CYM Prayer Diary - 2025 Issue 1

A new year is upon us and we look forward with excitement and anticipation for what the work of CYM will look like. As always, we aim to be flexible in our approach, meeting the needs of those we spend time with, but also listening carefully, and discerning where is best to place our efforts and resources. 2024 saw some great moments of Jesus’ love being reflected through our programmes, team and volunteers –we pray that 2025 will be the same!

I hope you will enjoy ‘meeting’ Urshie in this edition. Her hard work and patience with all things admin and finance make such a difference to our work. She well and truly keeps me on track!

Please also see the details for the dwell series and The Gathering youth events in 2025 – we’d be so grateful if you would share these with people and encourage them to consider coming along.

I hope and pray that your Christmas was full of joy and ask you to continue praying for our work, supporting us, and encouraging us as we move into another new year of opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the children, young people and staff that we meet.

SIMON SCOTT CEO

WEEK 1 - ABI & BECKIE

We thank God for the Raedwald Trust. We thank God for their acceptance of Chaplaincy. We pray for God’s hand of blessing over the Trust in this New Year.

We pray for the students in Parkside – that they would know God’s peace, purpose and protection as they prepare for GCSE exams and plan for further education.

WEEK 2 - HENRY

As we move into the new year, I would appreciate prayer for conversations with new funders who really understand the importance of our work, and who are willing to fund us where others aren’t.

As the new school term gets going, please pray for the School Chaplaincy team, and all those that work in education, may the rest of the Christmas break not be quickly forgotten.

WEEK 3 - KATIE

Ask God who He is working within this week and pray He pours hope in the hearts of the children, teachers, chaplains, volunteers and leaders.

Please help us pray that the Holy Spirit will direct the hearts of new volunteers that share in our values, joyful, creative, generous and collaborative.

WEEK 4 - AIMEE

Thank God for the staff at St. Matthew’s Primary that hold it all together for students to come to school in a safe, clean, and welcoming place.

Pray for parents and families, who are on the cusp of church and faith, that God puts the right people in their path.

WEEK 5 - JOSH

Please pray for me as I take opportunities to rest at the beginning of the year, before the residential groups start.

We lift up Alderwood in prayer. We pray for the protection of staff and supernatural wisdom as they support students to transition back into mainstream school.

We pray for the continued development of the Chaplaincy wellbeing hub in Westbridge. We p ray that students and staff would encounter the love of God in those rooms.

We pray today for the students in St. Christophers. We pray for strength, comfort and hope as they navigate their education whilst managing health needs.

Thank God with me for His amazing faithfulness every day to us, in the ways that we are blessed.

Please pray I would continue to be present for Julia and Peter, especially as the workload of the new year ramps up.

Let us thank God for the positions he has blessed us with in working for CYM and ask for wisdom and inspiration for ways to create meaningful activities that share Jesus‘ heart.

Pray for the staff, that they may avoid getting consumed by the busyness of work. May they take moments to pause, reflect, and recognise the impact they are making in the lives of the children.

God is Good! We thank God for growth in the provision of Home Educated groups. We thank you that we have the space to offer people to come together.

Please pray for our Campsite Programme team, may God lead them in the right direction for the new season, and would Jesus be seen through them by all that attend our programmes.

After the busyness of the Christmas and New year season, I can find these early months of the year quite hard. Please pray I would be able to find joy in every day.

Father, we ask that you unite the Hub team in courage and boldness. Holy Spirit show us how we can collaborate with our neighbours.

Pray that I continue to strengthen connections with the school and the church community.

Holy Spirit we ask that you lead youth workers who need community and rest to our dwell events. I ask you to pray for my spiritual equipping on leadership and communication for dwell.

Pray that students feel, seen, heard, and loved.

Please pray for the provision of team this year. We thank Him for all those that serve and we pray that more will come along too.

Please pray for new schools to visit CYM’s Basecamp. We trust God to make the right schools aware of what CYM is offering.

WEEK 1 - TOM

Please pray for staff at West Suffolk College when they have more students than last year and that they are able to support students.

