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Praying together...



Friends,
In the Celtic tradition there is a way of praying called a caim - it's an encircling prayer. It is a prayer of trust, a prayer for protection, a prayer for ourselves and for people we are worried about. 
The simplest way to pray is to extend your arm and with a finger,draw a circle around yourself. Within the circle, call to mind people who you want to hold in prayer and say simply: 'Keep peace within, keep harm without.'

Another way to pray (and the way we pray at our Celtic Evensong service) is to face the four corners of the compass:

Facing to the west, pray: ‘Circle us Lord, Keep love within, Keep hatred out’

Turn and facing to the north, pray: ‘Circle us Lord, Keep light within, Keep darkness out’ 

Turn to the east and pray: ‘Circle us Lord, Keep peace within, Keep worry out’

Turn to the south and pray: ‘Circle us Lord, Keep hope within, Keep doubt without’ 

And then facing west again, the prayer ends:

'May you be a bright flame before us,

May you be a guiding star above us,
May you be a smooth path below us,
And a loving Guide behind us,
Today, tonight, and forever.'


Peace to you on this Saint Patrick's Day,
Rod Stafford
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • STAFF CONTACTS
    • DIRECTIONS
    • CALENDAR / EVENTS
    • NEWS
  • CONNECT
    • NEW TO PMC?
    • SMALL GROUPS
    • MAKING FRIENDS @ PMC
    • STEPHEN MINISTRY
    • Congregational Care
  • WORSHIP
  • LEARN / SERVE
    • FAITH FORMATION >
      • CHILDREN @ PMC
      • YOUTH GROUPS
      • YOUNG ADULT
      • ADULT CLASSES
      • MEMBERSHIP
    • PEACE & JUSTICE >
      • PEACE & JUSTICE @ PMC
      • FAMILY PROMISE
      • NIGHT STRIKE
      • CLIMATE CHANGE
      • RADICAL HOSPITALITY
      • Racial Justice blog landing
  • GIVE
  • PRESCHOOL
  • ONLINE CHURCH