Push, Play & Pray #6

Comfort Zone

I have been pondering comfort these last few days.

My faith brings me much comfort. It fills me with hope even in troubled times. This hope gets me out of bed every day. It helps me find small joys and delights in my daily routines. It encourages me to hold on to God, believing in something stronger and better and wiser than I can understand. Comfort makes me feel safe and protected.

Yet Jesus also encourages us to face up to and confront the uncomfortable. We are constantly propelled out of our comfort zone to notice the needs of others around us, to advocate for justice in our world, to look after our neighbour, to care for people beyond our own individual needs and desires. As people of faith we embrace this discomfort as it shifts us to actions of justice, kindness and walking humbly with God.

What does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 NRSV

Today’s prayers are comfort prayers in one sense, bringing a comforting soothing rhythm in this final week of our Push, Play & Pray series. I hope they also stir us uncomfortably too, inviting us to pray for the injustices we see happening in our own communities.

The prayers involve recipes with things made from the comfort of our homes. We make some soft and spongy play dough (or pray dough) from flour, and we’re also using a stretchy slime made from soap flakes.

Next week we start our Lent series which will run from Sunday 28 February to Sunday 10 April. I’m calling the Lenten series, ‘The Colour Purple’. Each week over seven weeks, there’ll be two prayers, one more focussed for individual use, and the other to share in group gatherings such as worship events or small group discussions. If you know others who may want to subscribe please let them know.

On the journey

Caroline