LATEST NEWS FROM THE
ST LAURENCE COMMUNITY
ST LAURENCE COMMUNITY
CORONAVIRUS LATEST - IMPORTANT UPDATE
Following the latest Government guidelines of 30th December, we are now in a Tier 4 area. In the light of the current circumstances, and after prayerful consideration, we have regretfully made the decision that there should be no live services or activities at St Laurence for the time being. This decision has not been taken lightly and many factors have been taken into consideration, not least the understandable anxiety of our church members and users. We will update this website as soon as the situation changes.
Following the latest Government guidelines of 30th December, we are now in a Tier 4 area. In the light of the current circumstances, and after prayerful consideration, we have regretfully made the decision that there should be no live services or activities at St Laurence for the time being. This decision has not been taken lightly and many factors have been taken into consideration, not least the understandable anxiety of our church members and users. We will update this website as soon as the situation changes.
Special Advent Film from St Laurence
Now available online
"A Contemplative Christmas"
A film by Pip Heywood
shot entirely on location at St Laurence Parish Church
Opening and closing music sung and recorded by Matthew Heyse-Moore; Gongs by Barry Mason and Lina Lotto; Sarod by Krishnamurti Sridhar.
Other contributions from Andy Evans, Avril Evans, Juliette Saville, Revd Judy Howard, Mel Cross, JJ Middleway,
Revd Simon Howell, and Vicky and Daisy Martin
"This exquisite film invites us, through image, music, and word, into a place of quiet profound beauty in the midst of all that Christmas may mean to us." Revd Judy Howard
"Beautiful and profound - to me it is less a conventional film and more a cinematic sacrament of poetry and prayer." Revd Simon Howell
Now available online
"A Contemplative Christmas"
A film by Pip Heywood
shot entirely on location at St Laurence Parish Church
Opening and closing music sung and recorded by Matthew Heyse-Moore; Gongs by Barry Mason and Lina Lotto; Sarod by Krishnamurti Sridhar.
Other contributions from Andy Evans, Avril Evans, Juliette Saville, Revd Judy Howard, Mel Cross, JJ Middleway,
Revd Simon Howell, and Vicky and Daisy Martin
"This exquisite film invites us, through image, music, and word, into a place of quiet profound beauty in the midst of all that Christmas may mean to us." Revd Judy Howard
"Beautiful and profound - to me it is less a conventional film and more a cinematic sacrament of poetry and prayer." Revd Simon Howell
*ALL ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Open Church for Private Prayer and Meditation
Every Friday and Saturday from 10.30am-12.30pm
Daybreak Morning Prayer
Every Saturday at 8.30am
Holy Communion
Every Saturday at 11.30am
Silent Sitting
Every Tuesday at 8.00-8.30am
Cowshed Service
Sunday 3rd January at 9.30am
In the meantime, our other current online arrangements and activities will continue, and are available via the Stroud Team website.
HOME PRAYER
FOR THE ST LAURENCE COMMUNITY
We have established 'prayer stations' within St Laurence, and until you are able to visit the church in person, you may find the images, prayers and other guidance below helpful in your private home prayer during this time.
FOR THE ST LAURENCE COMMUNITY
We have established 'prayer stations' within St Laurence, and until you are able to visit the church in person, you may find the images, prayers and other guidance below helpful in your private home prayer during this time.
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10:10 DAILY HOME PRAYER
During this time, we encourage you to stop at 10:10am each day to pray, to remember that we are still the Body of Christ in this place, to read a passage from the Bible, a reflection ... Why 10:10? Well, we hope this will remind us of Jesus' promise to us: "I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). It would be good to phone someone to share that time together. Photograph courtesy of Hugh Richards |
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PRAYER FOR THE ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD
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'THE 6-CHAIR PRAYER'
This message has been received by us, and is truly inspiring. It relates to the prayer station illustrated above, and comes from someone who had never been to church before until she walked through the doors of St Laurence about a year ago. She is now a regular part of the St Laurence Cowshed community. This story expresses all the lament and all the hope, which is what God holds for us. We thought we should share it with you with her permission. We have called it the '6-Chair Prayer'.
This message has been received by us, and is truly inspiring. It relates to the prayer station illustrated above, and comes from someone who had never been to church before until she walked through the doors of St Laurence about a year ago. She is now a regular part of the St Laurence Cowshed community. This story expresses all the lament and all the hope, which is what God holds for us. We thought we should share it with you with her permission. We have called it the '6-Chair Prayer'.
