Prayer
Diary August using the Ignatain Method of Daily Prayer
Thought
for the month: "Teach us to give and not to count the
cost" St Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius
believed that an essential part of prayer was to learn to
spot God's presence in the small details of our lives. The
way he suggested of developing prayer-filled awareness of
God's presence was by using a structure called the 'daily
Examen' which we offer for you to use during August.
The Examen is a prayerful reflection on the events of the
day to detect when we have been drawn into God's presence
and when we have been distracted from it. In this way we
can begin to discern His direction in our lives. Discernment
is the foundation stone of Ignatian Spirituality. By practicing
the skills of discernment we start to notice 'God in all
things' and the whole of life can be drawn into a prayer.
1.
Become aware of God's presence: invite the Holy Spirit to
walk with you as you look back on the events of the day.
Your day may seem confusing to you...a jumble or a blur.
If so, ask god to bring clarity to what returns to mind.
2.
Review the day with gratitude: gratitude is the foundation
of our relationship with God. Walk slowly through the day
in God's presence noticing its joys and delights. Focus
on the day's gifts. What did you do? Who did you interact
with? What did you receive from those people? What did you
give them? Pay attention to small things...the food you
ate, the sights you saw and the other seemingly small pleasures.
God is in the details
3.
Pay attention to your emotions: One of Ignatius' great insights
was the we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the
movements of our emotions. What feelings did you experience
during the day? Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion?
Anger? Confidence? What might God be saying to you through
these feelings? It is possible that God will show you some
way in which you fell short. Notice those times but also
look for deeper implications. Is it possible that a feeling
of frustration means that God want you to consider a new
way of doing something? Are you concerned about someone
you care for? Perhaps those feelings were stirred as a prompt
to help in some way?
4.
Choose one feature from the day and pray from it: Ask the
Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that
God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling
(positive or negative). It may be a significant encounter
with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace.
It may even be something that seems rather insignificant
in the course of the day. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow
the prayer to rise spontaneously from your heart- whether
it be intercession, praise, repentance or gratitude.
5.
Look toward tomorrow: Ask God to give you light for tomorrow's
challenges. Pay attention to what feelings surface as you
survey what's coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive?
Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to
turn to prayer. Seek God's guidance. Ask him for help and
understanding. Pray for hope.
St
Ignatius encouraged people to pray to Jesus like a friend.
The last stage of the Daily Examen is a conversation with
Jesus. Ask for his forgiveness for the time you fell short
during the day. Ask for his protection and help. Ask for
his wisdom about the questions you have and the problems
that you face. Do all of this in a spirit of gratitude.
Our lives are a gift and adorned with gifts from God in
the small details as well as the major things in life.
End
the Daily Examen with the Lord's Prayer.
Prayer
Diary September
Thought
for the Month: Faith is taking the first step, even when
you don't see
the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr
Wed 1st Continue to pray for the people of Pakistan affected
by the devastating floods
Thu 2nd Pray for all who are suffering in body, mind or
spirit at this time
Fri 3rd For those who are in hospital, and for hospital
chaplains
Sat 4th Give thanks for the beauty and wonder of creation,
and pray for all who visit the Brooklands Annual Show in
the Hall this afternoon
Sun 5th Pray for the sick and the housebound who cannot
come to worship today
Mon 6th Pray for our young people beginning a new term at
school or college
Tue 7th For members of our uniformed groups
Wed 8 Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary May we follow the
example of Mary,
in patience, humility and trust
Thu 9th The reopening of 'Seconds to Spare' ..that it continues
to be a source of
fellowship for all
Fri 10th Remember all who will pray with us on this Diocesan
Weekend of Prayer
Sat 11th That all who visit our church today may find peace
and joy
Sun 12th May we seek God's direction for all we are and
do
Mon 13th Pray for members of the PCC meeting this evening
Tue 14th Holy Cross Day .. Pray for courage and strength
to follow the way of the Cross
Wed 15th For members of the Out and About Club
Thu 16th For all who are lonely, troubled or depressed
Fri 17th Pray for all who use our church premises
Sat 18th For our church wardens and sidespersons
Sun 19th Pray for Philip and the choir, giving thanks for
their ministry of music
Mon 20th For students arriving at our universities for Freshers
Week
Tue 21st St Matthew .. For the confidence to proclaim the
Gospel to those we know
Wed 22nd For members of the Women's Fellowship
Thu 23rd For those who are unemployed and those whose job
prospects are insecure
Fri 24th Pray for Macmillan nurses and all who support those
living with cancer
Sat 25th Pray for those recently married and those preparing
for their wedding day
Sun 26th Give thanks for Vicky's ministry here at St John's.
Mon 27th Pray for our neighbours, and those who work in
our parish
Tue 28th For those who have moved from here to other parts
of the country
Wed 29th St Michael & All Angels ..For all Bishops,
Priests and Deacons
Thu 30th Pray for overseas missionary societies and their
workers
Confirmation
At some
point on our journey of faith we might feel it is time to
affirm for ourselves the promises made on our behalf at
Baptism, or perhaps we are ready to enter into a deeper
commitment to the Christian way of life. Confirmation is
a special service when we commit ourselves again to Christ
and we seek to strengthen our faith. Confirmation is a great
occasion when the wider church also recognises our journey
of faith and the confirmation service is presided over by
a Bishop, usually with many other candidates from all over
the diocese. Here at St. John's we journey together with
those wishing to deepen their faith and explore confirmation.
If you are interested in being confirmed, or re-affirming
your baptism please contact the clergy.
The
Confirmation Prayer:
Defend,
O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that
they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in
your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting
kingdom. Amen.
