What does it mean to pray? That’s the title of a booklet I’ve just put together. It’s also a question lots of us have probably asked – though maybe not out loud. And why does it matter anyway?

I’m training to be a Methodist Local Preacher at the moment. The online course I’m doing  is called ‘Worship: Leading and Preaching’ and, as the name suggests, is about leading worship as well as preaching. Prayer, of course, comes into both, and has been a focus of the section I’ve just finished. The assignment at the end was to: ‘Produce a piece of work reflecting on your developing understanding of the nature and experience of prayer … Then think how you could share these in a church context.’ Hmm.

I think what challenged me most wasn’t so much the different methods of praying in the module, but the different images for what prayer is and does. Many of these were new ideas for me to work through, and it felt like something I wanted to share more widely. And so the idea of the booklet was born. But what was I then going to do with it?

Two of our congregations have now discovered the answer to that question, because it was fairly obvious really: use it as the basis for a worship service. Or, perhaps, several worship services, because there are only so many images you can look at in one go!

That’s why the booklet covers 7 days, focusing on a different image of prayer each day – with pictures, readings, and quotes on the theme. There is also a question to consider, a song to listen to, and a suggested action for each day. Perhaps that’s something you’d like to explore by downloading the booklet and working through it. Putting it together has definitely blessed me spiritually. I hope that reading it will be a blessing to you and help you as you pray. And – who knows? – perhaps you’ll think of some images I’ve missed!

What is Prayer download

Lindisfarne Circuit Mission Enabler Sue Aspden and Local Preacher on Trial Sue Handy led the Carol Service at Donaldson's Lodge with a Cafe style format.  Tables were covered in red and white checked cloths and tea, coffee, baking and fruit were available as they unfolded the Christmas story through carols, readings, prayers and drama.

Summer Presence Reflection

Now that Summer presence has ended, I have had a short time to reflect on the events of the last 2 weeks

I'm not sure if any of you are gardeners and will be familiar with sowing seeds and nurturing seedlings but with at least 1055 people through the door at Presence, there has been the opportunity for over a thousand seeds of the gospel of Jesus to be sown.

Jesus told a story about a farmer who was sowing seeds (Matthew, Chapter 13). He explained that as the farmer sowed (by hand), the seed will land in all sorts of places. Therefore some will germinate and others won't.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sharing God's love with others during Presence and although we would love all the

seed that has been sown to land in fertile soil, it isn't for the sower to worry about where it will land but to sow the seed nonetheless.

We hope that over the last 2 weeks we have shown Christ's love in action through serving, greeting, baking, washing up, cleaning, clearing up, working with children,

talking to people, praying ....... We pray that many of those seeds will germinate and be nurtured!                         God bless you.