Return to Rochester

On Thursday, 12th of June, some of us pilgrims made a return trip to Rochester. During the pilgrimage, we went to the cathedral and took part in a very meaningful communion service in a circle, and sharing the bread and cup with the person to the left of us. It was a memorable event for all of us. We had a tour of the cathedral scheduled, but we had decided to get on with the walk of the day instead. Therefore, it was good to make a return trip to Rochester and see the cathedral.

Luke found out about a concert of The Sixteen doing a 2014 Choral Pilgrimage, so it sounded perfect. The Choral Pilgrimage “aims to bring music back to the buildings for which it was written”, and the ensemble is singing choral works this year from the 15th-16th century. Sitting in that beautiful cathedral and listening to the voices that blended together wonderfully, it all seemed to have been acoustically perfect. We were taken back to the 1500’s, and reminded that worshippers 500 years ago probably heard the same songs in the same place. It was a glorious experience, and a reminder of the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. All of the songs, except for one, were sung in Latin – but the written programmes included the words in both Latin and English.  One of the songs (in Latin) by John Sheppard had simple words, but with the melody and the meaning of the words, it was heavenly. “Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, so worthy of praise, so glorious and so high above all for ever.”  

It was good to spend a short time together in the cathedral, worshipping God with others in such wonderful surroundings, and encouraging one another on our spiritual pilgrimage with Jesus.

Reflections from the labyrinth

As a follow up to the pilgrimage, we set up a labyrinth at St Mary's.  This was an opportunity for anyone to have their own walk with God. 

 

Everyone coming to walk the labyrinth at St Mary’s seemed to get a different meaning from their walk with God.  Here are some of the reflections left in the book:

·         I was very aware of the light and shade as I walked

·         In the labyrinth everything meant something.  God really can speak through anything if I give him the space

·         My (surprisingly long) journey in the labyrinth allowed me to reflect on my journey through life: many twists and turns, some about turns.

·         The stones of the labyrinth remind me of all the different people God has brought into my life: they are all unique, each a different size, shape, colour, character, gifts and yet all are children of God

·         As I walked, the labyrinth took me to the outer edge and I thought of those who are on the edge of society and feel neglected or are lost. I prayed that I would have God’s eyes to seek and save the lost

·         The labyrinth showed me that what I see as a burden, God has given me as a gift – to use and embrace it

·         The path may be constantly changing but God always fills it with beauty, with joy, with his constant and unchanging love

 

 

Continuing the Pilgrimage - a Sunday afternoon walk - Monica

We all loved doing the pilgrimage and it seemed obvious that we should continue walking together and sharing this activity. So on the 1st of June 9 of us met at Reigate Heath car Park and set off towards the Windmill Church.

One of our more enterprising walkers knew how to get the key so we spent a while in the church praying and chatting, then set off across the Heath. I live a mile away but had never been inside. It is small but with massive beams holding up the mechanism.

Then we set off across the Heath. There was the same sense of space that we had experienced before: The views of the downs and Leith Hill and the space to chat and share for a while. All of us had been involved in the Pilgrimage which was a bit of a shame as it would have been good to welcome new pilgrims. But meant we could catch up and our conversations flowed around our lives, the church and the beauty of the landscape. Even a short walk like this is full of incident. After going over a wobbly stile we came to a field with two horses. One of the horses clearly did not want us there and nudged us until we went over the next stile a bit faster than we might have wanted!

But the rest of the walk was without danger. The woods and fields are very beautiful at this time of year with all the plants growing fast. It was greener than our pilgrimage in April but there were still a few flowers around. After a few miles we were nearly at the end of the walk but couldn't pass the 'Skimmington Castle' without stopping for a drink.

Of course we should have shared bread and wine but it was more like cider and crisps. Our conversations were mostly around more walking. I am planning a slightly more ambitious 'Dawn walk' from Reigate to Box Hill in July. Me and my daughter Lucy are thinking about doing the 40 miles 'Downs link' walk from Martha's Hill to Worthing and we considered if others would like to join us. Then we finished our drinks, walked back to the car park and home. A lovely afternoon.

