CapeConversation

The meeting started with a silent, meditative foot washing ceremony led by Tess. Bowls of warm water suffused with fresh lavender, geranium leaves and rose petals were at the ready as partners washed each others’ feet.

Our attention was called to be focused on the sensory aspect of hand, feet, water, the fragrances together with the prayerful aspect of bringing the other before God. We were asked to be astute to whatever we sensed might be for the other.

After the ritual, we sat in a circle around our central candle and each took black paper with white chalk and wrote one word for our partner, a summation of that prayer and handed it to them. Some words that emerged were strength, flow, support, love, loving, creative and so on.

After some attempt to worship with our more familiar Taize songs, we learnt a new song based on a Sami joik with new words “Let me see what eye has not seen, let me hear what ear has not heard…”

Then in contrast to the initial time of prayerfully waiting for each other, Tim focussed us again towards prayer, this time asking us to speak out our prayers one for the other. We were to allow the Spirit’s work through each one of us and not to rely on those who have already stepped out. Those requesting prayer stood in the circle as we sensed, spoke, beseeched, encouraged and offered our prayers for them.

The meeting ended with the sound of drums, chatter and the obligatory second visit to the cornucopia of pastries that have come to reside next to the great coffee in the corner.

– Ann Bothwell Paton