Contemplative Prayer Walk

Have you ever intentionally taken a "Contemplative Prayer Walk"? Don't worry, you get to keep your eyes open during this prayer. You have most likely taken an unintentional prayer walk, where you are walking by yourself, maybe feel the presence of a being walking with you, and you have some kind of spiritual epiphany. Not every prayer walk has a great awakening, but this is a practice of prayer which makes space for the Spirit to show us something new.

Next time you are downtown, I invite you to take an intentional contemplative prayer walk around our neighborhood in the District.

1. Decide your destination. You may want to go in a circle, so you can simply return to the same spot.

2. Decide your general route. You may want to keep an open mind on the exact route, but you nevertheless will have to make some choices of what street to take and how you will return.

3. Invite someone to go with you. You may have a friend in mind, but always make sure to include Jesus in your invitation. Noticing his presence and including him in your walk is what makes the walk a time of prayer.

4. Begin walking. As you pass people and places, pray for them as you are inspired to do so. Notice the plant life, notice the trash, notice the construction. Let this be a time where you see what God sees and lift the veil on the things we do not notice on a normal walk.

5. Close with prayer. Whether you are on your own with Jesus or with another friend, you may pray silently or out loud.

Only a few of us live so close to the church, but because the church is "home" for us, this is our neighborhood. And even if you cannot get down to the District and walk around, I ask for you to pray for our neighborhood and especially for our neighbors.

From your home or desk or wherever you are as you read this prayer below, You may sit down and take a virtual prayer walk while you look at you image our church block.

You may go through the same instructions, or you may pray this prayer below. May the presence of Christ bring peace, justice, and love to the surface.

Resurrected Christ, we want witness to your living body at work in the world.  

As we notice our feet on the ground, we give thanks for the earth, and we commit to changing our daily habits that we contribute to the restoration of the earth and conservation of your creation.

We stretch our ankles and consider the steps that we might take to join you as co-creators within our world.

Our legs rest in our chairs, as we prepare to stand in solidarity with those who suffer in our world.  Please be with our unhoused neighbors, those who live with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, and those who carry personal traumas with them as they go to work each day. Comfort, strengthen, and shelter those in need.  Grant courage to those who wish to change their situation, and offer love to those who feel alone. Walk with us through the valleys and lead us to still waters.

The flexibility of our knees and hips reminds us of our need to bend. We bend to you, Lord, we bend our hearts to those in need around us, and we bend our ears to listen to those who hold different opinions from us. We, too, ask you to bend toward us and hear our prayers. Amen.