Prayer and Contemplation
While I was at a quiet day, reflecting Celtic worship, at St Columba’s House in Woking, the following reading from “The Prophet” by Kahil Gibran was used for our reflection. It reminds us of the importance of our relationship with God and the way we use our lives.
Who can separate his faith from his action,
or his belief from his occupations?
Who can spread his hours before him, saying
“This is for God and this for myself;
This for my soul and this other for my body”?
Your daily life is your temple and religion.
Whenever you enter it you take with you your all.
And if you would know God, be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you will see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see him walking in the cloud,
Outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers,
Then rising and waving His hands in trees.
On another occasion our thoughts were centred on the Celtic response to ageing.
This blessing, written by John O’Donohue was used for our contemplation during the afternoon.
A Blessing for old age
May the light of your soul mind you,
May all your worry and anxiousness about becoming old be transfigured,
May you be give wisdom for the eye of your soul,
To see this beautiful time of harvesting.
May you have the commitment to harvest your life,
To heal what has hurt you, to allow it to come
Closer to you and become one with you.
May you have great dignity,
May you have a sense of how free you are,
And above all may you be given the wonderful gift
Of meeting the eternal light and beauty that is within you.
May you be blessed, and may you find a wonderful love
In your self for you self.
A LETTER FROM REVD BARRY SMITH
OUR DIOCESAN CHAPLAIN
We have just enjoyed the visit of our Worldwide President Rosemary Kempsell. Rosemary was able to visit all the Deaneries in the Diocese including the Annual Quiet Day at Carisbrooke Priory on the Isle of Wight. She concluded her visit with the Mothers' Union Festival Service in the Cathedral. All this meant much planning and hard work for everyone but I know that we have all been blessed and encouraged as members of the Mothers' Union.
We looked forward to Rosemary's visit with anticipation and we made great preparation for a person that a few people in the Diocese have met but most only knew of through things they have read. How many of us have made the same preparations to welcome Jesus into our lives? In Revelation we read these words 'Listen I am standing at the door, knocking if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.' None of us in this generation have had the privilege of meeting Jesus in person but the Christian hope is that one day Jesus will return and the Bible says that every eye shall see him.
We only look forward to welcoming a visitor when we are confident that we have made all the necessary preparations, but how many of us show the same concern for the return of Jesus. The Apostles urged the early Christians to live holy lives so that they would be ready if Jesus should return in their lifetime. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist we say words,
Christ has died,
Christ has risen,
Christ will come again.
The Bible ends with the word Maranatha which means Come Lord Jesus. Will you be ready?
God bless you
Love Barry
LET US PRAY
July Schools;
Heavenly Father we pray for all schools especially the Church of England schools in our Diocese. We pray for all who are part of school communities‑ staff, pupils and parents. We ask that our schools may be places where all are enabled to reach their potential & where Christian principles are taught and encouraged.
We ask that education for all should be appreciated and not taken for granted or as a right, remembering the many children in the world who are unable to go to school due to lack of provision or financial hardship.
We pray for all those who will leave school this month, for those who continue in full time education & for those who will begin work & especially for those who are finding it difficult to find a job.
As we pray for schools we remember our own school days & thank you for the many to whom we are indebted for our education.
August Holidays;
Father God. We thank you for our holidays for the excitement of preparing and packing to go away, for interesting places to visit and explore.
Be with those families and helpers on the AFIA holiday that all will enjoy the experience and stay safe. We pray for people who are unable to go away and for all who find holidays difficult.
God you go with us on all our travels and all our holidays; you are the stranger on the Emmaus Road and yet at home you wait eagerly for us, your arms open to welcome and delight. Help us to meet you wherever we go. Receive our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ who gave us the example of taking time away.
September Harvest;
Father we thank you for all our seasons for the sun & rain to swell the grain and for all who work on the land to provide our food.
We pray for Mothers' Union members here and overseas and especially those in Malakal as they learn to grow and harvest their own food.
Diocesan Link: Malakal, Sudan.
We pray for the Mothers’ Union members in Sudan.
We give thanks that the Mothers’ Union can continue to empower the people with literacy and numeracy skills due to the Grant funding from Comic Relief.
We give thanks that in 2010 the first multi party elections for 24 years were accomplished peacefully and that the peace has been kept.
We pray for Elizabeth Aya Noah, the Provincial President, and for the development of Mothers’ Union work as South Sudan rebuilds itself after 21 years of civil war.
Lord hear our prayer