'God our Father, ... In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life, and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.'

Amongst the joyful Royal Wedding celebrations in April, this prayer from William and Kate, read out by the Bishop of London, was heard by 24 million in Britain and beamed to countless more worldwide. Praise the Lord for the Christian message of hope and generosity from Richard Chartres' address, and for this simple prayer of service to others - made in the Spirit of Jesus.

As we approach the July Synod, may this prayer from the future Head of our Church be for us also.

I stood for Synod to understand it better, and to encourage informed prayer from as many as possible in support of what goes on. A prayer need that struck me in February came from sensing the 'us and them' attitude evident (sometimes) in our behaviour and comments: between clergy/bishops; laity/clergy; 'ordinary' laity/laity hierarchy; old hands/newcomers. Archbishop Rowan emphasised the need for unity under God in February's communion address when he said 'There should be no competition between serving God and serving others ..... We grow in holiness through our engagement with God ..... and we let our engagement with others be a vehicle for God's holiness'.

Echoing Ephesians 4:11-13 (today's reading as I write), a prayer for us in York is that we emulate the servant-spirit of William & Kate ..... and that 'strengthened by our union' we really are, through our interactions and deliberations, a 'vehicle for God's holiness' in reaching outwards to those suffering here, and in the wider world.

Dr Cherida Stobart, Bath & Wells