I'm John Ogden, the author of these prayers, and I'm a Methodist Non-Stipendiary Minister in
the Reading and Silchester Circuit. Ordained in 1994, while still an academic, teaching Computer
Science at the University of Reading, I retired from academic life in 1999. Retirement has
brought even more frenetic activity, however, including ten delightful years as a Local Tutor on
the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme (STETS) based at Sarum College,
Salisbury.
The Prayers for the World of Work project began as a result of conversations with another
Methodist NSM who works full time in a large IT services company. Those conversations
crystallised a concern about the highly selective way the church sees the world of work,
especially in our public worship.
This project is ongoing. You will see from the introductory remarks that I have set some
challenges that I have singularly failed to answer satisfactorily.
I would love to see this stock of prayers increased in scope and variety. From time to time I
shall add to it myself, but would welcome any contributions—either a particular prayer or else
some thoughts on possibly extending the overall structure. If you have any suggestions, please
email me at: