Week of Accompanied Prayer February 2008

During Lent this year the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Frimley, were invited to participate in a week of accompanied prayer. It was initiated by our Anglican friends at nearby St Peter’s Church, but it was ecumenical in every sense of the word. The organising team included representatives from local Anglican, Baptist and Methodist churches as well as our own church. The prayer guides, all from outside the Frimley area, were also from all denominations. About 60 people took part, including ten parishioners from Our Lady Queen of Heaven.

For most of us it was an unknown experience. In some ways it seemed quite a luxury to have a prayer guide all to one’s self for a set time every day for a week. And, as it turned out, it was a wonderful experience.

The ten prayer guides stayed with local families in the Frimley area for the week. Each prayer guide was assigned three or four people and made arrangements to see each one at a convenient time each day for about half an hour. In addition each participant undertook to spend further time in prayer and reflection every day. The relationship between prayer guide and participant was entirely established during the meetings as neither had been given any prior information about the other.

I can only speak from personal experience but I found the week challenging, thought provoking, enriching and affirming. I found that with guidance, scripture passages which had become stale through over familiarity took on new colour, light and, above all, meaning. The week was, for me, an opportunity to take stock of my prayer life and a chance to enhance it in the way most appropriate to my circumstances and needs.

Other participants also appreciated the personal guidance and felt at ease with the discussions and direction. They looked forward to the sessions which were described as ‘refreshing and special’.

Working – and praying - with prayer guides who were experienced, kind and affirming but challenging, was indeed a most refreshing experience. It was also good to be with people to whom prayer was so much part of their lives, so much a central part.

The ecumenical aspect was very important. It was wonderful to have the experience of participating in something where denomination did not matter. It seemed to go to roots deeper than divisions.

The week began and ended with services attended by practically all participants and prayer guides. The final service was preceded by an excellent meal for all who had attended the week and was very fitting in the context of the week’s shared experience.

Our family had the added privilege of being host to one of the prayer guides. This very much enhanced our experience of the week as we had the chance of long conversations with our guest.

All of the participants would without exception recommend this type of prayer week to anyone interested in their spiritual life. The prayer guides are experienced, discerning and sympathetic and can help each participant according to their needs. It was such a worthwhile opportunity to ‘take time out’ - and a challenge to continue praying.