 

Reflection from Julia

Coppiced tree trunks bronze and silver amid Banks of blue

A broad white path through a swathe of green

And flashes of bright colour along a woodland path

The colour, light and shade of life

Stories told, burdens shared

Pilgrims on an ancient route, side by side or single file

Through fallow fields and burgeoning blossom

In sharp sunlight or shady woodland we journey together

 
Make us know the way we should walk,
O Lord See that we follow not the wrong path
But lead us in the path of life eternal.

 

A pilgrim's tale by Wendy

Alight thee butterfly as I wander,
on this pathway of peace, rest your weary wings on bluebells, whose scent delights us all;
ask the trees the secrets of those who walked afore me in the distant years gone by;
clouds dance over green pastures as He watches from above;
I hear the sound of angels singing resounding in the breeze

The undulating hills unfold a new delight to see
lambs & flowers abundant..anew, alive and free..
A lovely experience..peaceful..simply living..
No television..no noise..
peacefully reflecting or discovering each others amazing stories ..
helping each other..
encouragement.

Being alone with God and only nature around me..
everything provided for us..food..bed..fellowship..
just keep on taking steps..

Highlights for me:

• Regularly reciting the Lord's Prayer..
• Praying for Gail's phone to be found & it was prayer answered.. I rang Gail's phone & prayed out loud that someone kind would maybe find it & dial the last number, i.e. mine & we would get it back.  God went beyond that & the finder even drove to the hotel to return it..
• It was lovely to sleep..eat..pray..walk..talk..pray..eat..pray..sleep..care for each other in amongst Gods beautiful still unspoilt creation..what a simple life..no wonder monks climb highest mountains or built beautiful remote abbeys to live that way..!
• Sitting on the serpent bench en route reminded me of the passage: rebuke the devil & he will leave you. We were all sitting and squashing him.
• Walking as so many on Holy Land..
• Being in the chapel in Canterbury cathedral taking communion with the sounds of a beautiful choir practising below with holy love deep in my heart for my brothers & sisters on the walk & for the Lord....i wondered if this was a taste of Heaven..with the peace..the choir sounding like angels..the love..the blood & body of Christ.
• The psalm which has accompanied me for the last traumatic year has been Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd.  I recite it often & we prayed it one evening.

Link to Monica's pilgrimage posts

Here is a link to two posts on Monica's blog, where she has recorded her reflections on the pilgrimage.

http://monicasbooks.com/2014/04/24/pilgrimage-story/

http://monicasbooks.com/2014/04/26/pilgrimage-story-canterbury/

Chris' reflection on the pilgrimage

After a tragic event in my life about eighteen months ago, I prayed that some good would come out of all the pain and sadness, in changing me as a person, and in improving my relationship with God.  I had thought of many things which needed changing, but was moving ineffectively from one to another and back again. Taking part in this pilgrimage gave me a chance to spend time looking for the right way to progress. Slowly over the days of the pilgrimage a number of things fell into place for me.

The first day’s walking was hard – towards the end I could think only of putting one foot in front of the other, without taking any time to look at what was around me. During evening prayer I could think only of how uncomfortable I was sitting on the floor, and how much I wanted to be in bed, but even so something sank in. Hazel spoke of the difference between things in your head and things in your heart (what things I don’t remember!)

This notice, spotted in a field during the second day’s walk struck me as a parable placed there especially for me: That God decides what to grow in the field of me, and will do what is necessary to ensure that this crop grows well.

On the fourth day of the pilgrimage, I decided to take the short walk option during the afternoon, and went slowly, stopping to look at how beautiful and varied the trees and wild flowers were.  It was during this time that the pilgrimage reached its conclusion for me, as a number of things came together, and moved from my head to my heart.

