May 2023

The following is a possible framework for the Witnessing of the Word. It can be personalised or altered: its purpose is to serve as an example of how this Saying might be used primarily in the context of a Prayer Group, but it may be used by individuals too. It is not intended to be definitive. In the context of a group: the periods of silence should be appropriate for your group - probably not less than 5 minutes, or more than 15 minutes.

Saying for the month: ‘For surely I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11) NRSV.

In your time of contemplation, you may like to shorten this to this: ‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

To begin the exercise, first spend a short while in relaxation and preparing to be still; you may want to relax your way through your muscles or you may find it helpful to become aware of the sounds around you and then put them aside as you offer this time of prayer to God.

Say this introductory invitation to prayer, then keep a further minute or two of silence: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28).

Introduction to the first silence - a preparation for listening with the mind:

For surely I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and a hope’.

It is an assumption that lies behind the Christian understanding of the Bible that the words we read have an eternal truth and continue to speak to us today … This is especially true as we pray in the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer way as we concentrate on praying with words where God speaks into a situation, either directly as God, or as Jesus, or through the words of a prophet.  Although the Words were originally spoken in a specific context to apply to a particular situation in history, as eternal Words, we accept that they can speak to us in our context today.

We will use a shortened version of verse 11 for our prayers because it’s easier to remember, but as we continue to pray we might chose to shorten it still further or to use different bits of it or even the whole phrase … Just go with the flow in terms of however the Word speaks to you and your context.

Our Word for May comes from the great prophet Jeremiah. It may be interesting to put this into a time context.  Jeremiah lived, prophesied and preached a little before the authors of a related body of writing from the next largest body of writing i.e. the second section of Isaiah (ch 40-55).  To see how this writing fits in time, Jeremiah was prophesying in the middle of the 7 century BC.  First Isaiah (1-39) was earlier – early 7C BC, and second Isaiah (40-55) later mid 6C BC.  So, this bit comes in the middle of those sections of Isaiah.  To understand the time context can help us to see how the life experience of the people informs the approach taken by the relevant prophets as they help them to negotiate the changes in their status and emotional journey as exiles.

The piece we reflect on this month, 29.14 is part of a letter or message sent to the Israelites who at that time were still exiles in Babylon.  Jeremiah speaks in a way that was controversial at the time.  Contrary to earlier ways of understanding their predicament, mourning their previous identity, and despite their past failings, taking pride in their understanding of themselves as God’s people and staying apart from the indigenous population, Jeremiah advises the people to look at life from a different perspective.  He encourages them try to settle in the land, make their homes there, intermarry and collaborate with the authorities, staying put and having patience and perseverance. He reminds them that making the best of things wouldn’t stop them worshipping Yahweh and wouldn’t stop God being their God.  Wherever they were, whatever was happening to them or around them, crucially God had promised this people His divine protection! After all, they didn’t know how long this exile would go on for, but hopefully, they were being encouraged to believe in this word from Jeremiah that the end may just be in sight. Restoration of the people to their homelands may indeed be possible, the end of exile would eventually happen although when it did happen, it would prove to be very challenging.

In this first time of silence we might like to think through how Jeremiah’s words would be received by people who were struggling with the reality of having been removed to a hostile country, living under duress not in charge of their own destiny.  Their whole mentality was perhaps that of victims of circumstance; depressed, persecuted and hard-done-by.  Here, Jeremiah suggests they consider changing their approach, and begin to seek for peace, be faithful in following their God where they are rather than where they would wish to be. In short, to make the best of it.  This saying then is a call to take stock of their lives, and our own – to re-evaluate our positions and to learn to live again within the boundaries imposed upon us!

We take this Saying into our minds, allowing the saying to speak to us:

‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

A time is now kept for silence of the mind – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.  The silence concludes with a short thanksgiving, and/or feel free to repeat the Saying.

The first silence ends with the words: Father, we thank you for the gift of your Word.

Introduction to the second silence - a preparation for listening with the heart:

‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

These words were spoken at a particular time in history, but like other words spoken by God through the mouth of a prophet, as part of the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer we may find meaning for ourselves.

The last two years or so have brought so much change to our experience of life, and in some ways, things still continue to be a challenge.  Two years ago we were struggling with the implications of Covid, freedom was curtailed, people and families isolated from loved ones, lives were lost, and all this left behind the complex feelings of bereavement, political uncertainties and difficult financial situations across the world. 

