Wednesday 31st May - And then there were three..!


Hello again from a beautiful sunny evening in Luton. We've carried the cross 19.6 miles today from Milton Keynes and what a day it's been!

After another night spent with amazing local Christians, we joined for worship in the chapel at Milton Keynes Hospital. We were then accompanied back towards the canal by Philip, the hospital chaplain, and a Buddhist lady in traditional dress.

Several miles of brisk walking along the towpath and we pealed off from the canal to climb up to the beautiful church of Great Brickhill. Flagging energy was restored by mobile refreshments from 'The Man in the van', enabling us to press on through picturesque woodland to the large village of Heath and Reach.

Tea and biscuits were gratefully received from two members of the local congregation, before we once more hit the road. With Fred having sensibly decided to keep and eye on Dave in the van, Isobel and I stepped out with the cross and were glad of the refreshing breeze to keep us cool. After several miles of road, a field of highly inquisitive cows, and yet more aggressive vegetation, we descended into the village of Stanbridge; happy to spot the lunch-giving van parked by the church.

We flopped onto a bench while Fred lay snoozing on the grass nearby, unaware of  an impeding danger... He suddenly realised though that his world had gone dark, the result of a lady reversing right over his head! He shot up like a rocket and escaped to safety; the lady meanwhile nonchalantly parking the car and proceeding to take her kids to the nearby park with the engine still running! Resisting the urge to run off with the car, Dave kindly informed her of this and we all tucked in to our sandwiches.

Soon we were off again and after hobbling the first half mile, got into a good stride along a cycle path towards Luton. Shortly before reaching Dunstable, whilst toiling up a long slope when a group of young lads assailed us! Calling out for us to slow down they ran to catch up with their 'Christian brother' and were keen to find out what we were up to. They stayed chatting with us for over a mile before taking a different road to us as we marched on through Dunstable town center.

Meeting up once more with the Man in the Van, we had a brief rest at the beautiful Priory Church before starting the final 2 miles to the hospital. At this point the sun burst out in full force and it felt as though our gravel path was crossing the Sahara. Finally the hospital came into view and we were very glad to see Varkey, the hospital chaplain waiting outside for us!

The chapel, though on the second floor, was a mercifully short walk, and had recently been refurbished with a beautiful finish. Even more beautiful was the group that gathered to worship with us, a group of Christians from both the hospital and a number of local churches. We were so blessed to take part in a deeply spirit-led service, including uplifting songs accompanied wonderfully by a nurse and her family.

Retiring to various host homes, Isobel and I have just enjoyed a delicious meal before I sat down outside to write this blog. I soon had to escape indoors though as a huge dark cloud spiraling into the center is now passing overhead with the rain now setting in.

Thank you again to you all. Love from all the pilgrims!

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Here are a few pictures from yesterday... forgive their delay!

Setting off from St Andrew's Northampton

The chapel at Milton Keynes

Tuesday 30th May - Many feet make light walking!

Greetings one and all! Today's update from Milton Keynes is written by Isobel and Matt, with Becky having earned a well earned rest!

After generous hospitality from two families in Northampton, we met in St Andrew's hospital at 8am. St Andrew's is a specialist mental health hospital run by a charity which works with the NHS to receive patients from across the whole country. The building and grounds are beautiful and include a grand old chapel where we met for morning prayers. Our short service included learning a catchy new song and 'Guide me oh thou great redeemer' belted out on the organ!

Soon we were ready for the off and began weaving south across the River Nene. It has been a great pleasure today to be joined by so many new pilgrims, our numbers doubled as we left Northampton behind. Dave has also been very grateful for the opportunity of a much-needed day off, with Hope Price ably providing 'mobile support' - her husband Geoff walking the whole 20.6 miles with us to Milton Keynes.

We paused several miles into our day to pray over a small church at Preston Deanery, where they are holding an outdoor Pentecost service tomorrow. After battling with several overgrown and sodden fields of oil seed rape (again!!!), we received a warm welcome at St James's Piddington. Several miles of good paths through the beautiful Salcey Forest, soon brought us over the M1 to the striking church of St James the Great in Hanslope for eagerly anticipated prayers..... and lunch.

Dave arrived at this point to whisk Gay off to a conference with the Oversees Missionary Fellowship over the next two days nearby. Unfortunately he also had to take Fred with him to A&E to get his feet treated (after several days of sore toes). Our numbers however were boosted, with several new additions to our band as we set off south across the fields. Geoff Price was the man of the hour as he slashed his way through several nettle beds to lead us safely south unscathed.

By four O'clock we had reached Great Linford on the north side of Milton Keynes, where we were greeted by an applause from a veritable crowd who had turned out to walk with us the rest of the way! Boosted by tea and cakes we set off along the Grand Union Canal once more, winding our way in a green corridor that ran between the many housing estates of the fast-growing town.

The canal brought us to within a stone's throw from the hospital, with several more ladies joining us in silent pray for the last 15 minutes. Guided once more by local experts we wove through the vast corridors to reach a packed and expectant chapel. Several minutes later the support team arrived with booklets and the St Mary's music group led us with inspiring worship. The service was lead by hospital chaplain Philip Wynn, with input from hospital staff, the pilgrims and from the Bishop of Buckingham. Geoff shone through again as he stepped up to lead the anointing and prayer ministry.

He and Hope will return to Banbury with Becky to give her two nights of rest and recovery as she has been unable to sleep well over the last 5 days.