Before the pilgrimage the verse from Isaiah 30:15 came to me:
This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
    and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
    But you would have none of it. (New Living Translation)

I felt that this was what God had been saying was my problem during the preparation for the pilgrimage, and my parable was the next step.

So my pilgrimage did not result in my knowing the answer, but at least I now know the question: “What does God want to grow in the field of my life?”

It seems a long way to go to discover something which I have known in my head since I became a christian, but I feel much better about it now, and look forward to seeing God working on in my life.

Gail's reflections

When I first heard of the plans for a pilgrimage from Reigate to Canterbury, I know I wanted to take part, even if we had to sleep on church hall floors (we didn’t).  The idea of doing this, like in the past with others, appealed.

Preparation was the key, and on the first (wet) practice walk, my gear was tested, but also it was revealed that I wasn’t up to the speed of others, so I was thankful that shorter walks over the five days were arranged. I am grateful to God that I can walk, following an illness many years ago.

I was surprised and encouraged to see so many on Reigate Hill to see us off on the journey, and soon at the Millennium stones, the group was surrounded by curious sheep and goats. I was struck by and puzzled long and hard on this image, with its similarities to the Biblical tale.

This was time set aside to be with God in a more conscious way. More used to the silence and stillness of retreat, I was broken from my shell of comfort, as the pilgrimage had a strong physical aspect, making each part very memorable

The walking involved safe exploration, combined with the thrill of the unknown. Once, inattentive, I missed the signpost, and led the group downhill off course, and we had to work our way back. The journey had many elements; there were some long easy broad paths through beautiful bluebell woods, and occasional grassy slopes with a view.  There were bumpy meadows that hurt my feet, and downwards paths with loose stones and twigs, where I had to watch my footing.  Sometimes I climbed down a long flight of big steps to, not long afterwards, climb up another such flight.  I do not enjoy climbing hills and was slow up them, and careful coming down, while others didn’t seem to notice them, or said it hurts them more to go down.  The hardest stretch for me was in the middle, while the last day was through undulating countryside filled with orchards just busting into bud. The analogies to the Christian spiritual journey are obvious. 

For myself, I puzzled on such things as - why did I get asked the deeper questions just as I was putting all my energy into climbing a hill? As I relied greatly on my hiking stick, leaning heavy on it to conquer hills,  I considered  whether, and how I could   cling  as dependently to our Father.  When I was worried with staying safe and struggling to keep going on the right path, I found it less easy to think ‘higher’ thoughts.  I wondered how those living far tougher and busier lives, particularly if preoccupied with physical survival, can find the time for spiritual awareness. 

Before the start of the pilgrimage I knew few details about the members of this eclectic band of fellow travellers, but they definitely got me through to the end.  They kept me moving. My affection and respect for them would grow and widened. As we shared our stories, it was heartening to hear how Jesus had worked in them to heal brokenness, and is shaping the present.  The psalms  seems a particular inspiration in our morning and evening meetings and saying the  pilgrimage prayer of protection in demand as a point of unity at the beginning of our walks.

I lost my mobile phone going over a stile, but because my walking companion rung it, and then later on, so did my prayer partner – it was found and returned, an amazing provision.

My awareness of the need for protection for the ongoing journey as we entered the cathedral at the conclusion of the pilgrimage, was helped  when during the communion service, Hazel preached, highlighting the shoes of peace and the belt of truth from the armour of God.

A strong longing took me on pilgrimage. I desired views (from hill tops) – and there were occasional vistas. Thankfully, I was enabled physically; I did not fall over and was kept safe on the walk.  I gained a little more self knowledge, and appreciation of community.

So looking forward, my prayer is  I will follow Jesus our Shepherd, and grow in the strength and grace of God, so I may  serve, albeit unknowingly, others on the way to journey’s end, like the sheep in the Bible narrative.  

Fiona's thoughts

Before starting this Pilgrimage I met with my prayer buddy, Lynn Evans, and let her know that I was wanting to go deeper in my spiritual conversation with God and to be able to hear and recognise His voice more.