Many people are still facing significant anxiety about what their life is like now and how they will make ends meet. And, for those who have come to UK as refugees and asylum seekers, especially those recently coming to our communities from the Ukraine, there will be deep trauma at separations from families, friends and all that is familiar, echoing the experience of the people of God in their exile.

Our food banks are working flat out to help to support those who are vulnerable, and this comes hand in hand with significant implications for us all in how we will support that effort, especially for our churches as we do our best for everyone who is struggling.  To all of us in this challenging time when so many familiar things feel hard and difficult to tackle or live through, God speaks.

The situation faced by the disciples as they faced the loss again of Jesus, the person that they had loved and come to rely on was similarly devastating for them.  Although he was changed, Jesus had come back to them after the resurrection and they had been reassured that death had not robbed them of His presence, but as He finally returned to the Father at the Ascension, it is not unreasonable to think that they must have felt yet another loss.

Their instructions were to return to Jerusalem and to continue to wait for further help, and this is what they did.  When that help came in the anointing by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it changed their lives and the lives of all those whose worlds they subsequently touched, strengthening and inspiring them in their faith and giving them a voice they could only have dreamed of.

So, more than anything, for me, this short passage from Jeremiah continues to offer us hope and encouragement, that despite the bereavements and challenges and all that has been turned upside down over the last couple of years, God is still there continuing to create and evolve plans for us to give us a future with hope.  Despite the different losses suffered by so many, all is not lost … God is still there for us as God was for the Israelites in exile, and for the disciples as they waited in hope for the gift of the Holy Spirit …  The Israelites didn’t need the temple in Jerusalem to worship God and remain faithful to the covenant. To borrow part of the Benedictine rule of life, their ‘stability’ was not fastened to the land of their ancestors, but was to be found firmly grounded in God.

This saying seems so apt for us in these worrying times.  God will continue to be with us, despite the uncertainty we continue to face … The ultimate plan for creation and for our future and wellbeing is held safely in God’s hands.

God knows the plans he has for us and ‘God’s ways are not our ways, or God’s thoughts our thoughts’ (Isaiah 55.8-9).  We may have confidence and trust in God although with our human intellect; we don’t always need to understand.

Now we take this word into our hearts, as we allow Jesus’ words to speak in us, to let it touch us and let it work more deeply upon our lives: ‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

A time is now kept for silence of the heart – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.

The second silence ends with the words: Father, we thank you that your Word is alive and within us.

Introduction to the time of intercession – taking God’s word outwards into the world.

‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

Having kept the silence of the mind (to chew over the Word and its context) and then the Silence of the heart (to listen to God speaking to us), we keep the Silence of the Will, and use our will to reflect God’s word outwards for those for whom we have concern.

With this Word in mind we can now bring the meaning alive not only for ourselves, but also most importantly in our intercession, to reflect it outwards for the lives and concerns we have for others. 

‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

We can also bring before God in prayer any we know who are finding things particularly hard, for whom the way seems confusing and the future empty or bleak.

We remember anyone who is especially on our hearts.

We may especially wish this month to share the names of anyone needing or receiving treatment for life limiting conditions, those struggling with mental health problems, or those facing unemployment, financial pressures or stresses within the family all of which can feel so overwhelming.

Say the name of a person or a group of people, and after a short pause, repeat the saying. For example:

‘Alison and your family ... ‘I know the plans I have for you … to give you a future and … hope’.

As we allow the word to speak through us we might direct Jesus’ word towards those people and situations where there is suffering, hurt and an absence of joy and where abiding in Christ would bring comfort.  Conclude this time of intercession with words of thanksgiving: Father, we thank you that your Word has gone out through us to those for whom we pray.

The Conclusion

Feel free to use the Fellowship Prayer (below) or another closing prayer to conclude your time of contemplative prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for all your unsearchable riches which pour forth from you as light from the sun, in boundless profusion and generosity, whether received, ignored or rejected. And now we offer to you, in so far as we are able, as an emptiness to be filled with your divine fullness, ourselves, our souls and bodies; all that we are, all that we have and all that we do. Amen

You may wish to say the Grace together before departing.