The Anglican Church in Tasmania                                                             Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home      About      Contact us      News      Issues      Parishes      Prayer      Calendar      Youth      Resources

A call to prayer:   Bishop's Prayer Pilgrimage

	Holy Island - St Cuthbert's Isle     Glastonbury Tor       St Cuthbert's Cave, near Holy Island		Seeking the transformation we need 'In these times, we have little choice but to turn to God's faithfulness. I pray that we will make this our choice.' Now is the time to turn to seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, repent and turn to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of our lives and of the Church. Bishop John. (ahealthychurch-transforminglife p.3) Pilgrimage In Europe, each year thousands upon thousands of people of all ages are undertaking an old practice of pilgrimage; retracing the steps of the saints of old; joining with other members of the 'communion of saints' in visiting holy sights and shrines. Some undertake the journey on foot, others like Judy and I did the easy way by vehicle. Why the new and growing interest? I'm sure that some do it out of curiosity. But I believe the primary reason is the desire to engage in something deep and profound; seeking out our ancient Christian roots. Materialism and superficiality by their very nature can have only a short life-span, and many have discovered that they have been sold short, and therefore they are seeking meaning for their (Christian) life. It is humbling and awe-inspiring to walk, to linger, to stand in these holy places where the saints of old lived and witnessed to the love and grace of Jesus. I will never forget visiting a cave on a hillside near Holy Island in the North-East of England where the body of Saint Cuthbert was laid for a time, as the monks of the Island fled from Viking raiders, carrying the remains of their beloved Cuthbert. It was the same hillside on which young Cuthbert stood centuries before as a shepherd. Looking into the sky over Holy Island one night he saw the soul of the dying Saint Aidan being received by angels. This was the moment in young Cuthbert's life when he knew God was calling him to a life of service. These are the stories of our heritage: Holy Island, Iona, Glastonbury, Walsingham, Canterbury and many, many more. From October, Bishop John will be undertaking a Prayer Pilgrimage around the Diocese. Ross Flint From + John: 'I am excited by the opportunity to dedicate time to prayer. Prayer is at the heart of our God given life. Prayer is heart speaking to Heart. In prayer I seek to know our loving God more deeply, to be more profoundly thankful and to intercede for a greater response to God's work. The Bishop's Prayer Pilgrimage in our beautiful island will enable me and those who would like to join me, to draw closer to God. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit enables us to feel the priority of love, the priority of God's work in the world, the priority of mission.'... Prayer Topics The forth-coming Prayer Pilgrimage around the Diocese by Bishop John The work of Diocesan Council and the Ministry Council That parishes and diocesan organisations may prayerfully consider the implications of the document ahealthychurch-transforminglife Paul Cavanough and his work as the Diocesan Ministry Enabler That the parishes represented at the Ministry Conference will benefit from the addresses and discussions That our Diocese will be the Missionary Diocese of Tasmania in both name and function. Photos by Judy Flint Return to a call to prayer home page.