I am not very good at doing the ‘Being still’ thing and find that my brain has garbled thoughts scurrying around it constantly.  Maybe I try too hard to listen and actually just being in His presence is what God was telling me matters. 

I was struck by the beauty of God’s creation through the sights and smells was how God was speaking to me throughout the journey. The beautiful bluebells, the pretty primroses, the gambolling lambs, the fields of rapeseed all spoke of God’s nature and character to me and I just wanted to worship and sing of His awesomeness and majesty (probably to the point of annoyance!) ceaselessly as I walked!

 

 

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk one to one and with time with each other on the pilgrimage. We really got to share stories – His story with each other.

On the second day I was struck by the moss covered tree stumps and really felt God show me that this was how he covers me completely in his love, fully encompassed, leaving no part of me uncovered.

I did physically find the walking a challenge, especially after day 2 when the blisters really kicked in. So many friends encouraged me with verses from the bible and other texts and yes, I was recognising God’s voice through this! Here is one of the gems I received from my prayer buddy:

START CLOSE IN – David Whyte

Start close in,
don't take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet,
your own
way of starting
the conversation.
Start with your own
question,
give up on other
people's questions,
don't let them
smother something
simple.
To find
another's voice,
follow
your own voice,
wait until
that voice
becomes a
private ear
listening
to another.
Start right now
take a small step
you can call your own
don't follow
someone else's
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don't mistake
that other
for your own.
Start close in,
don't take
the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

On the last day as we neared Canterbury I had a real sense of Awe and Wonder and Joy:

A few of us were singing as we walked through a wooded glade. We were singing ‘Be Still for the Presence of the Lord’. The ground suddenly felt like we were standing on Holy Ground, the wood was like a cathedral, a reverend space. Everything truly was still, mystical, a heaven touching earth moment. Two butterflies, one white, one yellow followed us up and down the line of worshipping pilgrims dancing to our song / God’s song. It was like they were joining in, worshipping with their dancing wings. Were they two of God’s angels joining us just for a glimpse?

And so the journey of listening and walking continues. Thank you Lord for this amazing experience, may I be ever seeking, knocking and asking.

To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ… Eph 3.18

Luke's reflection

For a few weeks now, I have been praying to really know God. Not just to love him, but longing to know him. My prayers were answered. When I could not put one foot in front of another, he picked up my legs. He gave me the energy to continue.  At the beginning of my journal, I noted 2 Corinthians 4 16-18. "Yet outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." I got renewed step by step.

In my journal, when questioning my motives for undertaking this pilgrimage, I anticipated on the journey asking the question "Why? What's the point?" I did not have to ask this question. Because every step of the way, every conversation, every place we visited, every marvellous thing we saw was a manifestation of what God does to us and for us.

From the moment of meeting my prayer buddy Pete Chesterton on 16th March, I felt very connected. We were on the same wavelength the whole way through - God was at the controls after all!

5th April

Physically I really struggled on the first day. The image in my minds eye was emptiness - beautiful emptiness. As if all the rubbish had been cleared out!

6th April

As we walked out, the mist was coming off the trees, a wonderful image of God creating the trees to create the air that we breathe.

7th April

I was shouting at obstacles - cow pats, branches etc - to get out of the way. This didn't work. When I prayed and lifted my eyes up, the results were much more positive.

Notwithstanding the shouting, my sense of inner peace and my place within the group, was incredible. I would not have believed that one could be so tired and tested, but feel so invigorated physically, intellectually, and spiritually.

8th April

Walking from Lenham to Charing, oh boy! Oh boy was my heart uplifted, oh boy did I have eagles wings!

As I pondered the energetic, powerful, but benign sky above the yellows, greens, and browns of the fields below, with copper coloured trees like the decorations of the temple in Jerusalem, I heard a phrase of music on my Ipod "And every breath we drew was Hallelujah."

