Blog Prayer

 ‘A Blog is like a Daily Office’

Writing something to be published on the web – I was a passenger in someone’s car – they came out with a gem. ‘ A blog is like a Daily Office’.

They had just talked about someone keeping a daily blog diary of their child’s growth – because grannie lived far away and therefore missed nothing of the development of the baby.

Making comment on what happens in the common round, or reporting on a brief and usually forgotten insight or whimsy are simply a way of processing and remembering thoughts and occurrences.

Perhaps blogs may be prayers!?

Lenten Observance 1

Prayers for Wholeness

Prayers for Wholeness

 

Lent is the time the Church guides us to thinking particularly about our spiritual growth. We may fast from food at times, or take on spiritual disciplines of using our time in prayer, in reading, in being with people, or in giving to others. In doing so, we may find that inner difficulties are exposed, and we don’t know what to do about them.

These inner blocks come to the surface because the Lord has allowed them to do so, and that indicates His love for us and His desire to deal with them.  They may be deep hurts, things unforgiven, attitudes we hadn’t previously seen – in fact anything which is a block in our spiritual growth. Sometimes the realisation itself brings forgiveness and release. If it doesn’t however, there are several ways forward.

One of these ways is the ministry of the whole church in prayer for wholeness and healing, bringing the new life that comes from Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection.

On the Sundays in Lent we will be offering prayer for wholeness and healing during the main Eucharist. One of the clergy will be in the side chapel to offer prayer for anyone who asks for the Lord to meet their needs. We will also offer anointing as the sign of the Holy Spirit at work to bring us to wholeness.

Please do consider if seeking prayer in this way is right for you. You may want to come for prayer at the beginning of Lent as your commitment to growth, and at any time, each week if you want, for prayer for any need of desire for growth.  It may be once, it may be several times that you come. (You may also want to seek formal confession, being offered on Holy Saturday. Either may be sought separately, or both received; they are often complementary within Jesus’ love for us expressed in the ministry of the church.)

And the practicalities – receive communion in the usual way, then make your way to the side chapel, where you will be given individual time to state your need if you want to, followed by personal prayer. The priest will remain till everyone who comes forward has had time given to them, even if this means continuing after the end of the service.

There will probably be people longing to receive an encounter with the Lord in this way, and also some of you unsure, and some who don’t like the idea. This is a ministry that many find very valuable for their spiritual growth and physical well-being, and there is nothing to be afraid of!

As is also said over formal confession, “All may, some should, none must.”  Let’s not miss the blessings the Lord has for us!

 

What’s to do at the Weekend?

Within all the options available to us; what are we to do this weekend? Relax with family, meet someone for a coffee and chat, come to church and rest a while, come to church and worship. Stay at home and rest and worship. Chose a combination.

And yet worship is best taken alongside others, so that our prayers are not so centered on ourselves that our neighbours are forgotten.

Have you never wondered why we often pray with our eyes closed? Perhaps it is to shut out those distractions we may actually be called to focus our prayers upon – our neighbours.

Try and watch someone praying and see how quickly they seep into your thoughts and then instantly your prayers.

Come and see, come and try.

8am and 10am this Sunday at St. Peter’s Huddersfield.

God’s Bubbles

We offered our prayer as simply as blowing bubbles. “Father, thank you for the fun and laughter you give us. Guide us with your wisdom; give us fun, insight and the direction in which we should go.”

Two hours of laughter, decisions made, new ideas explored, challenges engaged, growth in understanding each other, fellowship and friendship. Joy and energy in this meeting, not in the least a chore.

The answering bubbles bursting blessings, unnoticed, amongst us.