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?