I felt so moved, how could it be just coincidence that all these things had come together? I felt that I saw the face of God.

9th April

We arrived at 1253 hours at the West Gate. Getting to Canterbury was exquisite.

Now I know what it means to be a pilgrim. And that I will be a pilgrim, until the end of my days.

Hazel's Reflections

Before the pilgrimage, I had the verse about storing up treasures in heaven (Matt 6:20-21) and wrote that I might focus more on Jesus.  I talked about diamonds with my prayer partner and how the beauty of a diamond is only revealed when the light catches it in a particular light.  On the second morning of the pilgrimage, there were droplets of water on the plants, just like diamonds.  It was a really unexpected place to find this image, but this was a good reminder that Jesus is with us wherever we are.

Since the pilgrimage, I have reflected that Jesus was revealed in different ways during the past few days (just like a diamond looking different in different lights), fulfilling his promise of himself as the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6):

• On the pilgrimage, he was the Way.  Whenever I fixed my eyes on him (Hebr 12:2), I felt as though I were lifted up as if on wings like an eagle (Is. 40:31)
• On arrival in Canterbury, we found him as the truth and prepared to take him with us back into the world, buckled round our waist (Eph 6:14)
• Now, Jesus is my life.  He brings us life through prayer and worship (Jer 29:12-14), through our experience of serving others (Phil 2:7) and through his word (Is 55:11).

So, now when I fix my eyes on Jesus, then I know that my life is with him in God (Col 3:3).

Reflections from Connie

From the start of my journaling, God started speaking to me about how He humbles and tests us - in order to know our hearts and whether or not we will obey His commands, and so that in the end it might go well for us.

(Deut. 8-9): It has always been my desire to know God's heart, but He wants to know my heart through humbling and testing me. This is not usually pleasant , but that is how He finds out what is in the depths of my sinful heart. Deut. 10 talks about circumcising the heart, which is the cutting away of all the things that do not bring honour and glory to Him. This continues to be a daily battle, but I want my heart to be more like His. As the heart is circumcised, there are 5 things the Lord asks of us: to fear Him, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve Him with all your heart and soul, and to observe His commands and decrees. I want to fear Him by being more in awe of Him- seeing Him in His rightful place (Hebrews 12:28). I want to be obedient to Him, and to moment by moment walk through life in obedience to Him (Deut. 30:14). I want to love and serve Him with my all (Colossians 3:17), and to follow His commands, especially to love God and others.

Just before heading out on the walking part of the pilgrimage, God started showing me the importance of Scripture memorisation and meditation. These are two spiritual disciplines that have not seemed quite so vital in my life for some reason. "Keep the Word always on your lips and meditate on it day and night" (Joshua 1:8). Also, before and during the pilgrimage, God seemed to be telling me to call to Him, seek Him, keep my eyes on Him - because He would tell me great and unsearchable things I didn't know, and would make known to me the path of life, fill me with joy in His presence, and with eternal pleasures. (Jeremiah 33:3, Ps. 16)  I believe these are things to continue throughout my life. He gives me such joy in His presence! And related to both of these is to stand firm on His Word and be ready to go and share God's love with others (Ephesians 6:14-15), staying focused on Jesus who also has "gone into the world" (Hebrews 12:2). And to always remember that "the Lord is with me and He will take great delight in me. He will rejoice over me with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17). How He loves me!

 

 

 

Wednesday

Today was very special as we walked through the orchards in the garden of England.  The view of the cathedral from the outskirts of the city was amazing and it was even more awesome being up close and personal.


The communion service shared in the All Saints Chapel was a great way to finish off five days together - not as long as most marriages but long enough to get to know each other much better.  We will miss getting up early in the morning for morning prayer and then a walk, followed by dinner and evening prayer.  It's been a tough 5 days and we are all changed as a result.  Now all we need to do is work out HOW we are changed.


The journey continues ....

Tuesday

Great to be joined by David, who obviously wanted to know exactly where we would be walking and when, so he was given charge of directing the group walking the shorter distance.


