Sometimes it takes me a little while to catch on. For those of you that know me I'm going to take the plunge and as per usual I'm going to jump in at the deep end...
Since lockdown began it has been a challenge to share Celtic Morning Prayers with the regular gathering that meets on Friday mornings at St Peters' in Oundle. Some of us can manage Zoom and Facebook but some of us are unable or shy away from social media so access becomes a barrier. To resolve this it was decided to keep to emails our usual mode of communication and send Celtic Morning Prayers weekly, along with links and clips that blended in with that day's reflection. A mini reflection was added by me as we wrestled with how to be church together but virtually and physically unable to be present with each others company as we prayed in His presence. We have managed this and begun to grow within ourselves as we are learning this new way of church without walls.
Our wider worship community during the lockdown has grown considerably. Each day we have midday prayers, and we also have Evening worship, however that presence is via Facebook. To reiterate that is a barrier for some.
This is going to be very much on trial and error basis. However if you don't try you won't have an opportunity to learn. If we have another way of sharing then why not try it. Here goes....SPLASH!
The following is the transcript of the email sent out to our Celtic Morning Prayer gathering....
Hello Dear Celtic Morning Prayer Friends
Here is the link for tomorrow morning….
What a busy week. Lots of lovely time spent in the garden earlier and tending to the veg patch which is coming on.
Phoebe the cat is keeping an eye on the pigeons; she met her match and ended up at the vets after an altercation with one. She looks rather battered! Phoebe 1 v's Pigeon 0. The pigeon is either very cold due to the amount of feathers in the garden or now playing a harp….we suspect the latter.
Isn’t if funny. I was wondering what to do tomorrow as nothing had inspired me. I had realised I hadn’t been praying quite so much this week as I was prepping for teaching online in a couple of weeks and getting to gripes with studying how to teach online with my job. Alongside a rather nice diversion of going to online zoom French class and a short flower painting course. Two subjects that felt just the ticket after all the busyness of the last three years. I looked in my daily prayer book and it was on the Desert Fathers. We have visited this before and I don’t know how that will fit in to tomorrows online prayers as I won’t know along with you what the focus will be until tomorrow. Then a thought popped into my head, and I looked up the Ignition Spirituality page which is often very insightful. Scrolling through nothing caught my eye until something did and it is this excerpt I want to share with you….
“….Why does God lead us to these ordinary times of praying, which we so quickly label as dry and boring?
God may be gently tilling the soil of your soul for some future harvest, preparing the ground for a bold insight or a deeper emotional experience to come.
God may use the times of dryness to heighten your sense of God’s presence, so that you will be aware of that presence later in the day or week.
God may invite you to ordinary times to kindle deep desires and longings. In this case, restlessness is a good thing.
God may simply want to give you a rest after an intense experience of prayer. Enjoy the stillness and quiet.
Remember, in ordinary times of praying, we may feel that God is not there or not listening. To the contrary, God is there, but not as we imagine or have experienced in the past. Be faithful. God is always close.
Excerpt from The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien, SJ…"
I am sure when you read this excerpt something will stir within you. The first one “God may be gently tilling the soil of your soul for some future harvest…” held a resonance with me. I have just found out that I am going to be admitted as a Reader on Sunday 28th June at 11.30 (or thereabouts) which is also my 60th birthday. I couldn’t be more pleased or excited. I also found out that my family were taking me to Assisi and then on to Rome. But that will wait now until it is safe to go and after Georgina and Ollie's wedding next year. I was always looking forward to becoming a Reader in my 60th year and that was where my celebration was going to be about, not the age! But with that realisation that I had met my ‘target’ and reached a ‘destination’ a dawning crept upon me that this was just the start. You know I often walk and I use my walking stick, my pilgrim journey stick especially if I am going out on a walk with a friend who wants to talk. The stick reminds me that we are always on a journey with God and that He is always beside us on the way. Sometimes on a long walk with a companion there is silence. That silence is good, my good friend will say a blessing that I have actually stopped talking (I can hear you Cluesy!) Prayer is like that too. Silence and a wondering is good as God is giving us space ‘a fallow year’ in farming terms where the soil of our soul rests for just a bit before we are directed by the Spirit to where we are needed to pray. I dare suggest that this silence is necessary. If we are on red prayer alert 24/7 it is exhausting. We do need rest, but that is just part of our prayer rhythm. Rest is good, refreshment is good and it is really ok just to enjoy ‘stillness and quiet’.
Giving thanks for Musa and that they get to bottom of his challenges and relief and encouragement for the two young brothers as they recover.
Two music clips this week - from John Tavener - (who wrote “Song for Athene”) the first clip “Song of the Angel” I feel does evoke the other well know work...
and a completely different song which is new to me and its fab!
The journey stick…as you can see when I found this 'thumb stick' there was a little mark on the top...on rubbing it it revealed the makings of a Cross. Now you can see why it is such a special aid to my walking with friends on the Way.
Also the lyrics for the Fragrance Prayer. Words and of course liturgy are often a good starter especially when we are in a quiet place!
The Fragrance Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Help me to spread your fragrance everywhere that I go.
Dear Jesus,
Flood my soul with your spirit and your love.
Penetrate and possess my being
So utterly that all my life may
Only be a radiance of you.
Dear Jesus,
Help me to spread your fragrance everywhere that I go.
Dear Jesus,
Flood my soul with your spirit and your love.
Shine through me and be so in me
That every soul I come in contact
With may feel your presence in my soul.
Dear Jesus,
Help me to spread your fragrance everywhere that I go.
Dear Jesus,
Flood my soul with your spirit and your love.
Let them look up and see no longer
Me, but only you my Jesus.
Stay with me…
Source: Musixmatch
Love and hugs (I’m not slipping back into bad habits of doing too much honest, it was just a busy week lol)! Next week, time out, lovely messing with paints and practicing French verbs! Phoebe is also keeping me grounded by ensuring that we have time out for the purrrfect time to be still and sit in the moment with Him.
Caroline
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.
Our favourite close to our gathering is the beautiful blessing taken from the Northumbrian Community Daily Prayer office book and website.https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/
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