Pathways of Prayer

This is a spiritual journey for Lent from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, in partnership with Radio 4 and local Radio. We will be exploring six pathways to come to God, each offering a different perspective on approaching God through prayer.

Each pathway will also be reflected   in the Sunday worship programme on BBC Radio 4 at 8.10am and explored further in the Daily service weekdays at 9.45am BBC R4 LW and Local radio

WEEK 1: THE PATH OF HOLINESS

at Trinity Church on Tuesday 12^th February at 7.30pm

The Holiness stream of Christian theology focuses on the inward reformation of the human heart and the development of holy character. It is central to the traditions of Methodism, the Salvation Army, the Assemblies of God and the Church of the Nazarenes. It is characterised by repentance and the confession of sins.  So this week confession and brokenness in front of God is our focus for prayer. But Holiness is far from introspective. Holiness of heart always issues  in acts of love and grace.. what the Salvationists and Nazarenes call “compassionate ministries”

WEEK 2: THE PATH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

at Ringwood Roman Catholic Church Tuesday 19^thFebruary 7.30pm

Some people pray on their knees…. But others pray with their hands. Working for peace and justice can be a form of prayer-prayer and protest are closely linked in the Old Testament. When Jesus cleared the money-changers from the Temple he was praying our of anger, but also making a calculated act of worshipful defiance. Initiatives like the Iona Community and the Faithworks movement of  community involvement and action have given fresh impetus to this deep stream of Christian spirituality that includes figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King.

WEEK 3: THE DEVOTIONAL PATH

at Ringwood Parish Church Tuesday 26^th February at 7.30pm

The evangelical tradition has sometimes neglected evangelical spirituality in favour of preaching and evangelism. But in recent years there has been a revival of interest in how evangelicals pray. Prayer in evangelical spirituality is rooted in devotion to Scripture, expounded in the Christian community and preached in the world. Jesus prays that the disciples will know God together through the Word and will proclaim him to the world.

WEEK 4: THE SACRAMENTAL PATH

at Poulner Baptist Chapel on Tuesday 4^th March  7.30pm

The Sacramental stream of the Christian life focuses on the Incarnation of God making visible the invisible realm of the Spirit. The liturgical life of the sacraments of the church are important in this tradition. So this week we will look at the offices and sacraments of the church-the World as Sacrament.. This form of prayer has a contemporary and ecological significance.

WEEK 5: THE CONTEMPLATIVE PATH

at Ringwood Methodist Church Tuesday 11^th March at 7.30pm

This week we focus on Desert Spirituality-practising the presence of God through the long haul of contemplation. There will be lessons from the desert fathers and from the monastic traditions which are undergoing such a revival of interest. Contemplation helps us to take time to stop in a busy world and find God in Christ through silence and study

WEEK 6: THE CHARISMATIC PATH

at the Salvation Army on Palm Sunday 6pm

Charismatic Christianity is the fastest-growing strand of Christianity in the UK. It focuses on the immediacy of the experience of God, as found in the Holy Spirit.  The consequence is a response to worship and praise. How do we praise God as we begin Holy Week and the crucifixion of Christ? The Charismatic path links us to the celebration of Pentecost which the Church looks forward to at Easter.