Sunday 1
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Rooted gets its name from Ephesians 3:17–19. Read this verse and use it as a prayer for all the young people you know.

Monday 2
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Give thanks to God for giving Lucy the vision for Rooted, and enabling her and the SU team to develop the programme.

Tuesday 3
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Please pray that churches large and small, urban and rural, will catch the vision of Rooted, and be eager to use it to build strong and lasting relationships with young people in their communities, especially those who aren’t part of any church.

Wednesday 4
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Please pray for those young people who encounter Rooted that they will be able to discover their authentic selves and find real purpose and the peace that only God can give.

Thursday 5
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Ask God to help us be our authentic selves too, and be honest about our own struggles as we share the good news of Jesus with children and young people.

Friday 6
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Praise God for what he is doing in the lives of young people who are already involved with Rooted, and pray that they will continue on the journey towards faith.

Saturday 7
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Gus (mentioned in the article and part of a Rooted group) says, ‘I feel like we’re family’. Please pray that wherever young people encounter the gospel, whether or not that’s inside a church, they will get that same sense of God’s love and belonging.

Sunday 8
SU New Zealand is running two wilderness journeys for school leavers from 7–18 December. Please pray for safety, fun, growing relationships with God and awareness of his creation as these young people prepare for life after school.

Monday 9
South east development worker, Lisa Jones writes, ‘Pease pray as I invite church youth and children’s workers to join me in leading Christmas Unwrapped workshops in schools in the run-up to Christmas. May these workshops encourage stronger relationships between the churches and schools.’

Tuesday 10
This month, SU development worker Sam Fowler is working with the Romford outreach team to bring the good news to the 95 on the streets of Romford. Pray that they will communicate effectively and that there will be a number who respond.

Wednesday 11
Local mission partner Re:generation Harrow sees their Christmas Roadshow as a great opportunity to go into schools and share the Christmas story. Please pray for the team as they go into these schools and that the children will engage and understand the good news of Jesus.

Thursday 12
Steve Hutchinson is leading a Christingle service for over 100 3- to 7-year-olds at his local primary school. Pray for safety and that they will understand the true meaning of Jesus the Light of the World as they light their candles.

Friday 13
Jenni Whymark, development worker in the south east region, will be running Crafternoon with Surbiton Hill Methodist Church. This is an opportunity for primary children to make Christmas-related things and hear the Christmas message. Pray for a good number to come and that they will be responsive.

Saturday 14
Local mission partner Lighthouse has Christmas Explored workshops taking place in primary schools in Crawley. Pray that these fun, engaging workshops will help children to discover what happened on the first Christmas and see what it means for them.

Sunday 15
This month SU Singapore has their annual children’s and youth camps. Pray for protection as participants go about the camp activities, and for lives to be touched through the programmes and teaching sessions. Pray for safe travel for the youth as their camp is held in a neighbouring country.

Monday 16
Pray for the Christmas presentations to all Year 6 children in Fleet and Church Crookham being run by local mission partner Fleet and Crookham Churches Together in Schools. Pray too for positive outcomes as they encourage local churches to start children’s clubs for children at junior schools.

Tuesday 17
Pray for the north staff team as they meet today under the leadership of north team leader Rob Steward to plan for the next few months. Pray especially for guidance for new residentials across the north.

Wednesday 18
Please pray for the children who will be getting a copy of God Became Like Me? this Christmas. Pray that through this interactive storybook they will see how loved, precious, special and important they are.

SU Christmas campaign: With the help of our supporters and partners, we’re hoping to help thousands of children engage with the real meaning of Christmas through the gift of ‘God became like me?, a beautiful retelling of the real Christmas story. Find out more about the campaign and see how your gift could help us reach even more children with the good news this Christmas. Find out more.

Thursday 19
Star in the Stable offers an opportunity for people to place themselves in the Christmas story; it is used in schools and public places and features as part of the mission in south west, north and Wales regions. Pray that this simple activity will help people to think more deeply about Christmas.

Friday 20
Thank God for those young people who last November took part in Shine, based on the theme of fear. Pray for a lasting impact and that the Christian young people would be more fearless as they share their faith and that non-Christian pupils will know that Jesus wants to help them with their fears.

Saturday 21
Pray for churches across the country as they engage with their local communities over Christmas, using SU resources like God Became Like Me? and A 95 Christmas to help them share the real meaning of Christmas.

SU Christmas campaign: With the help of our supporters and partners, we’re hoping to help thousands of children engage with the real meaning of Christmas through the gift of ‘God became like me?, a beautiful retelling of the real Christmas story. Find out more about the campaign and see how your gift could help us reach even more children with the good news this Christmas. Find out more.

Sunday 22
Thank God that SU in Italy are encouraged after a number of difficult years. Pray that this will continue and especially that they will see an increase in the circulation of Bible notes.

