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Radio Interview | Contents | Foreword | Acknowledgement & Notes | Order Form | Buy Now
Radio Interview on Premier Christian Radio
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A
Heart For Mission
The
Night The Poetry Caught Fire
And A Middleton New Year
Hold That Word
Before The
Diagnosis
Twelve Epiphanies
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
A Hill Of
Beans For Peace
Day One
Prayer Tank
Palms Of Jericho
God, Forsaken [A Meditation On Psalm 22]
Michaelmas
Blueprint In
The Sand
Paradox
How Was Your Day?
Iran Morning
From Galilee
To Here
Dear Colleague
Stay Close
To See More Clearly
Yellow
Hopton Wafers Churchyard
Taking The Oath
Extract from Foreword by Margaret Silf:
Christopher takes us to the place where the blueprint of God’s love and power is traced indelibly across the shifting sands of human history. He draws us more deeply into a reality where ‘the architect is the design, the river is the source and the light is the way’
He invites us, as we watch an aircraft soaring over London, beneath the dimming disc of a dawn moon, to allow that same moon to reflect back to us the very different conditions of life prevailing at the flight’s destination.
He brings the throb of the world’s affairs into the timeless stillness of a suburban church, where a sundial measures slowly the frantic passing moments of a deepening international crisis, held by a few, in silent prayer.
We find ourselves in a place beyond place where the unspoken can be embraced, the nearly-but-not-quite can be encountered, and the prayer that lodges somewhere between our heart and our lips can be recognised in an image that lies deeper than words.
Margaret Silf
May 2006
Margaret Silf is an ecumenical Christian author whose work includes the highly acclaimed ‘Landmarks, An Ignatian Journey’ [DLT], ‘The Miller’s Tale’[Avon Books] and ‘Sacred Spaces_Stations On A Celtic Way’[Lion].
A Heart For Mission: a hymn and prayer used in the Parish of St. James’, Kidbrooke from Lent to Trinity 2005
The Night The Poetry Caught Fire: published in ‘The Poetry Place’ featured in ‘The Sign’, the nationwide church magazine supplement [December2005]; and in ‘The Poetry Church’ Winter Collection 2003.
And A Middleton New
Year: Every one of these poems that describes an event or situation is
true. Every one that describes a spiritual experience or aspiration is
as accurate as possible.
Hold That Word: appeared in ‘Pilgrimages 2006’, an anthology
chosen from Christian poems published by ‘Feather Books’ in
the quarterly ‘The Poetry Church’ between1995 and 2005.
Before The Diagnosis: published in ‘Sounding Heaven And Earth’ [Canterbury Press 2004].
Lord, Teach Us To Pray: a hymn and prayer used at St. James’ during Lent 2006.
A Hill Of Beans For Peace: describes a service at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich on 9 February 2003 prior to the Second Gulf War.
Day One: written on 20 March 2003 at the outbreak of the Second Gulf War.
Prayer Tank: December 2001. Prayers for peace have continued regularly at St. James’ since ‘9/11’. Featured in ‘The Poetry Church’ Summer 2003.
God, Forsaken, A Meditation On Psalm 22: ‘The Poetry Church’ Spring 2006.
Michaelmas: written on 29 September 2005 during a ‘Poetry And Prayer’ Retreat at Rydal House held by The Creative Arts Retreat Movement. The author has recently become a poetry tutor at CARM.
Blueprint In The Sand: ‘Poetry Church’ Collection Summer 2004.
How Was Your Day? A morning and evening prayer, the starting point being the Ignatian Examen.
Iran Morning: Church Mission Society magazine ‘Yes’ 1975.
From Galilee To Here: ‘The Poetry Place’ 2005.
Dear Colleague: reflections on a Christian workplace. ‘The Poetry Church’ Collection Summer 2005
To See More Clearly: inspired by a Home Group involving stillness and meditation.
Yellow: written during a workshop held by the charity ‘Create’ for members and volunteers at The Deptford Churches Centre.
Hopton Wafers Churchyard: reflections written at my wife’s family church.
Taking The Oath: a prayer of re-dedication. ‘The Poetry Place’ 2005.
Audio Recordings by Dr. Elie-Paul Cohen
With gratitude to Rev. Kim Hitch and the congregation for unfailing support as the poems arrived and were shared [ www.stjames-se3.org.uk ]; heartfelt thanks to Margaret Silf for writing the Foreword; also to colleagues and friends at Bermondsey and Lansdowne Medical Mission for their interest and enthusiasm. Above all, my warmest appreciation to my wife and family for their love, patience, practical help and encouragement.
Dedication: To my wife, Paddy, whose prayer, ‘Give us, Lord, A Heart For Mission’ on 24 January 2005 inspired the title poem and named the subsequent Church Renewal Programme in Kidbrooke.
Cover photograph: St. James’ tower on an April evening, by the author.
Copyright Christopher Payne
Price £4.50
Profits from this publication will be gift-aided to St. James’,
Kidbrooke, towards provision of facilities for disabled people.
Front Cover: Title
‘A HEART FOR MISSION _Poems by Christopher Payne _
With a Foreword by Margaret Silf’.
Back Cover: Author
Profile: Christopher Payne retired from General Practice in 2004 after
24 years at the Bermondsey and Lansdowne Medical Mission. He and his wife,
Paddy, were previously with the Church Mission Society at the Christian
Hospital, Shiraz, until the Revolution ended their 7 years service as
Mission Partners in Iran.
They have four daughters and eight grand-children.
For more information visit www.christopherpaynepoetry.net