Prayer is at the heart of everything we do
Prayer is offered liturgically in our churches at times of worship, but prayer is also something we do as individuals in church, at home, at work, and at play.
Those in our prayers this week
Helen Connor, Chloe Brice, Martin Grafton-Grattan, Jayne Costello, Pat Cottrell, Marje Rix, Christine Peterken and Pat King. We continue to pray for our extended church family who live in local care homes – especially Marion Gilbert, Rosemary Dafforn, Cathy Brown, Graham Snell, and Gill White (now in Kings Manor).
Praying together
Coming together to pray with other Christians is very encouraging. There are lots of times to pray together beyond Sunday morning. Morning Prayer is said at Ottery St Mary Parish Church on Mondays and Wednesdays, at Wiggaton on Thursdays, and intentional prayers for creation at Alfington on Tuesdays (in the churchyard when dry) and online on Saturdays.
Evening Prayer is shared on Zoom on Mondays and Tuesdays.
On 2nd Sunday evenings, Ottery St Mary Parish Church holds Praying the News – a chance to discuss the news items that have affected, interested or distressed us and then to pray into that.
Lighting a candle
Prayer can be without words. At Ottery St Mary Parish Church we have a votive candle stand where you are invited to light a candle. Candles can speak when we cannot find the words, or don’t know what to say. The candle can speak for our love, longing, gratitude, sorrow, loss, hope. We can know that God hears our prayers even when we can’t give them words: he knows the words of our hearts.
Writing a prayer
Sometimes we need to articulate a prayer and writing it down can help. At Ottery St Mary Parish Church children are invited to engage with prayer at their prayer table near the front of church. Prayers can be posted in the prayer box and are prayed either at Wednesday Morning Prayer or at Sunday service.
Other prayers can be left on the prayer tree by the Lady Chapel: these are prayed at Wednesday Morning Prayer.
There is a special book of remembrance also by the Lady Chapel for those who have lost children or babies to write their prayers.
Prayer and tears
We cry for many reasons: sometimes we have tears of joy, at other times tears of sadness, loss, or even anger. When we come to God in prayer sometimes that can cause us to cry. The Bible tells us that not one tear is missed by God.
You know how troubled I am;
you have kept a record of my tears.
Are they not written in your book?
Psalm 56 verse 8
You may want to come into church privately to cry. Other times tears can overcome us in services. Never be embarrassed by your tears – no one will judge you, or think you’re weird.
