Pray Without Ceasing [20-05-06]

The service formed part of our circuit’s Prayer Pilgrimage event. This was in turn part of a national event. A programme of continuous prayer was launched at the Methodist Conference at the end of June 2005 and planned to run until the end of August 2006. Methodist Districts (33 in Great Britain) were encouraged to organise continuous prayer events for a week or fortnight within that 14-month period.

The circuit’s response to this invitation was to create a ‘Prayer Pilgrimage’, inviting people to visit each church to experience different ’spaces’.

Aldersgate – A Menu of Prayer
The district Pray Without Ceasing team will introduce us to a wide range of ideas

Cutler Heights – Praying for the World Outside the Church
Prayerful exploration of ways of praying for the city, the country and the world we live in

Ebenezer – Praying Creatively with Nature
Colour, movement, mess – an opportunity to use our creativity before God in prayer

Laisterdyke Trinity – Prayers for Healing
Resources for praying for healing of individuals, broken communities and beyond

New Hey Road – – Praying with Music
Exploration of the ways in which music can develop our relationship with God

Thornbury – Praying with Technology
Whether you are familiar with computers or not, the HOST team have some exciting possibilities to share

Wyke – Praying Quietly
Resources for silent prayer with short guided meditations

Due to the fact people would arrive randomly throughout the afternoon, we decided rather than use the technology interactively, we’d use it to create an atmosphere conducive to prayer.

In one of the smaller rooms in the church were we could block out the afternoon light, and using a projected digital cross (from OSBD), a repeating audio track (Coldplay’s Fix You), slide and OHP projections, and a table covered with candles that people could light as they prayed.

Over which we projected a rotating PowerPoint presentation (download it here) constantly repeating the phrase “Lights Will Guide You Home” (echoing the audio track).

We left no guidelines on how to use the space, wanting people to use the space however they felt comfortable and their own connections and experiences within it.

Click on the image below to view more mages from the event.

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