Category Archives: Prayer

Liturgical comment and prayer diary

Prayer

Prayers and Reflections

Autumn will soon be upon us. As the nights start to draw in, we will begin to feel a chill in the air, the leaves on the trees will drop and jumpers and jackets will soon be needed again!

I must confess that as much as I love the summer sun, the beauty and colour of summer flowers, BBQs, alfresco dining and a glass or two of Pimm’s, autumn is actually my favourite season.

In so many ways Autumn is about “endings”. It is a season, as Keats so evocatively expressed, of mists and mellow fruitfulness. If you are a gardener(I am not!) then autumn, marks the time when you begin ‘to put the garden to bed’. Fruit and vegetables are harvested. Flower bushes are dead headed or cut back. Autumn reminds us year after year what we all know but often forget which is that endings mark new beginnings. As we wrap up the old, we prepare for the new. The way in which we end, shapes the way in which we will begin again.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…
– Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

This reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that God guides the events of our lives, and that there is a gift from God in every season, or time, that we live in. The very temporariness of the time we live and the transitions we undergo are a reminder of the timelessness of God and the longing for the eternal that God has put in our hearts. The seasons of nature can be reflected in our spiritual life. Sometimes, when a great deal is going on in our lives, an “easy in” to reflecting on what is happening interiorly is to look at our spiritual life in this light of what season we are living. Perhaps as you read this—or another time—you can take a few moments to reflect on what spiritual “season” or “moment” from Ecclesiastes 3 you most identify with at this time in your life.

Recently, I was reminded of how helpful that can be by the last few pages of Parker Palmer’s lovely book on vocation, Let Your Life Speak. Palmer talks about failure as an important part of discernment: how failure can be a clear indication from God that we are meant to turn in another direction–or to see what has been in front of us all along. Quoting Thomas Merton about “the hidden wholeness” in all visible things, Palmer speaks of autumn’s metaphor for our spiritual lives:

In the visible world of nature, a great truth is concealed in plain sight: diminishment and beauty, darkness and light, death and life are not opposites. They are held together in the paradox of “hidden wholeness.”
…Autumn constantly reminds me that my daily dyings are necessary precursors to new life.
– Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

Autumn – that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness – is the perfect time to take stock and to ask ourselves what the fruits of our existence are. Mary Oliver in her poem The Summer Day asks poignantly and powerfully ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ Autumn is surely a great time to ask ourselves whether the plans of summer for our wild and precious lives have indeed turned into the fruits of autumn. Whatever answer we give can rest with us through the hibernation of winter and as it rests we can find strength and hope ready to begin the growing process once more.

Rev Joe Moore, St John the Divine, Richmond

Events, Prayer

Sacred Space in Ham

A monthly musical community café, 7-8pm at St Andrew’s Church, Ham.

Sacred Space is an informal hour of live music, craft, drinks and cakes, conversation and poetry, based on a universal theme. Drop in, relax, meet others, find rest and inspiration. It is a perfect occasion to bring your friends. Everyone welcome, all ages, all faiths and none.

Contact St Peter’s, Petersham (st.peters.petersham@googlemail.com) for information about the next café. 

About Sacred Space

Katharine von Schubert from St Peter’s, Petersham, is a Commissioned Southwark Diocese Lay Pioneer working across parishes locally and in helping more widely with Diocesan Mission Action Planning.

In September, 2021, Katherine started “Sacred Space” at St Andrew’s Ham. It runs every month on a Sunday evening (see below for dates) and is an informal hour of live music, text and art around a theme, with coffee and cake served. You can stay for the whole hour or come and go as you wish

In February, 2022, Katherine wrote:

It was at a junction in my life a few years ago that an old friend told me her hunch that my future direction might involve music. At the time I was dismissive. However, being a lay pioneer is about being who I am, and I had to admit a consistent love of music.

God had always spoken to me through music – it could unlock my emotions, thaw out anger or disbelief, take me to sublime places, and help me make sense of the colours of mood I experience. Moreover, every time I had played my flute or sung in churches or concerts over decades, there never failed to be someone who came to me afterwards to say how much it had moved them.

Based on these two things, I began to imagine a gathering of people experiencing the power of music together. I was imagining a deep immersive experience, one so beautiful that people could not fail to be touched, a place where people could find themselves and connect with others, and therefore find God their Creator nourishing them in some way. It was a vision of togetherness and hospitality.

I needed a space which was big and roomy enough to match this vision- of welcoming and gathering people, encouraging them to participate and feel at home. I imagined an enlarged living room, a comfortable space where friends hang out, and take it in turns to play their instruments or sing or say something. What after all is a ‘sacred space’ if not a place where we feel special, loved and at home?

