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	From Bishop John 3 June 2005 for the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion		Bishop's Prayer Pilgrimage 2004 Some reflections   My vision for the Diocese of Tasmania is for us to be ahealthychurch...transformingLIFE and in it I wrote...   My heart's desire is for every Anglican to be a prayerful activist.   'Prayerful activists' has two key meanings. Firstly, being about the business of prayer is active. Prayer is not a passive pursuit. Prayer is ever engaged with the Heart of the universe, with the affairs of the universe. Prayer is therefore active in knowing the life, joys and sorrows of the world and bringing them before a loving God. This is no easy task. It is work. Albeit a labour of love. But let us not kid ourselves. Prayer is work and therefore we commit ourselves as 'prayerful activists' to prayer ministry. Secondly, 'prayerful activists' means that we are to be truly at prayer and also truly at work doing the task prayed for. 'Prayerful activist' states the dual commitment to prayer and service. Pilgrimage Prayer is at the heart of the Church. Christian pilgrims take time to engage in reflection and prayer to deepen their faith as they travel to places of spiritual significance. Each of our parishes is a holy place characterised by worship and service and in journeying to each parish I was seeking to join with God's people in affirming our Christian tradition and being nurtured as we build upon this heritage. In a visit to Tasmania, Bishop David Farrer of Wangaratta shared his plans for a pilgrimage to Spain and so inspired me. The Bishop's Prayer Pilgrimage 2004 Prior to the pilgrimage I wrote, 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 live the priority of love, the priority of God's work in the world, the priority of mission. Over six weeks from October to December 2004 I travelled throughout Tasmania praying with those who were able to join me in each parish. It was an ecumenical event with wide participation. Our focus was on the triune God and we dedicated time simply to pray. We developed prayer resources to encourage people to pray and published these in our Diocesan paper and placed them on the website. See the map with places and dates. See photos. Prayer resources. Some reflections Prayer and eating pilgrimage! I forgot to realise that I was on a pilgrimage in Tasmania, and Anglican Tasmania at that! Hospitality is wonderful, and that part of our life is in good shape, although it does mean that the physical shape of the bishop is not so good! Exhilarating Being at prayer with so many people - I estimate that over 1200 people have prayed together - what a joy! Exhausting meeting and greeting people in each place engaging with the particular form of the prayer meeting in each parish praying; and travelling again Unforgettable and invaluable but it has been an unforgettable and invaluable pilgrimage... in my drawing closer to God - it is important for me to spend time in prayer simply being at prayer together, Anglicans and people from all denominations meeting and encouraging the 'pray-ers'; a great privilege in itself demonstrating our dependence on God's work of grace in conversion and discipleship, adding to the heritage of the Anglican church in Tasmania - seed sowing, a spiritual deposit, and deepening our fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ. Being God's children at prayer before our Lord together - it is our eternal destiny - what a privilege and foretaste of eternal life to share together in this way now. In conclusion The Prayer Pilgrimage enriched our common life of worship and service. Thanks are due to those many Tasmanians from all denominations who joined together in prayer. May God continue to guide, guard and bless his pilgrim people at mission in Tasmania and through them, the world.