Bishop urges Lancs to pray for Philippines typhoon victims

Typhoon Haiyan survivors crowd around a Phillippine soldier to ask for food as aid arrives in the village of Marabut. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

In a letter to clergy in the diocese, the Bishop asks that prayers are said at services this Sunday and provides a prayer to be used.

He also encourages all churches to give congregations a chance to donate to the ongoing relief effort in the aftermath of the recent Typhoon Haiyan.

In his letter, Bishop Julian says: “The need is immense, and above all our first response must be to pray for God’s mercy and help for the traumatised, the injured, the bereaved and for the vast numbers without the essentials of food and shelter.

“We must also pray for God to open the way for assistance and aid to reach those most in need. I would ask we all make this a particular focus of our praying together as a church this weekend.”

The Bishop adds: “Many people will have given individually, but I would ask all our churches also provide an opportunity for congregations to contribute to the effort to relieve our brothers and sisters in the Philippines.”