March 21 to 27, 2021. This year’s Week of Guided Prayer is focussed on enabling participants to attend an online prayer “retreat” while still maintaining their normal daily routine.
Rooted in God; Growing in Faith
As people of faith, we are rooted and grounded in the One who is Holy Mystery and Wholly Love. Like sown seeds, the potential for all we are and will become is rooted in our relationship with God.
You are invited to join us as we pray scripture during this Week of Guided Prayer. May God’s word nourish the seeds of faith planted within us as they take root in the fertile soil of God’s love.
Commitment to this Week of Guided Prayer involves spending 30 minutes praying scripture at home, and then connecting for another 30 minutes (by phone or online) with a “prayer companion” each day of the retreat week, from Monday to Friday.
What is prayer?
Prayer is unique to each person. It is whatever you do to open yourself to the presence and activity of God in your life and in the world. It is your response to God’s call and leading.
Prayer is communication and communion with God, in set-aside moments of “heart to heart”, and in the midst of daily life.
Prayer is a love feast; it is a love exchange which nourishes the soul and feeds the hunger for meaning and purpose in life.
Prayer is participating in God’s intention for shalom, for peace in our lives, our families, our church, society and world.
Prayer is so much more! It is mystery and reality; it is blessing.
Some suggestions for personal prayer
Take a prayer walk with God. Allow your attention to be drawn to certain things in nature or people you meet and respond as you are moved by the Spirit.
Notice the little “God-incidences” in your day, signs of God’s presence, protection, love and caring.
Intentionally pause to attend to your breathing and connect with the Spirit.
Follow the nudge to do something for someone, a call, a note.
Journal.
Give thanks as best you can “in all things”; intend to live with an attitude of gratitude, expectancy and hope.
How should I pray?
There are as many ways to pray as there are people. Prayer is two-way communication with God.
You can pray kneeling, standing or lying down, walking in the woods, at the kitchen sink, in your bed or in the midst of a crowd of people. You can pray out loud, in silence by writing in a journal, by dancing or by repeating a single word over and over until you are in a deep place beyond thought.
People read a passage of scripture several times and then using their imagination to place themselves in the passage, seek God’s word for them. God longs to be in communication with us. During this Week of Guided Prayer pause and speak to God often. Listen and let God speak to you!
What happens during this week?
An opening Zoom session will be held on March 21 at 1:00 pm for a time of fellowship between retreatants and those who will companion them through the week. It introduces the theme and an experience of praying scripture with journaling. The retreatant is given the daily scripture material for prayer based upon the theme that unfolds during the week. The retreatant and companion establish a schedule of 30-minute daily meetings.
Monday to Friday the retreatants covenant to pray 30 minutes privately each day, and to meet with their companion 30 minutes daily to be guided in their prayer experience. The companion supports the retreatant, seeking to keep them attentive to God’s leading, and guiding the retreatant through questions, suggestions and shared experience.