Please pray for staff at Abbeygate and help them deal with additional workload so please give them time to work to the best of their abilities.

WEEK 2 - SIMON

Please pray for me this week (and Ant too!) as we make final preparations for the team retreat this coming weekend.

WEEK 3 - ANT

As we continue to retreat today, please pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit and God’s voice speaking words of affirmation to each one of the precious individuals in our team.

WEEK 4 - JO

Pray that our Christian Union would flourish and for students to grow deeper in faith and friendship with each other.

We welcome another ‘Home Educated’ group to the site this week. Please pray for the young people and our team as they spend time with each other.

Let’s pray for the work that Gavin from Bury Christan Youth does in Abbeygate and West Suffolk College in supporting me in different areas e.g. Christan Unions and Kintsugi Hope groups.

Let’s pray for the support staff in supported learning who deal with challenging students who need extra support and training in different life lessons.

Please pray for the work I will be doing in Abbeygate and West Suffolk College with the Kintsugi Hope wellbeing course; helping students understand how to look after themselves.

Reflecting on the patterns of need in one-to-one support, I have noticed how much a feeling of sadness is the source of many of the boys’ struggles. Pray for a revelation of God’s Father heart towards them.

This is the point in my year where I start to contact Head teachers about our Chaplaincy provision for the next academic year. Please pray for encouraging conversations!

Please pray for additional opportunities for me to share our work with local churches and organisations in the coming months.

We will be on retreat for some of this weekend. Pray for rest for all, and an inspiring time in each other’s company! This is always a special time together.

Pray for the teams that support young people’s mental health, the welfare team, student services, counselling and Chaplaincy.

Prior to half term I had a week of assemblies launching Chantry’s kindness Campaign. Pray the inspiration of the parable of The Good Samaritan and acts of kindness encourage the whole school community.

After half term I will be offering Year 9 students the opportunity to consider being part of our next Kintsugi Wellbeing group. God knows who needs this most so ask for discernment.

It’s back-to-school next week! Pray for all in Chantry Academy who have been having a tough time that they will know moments of refreshment and joy for the rest of this weekend.

I reflect on Galatians 5:22 for God to use me to bring in his love, joy, peace, goodness and kindness and healing for staff and students that I see on a 1:1 basis.

I long to see the spirit of God breakthrough in the college. Pray for a spiritual hunger in students and staff and opportunities to share Gospel.

For staff and students going through bereavement where they feel lost hope, pray for peace and renewed hope.

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

MARCH

WEEK 1 - BETH

In school I am going to be running an activity for World Day of Prayer. Please pray this activity has a positive impact.

Please pray for our Youth Alpha, faith interest group that has been running. I pray we would see young people come to faith.

I thank God for the mentoring I am organising / running in the school. I pray that we can see lives transformed through this work.

I thank God for the opportunities I get to meet and talk to so many different young people! Pray that God can use each conversation.

WEEK 2 - MAX

On alternate Mondays, I have online lectures with Ridley Hall College – please pray for me as I settle into these this term.

Please pray for inspiration as I look at creative ways to use sport within CYM’s ministry.

WEEK 3 - LUCY

Our Chaplains will be giving ‘blessings’ to the staff in all their schools in the coming few days. Please pray these encourage and bless staff and spark great conversations.

I’m so grateful for all God has blessed us with this year. As I lead our Chaplaincy work, please ask God to speak to me and give me His vision.

As I settle into the CYM team, and my studies, please pray that I will be able to build good relationships within the time that I have available.

As we look ahead to a busy summer schedule of school visits, please pray that I will have a positive impact in those weeks.

I reflect on the idea of light and the verse Matthew 4: 16. Please pray for young people in the area, that they would see and live in God’s light.

Last term Philip joined us as Chaplain to East Bergholt School. Thank God for him and ask for encouragement and equipping as he establishes Chaplaincy in the school.

WEEK 4 - URSHIE

Prayers please for the Basecamp team as we get ready for the season ahead.

I’m so thankful for the amazing team I work alongside at CYM. Please pray for protection on our relationships.

