Category Archives: prayer

what’s coming through the door?

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On Tuesdays and Thursdays my day starts with Morning Prayer (as it does most days) before I then walk around Rochester praying. Rochester High Street at 8.30am is an interesting time,  quiet, although never empty with deliveries happening or people rushing for trains.  I tend to take my camera with me on my prayer walk as I find having a camera with me helps me to look around what has become a very familiar environment in a fresh way.

Today I took this picture of Deanery Gate as I was wandering on my prayer walk. I find gateways, doorways, quite ‘interesting’ as I walk around this historical place of Rochester. As I was looking and contemplating this morning I was struck first by my thinking of how many thousands of people have walked through this gate since it’s 15th. century installation, each on their own personal journey.

I was then struck my a new thought. Doors are two-way. Often I think about what is on the other side of the door, and walking through doorways. This morning, however, with the sunlight pouring through the gate towards me, I started to consider what might be coming from the other side of the door towards me.

If we simply walk through doors in search of our ‘destiny’ or the next job then we may be in danger of missing something. That something or someone could be in need of our attention, or be in possession of something to pass on to us.

In the past I have always thought about pushing doors and see if they open for me. It has been a language that has been used with me, and I have used it with others, when thinking about our life journeys and decisions and such like.  I think God may have challenged me on that today.

Maybe, just maybe, he is calling me to simply wait on this side of the door and see what comes through.
Exciting and scary at the same time …. so … for now …. I dwell by the door and wait …. wondering!

the Father’s letter

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I caught this over on Rachel’s blog and I simply loved it. Not sure where t comes from, but it’s a great collection of scripture.

My Child..

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways .Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake.Psalm 139:15-16

For all your days are written in my book.Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me.John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love .1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you..1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect Father.Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you .Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession . Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart . Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles .2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:4

I am your Father and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus my love for you is revealed .John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.Hebrews 1:3

And He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.Romans 8:32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.Luke 15:7

I have always been Father and will always be Father.Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child?.John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.Luke 15:11-32 .

Love,

Your Dad Almighty God

prayer stool

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This week I got a prayer stool delivered.

I have been looking for one of these for a little while as I like to be kneeling when I pray compline at night as, for me, it seems to concentrate my mind.

I know there is no need to pray and in fact people can pray in whatever way they wish. I regularly pray with a cup of coffee in my hand, while walking down the street, swimming in the pool or driving the car. I also believe it is ok to keep my eyes open when I pray! But, for me, kneeling at key times in my day is very symbolic of my relationship with God. For me the symbolism is about reminding myself who I am before God and I like to end my day in particular recognising that the relationship I have is of Creator and created, or King and subject, Rabbi and disciple.

Anyway … David at Just Crosses was very helpful and made me a stool with 2 pairs of legs so I could experiment which height was more comfortable for me. On his website you can see other simple but well made things that david makes … but of you are looking for a reasonably priced prayer stool why not check out him out.

be careful what you pray for …

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caught this the other day from Naked Pastor …

vine and vespers

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Tonight the gathering started to regularly meet together for prayer. Tonight was the first time we tried Vine and Vespers as a way for us to pray together and join together in an ancient form of prayer.

As with many Christian communities of the past, some of us met together in my home to pray, while others of the gathering followed a similar format at various locations depending on where they happen to be today. Tonight was the first of our monthly prayer nights

Tonight was small, but small is beautiful and it is a start of the community praying. Tonight was exciting as the gathering was united in prayer without being limited by location. Tonight’ Vespers was a mixture of ancients prayers and newer thoughts that I had reworked over the last few weeks. YOu can read more of the origin of vespers here.

I feel that tonight we have made some milestone. By that I do not mean we have reached a stage and we should feel pleased and slap ourselves on the back; but rather that God seems to be moving us forward as a community and I find that quite exciting as well as being a challenge.

corpus christi: pain and disbelief

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At 5.30 this evening instead of Choral Evensong we are holding a Eucharist to mark Corpus Christi which is a service to give thanks for Holy Communion. Roman Catholics today will be proclaiming the ‘truth’ of transubstantiation; obviously this will not be the case in the cathedral where we celebrate more the opportunity that we regularly have to join with Christ is some mysterious way that it more than mere symbolism but is not the ‘repugnance’ of  transubstantiation (article 28 of the 39 articles).

On a day like today, though, where many people are waking in the area of Cumbria in sadness and confusion after yesterday’s horrible and devastating events, I wonder whether this ‘feast’ of Corpus Christi has anything to say to all of us in our confusion and/or grief?

I don’t want to write anything blase or trite today and I guess one thing that we can say is that having a day to give thanks for the opportunity to share in Holy Communion reminds us that there is a God that is mysteriously here,  sharing in our anguish and joining us in our tears. Christ still exists in the reality of our humanity which allows us to be understood in our pain. That pain exists and will not disappear.