The fixed Georgian box pews and tiny space in my own ancient church did not allow for this vision. So I shared it with Alice Pettit, vicar of St Andrews- a church hidden amongst trees in the woods near Richmond Park, with a big beautiful inner space. Alice and Jenny a longtime parishioner graciously greeted the idea with enthusiasm, adding in their ideas of running a café with tables, candles and craft alongside the music on a Sunday evening.

We started in September and grown each month. In February we had over 100 attend, including 15 primary school children and 20 adults from different parts of the community singing in Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilu’s The Rose. We sometimes have a string quartet. I choose beautiful non-churchy music that has inspired me, and hope that we can manage it with minimal rehearsal the day before. It is always experimental and responsive to who is around including partnership with local schools. Once we invited Maryam, a young Iranian women who had just been granted asylum to speak about ‘belonging’ and treat us to Iranian sweets.

The format is carefully crafted to avoid a ‘concert’ atmosphere: people arrive around 7pm and directed to the café and craft table; a sheet with a poem and bible verse explains that everything happens in parallel. At 7.10pm, we perform the main segment of live music during which people can choose to socialise, eat, walk around or sit. There might be a discussion corner on the theme in a musical break and the music is performed again at 745-8pm.

Sacred Space is intentionally informal. It is ‘neither a service nor concert’, a phrase that seems to alleviate the fears of some whom I invite; nothing is expected of them, and they don’t have to ‘do’ anything, or even stay! Many of those who come including musicians do not go to church, and they bring their families and friends. There is a buzz of conversation and lots of positive comments and experiences shared afterwards. People from all three churches in the area visit, and many connections are being made.

This is an experiment and is not without challenges. One is for the whole church community to value this alternative use of church space: a large team of volunteers is needed to help sustain the hospitality each month. Secondly the work of daily inviting the people we know must be taken seriously. Only then will it begin to represent the community. There is room for aromatherapists, environmentalists, yoga practitioners, poets and artists to practice their craft alongside the music.

This leads to a more fundamental point: Sacred Space will only be sustainable long term if it becomes a space shaped, owned and valued by those who participate in it. My hope is that long term this is what happens and that we learn to be an active partner of the community. Imagine the community setting the agenda, whilst the church continues to host. The theology is simple: God in us meeting and greeting people and letting them be who they are.

Katherine aslo wrote the following article for the June 2024 edition of Lay Ministry Matters

Prayer

Lord’s Prayer Stations at St Mary’s, Barnes

The nine days from Jesus’ Ascension, to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, is traditionally a special time of prayer in the church. At St Mary’s, Barnes, six stations have been placed around the church. These stations are based on the words of the Lord’s Prayer, helping us to dwell on and linger over the words of the prayer as we seek to connect to God.

You can view the prayer’s phrases and suggestions for contemplation below.

SMB-Lords-Prayer-StationsDownload
Prayer

Reflective Art Afternoons with Richmond Team Ministry

Reflective Art Afternoons will be taking place on the last Sunday of the month, 3pm in St John’s Hall, beginning in April. It will be a monthly opportunity to respond creatively to a prompt.

Do feel free to invite friends who don’t usually come to church, but would appreciate a space for peace, reflection, and creativity. All welcome

Contact Revd Charlie Middleton for more information charlie.middleton@richmondteamministry.org

Events, Prayer

World Day of Prayer across the Deanery

On 1 March 2024, many churches around the UK will be holding a World Day of Prayer Service. This year’s theme is “I beg you, bear with one another in love”. World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation, led by women, which enables us to hear the thoughts of those women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns, and prayers. This year the Christian Women of Palestine are calling us to connect with the land from where Jesus came; where he was born, ministered and died – and from where our faith began and is rooted.

Within Richmond and Barnes Deanery, services are being held at

St Matthias, Richmond at 2:30pm. Followed by Refreshments -tea/coffee and cakes. All are welcome.

St Richard’s, Ham at 11am. Followed by Palestinian themed refreshments.

Events, Prayer

Lent Across the Deanery

Please keep checking this post for further updates of study during Lent

Stations of the Cross

St Michael and All Angels, Barnes – Fridays in Lent at 6pm
Reflective service of meditations on Christ’s story of the Cross using images from a set of stations by Janet McKenzie.

St Anne’s, Kew – Sundays in Lent at 5pm and throughout Holy Week.

St John the Divine, Richmond – Saturdays in Lent at 12 noon EXCEPT Saturday 9th March.

Lent Walks from Richmond Team Ministry

Revd Anne Crawford will be offering gentle reflective walks on Friday mornings through Lent, beginning on Friday 16th February.  If you would like to join her then please register so that you can be sent details of meeting times and places (which will vary each week).  All walks will last about an hour and end somewhere nice to enjoy coffee/tea and cake together.  anne.crawford@richmondteamministry.org

Lent Quiet Day at St Mary, Barnes

Email revdjames@stmarybarnes.org for more information and to sign up.