After visiting Charing, where the curate, Sue, filled us in on thier lovely church, we split into two groups again, but this time the group walking the longer distance was down to two - Monica and Hazel - who were joined by Wendy Gregory.  The shorter walk had more people included in their number.  By this stage, it is most definitely the journey that matters and not exactly where you walk.  God was very kind in telling each person just how much they could take today.

Monday

The day started with something different in the cathedral.  We knew about reading psalms but didn't expect a reading from the book of Susanna.  Sharing communion with those who had just prayed for us and a safe pilgrimage was very special.


One of the readings shared with us by a prayer partner today was psalm 40: all about saving us from the mud and the mire - very appropriate for a day when it hardly ever stopped raining.


We ended up in the Dirty Habit pub and a lift back to the hotel was taken up by most - thank you Ian.

The missing pieces

Apologies for the lack of communication over the last four days - not much reception on the North Downs Way and hotels say that there's wifi connection, but then it's only for 30 minutes, or only from public areas ....


Here are the missing pieces from our blog to date (more to follow):


Sunday


Walking 20 miles day after day can ONLY be done in God's strength and with his power.  None of us have done this on our own.


Today some of the team got lost and probably added a couple of miles to their journey, meaning a 'rescue trip' was necessary.  Thank you to Sarah and John Harris.


While on this detour, there was also the case of the lost 'phone, which fell out of a pocket while climbing a stile, but couldn't be seen from the path.  When the next walkers were going past, it rang and they picked it up, but too late to speak to whoever was on the line.  Later in the evening it rang again when the pilgrim's prayer partner called and we managed to reunite the phone and the pilgrim, so that normal service could be resumed.  Thank you to Mike and Clair, who drove from south of Maidstone to Rochester - you are absolute stars!


So, we were amazed by the power of God in our walking and in answering prayer about lost items, but we were really stunned by the awesomeness of his creativity, as modelled by the Otford Solar System Millenium Project.  At the other end of the scale, we considered how God's love covers us all - down to each hair of our head.  Some of us looked at moss covering a tree trunk and how it clings so close, getting to know every nook and crannie of the tree and likened this to the covering of God's love over us.

We made it

We have just shared communion in All Saints Chapel which is here in the photo at the cathedral.

Arrived in Chilham

Here we are at our last overnight stop

Tuesday

Technological problems with posting long messages - we'll fill in the gaps later

At the end of the day

The beam inside the pub at the end of the walk seemed appropriate

Pilgrims in Rochester

Here we are waiting for our breakfast in the cathedral tearooms

So much has happened today and now it's very late, so each member of the team is going to share one word or phrase:

We had a real feeling of space. Enormous views across the countryside and plenty of time to look and have conversations - Monica

Such a long day, but God gave me and all of us strength to complete the walk - Chris

Lovely day as we walked through some beautiful countryside and enjoyed God's creation. Wonderful time at the churches. - Connie

Such  a gift to have time away form life's usual distrction and see the world as God intended. - Lorraine

Beautiful Bluebells, Pretty Primroses, Children Chivying us along, meeting lovely people particularly one man and his two sheepdogs! God is truly a wonderful Creator God - Fee.oats?

Thank you for an incredible day, and I am sorry for being so slow! Luke

Sheep or goats?  Gail

Mother and child, tea and cakes, beautiful churches  - kind people helping,  aching feet, amazing jacuzzi, Thank you Lord that you have provided all our needs today...  Wendy

Update

15miles walked. 65 to go.

Lunchtime day one

Here at Gravelly Hill for lunch. We have walked 6 miles and 14 more to go today

Gather in Jesus' name

A thought for the day on my phone this morning. If Jesus walked into our church while we were worshipping we'd run to meet him, stretch to touch him or fall to our knees. But he is there whenever 2 or 3 gather in his name (Matt 18:20). While walking, let's make that truth soak into our hearts.

