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?