Labyrinth Laid-out

On Friday last week we had an opportunity to try out our proposed Labyrinth layout in Winchburgh Church. We moved all 120 chairs - and afterwards we moved them again, ready for the Craft Cafe on Saturday. The chairs are very comfortable, but they're heavy too! Thanks to Charlie for his mighty labours!

If you recall my draft sketch from 3rd March you might be able to see from the above photo that we have ended up with something much more curvy and artistic than the straight lines I had originally envisaged. The new layout is much better.

Of course, the above photo only gives a hint at the final layout. Actually I took 12 photos - one for each of the 12 scenes. But if I showed you all these now what would you have left to see? Come along on April the 10th, our Grand Opening Day, and see the final layout and all 12 of our crafty and artistic scenes!

This week, the Labyrinth group will be meeting on Tuesday at 2pm as usual at Winchburgh Church.

The Exploring Prayer group will be meeting on Wednesday at 7pm in the same place. This week we will be reviewing the past five weeks, discussing any left-over questions, and any new questions. We'll also be thinking about what we want to do next.

Anyone interested will be very welcome at either of our Lenten groups - even if it's your first time!

Labyrinth and Prayer - Week 5

This week the Labyrinth Group meets as usual at 2pm on Tuesday at Winchburgh Church. On Wednesday the Exploring Prayer group meets on Wednesday at 7pm also at Winchburgh Church. This week our topic will be "Growing in Prayer".

And on Saturday 28th March, there will be a Craft Cafe from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Admission is £1.20 which will entitle you to tea or coffee and goodies, and there will be a range of craft goods to buy, including Easter novelties, as well as home baking and bric-a-brac stalls. All monies raised will go to church funds.

Does Prayer Work?

Last week, during our discussion on “Does Prayer work?”, one of us remembered this poem:

"I asked the Lord for a bunch of fresh flowers
but instead he gave me an ugly cactus
with many thorns.

I asked the Lord for some beautiful butterflies
but instead he gave me many ugly
and dreadful worms.

I was threatened,
I was disappointed.
I mourned.

But after many days,
suddenly,

I saw the cactus bloom
with many beautiful flowers.

And those worms
became beautiful butterflies
flying in the Spring wind.

God's way is the best way."

This poem was part of an address given to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in Seoul in 1989 by Dr Chun-Ming Kao, a delegate from Taiwan.

Dr Kao was a prisoner of conscience in a Taiwanese prison for four years, three months and twenty-one days. His crime was to help a human rights leader who was wanted by the police.

He told the conference:
“Many of you sustained me and my family with your love and constant prayers.
Many people asked me whether I felt that the 4-year imprisonment was a great loss. My answer has been that the 4-year imprisonment was a great blessing. I deeply felt that the Lord changed my grief to a great joy.
Usually when people were arrested and imprisoned as political prisoners in Taiwan, they became very lonely, because they would lose many friends; even their parents, wives, brothers and sisters would not dare to visit them.
But the Lord gave me many friends when I felt lonely and depressed in prison. I received many letters from Taiwan, Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. The churches in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Australia. Japan, Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere, sent their representatives to visit me in prison or my family at home. WARC also informed many churches throughout the world of my case, and asked many people to pray for me and my family. Even Pope John Paul II sent his representative to visit me in prison. I was greatly comforted by you, your church, and many Christians throughout the world.

The Lord sent me as a missionary to the prisoners. No pastor was permitted to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the prison. But the Lord sent me there as a prisoner. I was able to live with other prisoners from different backgrounds. There were businessmen, soldiers, government officers, fishermen, engineers, gangster bosses and young people who had committed robbery, murder and other crimes. It was a great opportunity for me to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to my fellow prisoners. The more I preached the gospel, the more I felt it was impossible for me to convert anyone. But in spite of our human weakness, the Lord changed many of them to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The full text of Dr Kao’s speech can be found here.

Labyrinth nears Half-way

It is almost halfway through the 40-day period of Lent and the Winchburgh Labyrinth is taking shape. The individual scenes have been started and are progressing towards completion. The layout has been designed and adjusted and we'll be trying it out in the church on March 28th. That's the day of our Craft Cafe, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. We've been planning the logistics of people coming and going, and also thinking about publicity too. The Labyrinth will be open on Friday 10th April and Saturday 11th April too. Times have yet to be finalised - so watch this space!

