July Walk&Pray Session

This session was developed in the Lake District, specifically in the area of a mountain called The Old Man of Coniston. We took advantage of the length of the day to climb the mountain. Clotilde prepared the prayer, taking into account "the mountains appeared in the Bible".

Psalm 48, 1-3; 9-14
[Song Psalm Of the sons of Korah] Great is Yahweh and most worthy of praise in the city of our God, the holy mountain,
towering in beauty, the joy of the whole world: Mount Zion in the heart of the north, the settlement of the great king;
God himself among its palaces has proved himself its bulwark.
We reflect on your faithful love, God, in your temple!
Both your name and your praise, God, are over the whole wide world. Your right hand is full of saving justice,
Mount Zion rejoices, the daughters of Judah delight because of your saving justice.
Go round Zion, walk right through her, count her bastions,
admire her walls, examine her palaces, to tell future generations
that such is God; our God for ever and ever, he is our guide!

What would you like to find in a mountain? (climbing physically could be a motivation)

Matthew 4, 8-10
Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. And he said to him, 'I will give you all these, if you fall at my feet and do me homage.'
Then Jesus replied, 'Away with you, Satan! For scripture says: The Lord your God is the one to whom you must do homage, him alone you must serve.'

What are you tempted to find at the top of the mountain?

Luke 9, 28-36
Now about eight days after this had been said, he took with him Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became sparkling white. And suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they woke up and saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He did not know what he was saying. As he was saying this, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, 'This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.'And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

What do you feel after going down the mountain?

Next session on 27 July

Our next Walk and Pray session is taking place, as usual, on the last Sunday of the month (27th of July). The place chosen for the walk is The Old Man of Coniston, a mountain in the Lake District. This walk will be for mountaineers and the animation will be to climb a mountain to meet God.

If you think of joining, please get in touch to make sure that we don't miss each :).

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 27th July 08
Destination: The Old Man of Coniston (Lake District)
Meeting Point: 9am Social Centr St. Peter's Cathedral
Return: about 6.00pm

Carolina's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07955541192

June Walk & Pray Session

Due to the changeable weather, we decided to develop our last session having a walk along the canal instead of going to Kirkby Lonsdale. The prayer was focused in sharing our most happy moments and how we noticed the presence of God in those moments.
We started with the four aces of the Spanish cards. We chose one card randomly. Each ace card had a sentence written on the reverse. Each sentence leaded to one reading.

GENESIS 21, 1-6 : The Birth of Isaac

The Lord visited Sarah just as he had said he would and did for Sarah what he had promised. So Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him. Abraham named his son – whom Sarah bore to him – Isaac. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded him to do. (Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.) Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

Have you ever felt that God has made you laugh?

LUKE 1, 39-45: Mary and Elizabeth

In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice,“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Have you ever leaped for joy? Have you recognized God in those moments of happiness?

ACTS 20, 33-35: Paul travels to Macedonia and Greece

I have desired no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Do you have any rewarding experience of giving without receiving?

Next Session on 29 June

Our next Walk and Pray session is taking place, as usual, on the last Sunday of the month (29th of June). This day will be one of the longest of the year due to the proximity to the summer solstice. Such a long day deserves a special activity and I assure that our activity this month will be special. The place chosen for the walk is Kirkby Lonsdale.

If you think of joining, please get in touch to make sure that we don't miss each :).

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 29th June 08
Destination: Kirkby Lonsdale
Meeting Points:

• 12.30 St Tee's
• 12.45 Social Centre St Peter's Cathedral
• 1pm Lancaster University (at Reception)

Return: about 7.00pm
Carolina's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07955541192

May Walk & Pray Session

During our last session in Trough of Bowland, Caroline guided us to reflect, prayed and shared taking as a point of reference one of the letters of Saint Paul for the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 2, 1-9 (Paul ministry to Thessalonica)
You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

What barriers did the followers of Jesus face to proclaiming their faith?
What barriers might you have to proclaiming your faith?

1 Thessalonians 2, 10-16
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

How did the followers of Jesus proclaiming their faith?
How did you proclaim your faith?

1 Thessalonians 2, 17-19
(Paul’s longing to see the Thessalonians)
But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you - certainly I, Paul, did, again and again -but Satan stopped us.For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes? Is it not you? In deed you are our glory and our joy.

Why did the followers of Jesus spread the word?
Why would you want to spread the word?

Next Session: Trough of Bowland on 25th May

Summer is approaching and the weather certainly seems to improve a lot. We are going to have a wonderful walk in Lancashire's 'hidden gem', the Trough of Bowland for the next walk & pray session. The walk will be around 3ml (5km); along the route we will have breaks to sit down, share some food and reflect on Scripture.