Prayers said tonight for all the walkers, the support team and the prayer team. 

Another important verse for us is Jeremiah 6:16a. 
Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

We will be taking some time out to stand still and stop as we walk, looking for what God might be showing to us - whether that be in our surroundings or in his word.  We will ask him to show us things relevant to ourselves, to others walking with us or to the wider church community.  And once we have discerned what this is, we will obediently walk that path, offering it through a conversation or through this blog.

All stocked up.  We have two first aid kits, cards for morning and evening prayer, a box of cakes for snacks each day, guidebooks and maps.  Song books are on their way.  What more could us pilgrims need?
Prayer and information evening for the team on Thursday night at the Heath - look out for a blog after that.

Departure in 4 days time

We are leaving on pilgrimage this Saturday, 5^th April: nine people covering a journey of more than 80 miles.  Although Canterbury is our destination, the important part of this is the journey that we go on to get there – physically and spiritually – and we’d like you to journey with us.

We have great support from a team of 26 people doing a variety of things: walking with us, providing transport for bags and people, and praying for us - thank you to all of you. 

We’d love to involve, and have encouragement from, everyone who reads this post: do come back to this blog sometime during the time we are walking and add a comment, or visit our Just-giving page to add your support in the form of a donation towards something for the prayer room in the new church centre: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/stmaryreigatepilgrimage.

We will definitely share our experiences at some point in the next months.  The journey doesn’t stop in Canterbury: that’s just the start of it.

Prayer for the pilgrims

Here is a lovely prayer from our prayer team:

 

God of our pilgrimage,

you have led us to the living waters;
refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord
AMEN

There were also prayers said today at our weekly Parish at Prayer, which included the following verses:
Psalm 84
⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

22 March - Practice Walk

Out on our practice walk yesterday, we experienced the biggest hailstones I have ever seen:

Here we all are at the top of Box Hill.  4.5 hours later, we weren't feeling so upbeat, but happy that we had completed the 20 miles that we set out to do.

Visit to Canterbury

Out in Canterbury today and walked 7 miles.  Beautiful chapel that we will be using for communion when we are in the Cathedral.

 

Logistics all falling into place as well: it's great how God guides each person, encouraging them to do just the right thing.



On Monday I was out walking (managed 14 miles before school pick up beckoned).  Beautiful views,

some uphill struggles

and mud finally drying out (thankfully).

All a bit subtle so far...  I'm new to this blogging stuff.
Here's the thing.  When I moved to Reigate in 2012 I thought I would do more walking: out in the countryside is where I love to be.  However, that was not to be with taking children to school (daily commute of 3 hours or more) and getting to grips with new experiences and people in the church. 
So, I decided to commit myself to doing a pilgrimage and raising some money for the Community Building Project at St Mary's. 
I opened it up to others from the church and there are now nine of us walking between 5th and 9th April, up to 21 miles in a day.  Although I have done some walking before, I have never walked this kind of distance on consecutive days.  So, it's a bit of a challenge, as well as being a great opportunity to spend some time with God and in fellowship with others hoping for a similar experience.
Excitement is mounting now that we have just 29 days to go.

Nine people walking about 90 miles between Reigate and Canterbury.  We are supported by a great team of people:

• Others walking with us on particular days
• Logisitical support to drive people and bags between various points
• A prayer team to provide one-to-one support and prayer for the whole initiative
• The whole of the community at St Mary's Reigate who are encouraging us
• Those who are sponsoring our effort.  Here's a link to our fundraising website: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/stmaryreigatepilgrimage

Preparation so far:

• A practice walk between Guildford and Dorking
• Route mapped and accommodation booked
• Spritual aspects discussed and reflected on

Pilgrimage preparation

On Thursday we spend a couple of hours thinking about how to open ourselves up to what God might want to do while we are walking in April.  Opportunities to find some quiet time between now and 5th April are vital.  First one is this Saturday at the quiet morning in the Mill Church.