December 2020

12 Buckden Roundabout December 2020 Footsteps Footsteps in Prayer, 14th - 21st September 2020 We did it! Our seventeen strong team walked every one of Buckden ’ s 60 streets and prayed for everyone in the 1,400 or so households that make up this special village. “ The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be." (Mother Teresa). As explained in the September issue (pages 10 & 18), the onset of the coronavirus pandemic prompted a 50 per cent increase in online searches for prayer as people tried to cope with the feelings of anxiety and stress. The idea for Footsteps in Prayer arose from this fact. It turned out to be a thoroughly worth- while experience and now, back in lock - down, here are some of our reflections on the week. “ The area I was allocated was familiar to me as it lies on the route of frequent walks from the village, especially through lockdown. But walking those roads, and following all the ins and outs, made me see them in a totally different light; not as houses with gardens, but as homes with people. ” “ Walking round the streets praying, made me feel an inner peace that what I was doing was good and perhaps the homes in the streets that I was walking would feel an inner sense of God ’ s blessing on them and their family. ” “ With walking rather difficult these days I prayed from my own home for the residents of Greenway, some known personally and others passing by with dogs and children. Of course the school is nearby and I pray for the children and staff there. When I see those children leaping and running in their playing field behind my home it seems to give me new strength and hope for all our futures. Prayer is always a two way thing isn't it? And I thank God for this. ” “ After walking and praying for High Street, it was so peaceful to sit down on the bench by the telephone box and give thanks for the village services and shops in these difficult times. ” “ When I did not know a family I was praying for, I looked at their gardens to see what I might learn about them. So often an unpromising patch had been turned into a blo ss oming flow- erbed, a reflection that God also works with unpromising ma- terial and brings about amazing transformations in our lives. ” “ I prayed that the people of Buckden would chat with God as if an old friend, talking about their worries, fears and joys and asking and thanking Him for His help. ” “ We enjoyed our prayer walks, meeting a few people and chatting to them about what we were doing. Some asked ‘ Are you lost? ’ or ‘ Are you looking for something? ’ initiating conver- sation. A neighbour even came back and asked more about the prayer walk. ” These are reflections from the church leaders. From Fr Jim Ken- nedy “ It was uplifting and a renewal of my missionary spirit. God bless. ” From Jes Salt “ In conversations with folk, mainly on Hunts End Green, but also elsewhere, I found a genuine inter- est in what we were doing ”. From Pam Siddall “ Now I walk the streets in my imagination when not on foot, asking for help and comfort for every household. ” And this is just the beginning. “ Footsteps was such a joy and a privilege, to walk quietly in witness of God ’ s love for us, with our wish to make him known and loved, whilst at the same time loving our neighbours by praying for them - the greatest gift we can ever give. We can continue to walk and pray! ” The Footsteps Team, St Hugh ’ s, The Methodist and St Mary ’ s Church, November 2020