'Big Prayer Book' finishes its journey
The 'Big Prayer Book' completed its journey around the diocese when it arrived in Down Cathedral on Saturday 31st October for the 24-40 Prayer closing event.
The service took 'Light' as its theme and Julie Bell from Hillsborough Parish, had put together a thoughtful programme of hymns and musical pieces. There were several opportunities to pray and share together during the evening as those gathered reflected on the 24-40 prayer journey.
In his opening words, Dean Hull remarked that he had found it both humbling and encouraging to read the entries in the 'Big Prayer Book'. "It was very clear to me," he continued, "that right across the diocese, people had encountered God in their prayer rooms. As they took time to be still, prayed for their churches, their communities, for healing and for revival, God drew near."
As the service closed, the Dean of Dromore issued a challenge.
"As we come to the end of forty days of prayer is it time to dock? Time to put our prayer room paraphernalia away? Time to return that vestry, that corner of the church, or that room in the hall back to normal use? Time to switch off the heat and put away the candles and strip the walls of post it notes?"
He went on to reflect on the phrase that has been the tagline for 24-40 Prayer:
"Let go the oars! Lift up the sails."
"One of you a few weeks back wrote a prayer which said something like: "Father release us from striving; help us to lay down the oars of our own efforts to hoist the spiritual sails and to sail the journey of mission."
One of the prayer venues had, I presume, a boat, for the big prayer book tells how "When I sat in the boat I felt the security you give to your people when they trust in you"
Another person elsewhere prayed that we would "no longer quench the Spirit."
It is a strong metaphor: the Holy Spirit as the Holy Wind of God which blows where it pleases to bring new life."
Dean Lowry finished by encouraging the diocese to continue praying and in so doing to imitate Christ, guard the faith and depend on the wind of God to give power and direction.