Today the Church Remembers St Etheldreda...

St Etheldreda

St Etheldreda, or Audrey lived in the 7th century. She became a nun, and founded a double monastery - for men and women - at Ely.

When the 'Audrey lace', sold to pilgrims at a annual fair in Audrey's name, dropped out of fashion many years later (in the 17th century), the word 'tawdry' was born.

Ely has a special place in my heart. It was our 'go to' place to get out of the Cambridge 'bubble' when Hannah and I were students. It where I was confirmed (by the same bishop who made me deacon and ordained me priest in the last couple of years), and it was where my 3-day bishop's advisory panel for selection for training for ordained ministry was held.

Thinking about Etheldreda has made me reflect on other places that have significance on my life. Perhaps even more so because I also held a meeting today to discuss the details of reopening one of our church buildings, for private prayer.

As well as giving us a fine example of a life dedicated to God, Etheldreda's day also invites us to think about the places that are special to us, and the reasons why they are.


A prayer for today:

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples, ‘I am with you always’. Be with me today, as I offer myself to you. Hear my prayers for others and for myself, and keep me in your care.
Amen.



♫  Memories - Shawn Mendes

Pentecost - Thy Kingdom Come

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Acts 2.1-4

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12.4-7

♫ A few suggestions today, as it's Pentecost!

Come Holy Ghost (Veni Creator)

Tallis - If ye love me

Tschesnokoff - Let thy holy presence

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The final two Thy Kingdom Come images!

Image two:     Jane Callender's     Indigo Spring

[Photo shows the back of our home-made paschal candle,

with a line drawing (an ancient tattoo design) of the Resurrection]

Prayer activity - 11

How about joining in with an online service today?

There are recorded services from our benefice - on the website here, or on Facebook - profile & page

Alternatively, there are lots of other services available in the 'links for prayer' in the sidebar!

Today the Church remembers Josephine Butler... - Thy Kingdom Come

In the 19th century Josephine Butler opened a refuge for prostitutes, in the face of much criticism and opposition.

She was a figurehead in the campaign to have the Contagious Diseases Acts (which criminalized the prostitutes instead of their clients) abolished, and she campaigned against the white slave trade.

She was also influential in campaigns for equality for women, and helped to found the all-female Newnham College at Cambridge University.




As she is remembered today, she reminds me of those who are ignored, denied a voice, and deliberately silenced in our society.

This has particularly struck me this week because of something I saw online - the story of why a black man wouldn't carry a 'woman's bag'.

I have a pink bag, partly because it's a way of teaching my children that there's no such thing as 'girls colours' and 'boys colours' (or jobs, subjects, toys, etc..).
(That and I like pink)

The man in the story wouldn't carry a 'feminine' bag not because it wasn't 'macho' enough, but because many who saw him with it would assume the only reason he, a black man, would have it was because he must have stolen it; it would almost inevitably end up with him being stopped by the police.

Realising that me being able to subvert gender stereotypes is something white privilege allows me to do, if I'm honest, shocked me.

Josephine Butler changed so much for the better. But we still have a long way to go.
Inequality, discrimination and oppression are still far too common all over the country, and the world.



Today's Bible verses:


“How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked?

³ Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
    maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Psalm 82. 2-4

♫ Amy Beach - Peace I leave with you

Image - 10

Two more images for prayer.

What do you notice with them today?

And today's second image:     Kumezu Ota's    The Ripple





[Photo shows a landscape of fields and trees, from a footpath at the top of a small hill.]

Prayer activity - 10

Today, how about intentionally experiencing some silence?

If you have one, a small birthday cake candle could be used - it gives a focal point and also acts as a timer (depending on the candle, draughts, etc, it should take ~20 minutes to burn completely).

When a thought/to-do list item/distraction pops into your mind, acknowledge it and let it disappear, so that you keep the silence.
(...it might help to imagine a scene to give some kind of 'form' to these thoughts, to help give them a reason to not dwell with you... perhaps where you're sitting next to a stream, and the thoughts are 'boats' that drift past. You can see them come into view, but the water will carry them past you and away.)

Day 9 - Thy Kingdom Come

The theme for today - prayer beads.


In an earlier post I talked about the Rosary, and Anglican prayer beads.

They're a great way of praying, allowing the rhythm of repetitive prayers to draw you in. As they're a physical 'thing' that you can carry, see and feel, they're a great reminder to pray throughout the day, too. And at times when prayer doesn't come easily, using a set form of prayer with beads gives you words without you having a try and find any. Prayer beads are also a great way to pray together with others.

Why not give it a go today?




Today's Bible verse, for reflection:


...Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2.19

♫  For prayer today...    The Beatles - Let it be

Image - 9

Today's images!

Image two:    Yoo Youngkuk's    Four Season




[Photo shows a close up of some cow parsley flowers]

Prayer activity - 9

In another blog post I suggested you might like to make your own set of prayer beads.

Also today, why not try some meditative repetition of prayer - with or without beads? Let the words wash over you as you say the prayer, out loud or silently.

You might like to choose one of these short prayers, or another, or a Bible verse too.



The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Day 8 - Thy Kingdom Come

Today's Bible verse:

Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1.17

God is in all things.

Scripture is inspired by God, and so is different to other books - but if God is in everything then finding God in other books (whether the author intended there to be a faith message or not), and letting different characters have a 'conversation' between their stories and Scripture, can reveal new insights about God.

