we doing it?

To wait for and welcome Christ the King in Coventry.
To spend time with friends and make new friends – building a reconciling community.
To celebrate the Centenary of Coventry Diocese.
To explore and enjoy our environment. Because walking is good for us!

When is it?

We will meet outside a church at 10 am on the last Saturday morning of each month and set off by 10.15 am.

March 31st St Laurence Meriden via St John the Baptist Berkswell to Burton Green Village Hall (congregation of Westwood Church Coventry) 5.4 miles

April 28th Burton Green Village Hall (congregation of Westwood Church Coventry) to St Mary Stoneleigh 5.6 miles

May 26th St Mary Stoneleigh via St Giles Bubbenhall to St Leonard Ryton on Dunsmore 5.8 miles

June 30th St Leonard Ryton on Dunsmore via St Margaret Wolston to St John the Baptist Brinklow 5.9 miles

July 28th St John the Baptist Brinklow to St James Ansty 4.3 miles

August 25th St James Ansty to All Saints Bedworth 4.6 miles

September 29th All Saints Bedworth via St Andrew Bedworth to St Mary & All Saints Fillongley 6.2 miles

October 27th St Mary & All Saints Fillongley to All Saints Allesley 5.9 miles

November 24th All Saints Allesley via St John the Baptist Coventry and Holy Trinity Coventry to Coventry Cathedral 3.1 miles

Details of the walk for each month, guidance about where to park and suggestions for convenient places for lunch at the end of each walk will appear on the Diocesan Centenary website www.cov100.org month by month. (The churches on the route may or may not be open for pilgrims so please check month by month.)

Who is it for?

Anyone, church-goer or not, who wants to pray Christ’s peace and blessing where we walk and on Coventry. Particularly welcome are all who work, volunteer or worship on Hill Top or around the route.

Pilgrims walk at their own risk. Under 16s welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Well-behaved dogs welcome.

How do I get involved?

Just turn up. No need to register.

Because the walks are linear not circular, if possible arrange transport in a group, sharing cars and leaving a car at your destination, before driving to the starting point. There will be a few lifts back to the starting point for stranded drivers if needed.

Wear trainers, walking boots or sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof and some water. Bring a flask and a snack if you like.

Coventry Pilgrimage 2018 Planning Group (Paul & Pam Cavendish, John & Margaret Lloyd)

c/o John Lloyd, Cathedral Reader [email protected] Cathedral & Diocesan Offices,1 Hill Top, Coventry CV1 5AB

April Prayer for Christian Service – St Francis Radford

Monday April 9th, 4 – 5 pm 

at the Chapel of Unity

Debt advice, ESOL, Work Club, volunteer placements – St Francis Church, Radford, is very active in practical Christian service. Find out more, then pray for their work.

Introduced by: Revd Liz Jackson (Vicar)

All welcome!

More information: John Lloyd (Co-Chair, Chapel of Unity Joint Council) 02476 413004             [email protected]

Prayer Points

1) Launch of the “Arabian Bites” café on April 28th – publicity

2) Ongoing need for volunteers and funding

3) For everyone involved in the existing projects

4) For the building of relationships e.g. by giving space for people to share their stories (refugees, marginalised people e.g. Roma)

March 2018 Prayer for Christian Service – Healing on the Streets

Monday March 5th, 4 – 5 pm

Chapel of Unity

Healing on the Streets is a simple, but beautiful, way to reach out to the lost and hurting on the streets of our city, expressing God’s love in the market place, whatever the weather. We simply invite people to sit on chairs so we can pray for them. Come to hear their testimony – then pray!

 

Introduced by: Rose and Ian Jenkins (Coventry HOTS team-members)

 

All welcome!

 

More information: John Lloyd (Co-Chair, Chapel of Unity Joint Council) 02476 413004             [email protected]

February Prayer for Christian Service – Youth Homelessness Hub

Monday February 5th, 4 – 5 pm

Chapel of Unity
Coventry Cathedral

Bardsley Youth Homelessness Hub: “we walk with young people as they journey forwards, providing the practical and emotional support they need to gain the skills and confidence to find accommodation and keep it.”
Find out more – then pray!

Introduced by: Pat Clarke (Project Manager)

All welcome!

More information: John Lloyd (Co-Chair, Chapel of Unity Joint Council) 02476 413004 [email protected]

The Prayer Points

Young People

Hope for the future
Secure Home
Finances
Family

Project

Loving community giving hope
Thanks for resources
Good decisions to help each young person
Prevention work
Right contacts

City

More homeless – Council running out of resources
Correct and fair decisions by Housing Team
Homelessness Reduction Bill changes
Contracts for provision choices
Housing for low income citizens

Nation

Forgiveness
Good and fair financial decisions
Government for All
End of the austerity squeeze on the poorest
Fair rules for young people

Coventry Winter Night Shelter

Bernardo Cañas, CWNS Coordinator, told us about his experience of dealing with homeless people with a view to encouraging them to make use of the Coventry Winter Night Shelter programme.

Prayer points:

1)      For one brain-injured client, with alcohol-dependency and epilepsy, at present in hospital

2)      For those who, regretfully, have to be refused access to CWNS because of the risk they present to volunteers e.g. a history of violence

3)      For the 35 people interviewed by Bernardo who are now benefiting from CWNS, and for others to take up the remaining places

4)      For daily problems and challenges e.g. for possible issues arising from the forthcoming interregnum at St Oswald’s, Tile Hill

5)      For another venue to relieve St Columba’s, at present hosting for two nights weekly.

December Prayer Points – Salvation Army

Gethin Thomas, Keith Johnson and Tony  gave us an overview of the work that the Salvation Army do for the homeless in the city.

 Prayer points:

 1)      For support workers and volunteers as they seek to meet the needs of their clients

 2)      For patience and the long haul, recognising that many clients have a troubled background

 3)      For the transforming power of Jesus to be seen in the lives of more clients.

December Prayer For Christian Service – Salvation Army

Monday December 4th, 4 – 5 pm  Chapel of Unity

How can we help a homeless person? Come and find out how the Salvation Army is providing a city-wide service for the homeless through their Lifehouse and Gateway projects, so that we can pray for this ministry

Introduced by: Major Gethin Thomas (Corps Leader)

All welcome!

More information: John Lloyd (Co-Chair, Chapel of Unity Joint Council) 02476 413004                       [email protected]