Anglicans don't do that sort of thing!
– do they?
I was invited to attend the week of Guided Prayer, which was led by Revd Sister Anita Woodwell and a team of prayer guides.
Well, me being me, I am always willing to try anything once. So, for a week of Lent, I took something on rather than gave something up. I confirmed that I would spend a half hour with God every day for the week 8th to 15th May.
The week of Guided Prayer has given me:
- a closeness to Jesus that I never, ever, thought possible.
- an openness to the Bible that gives me the courage to say to people, “this is really the Living Word. Try it and see.”
- a prayer guide who listens and directs me.
- a calmness I have never felt before. People used to think I was fairly laid back, now they think I am in total horizontal zone.
- knowing that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are with me every minute of every day.
And many, many more experiences and daily activities that are too numerous to mention.
~~~
Here are some things that I have given up because of the week of Guided Prayer.
- reading the Bible for reading’s sake.
- saying prayers out of habit.
- trying to prove myself all the time.
Next time you read about another Guided Prayer Session, be sure to sign up. Believe me, if you do you may be in for the journey of your life.
Rick Hayes, Diocesan Evangelist
If you would like to know more about prayer in the Ignatian tradition, you can talk to one of the prayer guides
Two good introductions to Ignatian prayer are:
Meditation and Contemplation: an Ignatian guide to praying with Scripture by Timothy Gallagher
Inner Compass: an invitation to Ignatian Spirituality by Margaret Silf (an updated version of Landmarks)
Janet Bone