Like Leaves to the Sun

Neil Paynter

Description

For many people prayer is difficult. This new collection of prayers from the Iona Community helps us to be less bothered about what we should be saying when we pray. We can read a prayer and then sit quietly for a few minutes, allowing the particular words and thoughts to meet with our inner self, with our soul, which is linked to the energies and wisdom of the Creator of all things.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian liturgy
• Christian mysticism

Informations

• Publié par: Wild Goose Publications
• Date de parution: 06 janvier 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781849522762
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

For many people prayer is difficult. This collection helps us to be less bothered with our uncertainties about what we should be saying when we pray. We can read a prayer and then sit quietly for a few minutes, allowing the particular words and thoughts to meet with our inner self, with our soul, which is linked to the energies and wisdom of the Creator of all things.
The prayers here are not to be read in a rush. They are not about a small God, but about One who at every moment is at the very heart of both our personal lives and the life of the world. A God whose goodness, healing and tender grace are at the core of humanity. In the reading of them may our hearts become more loving and aware, for each prayer invites us into a reality much wider than ourselves – the whole world in its contradiction and promise – and brings us close to our sisters and brothers who, like us, are on a journey in which both light and shadow, sadness and joy are regular companions.
Living God ,
like leaves that turn to the sun
so we turn to you ,
the source of all life ,
for your love to sustain us ,
your will to strengthen us
and your wisdom to guide us .
Amen
– Chris Polhill
www.ionabooks.com
www.ionabooks.com
 
 
Poems & prayers © the individual contributors
Compilation © 2013 Neil Paynter
First published 2013 by
Wild Goose Publications, Fourth Floor, Savoy House,
140 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3DH, UK,
the publishing division of the Iona Community. Scottish Charity No. SC003794.
Limited Company Reg. No. SC096243.
PDF: ISBN 978-1-84952-275-5
Mobipocket: ISBN 978-1-84952-277-9
ePub: ISBN 978-1-84952-276-2
All rights reserved. Apart from reasonable personal use on the purchaser’s own system and related devices, and the non-commercial use described below, no part of this document or file(s) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Non-commercial use: The material in this book may be used non-commercially for worship and group work without written permission from the publisher. If copies of sections are made, please make full acknowledgement of the source, and report usage to CCLI or other copyright organisation.
Neil Paynter has asserted his right in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this compilation and the individual contributors have asserted their right to be identified as authors of their contributions.
 
 
Contents
Introduction
Like leaves to the sun
Chris Polhill
In the wilderness of our longing
Mark S. Burrows
Seeds of a holy future
Tim Aldred
Gardening in alleyways
Clare McBeath/Church Action on Poverty
As though there is no tomorrow
John Dale
God of the bigger picture
Clare McBeath/Church Action on Poverty
Being the change we want to see
Ruth Harvey
Centring prayer
Stephen Wright
In your extravagant grace
Norman Shanks
In our own small way
Norman Shanks
The door bursts open
Thom M. Shuman
A prayer with an eighteen-month-old grandson
Tom Gordon
Prayers of thanksgiving for the common life (from Iona)
Alison Swinfen
Hospice triptych (prayers for our healing)
Elaine Gisbourne
A listening prayer
Susan Dale
A prayer for those who are feeling stressed or burnt out
Stephen Wright
The light of your grace (intercessory prayer for Mental Health Week)
Kirsty Campbell
How long, Lord?: a lament
Vincent Manning
Prayer and blessing in a time of HIV and AIDS
Vincent Manning
Carer’s prayer
Stephen Wright
A prayer for a nurse at the end of a busy shift
Tom Gordon
Servant
Thom M. Shuman
I switch on my computer today
Anna Briggs
Prayer for a meeting on Palestine
Elisabeth Christa Miescher
You sit down in our midst: a poem and a prayer
Jan Sutch Pickard
Healing change
Chris Polhill
A prayer for social action
Paul Nicolson
Prayer for Polling Day
Elaine Gisbourne
Prayer for those joining the protests at Faslane for the first time
Tom Gordon
The ‘L word’
Stewart Smith
Prayer for Christian Aid Week
Stewart Smith
Strengthen our determination
Teun Kruijswijk Jansen, Jan Maasen and Desirée van der Hijden
A prayer before the start of the London Marathon
Yousouf Gooljary
A psalm for our generation
Jeremy Thompson
A prayer for the 21st century
Lisa Bodenheim
Prayer for stormy times (Mark 4:35–41)
Alison Swinfen
A prayer for those who are bereaved
Tom Gordon
Do not worry. Do not be afraid
Liz Gibson
Take a chance on me
Thom M. Shuman
We stand in awe
Ian M. Fraser
God of the poor
Clare McBeath/Church Action on Poverty
Peace and home
Andrew Foster
A GalGael grace
Jethro Jeffery
If I should meet my maker
David Francis
God’s grace through all danger (A Christmas prayer)
Norman Shanks
Christmastide blessing
Yvonne Morland
Blessing
Rosemary Power
Walking the talk blessing
Ruth Burgess
Quotes on prayer (from a scrapbook)
About the authors
Sources and acknowledgements
 