Monday 23
Give thanks for the HOPE Tour which went into primary and secondary schools across Mansfield and Ashfield in October, and helped thousands of children and young people hear about Jesus. Pray for Bob Goody as he seeks to build on these contacts and follow up those who showed interest.

Tuesday 24
Give thanks for all who have served on the staff of the movement and are now retired. Pray that they experience God’s presence in a special way this Christmas. Pray for the work of the Josiah Spiers Trust which seeks to support them.

Wednesday 25
As today we reflect on the wonder of God coming among us, pray for the 95 – for some this will simply be a joyful day of family celebration with no thought of Jesus, for others a painful day of loneliness and separation. Pray that over the coming year they may meet those who can show them the love of Jesus.

Thursday 26
Pray for Guardians of Ancora partners around the world, particularly in Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Brazil. Please pray for encouragement, stamina and safety in mission areas which are often challenging and sometimes dangerous. Thank God for the successful launch in Brazil on National Children’s Day in October.

Friday 27
Pray that the 250 Christmas books given out to children in the Barrow area by development worker Sarah Davison will have an impact on the children and families who received them.

SU Christmas campaign: With the help of our supporters and partners, we’re hoping to help thousands of children engage with the real meaning of Christmas through the gift of ‘God became like me?, a beautiful retelling of the real Christmas story. Find out more about the campaign and see how your gift could help us reach even more children with the good news this Christmas. Find out more.

Saturday 28
Pray for development worker Geoff Brown as he works with Contagious (local mission partner in Alnwick) to develop new materials for use with Year 7 to help them settle into secondary school. They will be working on the second session in the build-up to Easter.

Sunday 29
Thank God for the appointment of Gareth Lynch, as the National Leader of Scripture Union in the Republic of Ireland. Pray for him as he sets about developing a strategic vision and new direction for the ministry.

Monday 30
Last term the north regional team worked on three pilots of a children’s choir called Soul Children that saw children coming along each week to the choir to learn the songs and explore the Bible. Pray that these children will continue to grow in their faith.

Tuesday 31
Thank God for everyone who has supported the work of Scripture Union financially over this last year. Pray that God will encourage them through this practical involvement in mission.

Wednesday 1
Give thanks for the eight Beach Life summer events that took place in the north last year. Pray that this year more projects will develop across beach towns in the north and that they will result in many responding to the love of Jesus.

Thursday 2
Local mission partner Southport and Area Schools Workers Trust gives thanks for over 100 children and young people who gave their lives to Jesus last summer in Southport and asks us to pray for the continued follow-up.

Friday 3
The team from local mission partner YOYO (York Schools and Youth Trust) are in several primary schools delivering their ‘It’s Your Bible’ programme, an overview of the Bible in three lessons run over three weeks. Pray that this will give children a real interest in exploring further.

Saturday 4
Local mission partner Impact in Schools works in North Montgomeryshire taking assemblies and lessons. Join them in praying for a new schools worker for the Welshpool area to serve one high school and fourteen primary schools. Pray too that links with local churches may grow.

Sunday 5
Give thanks for the Bible notes writer training which Scripture Union Togo ran in the autumn. Pray for the writers as they put what they have learned into practice and that as a result, readers will grow in their relationship with God.

Monday 6
Local mission partner Sevenoaks Area Youth Trust asks for prayer that the cold weather will not hinder their detached youth work and they will still be able to engage with young people across Sevenoaks building relationships and sharing the good news of Jesus.

Tuesday 7
Local mission partner The Youth Net is offering Interfaith RE conferences at primary schools in Stafford and Burton-on-Trent. Pray that these will help pupils engage positively and encourage them to think about their own beliefs and values.

Wednesday 8
Some of the Welsh team will be involved in the Higher mission in secondary schools across north Wales running 3–7 February. Pray for development worker Helen Franklin as she helps set up events and prepares local workers and volunteers for the mission week and all that will happen after it.

Thursday 9
Rooted is an approach to youth ministry based on long-term relationships that enables young people to explore Christian faith at their own pace. Pray for the development of Rooted hubs in partnership with Eden bus project across Anfield, and for Rooted retreat days happening across schools in Blackpool and Stockport.

Friday 10
Pray that the storytelling week project this month run by local mission partner Christians in Stockport Schools will reach many schools with the good news and that children will engage and learn something of Jesus.

Saturday 11
Pray that as the movement continues to discuss what we understand by mission we will gain a better understanding of what it requires in our world; pray that this will make us more effective in communicating with those who do not know Jesus.

Sunday 12
Join SU Chile in praying for the Profamilia programme that benefits adolescent children and their families who need to receive the hope that only the Lord offers. Pray that there will be adequate funding for the programme to continue.

