Hello everyone, welcome to our prayer page.

We believe that prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God, also that sharing your prayer with others can also help a great deal. We therefore invite you to submit any prayer requests you wish to share with us privately and confidentially and prayers that you would like to be put more widely on our parish prayer chain. The people or situations can be named or anonymous, just as you choose.
Send your prayer request to stepbystep@cowgill-close.demon.co.uk

Prayer request from: Peter G Wood

14th September 2004.

Here is an extract from an email that I have just received from Jenny Bretana, a friend of mine in Florida and whose son has been serving in Iraq.

Subject: He's coming home!!! From:Skie Bretana Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 10:14:50

Ok here is a great update. Chris is currently in California!!! He will be flying out of California Tuesday morning. That should put him back in Okinawa Wed. night...our time. That would be Wednesday morning your time. But the tickets are confirmed and as far as I know their are no current typhoons heading our way. So we should be all clear!!!! Other than that I don't have any more information..I don't even have flight information yet the arrival time is conjecture based on when he is leaving Cali. But he is definitely on his way home and he is no longer in Iraq...my favorite part right now. So please continue to pray for clear skies and no delays!!! Thinking of you all. Love,Skie

Prayer update from: Peter G Wood

Date: 13th September 2004.

Wow! Is all about I can say! Thank you all for your prayers and support for myself, Gillian, Dawn and Natalie. It has been truly so overwhelming and so, so lovely, I really am lost for words. Please can I ask that you continue these prayers for this very difficult period of our lives. Thank you so much and God Bless you and all whom you love. Peter & Gillian.

Prayer request from: Peter G Wood

Date: 16th August 2004

As many of you will have heard by now I have embarked on the biggest fight of my life - and that is for my life.

Firstly, I thank everyone who is, has been and will be joining in prayer chains for me, Gillian and my family.

As there have been a few misunderstandings in recent communications, I want to explain clearly what has happened as well as ask for specific prayers.

On 30th July I had an operation for a brain tumour, subsequently the results have been confirmed that I have a 'Glioblastoma Grade Four Multi-forming Cancer' in my brain. It is a type of cancer that is described as particularly aggressive and malignant, meaning that it is growing and will expand. It also appears that sadly there is no cure for it.

It can be regressed using radiotherapy for a period of time, but there will come a finality to this. This, according to my surgeon is generally measured in months rather than years (although 1 or 2 could be possible) and so you can see my difficulty.

Right now I feel pretty fit and surprisingly healthy. I am 'complis mentis' and am fully functional (if I ever was).

My wife Gillian, and I have a faith in God that is strong and sure and although we don't know why this is happening to us we will continue to hold fast and fight this 'evil' disease as hard and for as long as we can.

Many of you, my friends I know, don't have a faith (non-Christian friends) but I am this time still asking you to pray for Gillian, Dawn and Natalie especially, that they be comforted in the name of Jesus in this time of surreal trouble. Even if you can't bring yourself to pray, any kind thoughts would be well received.

If you can pray I am not asking you to pray for a peaceful end but I am asking you to pray specifically that I might become a miracle of God and manage to beat this cancer and in doing so I might be able to help others a little later on.

I am not a brave man (stupid maybe - but not brave) because I am as scared as any man could be, yet not so much for myself, but for those I love so dearly. That not only includes my immediate family of course, but for so many of you who have become such close and good friends over the years.

I was reminded recently that being strong is not so much a physical state achieved by training as say athletes do, but it is also a mental state of being, able to take another step of faith when all is conspiring against you, when you're tired, weary and shaking. I pray and ask you to pray with me that I may have that state within me.

So, this is not a check-out letter but a request that you mobilize your prayers/thoughts/people/prayer chains and anything else you can think of to help us fight this cancer.

Prayer request from: Peter G Wood

Date: 25th July 2004

My Spiritual Director (Graham Smith) called me today to tell me that his granddaughter (Helen Garrod) had died in a swimming tragedy a few days ago. She was 16 years old.

She got caught up in a water riptide and despite the valiant efforts of her older brother, who got to her and held on to her for many minutes before the boats could reach them, sadly however it was too late and she died in his arms in the water.

The funeral is on Monday and it will of course be a very sad day indeed. Please pray for Graham and his wife Rosemary as well as his daughter Debbie, her husband and Grahams other grandchildren plus for all of their family at this very sad time.

Thanks

Peter

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