Why pray?
Is it to bring God a list of the things which are too big, too complicated, too hard?
Is it an opportunity to share with God our needs and desires?
Is it a process through which we forgive and are forgiven?
Is it the intimacy by which our priorities are scrutinised?
Yes. I believe and have experienced prayer to be all these things and more. Jesus calls us as his followers to abide in him. The image of the vine, particularly in John 15, reminds us that we must be attached.
Prayer is one of the ways we, as branches, stay attached to Jesus the vine.
Prayer can take many forms; contemplative time set aside or arrow cries for help in the midst of crisis. Formal words said together in common with millions around the globe, a moment of awe at the wonder of creation or the journalled writing of consciousness out poured on a page. We bring our prayers to Creative God, therefore creativity and variety in prayer is understandable.
Maybe we are asking God to intervene in a situation we have no control over. Maybe God is calling us to be the intervention in our community. Maybe we seek strength and solace to take the next breath and the next step. The image of the vine calls us to abide in Christ, draw on His nutrient, strength and feeding to produce something life-giving. What kind of fruit might we look for? Peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, joy, love, goodness and self-control are reasonable biblical expectations.
It will not come as a surprise to you, that the decision has been made not to have a prayer meeting on Wednesday 1st of January 2025. However, we have decided to take the opportunity to do something different as a church community. Revd Paul and the Wardens (Rob and I) would like to invite you to enter a season of prayer in January. Next week we will be a sharing a prayer calendar, with a topic for each day. We would encourage you to intentionally make space, to pay attention to that topic, to mull it over, to explore it, to pray. We will be sending out an e-mail with the prayer calendar and printed copies will be available for those who need one. This is an opportunity for us individually and corporately to pray for each other, our community and the world.
Please do join us on this journey of prayer and abiding.
Joanne
Ministry team member and St Mary’s churchwarden.