#PrayerInPublicSpaces can feel hard on days like today, surrounded by traffic noise, isolated by tarmac from the earth, observing the bubbles of humanity distracted by the cares of the world. Today is what it feels like to be 'in the world' not 'of the world'
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise
A lorry with a skip clatters past...
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation
A family walk past carrying lilies... are they visiting a grave?
O that today you would listen to his voice:
‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness'
‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness'
I sit alone, on a bench, outside a pub, by a busy junction
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind
let us pray with one heart and mind
Am I praying alone?
Weigh my heart, examine me by night,
refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
A scooter rounds the corner with exhaust baffles removed, sounding like a bigger engined motorbike
The heavens are telling the glory of God
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Why am I here, what purpose does this prayer in public spaces serve?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever
So many vehicles with just one person, revved engines at a mini roundabout pulling away with poor clutch control
Come, let us return to the Lord
who has torn us and will heal us.
who has torn us and will heal us.
A person passes, friendly face, a smile and hello... do you know you just joined me in morning prayer?
Your love for me is like the morning mist,
like the dew that goes early away
like the dew that goes early away
On the table is an ashtray, the smell of dead cigarettes briefly envelopes me
‘For loyalty is my desire and not sacrifice,
and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. ’
and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. ’
Let us pray...
For the tasks of the day
For the world and it's needs
For the church and her life
For the tasks of the day
For the world and it's needs
For the church and her life
Good morning Father, good morning Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit... thank you for the gift of this new day. I hold before you in silent witness, the fear, anxiety, pain, grief, hope, joy, laughter and lives of your people in this place
I can't breathe.
I can't hear myself think.
Can I even pray?
I can't hear myself think.
Can I even pray?
A thought stirs... "come, sit beside me as I pray"...
only it isn't my thought...
I notice the presence of the Lord in the midst of all that is going on
only it isn't my thought...
I notice the presence of the Lord in the midst of all that is going on
Give your people knowledge of salvation, O God,
by the forgiveness of all their sins
by the forgiveness of all their sins
I look up and smile
The spirit of God hovers over the chaos and says
Let there be light
The spirit of God hovers over the chaos and says
Let there be light
As our Saviour taught us,
remembering those who can't pray
those who won't pray
and those for whom no prayers have yet been said...
so we pray:
remembering those who can't pray
those who won't pray
and those for whom no prayers have yet been said...
so we pray:
Our Father in Heaven...
The door to the pub opens and an early morning worker comes out to shake the cleaning cloth
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