In the meantime, the next meeting of the Labyrinth Group will be tomorrow afternoon, 17th March at 2pm, at Winchburgh Church. Everyone who is participating will be welcome, as will anyone who is interested to help out, or just to find out what is happening.

Prayer is more than Petition

In our journey Exploring Prayer this week, on Wednesday 11th March at 7pm, we will be discussing how prayer is more than presenting God with a shopping list of our own requests and demands. We will be looking at mystical and monastical prayer, and having a go ourselves.
If you've not been part of this group before we will be very glad to see you at Winchburgh Parish Church at 7pm on Wednesday. Refreshments when we finish around 8pm.

Trinity Prayer

Here is a prayer that was written at last week's Exploring Prayer.

Lord of the skies,
King of the earth,
Ruler of the oceans,
I praise you, my Creator.
As my Father God, you enfold me in your arms.
As my Brother Lord, you lead me by the hand.
As my Spiritual Guide, you fill me with your peace.
Father, Son, and Spirit, all together One,
I worship you,
Amen.

Labyrinth wends its way onwards

The next meeting of the Labyrinth Group will be on Tuesday 10th March, at 2pm in Winchburgh Parish Church. As well as continuing to discuss overall design and arrangements, we also intend to review and assist with the design of the individual scenes or representations of the events of Holy Week.

If time and materials permit, then we may do some of the creative craftwork too.

Newcomers are welcome even if you are merely curious or want to chip in your tuppence-worth.

Why Does Prayer Seem Difficult?

Why does Prayer seem difficult?
The short answer: because, at some time or another, for every one of us, it is! If you are in any doubt, you only have to read the account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46). On the other hand, “there are no atheists in a foxhole”. Even the most sceptical pray fervently when life is at stake. But ordinary people, in ordinary circumstances, can find praying hard.

During the Anglican Baptismal Service, the priest makes the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead and says: “Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ against sin, the world and the devil, and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life”

A wise instruction, as those three enemies stand in the way of prayer.

Sin: You might call it Original Sin, or human nature, or “your inner slob”, but we’ve all got it. It’s what makes us tend to take the easier option, whether it’s the second cream cake, or prayers “forgotten” because we didn’t make the effort (or because it would have meant facing up to things on our conscience!)

The World: During World War II, CS Lewis wrote: “As Christians, we live in occupied territory.” The situation, if anything is worse today: we live in an increasingly materialistic society that pushes us away from the need and the motivation to pray.

The Devil: The name Satan comes from the Hebrew for “the Enemy”. Satan is also called the Father of Lies, and one of his favourites about praying is that voice of doubt that whispers “I’m no good at this.” (So what? God understands, and is pleased that you are trying. Does the fact that Pavarotti’s voice was better than yours stop you singing in the bath?)

Some ideas for fighting back!

Time Pressure: Take 5: if you don’t have regular time for prayer, think carefully where you could best squeeze in even five minutes. (Also: be creative, use trigger times, places and actions, and arrow prayers.) If you do have a regular quiet time, why not increase it by five minutes? Or find another five minutes at another point in your day? But consider: Are you perhaps over-committed? Is this permanent? Is there an adjustment you should make?

Distraction: You settle to pray and suddenly you remember dozens of things that you perhaps should have done or will have to do, worries and fears. So: can you find a prayer partner or small group to pray with? Can you make these cares and concerns part of your prayer. But consider: Are you listening? Are you being gently told to go and do something?

Dryness: Your prayers seem lifeless, routine has become a rut. Be open to new ways of doing things. Find someone to pray with. These times happen and usually pass; don’t struggle: tell God you’re having problems reaching Him. But consider: Are you tired? Are you otherwise well? Do you need to talk to your minister or an elder?

Labyrinth Shape's Up

We had a good Labyrinth meeting this afternoon. Some people brought preliminary designs for their Scenes, and others progressed their scenes in discussion with the rest of us. We decided the opening times on Good Friday and the next day, which some call Easter Saturday. We also chose a tentative layout, as you can see above, although we have yet to try it out in the sanctuary.

The Exploring Prayer group meets tomorrow, Wednesday 4th March, from 7pm to 8pm as usual, with refreshments afterwards. Our theme for this week is 'Why is prayer so hard?' There will be a practical session looking at Celtic forms of prayer. And we'll be discussing our feedback on the Try Praying booklet.

Although we have started it's not too late to join in. Do come along and give it a try.