If you think of joining, please get in touch to make sure that we don't miss each :).

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 25th May 08
Destination: Trough of Bowland
Meeting Points:

• 12.30 St Tee's
  
• 12.45 Social Centre St Peter's Cathedral
• 1pm Lancaster University (at Reception)

Return: about 7.00pm
Rose's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07989 58 1410

April Walk & Pray Session

Our last walk has been in Cartmel and our group of nine were walking up the hill to have a stunning view towards the Fells in the Lake and Morecambe Bay. The theme of the walk focused around the Holy Spirit and we reflected on several aspects of the Sunday's Mass Reading.

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
 Philip went down to the city of Samaria 
and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 
The crowds with one accord listened eagerly 
to what was said by Philip, 
hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 
for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, 
came out of many who were possessed; 
and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 
So there was great joy in that city. 
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard 
that Samaria had accepted the word of God, 
they sent Peter and John to them. 
The two went down and prayed for them 
that they might receive the Holy Spirit
(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; 
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, 
and they received the Holy Spirit.
In today’s reading, Jesus’ promise about the spread of the gospel finds partial fulfillment. Luke describes Philip as a man graced with the gift of evangelism, whose message was accompanied with “signs” of power and healing.


Who did speak in your life that brought the message of Christ alive? Or do you have any encounters where you brought Christ’s message to someone?

1 Peter 3:15-18 
Beloved:
In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. 
Always be ready to make your defense 
to anyone who demands from you 
an accounting for the hope that is in you; 
yet do it with gentleness and reverence. 
Keep your conscience clear, 
so that, when you are maligned, 
those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ 
may be put to shame. 
For it is better to suffer for doing good, 
if suffering should be God’s will, 
than to suffer for doing evil. 
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, 
the righteous for the unrighteous, 
in order to bring you to God. 
He was put to death in the flesh, 
but made alive in the spirit.
Today’s reading continues the practical counsels on how Christians should relate to those outside the community. Peter recognizes that those who follow Christ often encounter painful trials. Christians are to give an explanation, possibly before formal tribunals but more likely in day-to-day interactions with hostile neighbors, for the hope that characterizes their attitude both in the present and toward the future.

Do you know any example from your life or from others who have suffered because they followed Christ? Or Christians that are treated with hostility or even discriminated? How did they respond? How did you feel about it?

John 14:15-21
 Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 
And I will ask the Father, 
and he will give you another Advocate, 
to be with you forever. 
This is the Spirit of truth, 
whom the world cannot receive, 
because it neither sees him nor knows him. 
You know him, because he abides with you, 
and he will be in you. 
“I will not leave you orphaned; 
I am coming to you. 
In a little while the world will no longer see me, 
but you will see me; 
because I live, you also will live. 
On that day you will know that I am in my Father, 
and you in me, 
and I in you. 
They who have my commandments and keep them 
are those who love me; 
and those who love me will be loved by my Father, 
and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Instead of relying on the physical presence of Christ, we can draw on his spiritual presence, a divine indwelling. The promise comes to fruition: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you” (John 15:18). After the dark night of crucifixion, we know the truth of Frederick Buechner’s saying: “Morning will come at last, and with it the word you wait for will be spoken at last: the word you hope for, long for, until you can all but hear it already, which is the word, of course, that gives you back your life again.”
 Quietly consider: 
Advocate, Counselor, Helper...you are in me and with me...

With today’s reading in mind, how do you think the Holy Spirit is present in your life? A counselor? Jesus voice? How do you feel about Jesus saying, “ I will not leave you orphaned”.

Next Session: Cartmel on 27 April

The days are getting warmer ;-) and longer! Again, we are going to have a nice afternoon session for walk & pray. This time we walk around Cartmel . The walk will be about 5ml long with plenty of stops to reflect on the Sunday readings and share our packed lunches.
(photo taken from http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/)

If you think of joining, please get in touch to make sure that we don't miss each :).

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 27th April 08
Destination: Cartmel
Meeting Points:

• 12.30 St Tee's
  
• 12.45 Social Centre St Peter's Cathedral
• 1pm Lancaster University (at Reception)
• 2.00pm Cartmel (entry of Priory)
  

Return: about 6.30pm
Rose's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07989 58 1410

March Pray & Walk Session

Our last walk was around the theme of water and was leading along the Lancaster Canal and the river Keer in Carnforth. We passed the wildfowl-rich Pine Lace. The route took us through Warton village with its fine ecclesiastical. The inspiration from the walk came from the Lancaster Canal booklet from the tourist office.

The theme of the prayer was around living the example of Christ, and especially sharing with the poor. Maureen Clayton who was with us, was a great contributor, as she is highly involved in a project "Education for Life"in Kenya where they have build a school. I just would like to link to their project! It was truly great to have someone in the group who does so much.

