Dear friends

I spent a substantial amount of time in prayer this week. I had booked a day to retreat, to be still, to be creative, and to listen to whatever God had to say.

I started the day having a good clear up - tidying, cleaning, putting things away, literally getting my house in order. Some may say this is a strange way to begin a day of retreat, but for me, I needed to have cleared the space in order to inhabit the space.

My typical environment for prayer is to light a candle, play some Christian music, pray the Daily Office (the Church of England Morning, Evening or Night Prayer depending on what time of day it is!) and then a combination of silent prayer, journaling, reading ... whatever I feel led to do.

I was reminded of the importance of prayer. My reflection afterwards (and I rarely share what is in my journal, but I offer it to you here!) is that prayer is the starting point, the currency, the connecting space, even the vessel through which life is transformed.I believe that praying is part of our DNA as Christians, individually and corporately, as intercession and expectation, and with a rhythm and routine can be a natural part of our lives. I want to invite us as a church to be more intentional about this "Praying" part of our identity, so that it is never an add on, or incidental part of who we are, but that it is a core building block to who and how we are.

We have many opportunities to pray together during the week - as part of our gathered worship, and in the audio prayers that come out on a Thursday. If you don't yet receive these prayers and you would like to, please let me know.

We also each have our own opportunity to pray as individuals - either through the Daily Office, or through your own resources, which is the intentional kind of prayer. We can also pray when we gather together informally, or in our own individual journeys throughout the week. Why not, next time you are in your car or on public transport, pray for those who are also on the road? Perhaps take a moment during the working day to pray for a few moments for colleagues, for the next email you need to send, for the next meeting you need to be part of?

If prayer is indeed part of our DNA, then we are more fully who God calls us to be when we converse with Him in this way.

I continue to pray for you all, and give such thanks for our parish.

With every blessing as everBecky

Rev Becky WaringVicar St Martins Knowle