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working in unity to bring the transforming power of the
good news of Jesus into our lives and our communities
good news of Jesus into our lives and our communities
What is it?
A week of accompanied prayer provides people an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God, without going away for a residential retreat, and without interrupting their daily occupations. The participants agree to spend up to a half hour a day in prayer or contemplation on their own, and an additional half hour each day with an experienced prayer companion /guide. The half hour with the guide can be in the day-time or the evening, to suit the participant.
The week begins with a one and a half hour session on Sunday with all participants and companions together and ends on Friday evening with a meal and celebration. In the period Monday to Friday, the participant meets with his or her guide daily
These programmes have been offered around the country for a number of years, often with several churches working together.
Is this about prayer or quiet time or meditation?
A week of accompanied prayer provides people an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God, without going away for a residential retreat, and without interrupting their daily occupations. The participants agree to spend up to a half hour a day in prayer or contemplation on their own, and an additional half hour each day with an experienced prayer companion /guide. The half hour with the guide can be in the day-time or the evening, to suit the participant.
The week begins with a one and a half hour session on Sunday with all participants and companions together and ends on Friday evening with a meal and celebration. In the period Monday to Friday, the participant meets with his or her guide daily
These programmes have been offered around the country for a number of years, often with several churches working together.
Is this about prayer or quiet time or meditation?
The term ‘prayer’ refers to our interaction with God. This can come in a number of ways: through contemplating scripture, through waiting on God, through bringing what is in our hearts to God. It can be different for each person. The main focus of the week is the private prayer time of each participant. However, speaking about this to a
guide, can help clarify feelings and thoughts in relation to God and life experience.
Who is the prayer guide?
Prayer companions or guides are drawn from a network of trained spiritual directors from several denominations, and all have been trained in accompanying people in this way. They will be chosen from people who have already been accredited as spiritual directors in the Catholic or Anglican tradition or from other protestant denominations. The companion is a listener, who gives the participant the opportunity to articulate his or her own experience, and to explore different ways of praying. The main role of the companion is to be a discerning listener, not to give advice or to sort anything out for the participant.
The confidentiality of the participant is respected at all times, and for this reason, a prayer companion would not be paired with a participant from his own congregation. The majority of the companions will be “imported” from other parts of Surrey, Sussex or London.
What can I expect to gain from this week?
Prayer companions or guides are drawn from a network of trained spiritual directors from several denominations, and all have been trained in accompanying people in this way. They will be chosen from people who have already been accredited as spiritual directors in the Catholic or Anglican tradition or from other protestant denominations. The companion is a listener, who gives the participant the opportunity to articulate his or her own experience, and to explore different ways of praying. The main role of the companion is to be a discerning listener, not to give advice or to sort anything out for the participant.
The confidentiality of the participant is respected at all times, and for this reason, a prayer companion would not be paired with a participant from his own congregation. The majority of the companions will be “imported” from other parts of Surrey, Sussex or London.
What can I expect to gain from this week?
This depends on your starting point. Some of us might hope to gain a better understanding of our own daily quiet time with God. Others might be seeking to recognise God’s voice when it speaks to them. Others might be looking for more practice in keeping their mind from
wandering. The goal of the programme is that each participant be affirmed in the prayer that God gives to him or her. The week also provides an opportunity to explore what might be new ways of prayer for some people.
These methods are essentially scripture based and come out of a long tradition of Christian spirituality. Ways of becoming still, relaxed and alert are offered, with the intention of helping the person to open more deeply to God.
Where will this take place?
Participants will spend their private half hour in prayer at home or in the place of their choice each day. They will then meet with their assigned guide in the space allocated to that guide for the week. This allocated space might be at St Andrew’s Oxshott, or at the United Reformed Church or at the Catholic Church or at St Andrew’s Cobham. Each of these four churches plus St Mary’s and the Methodist church will be jointly sponsoring the week. The meetings with the guide can be arranged for morning or afternoon or evening, depending on the circumstances of the participant.
Where will this take place?
Participants will spend their private half hour in prayer at home or in the place of their choice each day. They will then meet with their assigned guide in the space allocated to that guide for the week. This allocated space might be at St Andrew’s Oxshott, or at the United Reformed Church or at the Catholic Church or at St Andrew’s Cobham. Each of these four churches plus St Mary’s and the Methodist church will be jointly sponsoring the week. The meetings with the guide can be arranged for morning or afternoon or evening, depending on the circumstances of the participant.
More questions?
Email here with your queries, or for booking details.
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Email here with your queries, or for booking details.
Click here