Sweets, papers, maps and a labyrinth aid prayer

Around 40 people from the Norwich Area United Reformed Churches met at Jessopp Road URC on Saturday January 16 for a day of studying different ways of praying.

 

The churches in the area have all committed themselves to participating in Vision4Life: a process which the United Reformed Church is following for 3 years from Advent 2008 through to Advent 2011. It will be three years of focus on re-engaging with the Bible, Prayer and Evangelism with the purpose of bringing transformation to the URC and its partner churches. The second year-the Year of Prayer has just begun.

 

During the day participants had the opportunity to listen to the Rev Ian Fosten from Lowestoft (author of some of the V4L material), talking about different experiences of prayer and Jesus’ experience of prayer as evidenced by various passages in Luke’s Gospel.

 

The other timetabled event of the day was a prayer walk. Inclement weather did not distract some hardy souls from taking a walk around the area, praying for different people and groups as they went.

 

The remainder of the day was left to individual choice. Many participated in the very thought-provoking prayer labyrinth - reflecting on my life and how God had been there for me through good times and bad was sometimes a “scary” experience!

 

As I thought back over the years I realised that there were some events which I wanted to “gloss over”, but I made myself think about them more deeply, in order to see how God had always been there caring for me. It’s not that my life is overlong, but the labyrinth didn’t feel long enough, whilst reaching the centre and then walking straight out gave me a sense of a new beginning.

 

There was also an opportunity to pray using the senses - try eating a piece of fruit or a sweet and praying about all that God gives us - it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time in prayer.

 

I felt guilty about the idea of stopping praying before I had finished my sweet! In the senses room, there were also scented candles to light and pray, allowing me to feel God’s spirit surrounding me as I inhaled their delicate perfume.

 

Through looking at newspapers and cutting out relevant headings and passages, I could think about others in the world, whilst getting my hands dirty then washing them clean enabled me to feel the cleansing power of God’s forgiveness. The sense of hearing was not forgotten as I could sit quietly and allow Taize music to relax me and give me an opportunity to hear his voice.

 

Then there was the chance to read prayers that others had written and write one of your own. Time went against me here - even in 5½ hours, there was not time to do everything!

 

In the Sanctuary there were other opportunities for silent prayer. Posters from Christian Aid and details of the local church and pictures of God’s creation provided different foci for prayer - yet to me the most moving was the map of the world. We were invited to place candles on parts of the world for which we wanted to pray.

 

One of the first had been for Haiti and was running out - I found myself lighting another - just to make sure that the light for that country didn’t go out. Standing watching the flickering flames, shining over different countries of the world, was a very moving experience-it just showed the breadth and depth of God’s love.

 

Thank you to all those who planned and prepared the day. It was a day when many of us learnt new ideas about prayer; it was also a day when we shared fellowship, peace and laughter. During the year there will be other events relating to the Prayer Year - try to put them in your diary - you won’t be disappointed.