 
Introduction
In good days and difficult ones I am given fresh hope with these words: ‘God matters: the world matters: we matter to God.’ The powerful wisdom behind these words permeates this book. For the prayers which are here bring us face to face with a God who matters greatly; with our world in which God’s presence is embedded; and with the basic truth that we are all held in a much wider frame of meaning than we can comprehend.
For many people prayer is difficult. A collection of prayers like this allows our mind to be less bothered with our personal difficulties or our uncertainties about what we should be saying in our prayers. We can read a prayer, and then sit quietly for a few minutes, allowing the particular words and thoughts to meet with our inner self, with our soul: which is linked to the energies and wisdom of the Creator of all things. And even with my own restless spirit I do know that it is possible to be still with God, who is always reaching out to us, even in the midst of our endless busyness. The ancient words are still true: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’
The prayers here are not to be read in a rush. They are not about a small God, but about One who at every moment is at the very heart of both our personal lives and the life of the world. A God whose goodness, healing and tender grace are at the heart of humanity and are ‘planted there more deeply than all that is wrong’ (Iona Abbey Worship Book) . In the reading of them may our hearts become more loving and aware, for each prayer invites us into a reality much wider than ourselves – the whole world in its contradiction and promise – and brings us close to our sisters and brothers who wrote them and who, like us, are on a journey in which both light and shadow, sadness and joy are regular companions.
Lord of every day ,
you know well our restless hearts ,
our questions and our doubts ,
but we ask You to help us to read these prayers
in such a way that we return to what matters most:
the depths of our heart and mind
being in touch with You .
Peter Millar
 
 
Like leaves to the sun
Living God,
like leaves that turn to the sun
so we turn to you,
the source of all life,
for your love to sustain us,
your will to strengthen us
and your wisdom to guide us.
Amen
Chris Polhill
 
 
In the wilderness of our longing
Good and generous God,
here we are again,
still stumbling
in the deep of our anxieties,
still shaking
in the face of life’s tragedies,
still doubting
in the midst of our uncertainties …
And, yes, here we are again,
still hoping
to know you as the peace
that surpasses understanding.
For you are
the seed of hope
sewn
in the wilderness of our longing.
Mark S. Burrows
 
 
Seeds of a holy future
This prayer was written in response to the work of Progressio, an international development charity with lay Catholic roots, which campaigns for environmental justice and an end to poverty ( www.progressio.org.uk ) .
A friend, Michael Edwards, once shared with me the insight that fearing the threats in nature can feed denial, whereas reflecting on its wonders leads to care and action .
We see nature as a threat, bringing death
flood
terror
drought
hunger
hurricane
destruction
desert
waste
Your earth is a gift, the source of life
rain
drink
sun
growth
wind
spirit
land
food
From fear of nature, we try to
ignore
as if it does not feed and nourish us
deny
as if it is not degraded at our hand
exploit
as if water, soil and tree are without end
control
like a bully
In love with your earth, may we
study
its wonders
accept
its fragility
care
for its wounds
nurture
seeds of a holy future
Tim Aldred
 
 
Gardening in alleyways
The following prayer responds to Church Action on Poverty’s work in enabling folk to participate in their communities .
Run by Church Action on Poverty’s Community Pride Unit in partnership with Salford University, the Salford Apprentice course aims to empower people with the knowledge they need to make positive changes in their lives and communities. Participants are taught about politics, local government and funding. They are mentored by university staff, study in the university library, and earn credits that count towards a degree .
Mum-of-one Sarah Whitehead completed the course in 2010. Using the information and contacts gained from Salford Apprentice, Sarah established the BCD Community Gardens Association – and transformed her rubbish-filled alley into a community garden. Folk on surrounding streets have since been inspired to create their own gardens. In March 2011, together with other Salford Apprentice graduates, Sarah created the Weaste Area Forum. As well as providing a democratic voice for people, the forum have set up a jobs centre, community gym and café in their local social club. Sarah is now a mentor to other Salford