Prayer on Waking

Part of the Pilgrimage Summer 2013 Series 

One of the projects I was working on throughout the cross-cultural theology class to the UK was to develop some prayers for personal daily practice. These were developed orally, particularly during our time at the Iona Abbey. I’ve written some of them down to share here.

2013-06-09 14.18.18Prayer on Waking

Good morning God!
Breathing in,
O Holy One.

Thank you for rest,
Restoration to your Whole.

 Fill me with Your Light.
Fill me with Your Light.
Fill me with Your Light.

Align me in your presence,
Align me with your purpose,
Align me in your energy,
Align me for your movement this day.

Amen.

2013-07-13 01.47.38

English and Scottish Pilgrim

Part of the Pilgrimage Summer 2013 Series 

In June my pilgrimage took me to Scotland and England with twelve fellow students from Earlham School of Religion and Bethany Theological Seminary and our professor Dr. Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm for a cross-cultural theology course.

2013-06-08 07.07.53

We spent a week with the Iona Community in the Iona Abbey on the West Coast of Scotland. While we were there we worshiped, worked, studied, and enjoyed fellowship with people from all over the world who were there as guests and staff. And we soaked up the incredible beauty of the landscape, ocean currents, rocky coasts, and rich green fields and hills.

2013-06-09 11.22.22

We then took a few days to explore Edinburgh and notice the paradox between old and new in culture and church.

2013-06-16 10.09.542013-06-16 17.23.18-1

From there we moved to Sheffield England and spent four days working with Rev. Dean Peter Bradley at the Sheffield Cathedral and the Church of England Parishes in the area.

2013-06-18 08.24.10
We finished off our trip with lovely hosts from the Churches Together group in Marketharboro where we all took a workshop from John Bell.

John Bell and audience2 - 22.6.13The trip was overflowing with learning, exploring, laughing, and growing. I hope to post some snippets and snapshots from some of the writing I did while on the trip, and maybe some that is yet to emerge.

Hopping Across the Pond

2013-06-06 00.14.04Part of the Pilgrimage Summer 2013 Series

This evening I’ll be getting on a plane with classmates from seminary, and a wonderful professor, and heading to the UK for our Cross-Cultural Course. 

We will be exploring Celtic Christianity, worship, music, community living, and inner-city ministry. Starting at Iona Abbey and then moving our way south to spend time with a few other communities and finish off with a workshop with John Bell.

I’m going off grid for the trip and am looking forward to leaning into the rhythms of nature and the community around me, without the distractions that are usually so easily at my fingertips.  I am taking my camera, sketchbook and journal, and I look forward to sharing yarns and yarns with you when I return at the end of June.