Just as a start, here are a few quotes, that I think lend themselves to this particularly well...


Albus Dumbledore, from the Harry Potter series:

'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.'

'It is a curious thing...but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it.'

'Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.'



Characters from Lord of the Rings:

'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.'     Galadriel

'I wish it need not have happened in my time', said Frodo. 'So do I', said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us.'



The Chronicles of Narnia:

'Girls aren't very good at keeping maps in their brains', said Edmund. 'That's because we've got something in them,' replied Lucy.

'To defeat the darkness out there, you must defeat the darkness in yourself.'     Aslan







♫ Today's suggestion:  The Council of Elrond  (Lord of the Rings)

Image - 8

Here are today's two:

What strikes you as you pray with them today?

Today's image two:  Eric Ravilious'  The Greenhouse - Cyclamens and Tomatoes




[Photo shows the ends of three books, so you can just see white stripes of pages]

Prayer activity - 8

Using today's theme...

Why not take a book you've read recently, or a favourite story that you've loved for years, and try to look at it from a new angle?


What does the plot tell you about faith, as you think about the story now?

How do the characters tell you something about God?

What would you pray about for each of the characters, if they were real?


...and, with hindsight, how has that story helped shape your life and faith since you first read it?

Day 7 - Thy Kingdom Come

One way of prayerful living is to take some time out each day to look back on the day gone past, and pray about the good and the bad, the easy and the difficult - acknowledging that God was alongside at every moment - then looking towards what will come tomorrow.

This daily Examen is a spiritual practice that St Ignatius made popular.

A simple step by step Examen can be found here, if you'd like to give it a go.





Today's Bible reading:


 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,

Jeremiah 29.13

♫  Te lucis ante terminum - The traditional hymn sung at night prayer/compline - 'before the ending of the day'

(Variations translations are available, here's one:

BEFORE the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That with thy wonted favour thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread under foot our ghostly foe,
That no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.  )

Image - 7

Today's images...

How do they help you in prayer today?

Image two today: William Degouve de Nuncques  -  Nocturn in the Parc Royal




[Photo shows flowers silhouetted against the sky, and sun, at dusk]

Prayer activity - 7

Using today's theme, to build on yesterday's prayer activity if you want to, how about making a log of your feelings, and your sense of closeness to God, each day?

You could assign each feeling a colour, and over the coming days and weeks you'll be able to see at a glance how things have changed over time.

Using colour also means you end up creating something beautiful, even if some of the colours are 'negative'.
If you want to be even more creative, you could choose a shape to colour in for each record, or maybe split a big shape up to record several days - with a stained glass window effect, or using individual petals on a flower, for example.

As well as prayerfully reflecting on each day as they happen, you can also use the log to pray about all you have been through, with God, since you started making it.

Why not give it a try?

Today the Church remembers St Augustine of Canterbury... - Thy Kingdom Come

St Augustine was a monk, and the very first Archbishop of Canterbury. He was sent on a mission to England by Pope Gregory the Great, which was successful in converting King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity, thus allowing missionaries freedom to preach across the kingdom.

As Augustine was a Benedictine monk, today's prayer theme is Lectio Divina. It is a method of unlocking new meaning in Scripture by reading and reflecting prayerfully on it, listening for new understanding and insights. Traditionally, there are four steps, taken roughly in turn:

Read - the text

Meditate - on its meaning

Pray - about the text and its meaning

Contemplate - what has been learnt, allowing that, the text, and a deeper relationship with God, to 'sit' with you.


If you'd like to give it a go, here's a guide to Lectio Divina from AnglicanCommunion.org





A Bible verse you might like to try Lectio Divina with today:


 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11.28-30

♫ Almost all of the words come from Ecclesiastes 3.1-8 in today's music suggestion: The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!

Image - 6

Today's images.

What strikes you today?
Where do they lead your prayers?
After reflecting on them, and praying with them, do you have any new insights, or feel different?

Today's second image:  Cornelia Konrad  -  Passage



[Photo shows a key in a keyhole.]

Prayer activity - 6

Inspired by today's theme...  why not write a sentence today (just a single one, if possible) that summarises the day, or the most significant aspect of it?

As well as being a great exercise in reflecting on which words would be best to sum up a whole day, it could also become a habit that is repeated daily (and, tomorrow's activity will add another thing you could include in that daily log too) - good in itself, and also a wonderful source of reflections that you could look back on in the future.

Today the Church remembers the Venerable Bede... - Thy Kingdom Come

St Bede was a 7th/8th century monk, scholar, author and teacher. He's most well known for his book about the history of the church, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is still in print today.

His love for books and for writing inspired today's theme - poetry.

Poetry can an incredibly powerful way to express and explore topics and feelings, and invite others to do likewise. Here's a small selection of prayers you might like to reflect on today:

Carol Ann Duffy - Prayer

Robert Frost - A Prayer in Spring

George Herbert - The Collar   and, Love (III)

Christina Rossetti - Remember

C.S. Lewis - Love's as Warm as Tears




Today's Bible text suggestion, from the poetry found in the Song of Solomon/Song of Songs :


Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
    passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    a raging flame.


Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love
    all the wealth of one’s house,
    it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Songs 8.6-7

♫  And a musical offering for today:  I heard the voice of Jesus say     (lyrics here)