Prayer for Liverpool
  • Blog
  • Prayer Resources
  • Requests
  • Blog
  • Blog
  • Prayer Resources
  • Requests
  • Blog
Prayer for Liverpool

Healing - Reflection by Canon Mike

20/4/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture

One of the many things I love about the cathedral is its beautiful chapels, sculptures and memorials. So painstakingly thought through and designed; and such an inspiration when, often in conversation with visitors, you encounter someone who actually had a hand in making them or one of their relatives did! The lunchtime eucharist is often taken in the Lady Chapel; a wonderful place in itself and such an honour to celebrate there at the altar…..the best seat in the house! 

Yesterday should have been a Sunday when we offer the ministry of healing. A small team of us offer such ministry in pairs, with prayers and anointing for those coming forward asking for healing.  Healing in all its senses of the word, no restriction is put on what situation a person brings forward for prayer – for themselves or for others.  A very important ministry at the present time – and so disappointing that it and the ultimate of healing ministry, the Eucharist, can’t take place right now in our cathedral.  But when it does, the members of the healing ministry team gather in the Lady Chapel for prayers before hand – and that aspect of the ministry did take place yesterday, albeit online using videoconferencing facilities, as suggested by one of our members. 

Brilliant idea; strange sensation; comforting and reassuring – certainly a new way of doing things, but nonetheless still the same precious time together, to pray in confidence for individuals who ask for prayers, for those who are ill at present and especially for those friends and families grieving the loss of loved ones by this terrible situation.  Healing is needed in all of its senses at present, for such situations.  Many of us were gathered together using the technology, some prayed ‘alongside’ at the same time in their own space – all of us, full in the knowledge that the voice of prayer is never silent whether we pray individually or are gathered together physically or virtually.
​
And when the cathedral does reopen again, and we can gather once more in the Lady Chapel, what a blessing it will be.  Praying in the wonderful space, alongside memorials like the one shown in my (poor!) photo above, taken nearly six months ago when I was preparing for the honour of preaching at our Remembrance Day service.  It is the memorial to the Nurses of Liverpool.  Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott himself and dedicated in May 1929 during the annual Nurses’ service to the 20 nurses who gave their lives in WWI.  Sculpted by David Evans in Nebrasina Marble, it shows a nurse tending to a wounded soldier.  Who would have thought that within six months or so, we would go from remembering the nurses who gave their lives in the world wars….to praying for and supporting those now fighting on the frontline itself? We pray for them and all caring for others now.

With my love and prayers for you all; stay safe….

​Canon Mike 

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.
​
1 Comment
Judy Goodpasture
20/4/2020 02:21:21 pm

My step-sister Beverley Monk sent me this link, and I particularly enjoyed Canon Mike's remarks about healing and prayer. We in Wichita, Kansas are also in quarantine, even though our state has not been suffering as much with the corona virus. We are keeping England in our prayers. Let me share a prayer for times of pandemic with you. Our priest read it to our vestry last week, via Zoom, of course. Prayer During a Pandemic

By Cameron Bellin
Read by Mother Dawn at Vestry Meeting on April 16, 2020



May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors
Remember those who are vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between their health
Or paying their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children
When their schools close
Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money
In the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country
Let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms
Around one another,
Let us find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.

Amen,
Take care, Judy Goodpasture

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    supporting you during these uncertain times

    Author

    Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter. Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God


    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020


    RSS Feed

Prayer for Liverpool 
brought to you from Liverpool Cathedral
St James Mount
Liverpool
​L1 7AZ
Picture
Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter.
Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God

www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk