Funeral

27th July. Over Silton. Ted Owens, 80. Much loved and much missed husband of Alice and father of Nick, Chris and Helen. Senior Education Officer, and Classical Scholar. Thankfully spared the further debilitations of cancer. Our best wishes to all the family.

Baptisms

August 8th. Leake St Mary. Joseph Bryn William Charles Hodgkinson, infant son of Phillip and Julia of Limekiln House, Leake.

August 15th. St Felix, Felixkirk. Jessie Rose, infant daughter of Paul and Judy Walkland of Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe.

August 22nd. St Mary Leake. Charlie McKenzie, infant son of Simon and Sally Walker of Borrowby.

Prayer, whether we find it easy or not, is a form of longing. Maybe we try and focus on something positive. Maybe we try and pull together, in which case Prayer unites us in the task. Maybe we are struggling to express our desires and longing, so Prayer becomes communication. There is far more, of course, but as a congregation our prayers on Sunday should unite us in a common cause, inform us and focus our minds on the common wealth and common needs. Also, they should serve as a prompt so that a trickle down effect follows during the week in our own prayers, so drawing others to perform the same task.

"Prayer as positive thinking", as I was told by my old London landlady. Sometimes as a P.C.C. we may seem distant from Prayer as a group, though individuals may be very open, but the mere fact that we meet together to seek God's will and further his kingdom, albeit starting and ending with even formal prayers, becomes part of the process. The P.C.C. is a time of listening to others and waiting on God through that listening. No voice is going to trumpet from beyond if we just sit "in prayer". We need to be active and involved. Decisions weighed and taken become the focus of prayer as follow up for the wider congregation to echo and so become drawn in. Prayer becomes involvement in the wider scheme of doing things, not only channelling our efforts but calling on our wills in support of those decisions. In the process, prayer is very much part of decision making - and expediting a decision. As most are involved in prayer for an objective, so there is more energy for the task. The creative process draws us in and corporate worship becomes part of that creative process. It is no good running along the touchline if you don't know in which direction your team is playing. Just as it is no good expecting things to happen if you are not there for corporate worship - when so much more is able to happen through your presence, and not just an update on progress!

Much of the Psalter is a waiting on God in prayer out loud, especially in Psalm 119 "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein is my desire" (v.35). Ps.1v.2 also suffices "But his delight is in the law of the Lord." For if here is our desire then we are pulling together with God, and his kingdom is sure to become more of a reality through us. We shall be closer to him for it, too, as the process of prayer is an opening to let the Holy Spirit into one's being as an individual - and into the body if it is a corporate group or congregation intent on a common purpose.

Nor should we overlook the Collect for the week as a focal point. Through its simplicity and summary we may find orientation of our actions, and inspiration for the rest of the week. Being an important part of Sunday worship - indeed, perhaps the theme for that Sunday - it is a good pointer to help a congregation or community pull together. As an Army Chaplain, all regiments had their collect as an expression of their identity and purpose - and I have done the same for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. On occasions when inspiration is thin and prayer difficult, there is a starting point. Prayer may be a response to that collect. Take Trinity VII: if God can "graft in our hearts love of thy name, increase us in true religion, nourish us with all goodness and of thy great goodness keep us there" we are open and obedient to his will and what we do must surely help "thy Kingdom come".

So prayer is a response, is a practical way of moulding us and our efforts Godwards, is positive, is an opening of the self, is obedience, is dialogue together and with God, is listening, is a filter, is a guide and channel of our energy, is longing as we focus on a task

Two last points. Point 1. Prayer is a structure since it has many facets that help us include what we might overlook. We need to polish those facets to solicit a full approach. Prayer is like good manners:

Almighty God and Father (Address and Adoration: Acknowledgement) Sorry, God (Confession) Thank You, God (Thanksgiving) Please, God (Supplication for others and last of all for self to remind us as we fulfil the commandment to love others as ourselves) So we add fulfilment to prayer as well when it comes to responding to his commandments.

Point 2. Prayer is a filter. We may want all sorts of things as individuals, but if we pray together, as two or three or more in his name, we have to concentrate our thoughts and efforts. We have to talk and decide what we are going to do or pray for, especially as a P.C.C., so prayer to come acts as a filter to remove the clutter - and as a seal on the decision "to get on with it".

Even Homer* tells us something true about prayer. "Prayers are the daughters of Almighty god. They are slower than Sin whom they follow about, who roams the world and brings mankind to grief. (Sin is our own selfishness.) Prayers come after and put the trouble right. Blessed is the person who humbly receives them when they approach. If rebuffed sin will prevail for they will work against him."

What better harvest can God have than prayers worth reaping and what better harvest can we have that we pray prayers worth his answering.

( * the Greek epic poet, 8th Century before Christ.)