Dear Friends,

 

We’re about to go off to France for our long-awaited holiday. I’ve already tried out my rusty old French, booking a B&B over the phone; I was doing all right with my prepared speech until the lady, who spoke no English, launched into a lengthy answer to my question. Suddenly I was lost. I dare say the phrases (‘O’ level standard once) will start to come back – the tongue loosened by the odd glass of wine – but I can’t pretend that I’ll return after 10 days speaking fluent French.

 

I guess that for many of us, prayer is a bit like my holiday French. Maybe we were taught how to do it once, learned a few phrases and set prayers, but we don’t get much practice, and over the years we just about get by with the absolute basics, if the occasion demands: a few words of prayer, perhaps voicing a worry, a fear, a request, for someone else or oneself, or even a heart-felt thank-you.

 

We’re missing out on a lot! Every time there is a census asking people about different aspects of their lives, including their religious beliefs, I am astonished by the number of people (not just ‘religious’ church-going types) who own up to praying from time to time, and who maintain that it is an important source of strength in their lives. Prayer can give us a way into a whole new dimension; it can soothe, give peace, help us to resolve difficult issues, make us feel stronger, with the confidence that we are not alone in a hostile universe. The practice of prayer has been said to contribute significantly to the physical and mental well-being of those who do it.

 

But we’re not always good at sticking with this guaranteed route to mental and physical wholeness. As one of our traditional prayers begins:

 

      ‘Almighty God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray….’

 

So God waits, in vain, sometimes, for us to strike up a conversation with our Creator; but we’re often too lazy or too shy – and what sort of a relationship is that?

 

To help us to develop our ‘prayer skills’ we’re re-launching our ‘Take a Look’ group this September, with ‘Take a New Look’ groups meeting in two different venues, on two different evenings, twice monthly (2^nd & 4^th weeks). These will be informal evenings, 7.45 – 9.15. beginning with coffee / tea, and looking at different ways of praying, what we can learn from them, and sharing ideas together. Do think about coming along (even if you’ve never tried anything like this before), and phone me (856087) or Julia Norton (857851) for further details.

 

One further word about prayer: at both our churches in this parish, we pray, week by week, and day by day, for a number of people whose needs are brought to our attention. We are here to support you with our prayers; if you would like a particular concern to be included, please write a note telling us (you do not even have to give your name) and drop it into the post box by the lych-gate at All Saints, Wraxall. The church at Wraxall is always open during the day-time, and you are welcome to drop in, light a candle, and say a prayer.

 

So, if you’re thinking of brushing up your French, why not also think of developing another communication skill, which will be of infinite value, and may open up a whole new world to you…..

 

With love,

Rosey