From the Rectory
November 2005
Dear Friends
THE
PRIORITY OF PRAYER
I
always enjoy the opportunity of showing our church to groups of children from
our local schools. I usually begin by asking the children to sit quietly, and to
be aware of the special qualities of the building, for stillness and
reflection. I point out to them that the most important purpose for which our
church was built, was to enable people to pray. Our
church building should enable people to speak to God: and for God to speak to
them. And I always tell the children that the most important thing I do as the
parish priest, is to come to the church each morning and to pray for the
parish, and its people. And I really do believe that. For the daily prayer that
is offered here, undergirds all of our work and
mission. It is always a joy when one or two people join me for the “daily
office”.
There
are many opportunities during the month for corporate prayer in our parish.
These are meant to be open to all: and are not for some sort of holy elite, who
are experts in prayer. For prayer is something we all need to work at; and for
which a degree of self-discipline is essential. I have referred to the daily
office, which I say most days in church, in the Lady Chapel. Though I am often
on my own, there is a sense of this being a corporate act of worship. For
clergy throughout the Church of England are required to pray the office; and
the lectionary ensures that we are using the same psalms and Bible readings. In
addition to reading scripture, the office has a time for silence and for
intercession. The weekly notices will tell you the special “intention” for our
prayer each day. We also pray systematically for members of the congregation
and for different roads in our parish. I always find it helpful to have people
with me when I say Morning Prayer. But even if you are not able to come, please
use the daily intention for your prayers each day; so that we are united in
corporate prayer as a church. And if you hear the bell ringing for the daily
office, send up a quick prayer, so that all our prayers are united.
For those who wish to explore the Christian tradition
of meditation, there is a small group that meets on the second Monday of each
month, usually at 8, Mossfield Close. Details are given on the weekly notices.
Using scripture as a basis for reflection, there is a period of guided
meditation. It is a friendly group, and anyone interested would be made very
welcome. On the third Monday of each month, at 8.00pm, there is a time of free
prayer in church— the “Parish Prayers.” Using free and extempore prayer, as
well as some silence, there is another opportunity for people to come together
to pray. If you find prayer difficult, why not be brave and give it a try? You
may find that praying with others may help you. Don’t worry if you find it
difficult to pray aloud. Just come and pray in your own way.
Another
important part of our prayer ministry is the monthly “Healing Eucharist”, with
the laying on of hands. Intercession for the sick has always been a part of the
church’s prayer. There is a box on the table at the back of the church, in
which you may request prayer for yourself, or for family and friends. Better
still, why not come and join us for this monthly service? It is a great source
of strength for people to be on the receiving end of healing prayer: and it
would be good for more people in the parish to be involved in this important
ministry. Again, I would stress, you don’t have to be a spiritual “guru” to be
a part of this. We are often reticent in asking for prayer for others or
ourselves. But that is what the church is here for!
I
would not want to stifle the warm welcome that people receive when they enter
St Leonard’s on a Sunday. But I know that because of the noise level, some
people find it difficult to pray before the service begins. It seems to me that
a good compromise is to return to the old adage,
“When
the organ starts to play,
Let
your voices fade away;
Let
your minds be on the Lord,
And attentive to his word.”
Perhaps
we could treat the beginning of the organ voluntary as the time to still
ourselves for the worship that is to follow? After all, if people can’t pray in
church, where can they pray?! Could I also suggest that we make better use of
the time before and after we come to the altar rail to receive Holy Communion?
This should not be a time to catch up on the week’s news, but rather a time to
wonder at the saving death of Jesus, whose body and blood we have received in
the Sacrament. There is another verse I have seen in the porch of a church,
which has a lot to be said for it:
“Before
the service — talk to God:
during the service — let God talk to you;
and after the service — talk to each other”
Stephen Carter