Thirty-eight hours.... 120 miles..... what sticks in the mind? Above all, a feeling of exhilaration, that we have put so much into this time, and that in each church ‘Praying Without Ceasing’ has made an impact – perhaps not in terms of numbers of people taking part, but in the quality and variety of ways in which we have engaged in prayer.

A mere list of what happened gives only a flavour – but even that is worthwhile.

Sketty – an opening service, quiet and meditative, which drew people from all over the circuit, adding prayers to the embroidered prayer tree on the pulpit-fall. And then a vigil – started with a reflection in the ‘quiet room’, with candles and soft chairs... but also a labyrinth to walk – a prayer-wall to cover........

Brunswick – periods of led prayer, of different types and styles, opening with a formal ‘office’, with time for meditation on various themes in between.......

Horton & Pitton – the church became a labyrinth, with stations for reflection as we travelled ‘in’ and ‘out’ – the stillness was almost palpable – time became immaterial.....

Mumbles – we were led into prayer by invitations on the walls and the stairs, and drawn to the central candle of the station – a focal point with ideas for reflection and thought around it, and with prayers from many people already on a board........

Morriston – concentration aided by quiet background music – not on tape but ‘live’ – silences punctuated by short acts of worship around the cross and candle on the communion table – not forgetting fellowship over lunch.............

Eaton Road – candles and readings – psalms and prayers – music and peace..........

Penlan – the buzz of activity after prayer and singing – prayer using hand and eye, making paper-chain prayers, prayer bracelets, writing prayers – all around the central standing cross with its circlet of lights – and encircled by the prayer of dozens of ‘partners’ from local churches and all over the globe.............

Clydach – deep peace, the silence of meditation interspersed with led prayers with pictures and words................

Reynoldston – the night lit up by dozens of candles – a quiet room for peace – a banner in the making – stations for reflection on our concerns in the world and the locality, ‘earthed’ by requests for prayer from people in the village ............

... then another morning ‘office’, with an icon and candles and breakfast...

Murton – the church again becoming a labyrinth, with bread and wine at the centre – a prayer tree and craft-table – stations for reflection with maps and stones and water - a quiet room..... and a final sharing of bread and wine in communion, followed by lunch together.............

The bare record – but what will remain in the memory? Most of all, the sense of peace – in many different contexts and places; the solitary peace of walking the Sketty labyrinth – the companiable peace of Eaton Road and Morriston – the reverential peace of Brunswick, Mumbles and Horton – the expectant hush in Reynoldston, Clydach and Murton. But was the bustle of activity at Penlan less prayerful? not in the least – the joy and exuberance was just different!

And what will come next? Who knows – but let us not lose what we have gained, that renewed sense of the power of prayer, the new experience of praying in so many new ways, and above all the realisation that we are part of something so much greater than ourselves – that great eternal conversation between God and his people.

AJP
15.10.05