I ask for prayers for all aspects of my work which is now very varied, that I won’t forget anything.

As the Easter holidays approach, please pray for deep rest and blessing for our Chaplains. Ask God to speak to them, encourage them and fill them with His Spirit.

Please pray today for the assignments that I am working on, and the deadlines that I have to meet. Pray for a good balance between studies and placement time.

Going into the next term can get extremely busy. Prayers please that in the busyness I still show Jesus’ love in my work.

Please ask the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of children and young people in schools, and that our Chaplaincy team would be inundated with questions and conversations about faith!

As I speak to and contact many schools over the coming weeks, prayers please for patience when things aren’t always going to plan.

Thank you to everyone who came along to our Celebration in December. If you didn’t make it, people were asked ‘What one big thing would you like to see CYM doing?’ If you’d like to suggest something, get in touch!

GETTING TO KNOW OUR TEAM

SAY HELLO to Urshie

I have worked for CYM for five years now, so you’ll probably have heard my name mentioned at various times.

I am married to Adrian, and we have shared life’s adventures for 42 years. We have two grown up children who are married to wonderful partners who are all an incredibly important part of our lives. We have four grandchildren that we are so blessed by, aged 14, 13, 10 and 9. As they live locally, we get to see them often and enjoy fun times with them, laughing a lot, they certainly help keep us young.

A recent addition to our family is Ted. He is a tortoise who came to live with us in the summer, who although small, he has a great presence and is very amusing. We also keep 3 chickens; fresh eggs are great!

Adrian and I attend Fields church at Kesgrave, a wonderful spiritual home where we feel loved and cared for. It’s obviously not perfect but it is full of love and a church where God’s word is upheld as truth.

My work at CYM is very varied, ranging from finances in various forms, assisting team members with admin jobs, working alongside Josh with all things “Basecamp”

to name but a few. Working with the schools that attend the campsite here is a real privilege and now that some are returning each year, building relationships with the staff at the schools adds a real depth to the work I do.

Coming to “The Hub” to work is an incredible blessing seeing God’s creation as you drive through the countryside, watching the changes in seasons, the animals that disappear across the fields as you disturb the silence. It’s so beautiful; it makes my soul sing with thanks at what an awesome God we have.

GIVING ONLINE

Your giving, small or large, makes a significant contribution to the work of CYM in Suffolk. Would you consider a one-off or regular gift? There are many ways to do this. The simplest is to set up a Standing Order from your own bank and you can do that with the bank details below. Alternatively, scan the QR code for other options.

BANK DETAILS

Bank of Scotland

Christian Youth Ministries

Sort Code: 12-16-39

Account: 00168040

Scan the QR code below

Name (title):

Address:

If you would prefer to send a standing order form to us in the post, you can tear this slip off and return it to:

Simon Scott, CYM, Vauxhall Christian Trust Campsite, Great Wenham, CO7 6QQ.

Please pay Christian Youth Ministries £ and debit my account number Bank sort Code Starting on: My Bank: Signature:

Bank Address:

GIVING BY POST GIFT AID

Your regular gift BANKERS ORDER: Bank of Scotland plc, 35 Princess St, Ipswich IP1 1AE (12-16-39 a/c 00168040) Gift Aid Declaration CHRISTIAN YOUTH MINISTRIES, Vauxhall Christian Trust Campsite, Great Wenham, CO7 6QQ.

Forenames:

Address:

Postcode: each month/quarter/year until further notice

Surname:

Postcode:

Signature: Email: Church (if appropriate):

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.

Date:

A prayer and worship evening for young people (years 7–13) across Ipswich and beyond.

2025 DATES:

Friday January 17th

Friday April 4th

Friday September 26th

(Venues TBC and will be listed on CYM website) THE GATHERING

BOOK YOUR PLACE

dwell.

Retreat weekend

Dwell is our way of saying thank you, you are noticed, and you are not on your own. A series of gatherings allowing you space to connect with God in a relaxed way.

28th – 30th March 2025

Other dwell dates will be published on our website and socials in the coming months.

BOOK YOUR PLACE