Where Two Are Gathered: Day 1

Day 1.

Welcome to a week of prayer for a married (or engaged) couples.

We’ll follow the same structure of an opening prayer and ‘Glory be’ to finish.

We have included opportunities in these sessions to pause the audio and reflect, discuss or pray together. You can go at your own pace. There’s no rush. Notice how something feels for you, or what you think about it as that will help you decide what you might try again. 

Find your own voice: if some of what follows is too pious, then lighten the mood…so if it lacks the depth you desire, allow it to deepen. 

The Benedictine, Abbot Chapman, would say that we have to pray as we can and not as we can’t, and the same is true for a couple.
  This week can be an experiment in finding a way of praying together.

If you are taking part in the week, it must be because you have a hope or a desire.
  What do you want? What are you looking for? . . .
  Let God know what that is and then let each other know . . . . . .

Father, you know us, you love us and you call us by name as a couple.
  Holy Spirit, give us your strength to grow strong together.
  Christ Jesus, make your home with us, as we make ours with you.

In the first chapter of John’s gospel we read the following story of invitation:

The next day John (the Baptist) was standing there again with two of his disciples,
 
when he saw Jesus walking by. “There is the Lamb of God!” he said.

 
The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus.
 
Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, “What are you looking for?”

They answered, “Where do you live, Rabbi?”

 
“Come and see,” he answered. (It was then about four o'clock in the afternoon.) So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him . . .

What do you like about this encounter? . . . Take a moment to pause this session and discuss it together…

Lord, spend the rest of this day with us . . . in your name we pray.
  AMEN.

Glory be to the Father . . .