Monday 13
Local mission partner Engage in Woking asks us to pray that more volunteers will come and help with the schools work they do, to help with assemblies, youth work and new opportunities and activities as they move into the new year.

Tuesday 14
Shine in Schools encourages and equips pupils to share their faith with their friends and takes place in November each year. Over the next two days the planning group will review last year and plan for this November. Pray that they will have wisdom and know God’s guidance.

Wednesday 15
As a new year starts, please pray for the new and ongoing opportunities that local mission partner Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust has to support the schools, staff and young people in the schools of Brentwood, Essex and the surrounding area.

Thursday 16
This term, local mission partner YOYO will be working with some secondary schools and possibly primary schools in York looking at the Holocaust and the themes of suffering and faith. Pray that this will help children and young people to see that God cares about human suffering.

Friday 17
Pray for the fundraising team as they work to raise the money that is needed to implement SU’s plans over the next year. Pray that God will raise up a new generation of supporters for the movement.

Saturday 18
Pray for the planning for Lifepath Brinkburn 2020 in what will be its tenth year. At these early stages, the core team will be seeking God’s leading regarding the overall theme and how to integrate this into the programme.

Sunday 19
SU Sri Lanka asks us to pray for those who lost their friends and family members in the tragic events of last Easter and especially for healing for the children who were traumatised by this incident. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity for the staff team.

Monday 20
Local mission partner Reach, working in Reading, asks us to pray for the year 7s continuing to adjust to their new school environments and their new home workload. Pray too that God will bring more volunteers to help with baking and serving refreshments to staff in schools.

Tuesday 21
Pray for the south west team, South West Youth Ministries and Urban Saints as they partner together to provide new and varied opportunities at SPREE which last year attracted 1,500 children, young people and adults. Pray that as they meet to plan today they may have a clear picture of God’s way forward.

Wednesday 22
Jenni Whymark is involved with Jeremiah Project, a Churches Together in Portsmouth initiative, to train young leaders; please pray for their growth and development as they plan a joint worship event and an outreach event and for a residential being planned for the February half-term.

Thursday 23
Pray for churches planning their programmes for this year and aiming to use this year’s holiday club material Wonder Zone. Pray that this material which explores faith and science will help children to experience the wonder of creation and introduce them to the Creator.

Friday 24
As the conference for event leaders in the south takes place this weekend pray that leaders will be equipped and inspired for the coming year.

Saturday 25
At X:site Gloucester, which takes place today, they are working through the Must Know stories from the Bible. Pray that children will see the importance of the Bible in their lives and that many will respond to the invitation to camps where they can learn more.

Sunday 26
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Praise God that the Bible is as relevant to today’s youngest generation as it ever was (Isaiah 40:8.)

Monday 27
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Praise God for inspiring new ways for us to share his Word (such as Guardians of Ancora and Diary of a Disciple) with today’s young people, particularly those who aren’t in church (Colossians 2:2,3).

Tuesday 28
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Give thanks to God that we live in an age when children and young people are hungry for the words of the Lord and are so open to discovering the Bible and learning about him (Psalm 119:103).

Wednesday 29
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Praise God that he has given today’s children and young people a real passion to make the world a better place, and that they can find that desire fulfilled through knowing him (Matthew 5:6).

Thursday 30
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Give thanks to God that his Word is alive and active, and speaks into the lives of children and young people, showing them how to live for him (Hebrews 4:12).

Friday 31
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Pray that churches have the courage to share the Bible with children and young people, both those who are part of a church and those who aren’t, knowing that through it God will speak to them (Isaiah 55:10,11).

Saturday 1
This week, all of the Scripture Union prayers relate to this article.

Pray for churches to be mindful that children and young people who aren’t from a church will be starting further back in their understanding of scripture and we need to start from their baseline (an issue that Paul had – read Acts 17:16–34 noting verses 19 and 20).

Sunday 2
Local mission partner Christians in Calderdale Schools started as a millennium project and they are planning 20 activities to celebrate 20 years. Today there is a concert with local choir Halifax Young Singers. Pray that this will raise their profile and funds and be an act of witness to the singers and their families.

Monday 3
The Higher mission in secondary schools across north Wales starts today and runs until Friday. Pray for development workers Helen Franklin and Mike Adams who are involved and ask that these events will lead to many young people wanting to know more about Christian faith.

Tuesday 4
Pray for the central region team as they meet today to pray, review and plan under the guidance of team leader Simon Barker, asking that God will give wisdom and clarity of vision.

Wednesday 5
SU in Finland are publishing a new website that will contain a wide variety of materials for use in youth work. Please pray for a warm welcome and wide uptake of this free tool, so that God’s Word will become better known among young people in Finland.

