Pyjama Prayers

Here at my WWDP Conference we are very conscious that sometimes people who attend will not want to get up early for morning prayers, or stay up late in the evening for night-time devotions. Not everybody is a lark or an owl, so to give
people the opportunity to take things at their own pace, we have put 'Pyjama Prayers' in their welcome packs. 
This way they can, if they wish, pray in their own rooms.

 A song for the morning

                Today I awake

    and God is before me.

    At night, as I dreamt, he summoned the day;

    for God never sleeps but patterns the morning

    with slivers of gold or glory in grey.

            Today I arise

    and Christ is beside me.

    He walked through the dark to scatter new light.

    Yes, Christ is alive, and beckons his people

    to hope and to heal, resist, and invite.

            Today I affirm

    the Spirit within me

    at worship and work, in struggle and rest.

    The Spirit inspires all life which is changing

    from fearing to faith, from broken to blest.

            Today I enjoy

    the Trinity round me,

    above and beneath, before and behind;

    the Maker, the Son, the Spirit together -

    they called me to life and call me their friend.

John L. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958) Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 139. Words and Music: From Love From Below (c) 1989, WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH Scotland. www.wgrg.co.uk

A prayer for the evening

The Examen

The Daily Examen Is one of the meditative prayers written by Ignatius Loyola (a 16^th century Spanish priest and founder of the Jesuits) and included in his Spiritual Exercises.

There are many versions of the Examen today, but all have five steps. At the heart of the Examen is the third step – reviewing your day. 

Here is a simple reflection using some of the key elements:

1. Place yourself in God's presence. Give thanks for God's great love for you.
2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time.
4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away?
5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might deepen your relationship with God and help to bring about his kingdom. Be specific, and conclude with the ‘Our Father.’