ACTS 2: 42 – 47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.
And day-by-day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
They remembered Jesus in the breaking and sharing of bread and within their sharing home-cooked meals. This sharing of prayer and the bread moved them to the sharing of their material goods. Community means the putting of gifts in common. All this was to continue how Jesus sided with the needy and distributed all His living and life for the poor and our poor world.

• Do we as today’s Christian still live the sharing and praising of God as the earlier Christians? Who are the poor of ours days?

1 Peter 1: 3 - 9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. 9 As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.

• Verse 6 & 7: Can you think of a very faithful person who’s life was “though”. Someone you can think of that has given a testimony of faith that has inspired you?

• Or: Was your faith tested by fire and has become more genuine?

John 20: 19 - 28
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

In this passage, Jesus sends them out to be blessings in the world. Do Christians live this “blessing in the world”. How can we be a blessing to our time?

Next Walk & Pray, 30th March in Carnforth

Spring is arriving and we are going to have again afternoon walks as the days are much longer. This time we walk around Carnforth Canal. And as the clock will change to British Summer time, we will have the session again in the afternoon (not running danger to to finish before it gets dark).

We are taking the train to Carnforth; from there, we have a circular walk, including the Lancaster Canal and the Lancashire Costal Way. The walk will be about 5ml long with plenty of stops to reflect on the Sunday readings and share our packed lunches.

If you think of joining, please get in touch to make sure that we don't miss each :).

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 30th March 08
Destination: Carnforth
Meeting Points:

• 12.50 Lancaster Train Station (on the place you can buy tickets)
  
• 1.30pm Carnforth Train Station.
  

Return: about 6pm
Rose's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07989 58 1410

February Walk & Pray Session

Last month, we had a walk around the beautiful town Kendal. And we had also a little anniversary to celebrate: Walk & Pray became one year old. Last year in February, we had our first session *juhai*.

Again, enjoyed a rain free afternoon walking around Kendal. During the stops, we discussed Scripture passages that focused around the topic: "Jesus and the Children", prepared by Carolina.


First passage

Mark 10, 13-16
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them

Why does Jesus want us to be "like children"? In what features are children different from adults?

Second passage

Mt 21, 15-16
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

Are your faith, hope, trust, in the Lord affected as you grow old?


Third passage

Mark 9, 33-37
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Are we fond of "weak" people, or do we find it very hard to approach them?


Fourth passage

1 Jn 2, 14
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do we take advantage of the energy of our youth, or do we always postpone our commitments "for tomorrow"?

Next Session: Lakes on Sun, 24th February

The last Sunday of the month is approaching and we have prepared a new session for Walk&Pray in the Lakes (photo taken from this BBC site). Keep fingers crossed that the weather stays as nice as it was in the last couple of days.

As the days are still getting dark early, we will go to the Lakes in the late morning, have there our Walk&Pray Session and return for 6.30pm Sunday Mass in Lancaster.
So far, we have two volunteers with car. If you think of joining, please get in touch!

QUICK FACTS
Date: Sun, 24th February 08
Destination: Lake District
Meeting Points:

• 10.15am St. Tee's
  
• 10.30am Social Centre St. Peter's Cathedral
• 11.00am Lancaster University, in front of Reception
  

Return: 6.30pm for Sunday Evening Mass
Rose's email/phone: walk.and.pray [ a t ]gmail.com / 07989 58 1410

January Walk & Pray Session

Last month, we had a walk around Garstang . After a little walking, we shared a proper pic-nic we with lots of lots of nice little things to eat...
On our trail, we had a couple of stops and looked at the following Scripture passages:

Isaiah 9:1-4:
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

And we discussed over the following animation:

• The people lived in “darkness” because the religion of the Jews, living in the region, was being corrupted by an influx of peoples with other religions and values. The Jews in this region lost the purity of their religion because they started to imitate the religion and values of the other people. Christ brings light to the people when he comes to preach in this region.
• Do you think that we have such a danger in our own modern society?

The second reading was

I Cor 1,10-13.17: I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, I follow Paul; another, I follow Apollos; another, I follow Cephas; still another, I follow Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised into the name of Paul?

With the following animation

• In the second reading St Paul recognises that there are serious disagreements among the Church community, he is writing to, caused by rivalries between various cliques. He urges them to be united for the sake of “our Lord Jesus Christ”. Have you ever been involved in a Church or other group which had these sort of problems?

And the gospel of the day was

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah 15Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 17From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


Thinking as a group over the following:

• Jesus calls the apostles during their work to do a different task. Do you feel that Christ is calling you to do something particular; does this conflict with work or other commitments?