I was thinking a little this week about the phrase “A wing and prayer” and pondering where it came from. I have always viewed it optimistically, a sense of relying and trusting that all will be well, even if planning has gone awry. The phrase originated from an incidence when a pilot was returning from a bombing raid in WWII. He was very unsure of his chances of getting back, and so asked for prayers to get them home. The plane landed safely, and so was known as the plane that “prayed its way back”.
Prayer is the interconnecting thread of a faith community, a thread that binds us to God, and each other. It is why Christians often pray in “the power of the Holy Spirit”. When in a small group leading some discussion based on prayer the other day, I asked everyone to think about what their favourite prayer was. It was a really insightful and felt deeply connecting and spiritually deepening as people shared what that was and why. I have lots of “favourites” so it is hard to pick one, or even a top ten. However, for me one of the prayers that we use in the church, one used this week at the funeral not only of HM Queen Elizabeth, but also of our dear friend Kay Powell, is the prayer of commendation. It is a prayer that has such certainty and assurance that whenever it is prayed, it makes me feel deeply thankful for my Christian faith. I offer this prayer to you today, but invite you to consider what your prayer is and possibly share that with someone in the coming week.
God our creator and redeemer,
By your power Christ conquered death
And entered into glory.
Confident of his victory
And claiming his promises,
We entrust our sister/brother to your mercy
In the name of Jesus our Lord,
Who died and is alive
And reigns with you
Now and for ever.
Amen
Our Worship this Sunday 25th September
8am – Holy Communion – All Saints
10am – Sung Holy Communion with St Marys Kids – St Marys
10.30 – Cafe Church – All Saints
The Week Ahead
Wednesday 28th 09.00 – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church
Thursday 29th 10.00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
Thursday 29th 19.30 – St Marys PCC – Parish Rooms
Sunday 2nd 10.00 – Open Church at St Mary’s Church
Sunday 2nd 10.30 – Harvest Festival at All Saints Church
Sunday 2nd 6:30 – Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Church
Please keep Revd Jordan and Revd Mary in your prayers as they finish their time and ministry at St Johns, St Aidens and St Michaels in the Kingsway Benefice, and also for those parishes as they enter into a vacancy process.
Blessings
Revd Lizzie
St Mary's, Fishponds 