PILGRIMS IN TIME
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO CELEBRATE THE
CENTENARY OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY DIOCESE


from the DISCOVERY CENTRE
 for 100 Days
linked with our theme of pilgrimage and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
(words from ‘Reflective Storytelling – the Pilgrim’s Progress’ )
PART 2 - Week 1 (Day 32 of 100)
Wednesday 11 June
BARNABAS
Looking forward to pilgrimage in Suffolk and encouraging others.
As we look forward to the summer ahead with holidays to enjoy and longer
daylight hours to explore our beautiful Suffolk countryside, we begin the next part of our
pilgrimage journey of prayer, remembering Barnabas, an important person in the foundation of
the early Church and the spread of the gospel. He is mentioned fairly often in the Acts of the
Apostles and in several of Paul's letters. Born in Cyprus, his original name was Joseph; the
apostles gave him the Hebrew name Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement," in
honour of his work in the Church (Acts 4:36). Barnabas heard the apostles' preaching very
soon after Pentecost.
Barnabas believed in the power of the gospel message to change people's hearts. He was the
one who persuaded the apostles and the church in Jerusalem that Paul had been converted
from a persecutor to an apostle (Acts 9:26-27). He travelled with Paul on a missionary journey
and later with Mark; he was a team player who recognised the value of working with others, a
collaborator in ministry.
Let us keep in mind the meaning of Barnabas’s name as we interact with others. Let us pray
that we are an encouragement (an act of Grace) to others we meet. Each of us can remember
many who had great impact on us because of their encouragement of us, so let us change
people’s hearts in what we do today and as we travel together over the coming weeks.
Hopeful tried to cheer up his friend and encouraged Christian to pray.
Thursday 12 June
The Word as Hope.
When Christian started his ‘progress’, he began with confidence and a sense of expectation as
he read God’s word in the Bible. He left behind the City of Destruction in the hope of finding his
way to the Celestial City. Like Christian, we can believe in the hope of God’s promise as we
travel the journey of life - that love and goodness have, and will ultimately overcome all evil. If
we are prepared to learn and trust in God’s word, he will be our guide: Guide me in your truth
and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long Psalm 25:5
Like the mustard seed which grows from something so tiny into a large tree, we can grow
God’s word, filling us with confidence, expectation and hope for the future.
Evangelist told Christian to keep his eyes fixed on the light ahead and follow the straight and narrow path. He told
him he would come to a Gate and someone would tell him what to do next. This was the start of the journey to the
Celestial City – the place of peace and light
Friday 13 June
Needing Courage on the way.
There is a saying – ‘to have the courage of your convictions’. As we might
explore different parts of Suffolk in the coming months, we will come across outstanding
church buildings at the heart of our town and rural communities. The people who built these
holy places expressed the courage of their convictions by creating sacred spaces in which to
share their faith, pray and worship God. In each place on our journey, as in each of these
churches, we too can be strong and courageous by saying the words which Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen
Christian was struggling in the Swamp of Despond, because of the huge burden on his back. A man named Help
appeared and pulled him out.
Saturday 14 June
Developing real Friendship.
As Christians, we believe that true friendship is wanting the best for the other person, even if you
lose out. It is about when Jesus came into the world so everyone could see the ‘forever friendship’
that God offers. It is a friendship that is greater than the power of revenge, hatred and death and
when Jesus rose from the dead, it was made available to anyone. In many Bible stories hatred is
turned into loveand enemies become friends. This is the good news that Christaians are called to
pass on to a broken world: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater
love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do
what I command. John 5:12-14
Hopeful had heard what Christian had said and done in Vanity Fair and had been so impressed that he had helped
Christian get away safely. So now, they continued on the road together.
Sunday 15 June
TRINITY SUNDAY
Being open to listen and learn.
On our journeys across Suffolk, we may come across some of our wonderful church buildings.
Let us pray today for all those who visit or worship at our Suffolk churches dedicated to the
Holy Trinity: Bungay- Holy Trinity with St. Mary & Barsham with Shipmeadow (Beccles &
South Elmham Deanery); Blythburgh (Halesworth Deanery); Ipswich Holy Trinity (Ipswich
Deanery); Middleton cum Fordley (Saxmundham Deanery); Stowupland (Stowmarket
Deanery); Boxted, Long Melford - Holy Trinity with St. Catherine (Sudbury Deanery).
Some concepts and ideas are difficult to understand and accept. The Trinity is one such truth
which many people find it difficult to understand – God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The idea of
being three-in-one is often explained to children using the image of an egg which has three parts
(shell, albumen and yolk) or water (coming in three forms – solid ice, a liquid or vapour). As
Christians, whether we read, pray or take action , we may do so with the help of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit as we come together and pray May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of
God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.
Christian knocked on the door. The Explainer came to the door. “What can I do for you?” asked Explainer. “Hello, my
name is Christian and I’m going on a journey to the Celestial City. I was told you could show me some things which
might help me on my way”, replied Christian. “Then come on in”, said the Explainer.
Monday 16 June
Showing respect for others.
As Christians we believe that prejudice of any kind goes against the will of God and is not
acceptable and throughout his life, Jesus reached out to those who were rejected and despised in
society. In his letter to the Christians in Galatia, Paul wrote: Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes
each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or Greek, a slave or a free person, a
man or a woman. Galatians 3:28
As Christians, we believe that every human bears the image of God. Let us pray for those we
know and for those we may have rejected remembering: The Lord told him…people judge others
by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7
Christian and Faithful have arrived at a town called Vanity….they wanted to walk through the town unnoticed but the
crowd spotted them right away. People laughed at them and teased them because they looked different.
Tuesday 17 June
Needing perseverance to carry on.
We are faced with difficulties and often have to make hard decisions in our lives – not knowing
which way to turn on the journey. We make mistakes and even get lost as we travel but we must
persevere when the going gets tough, knowing that Jesus goes before us. Often people in
difficulty will ask themselves ‘What did Jesus do?’ and through prayer and perseverance, an
answer is found (even if it is not the answer being sought) so ..let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us’ Hebrews 12:1
Christian, Mr. On-the-Surface and Mr. Pretender walked together until they reached the crossroads in front of Hill
Difficulty. Which road would they choose?