Christianity has almost two thousand years’ experience of prayer and meditation, with older roots in the Scripture and practices of ancient Israel.  This tradition is alive in the Cathedral’s public prayer: the Eucharist, and the Daily Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer).  These services offer ongoing opportunity for personal reflection and prayer: being present with the shape of the liturgy, the music, or the repetition of the daily office filled with praise, penitence, and intercession for the world, for ourselves and for others.

Yet other traditional ways exist. Prayer—individual and collective—can be silent and contemplative, leading into the unknowable otherness of God. It can be an awareness practice that settles outer or inner events in perspective, or a theological reflection on life events or group process. Prayer can be meditative and reflective, using text to ponder the revelation of God to us in creation and creativity, in word, in the words of our Holy Scriptures, and in the Word made flesh, Jesus.

Meditation on Scripture 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 5.45pm – 6.15pm

For hundreds of years people have met God personally while praying on short passages of Holy Scripture. Participants are led in the process and are given short silent periods to pray on a selected passage using their imagination.

Contemplative Prayer 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 5.45pm – 6.45pm

A brief talk is followed by two 20-minute periods of silent meditation together. This is non-denominational and draws on ancient Christian monastic traditions and Eastern religious wisdom. Simple instructions are given for the beginner.

Fifth Tuesdays 5.45pm – 6.30pm

An opportunity and invitation to explore other forms of contemplative practice: images, sounds, etc.