Praying in the Christmas Spirit
Fr Ian Tomlinson
describes a series of unusual prayer sessions in Liverpool
Praying in a pub captures the attention. The two images are not usually associated. The idea originated from a small group, based partly at the Jesuit Spirituality centre of Loyola Hall, set in beautiful parkland ten miles from Liverpool, and partly in the long-established Jesuit parish church of St Francis Xavier’s, Everton - near Liverpool’s city centre. Could we not, they argued, bring some of the Loyola Hall expertise in spirituality into the city centre?
The area chosen was the business area off Old Hall Street, near the Cotton Exchange and the Liverpool Echo building, not far from where the original 18th century Jesuit chapel used to stand. Though some parts of Liverpool are well supplied with churches, because of general demolition and rebuilding, this is not true of the business area. But a large number of people work there. So the intention was to go where people were; to offer the possibility of a few lunch-time quiet moments of prayer in the middle of a busy working day; tea, coffee and sandwiches would also be to hand.
As Debbie and I walked across the car park to the Cross Keys Pub on the first Tuesday lunchtime, I felt distinctly apprehensive. Used to directing the Thirty Day retreat, why should I feel apprehensive? It was, I presume, the missionary call; the venture into the unknown or the unusual; going beyond the comfortable to the challenging. Would anyone come? Perhaps no-one would come? ‘We might get ten,’ said Debbie. ‘That’ I replied, somewhat disbelievingly ‘would merit an article’. Debbie, the pastoral worker at SFX, looked the city worker, struggling in her high heels in the car park shingle. I had opted for more unassuming attire, leaving clericals aside.
Silence in the City was the theme of the four Tuesdays. It was not a time of lecture or discussion, but a time of prayer: quiet, reflective and gentle prayer. It was offered during Advent, as a preparation for Christmas. City-centre working life can be hectic enough; the weeks before Christmas especially so. ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10); ‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7); Elijah’s ‘still small voice’ - these were some of the themes used. The sessions lasted about 30 minutes, with real opportunity for space, silence and quiet prayer.
Numbers were not large, but soon we had reached ten. Hence this article! ‘What’s this about praying in a pub?’ I was asked a number of times recently. The event was widely advertised, for example on Radio Merseyside, and the interest itself was an important dimension. There has even been an enquiry from a parish in the docklands area of London, to see if the programme could be of use in the nearby offices.
We met in a function room above the bar. No doubt, those in the bar below enjoyed their half hour. Did we offer something more valuable? The people who came seemed to value the experience greatly. Waiting patiently on God, quietly reflecting on what might be God’s hopes for the world and for me, may at first sight not be what most people think they want, but it may be where they will find their deepest desires. Silence in the City was worth attempting and Loyola Metro is now planning three similar sessions leading up to Pentecost, along with a week of guided prayer at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral (17th-23rd April) and the Living Theology course from 25th - 29th July. Debbie’s high heels will be doing a lot of walking!
describes a series of unusual prayer sessions in Liverpool
Praying in a pub captures the attention. The two images are not usually associated. The idea originated from a small group, based partly at the Jesuit Spirituality centre of Loyola Hall, set in beautiful parkland ten miles from Liverpool, and partly in the long-established Jesuit parish church of St Francis Xavier’s, Everton - near Liverpool’s city centre. Could we not, they argued, bring some of the Loyola Hall expertise in spirituality into the city centre?
The area chosen was the business area off Old Hall Street, near the Cotton Exchange and the Liverpool Echo building, not far from where the original 18th century Jesuit chapel used to stand. Though some parts of Liverpool are well supplied with churches, because of general demolition and rebuilding, this is not true of the business area. But a large number of people work there. So the intention was to go where people were; to offer the possibility of a few lunch-time quiet moments of prayer in the middle of a busy working day; tea, coffee and sandwiches would also be to hand.
As Debbie and I walked across the car park to the Cross Keys Pub on the first Tuesday lunchtime, I felt distinctly apprehensive. Used to directing the Thirty Day retreat, why should I feel apprehensive? It was, I presume, the missionary call; the venture into the unknown or the unusual; going beyond the comfortable to the challenging. Would anyone come? Perhaps no-one would come? ‘We might get ten,’ said Debbie. ‘That’ I replied, somewhat disbelievingly ‘would merit an article’. Debbie, the pastoral worker at SFX, looked the city worker, struggling in her high heels in the car park shingle. I had opted for more unassuming attire, leaving clericals aside.
Silence in the City was the theme of the four Tuesdays. It was not a time of lecture or discussion, but a time of prayer: quiet, reflective and gentle prayer. It was offered during Advent, as a preparation for Christmas. City-centre working life can be hectic enough; the weeks before Christmas especially so. ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10); ‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7); Elijah’s ‘still small voice’ - these were some of the themes used. The sessions lasted about 30 minutes, with real opportunity for space, silence and quiet prayer.
Numbers were not large, but soon we had reached ten. Hence this article! ‘What’s this about praying in a pub?’ I was asked a number of times recently. The event was widely advertised, for example on Radio Merseyside, and the interest itself was an important dimension. There has even been an enquiry from a parish in the docklands area of London, to see if the programme could be of use in the nearby offices.
We met in a function room above the bar. No doubt, those in the bar below enjoyed their half hour. Did we offer something more valuable? The people who came seemed to value the experience greatly. Waiting patiently on God, quietly reflecting on what might be God’s hopes for the world and for me, may at first sight not be what most people think they want, but it may be where they will find their deepest desires. Silence in the City was worth attempting and Loyola Metro is now planning three similar sessions leading up to Pentecost, along with a week of guided prayer at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral (17th-23rd April) and the Living Theology course from 25th - 29th July. Debbie’s high heels will be doing a lot of walking!