Today we pray for those who have died
and for all those who are bereaved
for those who are confused
and for those that feel guilty …
Lord ..
in time
bring peace
to these hearts
which are lost, desperate, confused, angry,
and overcome with grief.
Comfort all those
who have been affected by this tragedy
bring hope to their confusion
and give grace and courage to free them
to offer their wounded hearts for healing
Amen

anima christi

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Sometimes in my trawling of ‘stuff’ on the ‘net I find some stuff which stnd out like little gems and resonate in some way with how I am feeling, or with the immediate time ahead.

Today I found this prayer which is attributed to St Ignatius of Loyola. Sometimes I am amazed how words from the 16th Century can be so moving and challenging today.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me;

Body of Christ, save me;

Blood of Christ, inebriate me;

Water from the side of Christ, wash me;

Passion of Christ, strengthen me;

0 good Jesus, hear me;

Within Thy wounds, hide me;

Permit me not to be separated from ‘Thee;

From the wicked foe defend me;

In the hour of my death call me,

And bid me come unto Thee,

That with all Thy saints I may praise Thee

For ever and ever. 
Amen.

new year dreams

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On New Years Eve 10 of us went down to the beach at Porth to mark the start of the new year by launching sky lanterns.

The night was amazingly still with a near full moon. The sea was flat and calm. We found a small cove and cave which gave us shlter as we lit the lanterns. They looked amazing as they floated off.

As the lanterns floated people either made wishes, resolutions or prayed. I thanked God for the past year, thanked him for the people I was with and ‘wondered with God’ what 2010 will bring.

st patricks preperation

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Following from my post here on vulnerability in ministry I have had help from my purple Diana friend who I have come to massively admire over the last couple of years.

Diana is a great person who took the time to message me saying that she uses the St patrick breastplate prayer rather than the armour of God prayer that In was starting to have difficulties with. I thought I knew this prayer, but realised I only knew part of it:

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left.

These words I know well from my time of using Northumbria Celtic Prayer. The whole prayer, however, is amazing and I am finding it a fantastic way to prepare before venturing out from the cathedral as I seek to meet people. It reminds of how I am just a small part of the process (great for reminding myself that I am not the centre of all that is happening!!) and that I am connected in a very real way to the rest of God’s creation. It reminds me that I go out with God and as part of God’s mission rather than my own. It reminds me that all strength is God’s rather than through anything I dress or attempt to protect myself in.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation

armour or flesh?

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A  little while ago I posted about my preparation before going on to the streets and hanging in the coffee bar or pub. The time of prayer was quite Paul-ine in its method and based on the God’s armour passage in Ephesians 6.

I have a new spiritual director and when she heard this, Sister Martha, a Dominican nun in Greenwich, seemed to raise her eyebrows (that may have been my imagination) and made a simple observation of surprise that I was praying for protection and using the armour imagery. It was a brief moment which I should have dwelt on, but I allowed it to pass.

This has been niggling at me for a while but it has not been until quite recently that I have had time to reflect, and I guess it is the approach to Christmas, and in particular the pending onset of Advent that has caused me to wonder what Martha may have been questioning and why I have started to become niggled with what I was doing.

I think it may be summed up in the word vulnerability.

I am questioning whether I have been preparing myself as well as I could or whether I have been concerned too much with my own safety. I wonder whether I should be praying for armour, or asking for sensitivity and eyes and hears to hear what is happening. Armour, it seems, sets up a false human made barrier and does not allow me to be me. If I am wanting to genuinely build relationships for the sake of just building relationships then I can’t really do that through protective armour … can !? If I go wearing God’s armour I don’t go on equal terms, and if I don’t go on equal terms then I can’t build genuine relationship. If I can’t build genuine relationship then I ask what is the point of going at all?

I have been thinking a lot about Advent over the last few weeks as we seek to try and encourage people to take a pause and reflect as they pass through the cathedral during the Christmas Dickens weekend.  There is something about the God child that shouts to me of vulnerability!

Here we see the Son of God, with no protection, totally at risk and relying on the protection of his created creatures to ensure his safety. Jesus in the flesh … quite literally and uncompromisingly. Vulnerability in a total sense – all of God’s plan invested totally in the vulnerability of this child. No armour to protect, no hoards of angels to fly in heavily armed to ward off risks … just a 100% human, 100% fallible human God child.

I think as we follow Jesus through the gospels that this vulnerability appears over and over again, culminating in his trial where he refuses to defend himself. He stands silent in face of false accusations. We see again a vulnerable Jesus whose immediate destiny is in the hands of those he created. There is no self protection here at all let alone talk of God’s armour.

I am coming around to thinking that my preparation before venturing out needs to be more an acknowledgment of my vulnerability and the fragility of who I am with prayers concentrating more on helping me see where God wants me to be and who he wants me to be with rather than prayers of concern for my protection.