The
Spirit
helps us
in our weakness;
for we do
not know
how to pray
as we ought,
but God’s
Spirit intercedes
for us with
sighs too
deep for
words. Romans
8: 26
This year’s
Lent initiative
is an invitation
to join me
in a journey
that will
lead each
one of us
deeper into
the love
of God. The
Father’s
great love
for us is
revealed
in the death
and resurrection
of Jesus
Christ which
we prepare
to celebrate
afresh in
Holy Week
and Easter.
Lent is our
journey into
that new
embrace.
This is
a journey
that you
can start
today. To
prepare for
it you need
to make space
to spend
time focussed
on God, and
to draw more
deeply on
the life
of the Holy
Spirit within.
It is this
same Holy
Spirit who
filled Jesus
at his baptism,
and drove
him immediately
into the
wilderness.
Carlo Carretto,
a monk who
prayed for
years in
the desert,
said that “Wilderness
is not the
absence of
people but
the presence
of God.” Before
he sets out
on his ministry,
Jesus takes
time in the
desert to
draw closer
to the Father
and to seek
his will.
Jesus resists
the temptations
to put other
things before
God.
I am inviting
you to make
this same
Spirit-driven
journey into
the wilderness
to pray with
Jesus, into
times of
stillness
where you
may know
more profoundly
God’s
presence
and the strength
of the Holy
Spirit praying
within you
and within
the church.
Do try and
take time
each day – you
can use one
of our booklets
or visit
the churches
which are
open for
prayer. You
might like
to try spending
a couple
of minutes
in silence
looking at
the flame
of a candle,
a cross or
an open Bible.
Other websites
that might
help you
pray are
also listed
on this page.
I will be
travelling
around the
Diocese praying
with Christians
in their
places of
work, in
the places
they learn
and in their
homes – seeking
out quiet
places of
the Spirit
in a hectic
world. In
this simple
way I hope
to encourage
the followers
of Jesus
as they go
about their
daily lives,
and to show
that the
Spirit of
God is present
and praying
in many people
and places,
like a hidden
stream of
love and
goodwill.
Photos and
reports of
my visits
can be read
here(insert
link)
Prayer is
the life
of God’s
Spirit within
us, moving
between us.
Praying is
not something
complicated
that has
to be taught
by experts.
It is not
a task we
have to complete
but a life
that we let
happen, a
rhythm that
we join into.
Prayer is
like our
breathing – it
continues
even when
we pay it
no attention,
it keeps
us alive
and we need
more at times
of stress!
I will be
praying for
you this
Lent, that
we are refreshed
and encouraged
in our lives
which are
dedicated
to following
Jesus – God’s
message of
Love for
the whole
world.
+ David
Lent Calendar
Click
on any of
the dates
on the calendar
below to
see the day's
action and
details of
which churches
in Birmingham
are open
for prayer.
You can also
view and
download
a PDF of
the calendar
by clicking
here.