I went into town today for essentials - sellotape included - sure that James & Owen would be forced to close tomorrow. I was correct. On my way back home I went in through St.Laurence's open door and saw the six chairs arranged around a low table, spread with a cloth and a small vase of spring flowers. I sat in each chair in turn and wept.
In the beginning the tears sprang from a realisation of how deeply important the inclusive welcome I’ve experienced in that space has been for my soul.
Then the tears were for the people I won’t be sitting amongst in the circle of the Cowshed Service, the witness of the bread-breaking which is so symbolic of the inclusion I refer to, offered in the most welcoming non-patriarchal way. It is a miracle.
Then the tears were for the members of those gatherings who might die.
And then for the people in my wider community who might not make it through this, emotionally as well as physically.
In the fifth chair I gave thanks for my ancestors who did make it through plague, cholera, syphilis, the flu epidemic and more, the people who gifted me life. I still cried.
In the sixth, looking up to that enormous crucifix I wept some more as I thanked Jesus for his deep humanity and humility; I have an opportunity to live up to his role modelling through this crisis. I extended my thanks to Judy, Simon and Mathew.
That space has witnessed deep transformation in me and now it will have to close. Thank God I walked in there today.
In the beginning the tears sprang from a realisation of how deeply important the inclusive welcome I’ve experienced in that space has been for my soul.
Then the tears were for the people I won’t be sitting amongst in the circle of the Cowshed Service, the witness of the bread-breaking which is so symbolic of the inclusion I refer to, offered in the most welcoming non-patriarchal way. It is a miracle.
Then the tears were for the members of those gatherings who might die.
And then for the people in my wider community who might not make it through this, emotionally as well as physically.
In the fifth chair I gave thanks for my ancestors who did make it through plague, cholera, syphilis, the flu epidemic and more, the people who gifted me life. I still cried.
In the sixth, looking up to that enormous crucifix I wept some more as I thanked Jesus for his deep humanity and humility; I have an opportunity to live up to his role modelling through this crisis. I extended my thanks to Judy, Simon and Mathew.
That space has witnessed deep transformation in me and now it will have to close. Thank God I walked in there today.
PRAYER FOR GOD AS MYSTERY
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PRAYER FOR THE BLESSED SILENCE
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PRAYER FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
A prayer by Revd Matthew Page
A prayer by Revd Matthew Page
"IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC"
A poem by Catherine (Kitty) O’Meara
https://the-daily-round.com/
(With thanks to Laura Huxford and Iris Trask for making us aware of this poem)
A poem by Catherine (Kitty) O’Meara
https://the-daily-round.com/
(With thanks to Laura Huxford and Iris Trask for making us aware of this poem)
And the people stayed home.
And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
"NO DISTANCE"
A poem by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
A poem by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — 1 Corinthians 12.13
Our social distancing is an illusion.
We are one. There is no distance. No gap.
Isolated in your apartment, you belong.
You breathe and it fills my lungs.
You weep and my heart is broken.
We are one body in many places.
In this time of separation we open our hearts,
we allow ourselves to flow out from our bodies
in Spirit to one another, to the strangers
who are part of us. Like the Italians
singing from their balconies with neighbors,
we are all notes of the same song.
Love flows where germs cannot. Meditate
on our amazing unity. Extend your spirit
to include all it includes: the whole world.
Breathe in this breath (so threatened!), a gift.
Breathe out this breath (so released!), a gift.
Let compassion for all beings flow with it,
in and out, refreshing your whole body,
the Body of Christ, the whole human family,
the whole Creation. Let love be our body.
Let your love take flesh. Make calls.
Write letters. And when you come back out
don't stop being one another's body. It's your life.
Our social distancing is an illusion.
We are one. There is no distance. No gap.
Isolated in your apartment, you belong.
You breathe and it fills my lungs.
You weep and my heart is broken.
We are one body in many places.
In this time of separation we open our hearts,
we allow ourselves to flow out from our bodies
in Spirit to one another, to the strangers
who are part of us. Like the Italians
singing from their balconies with neighbors,
we are all notes of the same song.
Love flows where germs cannot. Meditate
on our amazing unity. Extend your spirit
to include all it includes: the whole world.
Breathe in this breath (so threatened!), a gift.
Breathe out this breath (so released!), a gift.
Let compassion for all beings flow with it,
in and out, refreshing your whole body,
the Body of Christ, the whole human family,
the whole Creation. Let love be our body.
Let your love take flesh. Make calls.
Write letters. And when you come back out
don't stop being one another's body. It's your life.
