Spirituality and Prayer
Prayer is the bedrock of all that happens here.
Without prayer it is not possible to sustain a living church community.
Spirituality is being aware of the presence of God in our lives and leads to the way we express ourselves in prayer. Silence and contemplation, free prayer, formal liturgy such as we find in Common Worship Daily Prayer, multi-sensory prayer using perhaps Taize music, art or visual and tactile ways such as lighting of a candle are all ways in which we can come closer to God and through these ways we are able to bring our requests, petitions and thanksgivings to our Lord.
Our worship in this Benefice includes all these expressions of prayer at different times.
In St. Mary's the Prayer Chapel at the end of the south aisle is usually a place of quiet and stillness. At the entrance you will find a candle stand where you may wish to light a candle in memory of someone dear to you or pray for a particular concern or situation. There are some prayer cards there, and in the chapel, a gift from St. Mary's, to take home as you wish.
As you enter the chapel on your right there is a book in which to write requests for prayer. In the prayer chapel you will find a book of prayers to ponder upon and to pray as you will.
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Jesus Christ, you come to transfigure us and to renew us in the image of God: - Taize Prayer |
The Prayer Chapel is also the place of prayer ministry after the main Sunday service for anyone who has need of prayer for healing or any other concern. Quietly and in confidence, members of our Healing Ministry Team offer to pray with you and for you and for those for whom you are concerned.
It is our hope to take this ministry out to St. Andrew's, Layham and All Saints', Shelley in the future.
On Friday evening the Parish Office becomes a Prayer room for the Porch Project. At least one adult volunteer will spend the evening in prayer and often young people themselves will come into the prayer room to request prayer for any special concern they may have.
By the New Year 2012, we plan to have available for each member of all congregations in the Benefice, a Prayer Diary with prayers for each day of the month, covering all aspects of our church and community and the wider world.
Our larger weekly news sheet too, has requests for prayer in our wider world, as events happen, and as the seasons and news change. It will continue to ask for prayer for the health and well being of those who are sick, and for those who have recently died and for their families. Those who suffer from long term illness are not forgotten and members of our congregations are regularly updated with requests for prayer for those who suffer from chronic sickness. Please send any requests for prayer to Joyce Willis via the Benefice Office.