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Good morning.

Amidst the array of times and places

when prayer has left a lasting impression on me,

I would always want to cite a service station off the M40,

possibly Newport Pagnall.

It was a mid-morning, cup of coffee pit-stop,

and it went a long way to correcting my own presuppositions

on where and when the ‘holy’ moments can come along.

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Very simply, as we made our way through from the car park to the cafe

the bishop I was chaplain to and walking with

was stopped by someone walking in the opposite direction

and asked for prayer for a member of their family.

A name was given, a prayer was offered there and then

and we all continued about our business.

Twenty minutes later and walking back to the car

exactly the same thing happened:

a completely different person, this time asking for prayer for themselves

because of a painful, stressful situation they were going through.

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Neither encounter was dramatic or openly emotional

It reminded me that many people do feel the need for prayer.

But of course our prayers should never simply be for those who ask for them.

This week I’m extremely conscious of our need

To keep praying for all whose lives have been turned upside down

After the fire at Grenfell Tower

And for those who are suffering after the attack at Finsbury Park Mosque

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Ever-attentive Lord, heighten our awareness we pray

Of all who need prayer, and especially for the victims of

The fire in west London and the attack at the mosque.

Help us to, seize the moment

and step behind the curtain which Christ’s love has opened for us all. Amen