Prayer resources
Including information and guidance on Lectio Divina, guided meditations, praying with the imagination, awareness walks, and more.
Resources
Slow Book Group: A Lectio Divina approach to Poetry
Some notes on running a slow reading group reflecting at depth each month on a poem that speaks to contemplative prayer and deepening our relationship with the Divine. We drew from an anthology compiled specially for the group.
Slow Book Group: Carl McColman, “Befriending Silence”
Some notes on running a book group reading “Befriending Silence” by Carl McColman, sharing and reflecting on insights that are helpful for in practising prayer and living the spiritual life.
Guided Meditation: Jesus speaks to the weary
An imaginative meditation on Jesus as he is teaching ‘I will give you rest’.
Guided Meditation: Centring Prayer
A guided meditation introducing Centring Prayer as taught by Fr Thomas Keating OCSO; for use in groups.
Guided Meditation: Jesus visiting Zaccheus
A guided reflection on the story of Zaccheus meeting Jesus; in the style of Ignatian meditation.
Guided meditation: Giving and receiving hospitality
A meditation on John 12.1-8, on giving and receiving hospitality; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Guided Meditation: Shining like the sun
An imaginative meditation based on Thomas Merton’s realisation that all people are walking around shining like the sun; for use in groups.
Slow Book Group: Malcolm Guite, “The Word within the words”
Some notes on running a one-off group reading The Word within the words by Malcolm Guite, including questions for prompting discussion and a guided meditation.
Guided meditation: The Word within the words
A meditation on “A Lens”, a poem by Malcolm Guite; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Slow Book Group: Mother Mary Clare SLG, Encountering the Depths
Some notes on running a book group reading “Encountering the Depths” by Mother Mary Clare SLG, sharing and reflecting on insights that are helpful for going deep in prayer.
Guided meditation: Encountering the Depths
An imaginative meditation on Julian of Norwich’s description of her thoughts being led down to the seabed; using the approach of Anthony de Mello in Sadhana; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: The Common Mind
A meditation on Ephesians 4.11-15, on our common mind and growing up in every way into Christ; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: Being Christians
A meditation on an excerpt from Encountering the Depths on our co-operation with God in prayer; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: Listening
A meditation flowing between listening to our breathing, to exterior and interior, and to God; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: The Search for a Relationship
A meditation on an excerpt from Encountering the Depths on our relationship with God; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Slow Book Group: Anthony de Mello, Awareness
Some notes on running a one-off group reading Awareness by Anthony de Mello, including questions for prompting discussion and a guided meditation (or two).
Guided meditation: Awareness
A meditation using the list of contents in Awareness by Anthony De Mello; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
Slow Book Group: Paula Gooder, Everyday God
Some notes on running a group reading Paula Gooder’s book for Ordinary Time: “Everyday God” over six months, holding a space for the members to reflect on the text and how any insights might help them in their prayer life and spiritual journey.
Guided meditation: Glimpsing Glory
A meditation on the story of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai with the skin of his face shining after talking with God; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
A Booklet of Randomised Psalms
For those who want to pray with the Psalms, but find reading them 1,2,3… a bit of a plod, and/or are mystified by the Common Worship Lectionary cycle.
Guided meditation: The Call to Extraordinariness
A guided reflection on the story of four friends lowering a paralysed man through the roof to Jesus; in the style of Ignatian meditation.
Guided meditation: An Ordinary Kingdom
A guided reflection on the parable of the treasure hidden in the field, in different tellings.
On writing guided meditations: open questions
In therapy, the reflective question “How do you feel about that?” has become a cliché. But there are reasons for that: it is open-ended while not being leading.
Guided meditation: An Everyday God
An imaginative meditation on God as potter; using the approach of Anthony de Mello in Sadhana; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: Unsung heroes
A meditation on the story of the feeding of the five thousand in John’s Gospel; in the style of Lectio Divina; for use in groups.
“If only”, an imaginative meditation
An invitation into encounter, through a guided meditation on the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5.
Guided meditation: On turning aside
A meditation on turning aside to the miracle of the burning bush; in the style of Ignatian meditation; for use in groups.
Guided meditation: SMILE
Saturday’s Prayerdle was SMILE, which brought a smile to a friend’s face. So I thought I would write and offer this short meditation.
Slow Book Group: Maggie Ross, Writing the Icon of the Heart
Some notes on running a group reading Maggie Ross, Writing the Icon of the Heart together. Through slow reading, pondering, and sharing our responses and insights, we sought to discern how the Spirit is calling us to deepen our faith and prayer.
Slow reading
“Reading gives God more glory when we get more out of it, when it is a more deeply vital act not only of our intelligence but of our whole personality, absorbed and refreshed in thought, meditation, prayer, or even in the contemplation of God.” – Thomas Merton
A Month of Psalms
A booklet of psalms that can be recited day by day each month, set to simple psalm chants.
Praying with Prayerdle
Prayerdle, an off-shoot of Wordle that can help you pray as you go through your day.
Awareness walks
Set off alone and start walking. Find your own space and breathe deeply. Be aware of your own body. Feel your limbs and the ground under your feet.
“Someone”, an imaginative meditation
An invitation into encounter, through a guided meditation on the vignette in Matthew 12.46-50.
Slow Book Group: The Cloud of Unknowing
Some notes on running a group reading The Cloud together. Through it, we hoped to gain a deeper understanding of prayer and through that to deepen our own prayer lives and relationships with God.
Lectio Divina on Zoom
Initially a step into the unknown, group Lectio Divina over Zoom has proved to work extremely well; its very structured format holds open a space for deep encounters with both God and each other.
Explore Prayer
I have been writing some material about prayer for the Cathedral website, in hope that it will help visitors deepen their relationship with God and draw them closer to the community of praying people in the Cathedral.
Thy Kingdom Come 2019
Thy Kingdom Come is a global wave of prayer uniting Christians around the world during the days from Ascension Day to Pentecost. From 30 May to 9 June 2019, Exeter Cathedral is hosting a special prayer room in the Grandisson Chapel tucked into the West Front. Based on the parable of the hidden treasure, I’ve set up a small installation with a small action to help people pray.
Workshop on “Slow Bible Reading”
I led this workshop on the ancient monastic practice of Lectio Divina, as part of a Prayer & Spirituality Day at Exeter Cathedral.