Light in the Window - April 27, 2022
Dear Covenant Family,
One of the things we try to do while traveling is to stop in and visit other worshipping communities. For the past two days in the City of Bath, England, we have joined with a few others in the Morning Prayer service at Bath Abbey. The Vicar’s voice was warm and welcoming as she read through the prayers for Easter season, and the rest of us joined in responsively with “Lord, hear our prayer”. The beautiful Abbey church is huge, built on the site of a former Norman Cathedral, and a Roman temple before that, but the chapel for prayer is contained within a quiet transcept, with candles for lighting and a large display where people from all over the world have posted prayers for Ukraine. The church is intentionally open to the community, both residents and visitors, with big signs welcoming folks to worship services or to take an incredibly interesting tour up 271 steps to the Tower, with a stop in the bell room halfway up. Here, eight bell ringers (all over 70) climb up twice a week to grab the ropes attached to the bells and play their prayers over the city. They are always looking for new ringers!
It was inspiring to meet people at this urban church centered in the most ancient part of Bath and open to the world. In addition to prayers for Ukraine, I lit a candle for Covenant and wrote out a prayer request for the unity and vitality of our church family. I carry with me too, the prayer requests I have gathered from you in this past month- for healing and hope, for family members with challenging circumstances and needs, for peace, for good living and good dying. As we exited the Abbey, there was a quite large posted prayer displayed for everyone- A Prayer for Peace of Mind and Heart, written by the Abbey Pastoral Care Team, in February 2021. I share it with you in the photo below. Let us continue to pray for one another, and dream of even more ways God can use the The Church of the Covenant to bless our community and our world. Lord, hear our prayer…
With Easter Hope,
Pastor Jessie
