Bishop says a prayer for shoppers

Buy photos » Say one for me - The Bishop of Worcester Dr John Inge listens to the prayer request of Bill Roberts. Picture by Nick Hands 0812026NHR. Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com

THE BISHOP OF Worcester took to the High Street today (Wednesday) to ask shoppers whether he could say a little prayer for them.

Bishop John Inge was joined by other clergy and lay people in the city centre on Ash Wednesday to collect prayers from passers-by as part of the national Say One for Me scheme.

People's prayer requests were written down on special cards and will be taken to Ash Wednesday services at the Cathedral and churches across the diocese to be prayed for.

Bishop John said: “Each Ash Wednesday we hit the streets to ‘Say One’ for individuals in the diocese and on previous occasions we’ve found that people have really appreciated somebody taking the time and interest to pray for them and any problems or concerns that they’re currently experiencing.

"Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, which is an important time in the Christian calendar and it’s a good time to focus on the difference that prayer can make.”

Say One For Me takes place every year and many Church of England bishops and other clergy across the country head out into towns and cities to gather people's prayer requests.

It was inspired by the Bishop of Worcester after he decided to collect prayers outside the Job Centre in Redditch on Ash Wednesday in 2009, to encourage those that had been worst affected by the economic downturn.