Prayer Walk

I’ve written before about my links with the Seagull Theatre. As our Christmas pantomime is not going to happen this year we’re producing a walk-about Christmas Pantomime.

Families in socially distanced bubbles will go on a journey around Pakefield. At different points they will arrive at different scenes where actors will act out the next part of the story ….oh yes they will!!!

I’ve also mentioned before that I’m a man of routine. Saturday morning is ‘prayer walk’ morning. In my personal early morning bubble I go on walk-about.

It takes the same route each week – along the beach and then back along the prom. It takes the same form each week – including gratitude, reflection, and prayer.

There’s one stretch of beach where I pray for my family; another stretch of beach where I remember ‘old friends’ who I did my teacher training with…

I pass a church where I stop; the church reminds me to pray for several ministers I know and have known. I pass a care home; I have some friends in care – I remember them. I pass a school; there are certain young people that I pray for.

There are three places I sit down to pray (dry benches permitting!). ‘The Thatch’ is a café on the sea front; I sit and remember those I drink coffee with. ‘The Jolly Sailors’ is where I stop to remember those that I share a pint with.

And on ‘Kathryn Rivett’s Bench’ I sit and remember those who are bereaved. That was particularly poignant this morning as yesterday, by the miracle of Zoom, we attended the funeral of Stephanie, my sister-in-law.

This is perhaps the most important part of my week. I’m not saying everybody should do it – but it works for me. And it helps me keep the balance between sanity and pantomime.