Pastorate Prayer Points: Summer 2020
On Wednesday 17th June, we held the first ‘Oxford Pastorate Online Alumni Gathering’. More than 60 former postgraduates from all around the world participated – from those eating breakfast on the US east coast to those up past midnight in New Zealand. by Zoom for alumni and those involved with our ministry with postgraduates over the past twelve years. Over 60 alumni and former team members attended, along with present partners and volunteers.
The event began with a short devotional talk by Emilie Noteboom, followed by updates from Kosta and Nada Milkov of the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture, and Ard and Mary Louis from Developing a Christian Mind. Participants then divided into three breakout groups to pray for and with each other. The event was rounded off with a re-commissioning of alumni by Christian Hofreiter. The joy in being reunited, even virtually, was palpable and there was widespread desire for the event to be repeated. We’d like to make the groups that participated in this event the focus of our prayer points this term:
· Give thanks and praise for this event – for the high turnout of alumni, the smooth technical running, the ‘buzz’ and clear delight of alumni as they were able to ‘see’ each other for the first time in many years and for old connections and friendships reignited and past times in Oxford remembered fondly.
· For former Pastorate Chaplains and staff, especially Emilie Noteboom now living and working in Amsterdam, Christian Hofreiter working for RZiM in Vienna, Rob Heimburger working at the University of Aberdeen, and Kate Seagrave serving as Mission Priest at St Fridewide’s in Oxford
· For Kosta and Nada Milkov and their work with the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture in Skopje, Macedonia, for plans for an upcoming 10-year celebration of the Oxford Connections programme and for continuance in building good relationships with Macedonian Universities and cultural institutes.
· For Ard and Mary Louis and their work for Developing a Christian Mind…
· For the alumni themselves - see our recently updated alumni section on our website for specific individuals you may like to pray for …
· And lastly, for Oxford Pastorate Team to rest well over the summer, and to return energized for the start of Michaelmas Term.
Whether you are a former Oxford postgraduate, a supporter of the Oxford Pastorate, or simply a reader of this newsletter, the Oxford Pastorate team would be delighted to pray for you. Please send your prayer requests to ([email protected])