David Clowes

I am married and have two sons, a mentally handicapped foster son, and four grandchildren. I have always enjoyed making things (usually a mess!) and this has led to coping with an ever-expanding range of hobbies! When I was twelve I learnt something of the art of book-binding. More recently I took up oil painting. This was followed by growing around sixty Dahias each year. After a course of computer repairs, I now have an almost endless stream of computers to fix. The latest addition to my range of hobbies is growing Bonsai Trees.

It was January 1968, when I discovered the joy and the responsibility of leading the people of God in conversation with their Maker. My church background was firmly in the camp of extemporary prayer but I quickly realised that I was repeating the same phrases and began writing my prayers down.

My first book, 500 Prayers for All Occasions, was itself a journey of the Christian year. The second book, 500 More Prayers for All Occasions, was more of a patchwork quilt covering a whole range of styles and themes of prayer. The new book in the series, 500 Prayers for the Christian Year, provides prayers based on the Revised Common Lectionary covering the complete three-year cycle. With each of the prayers for a particular Sunday you will find the Biblical text which has been the inspiration for that prayer. There are three prayers for every Sunday, each of them is either a prayer of approach, praise, thanksgiving, confession or intercession. As previously, the prayers are set out in verse form, which is intended as an aid to leading the prayers in worship.They are also not written in formal church style language, but in the language we speak everyday. This means that they are more easily 'prayed' and not simply 'read'.

It is one of those strange experiences of life that some of the most moving moments in my prayer-life have been as I clicked away with two fingers on the keyboard of my computer. I have no doubt that those prayers which you will find most helpful and meaningful are the very ones which for me were 'gifts' I received through the grace of God. Many of the prayers included in this third volume of prayers have indeed 'found their life' during those precious moments in God's presence. They have come in the early morning before the day began or when the house was silent and still at the end of the day. It would also be true to say that many of the prayers, particularly those of intercession, find their roots in over forty years of pastoral ministry.

This year a new series of booklets of prayer have been added. These include 40 Prayers for Advent, 40 Prayers for the Christmas Season, 40 Prayers for your Quiet Time, 40 Prayers for All Age Worship, 40 Prayers for Lent, 40 Prayers for Families, 40 Prayers for Intercessions and 40 Prayers for Easter.