Lent Book and Study Group at St Mary’s, Barnes

St Mary’s Barnes are recommending The Nail by Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) for reading this Lent:
You hold in your hands a nail that was used to crucify Christ.  If you accept it, this nail is the beginning of a deeply moving and personal journey through the Passion story.  In The Nail, key witnesses describe the crucifixion from their viewpoint.  We learn how the Roman centurion was just following orders, and that Pontius Pilate merely obeyed the wishes of the majority.  By vividly expanding these and other stories, Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) invites us to ask ourselves how we would have behaved in these situations.

The Nail will also be the basis for the Lent group which will meet in at St Mary’s, Barnes, 2.30-3.45pm on Tuesdays 20th & 27th February, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March.If possible participants should have a copy of the book, but it is not essential. Each session will comprise a bible reading and the imagined words of the crucifixion witness for that week.  There are simple questions for discussion, and we will end with some time for quiet reflection and prayer. It would be helpful to know if you plan to come to the Lent group.  Please email office@stmarybarnes.org.

Lent Book and Study Group at St Michael and All Angels, Barnes

Click here for more details of Lent worship and study with St Michael and All Angels

Lent Course at Mortlake and East Sheen Team Ministry

Lent Study Series at St Anne’s, Kew

A five week study series based on Stephen Cottrell’s book, Godforsaken.
Sunday 25th February   6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 3rd March   5pm – 6:15pm
Sunday 10th March   6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 17th March   6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 24th March   6pm – 7:15pm
In the Parish Hall
All are welcome. Please do try to commit to the full series of studies if you can. You will need the book to participate in the study series.
To join or for more information, contact saintannekew@gmail.com

Lent Bible Study at Kew United Benefice

The bible study will be following the daily reading plan and Sunday reflections that the Rowan Williams’ little Lent Book, Meeting God in Mark includes, and those hosting the sessions will draw on the lectures in the book in facilitating discussions. There’s no need to buy the book. For more info, contact the Parish Office (office@kewbenefice.org). 

Lent Book Recommendation from Holy Trinity, Richmond

Rev Eils Osgood from Holy Trinity, Richmond, writes:
What does it mean to respond to Jesus’ invitation to come to him and find rest? The Rest Is Worship is written for anyone who wants to delve into how “being still” can help us to “know God”, and how we can reject the rush and hurry of our contemporary world. With sections on Sabbath, fun, solitude, digital discipleship, saying ‘no’ and many other practical aspects of rest, intertwined with biblical teaching and stories, arranged into 40 short chapters. I’m planning on reading a chapter each day during Lent, and wonder if anyone wants to join in?

Click here to order your copy.

Lent Quiet Day at St Anne’s, Kew

Bishop Martin’s Lent Pilgrimage for Climate

The closest walk to us is the Kingston and Merton Walk leg on Saturday 24 February:
Walk Leader: Judith Russenberger
Start 10.30:  All Saints Church, 14-16 Mark Pl, Kingston, KT1 1JP, gathering from 10 am for 10.30 start from the café in church.
Lunch Stop 12.30-1.30: St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston SW15 3PY.
Finish 4.30: TBC Christ Church. West Wimbledon 2 Cottenham Park Road, SW20 0RZ
The theme of this seven mile walk in relationship to climate and ecology is the role of government, democracy and citizenship. We begin in All Saints church where Saxon Kings were crowned and will be walking through Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, with their histories of enclosures and local residents campaigning for access to the land. Register to join Bishop Martin’s Climate Pilgrimage here.

Events, Prayer

Preparing for Christmas with Study, Prayer and Exploration

Advent Reading and Groups from St Michael and All Angels, Barnes

Click here for St Michael and All Angels Advent newsletter

Advent Quiet Morning at St Mary, Barnes

Advent Compline and Reflections at St Mary’s, Barnes

Advent Course at All Saints, East Sheen

All Saints, East Sheen, are running and Advent course, reflecting on some Christmas Carols, on Mondays 4th, 11th and 18th December at 7:30pm. Please contact Rev Alex Barrow vicar.ases@gmail.com if you would like to come along and to nominate a carol.

Advent Bible Study with Kew United Benefice

The very best carols express our faith and deepen it as we sing them. We will think about the theological ideas that they contain, discuss some of the Bible passages that they draw on, and reflect on other material that is connected to them – including art and poetry.

Please email office@kewparishes.plus.com if you would like to join.

Meditations on Advent Art with Richmond Team Ministry

Richmond Team clergy are offering you three meditations on Advent Art via Zoom, on Wednesday 6th, 13th and 20th December, 8pm – 8.45pm. After each meditation Compline will be said together. Please email admin@richmondteamministry.org if you would like to join.

If you are considering a book for Advent, with daily reflections, Richmond Team suggest ‘Stick with love’ by Arun Arora. It is the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book 2023 and comes highly recommended.

Richmond Team Advent Calendar

Email Revd Anne Crawford receive daily readings, reflections and images during Advent.