Thursday 6
Pray that as the holiday brochure for this year is sent out God will prompt people to respond and to book up. Pray that we will be able to use residential activities to reach the 95.

Friday 7
The 412 course developed by local mission partner SU Ministries Trust on the Isle of Man enables young Christians to think through the kind of leaders they want to be. Pray for participants at this weekend’s residential as they plan a service and continue to understand more of who they are as leaders.

Saturday 8
The south west region has a fruitful partnership with SU in South Africa and a team will be going out again in the summer; pray for the preparations. Pray too about developing training tools and programmes to help SU South Africa use sport in their ministry.

Sunday 9
Scripture Union in Laos thank God for the Bible engagement training they held in one province where 35 people attended. After the training, some people were very excited about engaging with the Bible. Pray that this excitement will remain.

Monday 10
Pray for staff as they adapt to using new cloud-based office technology, and for Mark Green and Ian Gooding as they train and equip people to make the best use of the resources, in particular the fast-changing world of Microsoft Office 365.

Tuesday 11
Local mission partner PSALMS working in Gloucestershire thanks God for their Active RE courses that were delivered in a number of schools all over the county last year and prays that as they continue children attending may discover more about the truth of Jesus. Pray too for their non-residential sports camps being held during the February half-term.

Wednesday 12
Please pray for development worker Lisa Jones as she explores the possibility of working with Christians in Orpington to connect with the Chinese community with a view to running a children’s holiday club or non-residential camp during the school holidays.

Thursday 13
Development worker Neil Jackson is hoping to work with some churches in the north of England to run some pancake events later in the month. Pray that he will be able to help churches make the most of these opportunities.

Friday 14
Thank God for all the volunteers who make our work possible. The northern event leaders’ conference takes place this weekend. Pray that this will be a time of inspiration and encouragement and that leaders will be better equipped to lead their teams this year.

Saturday 15
Pray that the team of local mission partner Milton Keynes Bridgebuilder Trust will retain their vision as they continue to develop and deliver their new well-being programme in schools. Pray too for strength as they continue to present a programme of assemblies.

Sunday 16
In Australia, SU Victoria offers year-long internships in three areas – church-partnered children and families ministry, schools ministry and residential camping. Each internship provides training in leadership, ministry foundations and practical skills. Pray for guidance for the future, for their current interns and for the recruiting of new volunteers for the year ahead.

Monday 17
Pray that the young people who came to the Tri-Sports mission in Gateshead in the summer will continue to think about the difference that Jesus can make to them and pray for Matt the local youth worker to have wisdom as he decides how best to build on this.

Tuesday 18
Pray that as the south west team meet today under the leadership of team leader Margaret Lilley they will hear God speaking to them as they look to future strategy.

Wednesday 19
Pray for a better understanding of how we can facilitate the formation of faith in the 95, and that those working on resources to help them will have creativity and a good understanding of the context.

Thursday 20
Local mission partner Christians 4 Education working in North Wales thanks God for good contacts with children and their families through their mentoring and parenting work. Please pray for new volunteers to help with the increasing requests from local schools.

Friday 21
Pray with local mission partner Faith in Schools in Newham for the Holy Spirit to bring them the six to ten recruits needed for the second year of Sharing Faith in Schools, a pilot project to develop schools workers, run in conjunction with SU schools working training programmes.

Saturday 22
Pray for the Bible focus group as it continues to explore how best to help the 95 engage with the Bible in meaningful ways and discover more about Jesus. Pray that the key tools being developed will enable staff and other practitioners to help the 95 explore the Bible for themselves.

Sunday 23
SU South Africa thank God for a great holiday club season in which many children were challenged to know and walk with Jesus. Pray for their continued growth throughout the year.

Monday 24
Pray for effective operation of our websites, for Ian Gooding and Mark Green as they oversee and develop them, and the many staff who look after the content. Pray also for the team at our web agency as they provide support and development.

Tuesday 25
Pray that as local mission partner Christian Connections in Schools (Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead) looks to appoint a Primary Schools Development Worker to start sometime this year God will lead them to the right person.

Wednesday 26
Tomorrow Rob Steward north team leader will be speaking at the Blackburn Diocese Children’s Conference about the 95. Pray that this will encourage many more churches to look for creative ways of reaching children and young people who have no contact with the church.

Thursday 27
Today Hannah Legge, central region development worker, is helping the Diocese of Gloucester with their Schools Work Conference. Pray that many churches will see the possibility of schools work and will be enthused and equipped.

Friday 28
Pray that as development worker Sarah Davison explores opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with children and young people in some of the most deprived areas in the north, and looks for the right connections, God will open doors.

Saturday 29
Guardians of Ancora goes right to the heart of ministry to the 95, going where children are, but the gospel isn’t, in the digital world. Please pray that many more will discover Jesus, perhaps for the first time, as they play the game.