Who Needs Words?. Richard Littledale

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       How to use this book

      The prayers in this collection address the worries and insecurities of daily life. The first few prayers are concerned with the day-to-day demands on our time and energy, and all the worries and responsibilities that go with them. Later, the prayers reflect on our insecurities: those things in life that either chip away at our sense of well-being or that cause deeper anxiety and worry. The last few prayers in the collection reflect on aspects of renewal, allowing us to embrace life fully refreshed.

      But this is only a loose arrangement. In truth, many of the themes overlap. So you can start at the beginning and work your way to the end, or you can look through the prayers to find a particular topic you would like to address at a particular time, or you can simply pick a prayer at random and reflect on its theme. The chosen path is entirely up to you.

      Some of the prayers have Scripture Readings, which are there for further reflection or to allow prayer groups to discuss the themes in relation to both the scriptures and the contemporary world.

      There are some prayer activities, too. These are designed to stimulate your many senses in a prayerful way. They are perhaps best used when you are alone, when you have some time away from the routine of daily life. It may be useful to create a ‘prayer corner’: some personal place where you can have as much peace and quiet for reflection as you possibly can. The prayer activities hope to prompt a personal response; but prayer groups also may find that they are appropriate. You are, of course, encouraged to be creative with them, to adapt them to your own circumstances. The point is to engage with prayer, not to let it be a dull ritual.

      As the prayers in this book concentrate on contemporary life, we hope you will return to them again and again and find new resonance within.