After collecting a much-recovered Fred, the rest of the team jumped on board the van for the short drive to Christ the Vine church. A magnificent feast awaited us and we were warmly welcomed by local Christians. We then departed to our respective hosts for the night and look forward to continuing the journey tomorrow....!

Thank you to everyone who has joined us today and made the long walk such a pleasure. Thanks also to all who have been praying, we really feel God's presence and blessing upon us and couldn't do it without him.

Watch this space for pictures and tomorrow's travels.

where we go the cross comes too

lunchtime in the van 

Becky

Fred and Gay with Barbara our lovely hostess

Matt patiently waits for someone to catch up!

Hello everybody. Thank you for your wonderful prayer support which we are rejoicing in at the tired and of day 5. Actually I shall come clean and tell you this is Revd Gay Pay on behalf of Becky. We hope she has gone to bed and may even be asleep. We are three and three tonight here in Northampton.   Today has been long and at times wet as we have waded  deep through fields and got wet feet more than you'd like to know!  White vanman Dave has darted in and out of the route with sustenance and shelter when it was raining at lunchtime.  22 miles of just keeping going along the canals and roads. There has been a lot of laughter. Seems to me the jokes got cornier as we got tireder. Matt continues to unerringly guide us and bear patiently with the inevitable "Are we nearly there?"  We had morning coffee at the church where Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up parliament. It has the rather challenging dedication to the "BVM Mary and Saint Leodegadarius" . Not far from the hospital we met a wonderful woman called Mary who was waiting for us at a  church along the way with biscuits! She then guided us into the very vast Northampton Hospital.  We were already soaked to the skin so were hugely grateful to be led through the hospital rather than round it.  Becky thinks she was an angel.  We were met on a bridge on the way in by two local street pastors and there was a small but precious group of us that gathered in the hospital chapel to worship led by chaplain George. Grateful thanks to our  hosts Jo and Cathy for a super meal and beds and now here with Nicky and Stuart. Can't wait to do to bed! God bless and good night.

Sunday 28th: 'The best-layed plans of mice and men.'

Or... more biblically:
     "In his heart a man plans his course,                             
      but the Lord determines his steps."
                                                     Proverbs 16 v.9

                                                                                           

Anointing and Praying for staff in Morning Prayer; Coventry.

Today we had a Sabbath rest and started with worship in the chapel of Coventry's vast Walsgrave hospital at 9am. In our wisdom we had planned to anoint and minister to staff during the evening worships and lead a brief morning prayer for walkers before we set out each day... but each time we have stopped; the Lord has brought NHS workers to us.. so we are following his lead now! As well as staff there was a young, distressed Romanian lady whose husband had been crushed by a falling concrete block on a building site and had lost limbs. She turned up in the chapel just as we were doing the unplanned prayer-ministry. Please pray for Anne-Marie and her husband. We set-off moved to tears of compassion and wonder at who God is bringing to us. This had made us behind-schedule. The 5 1/2 mile walk across farmland to the beautiful village of Brinklow brought us to the beautiful medieval church of St John the Baptist, Brinklow, where they were expecting us to join their 10.30am Communion Service. It was now 11.35am and as we came in the last 2 people were leaving the Communion rail and we were invited up to receive. The vicar Jonathan commented to Dave afterwards that mysteriously his carefully-timed sermon had taken him longer to deliver than when he rehearsed it yesterday..... strange that??  After the service, drinking coffee, eating cake and chatting we discovered that 3 of the 16 congregation worked for the NHS; a receptionist, a pharmacist and a Pedietrist. Out came the anointing oil... and we did prayer ministry with this little group in the chancel whilst others of us were praying with John, a Lay-reader with joint pain and Joyce in a wheelchair who has given up hope of ever walking again as circulation in her feet has failed and both feet gone black and were bandaged.... this is such a privilege. Please pray with us for Joyce and John to receive healing and hope.  We had a special 30-minute picnic sat in glorious sunshine round a bench at Brinklow Castle, (sorry we were enjoying the banter far too much to take pictures of that!!)
Most of the afternoon's walk was along the canal . This is proving to be a much better place for conversations than the busy cities, because people's pace of living has slowed and they are open to engage. The 'punters' come to us.... as soon as we reached the towpath, a lady hopped off a barge to tie-up and turned out to be a Radiologist at St Mary's, Paddington and Charing Cross hospitals. I have learnt to carry the Prayer books and anointing-oil in a small satchel over my shoulder!!  After a pleasant walk we reached the Barley Mow pub where our loyal support vehicle was awaiting us. The driver had decided that pub ministry was more up his street and was having an amazing conversation with the owner who was so supportive of what we are doing and so grateful for the NHS. Much refreshed by our beverages we walked the last 3 miles into Rugby, over the railway line (below) where we were re-united with Isobel for the final silent mile to the hospital walking behind the banner.

Crossing the railway at Rugby

Time of prayer during the service at Rugby Hospital chapel

They had opened the double doors (never used) at the back of chapel to let us in and as we gathered to worship with four others, the wind blew in; the Wind of the Spirit into the NHS, I prayed and we smiled. It was a very different service. Beatrice was the only local Church member to attend, along with one of our hosts - Barbara (also a volunteer chaplaincy visitor at the hospital). Unsurprisingly Beatrice turned out to be a willing pianist, as Paul Holmes (the chaplain) hadn't found one! Paul read the scripture and asked Judith, a matron in the hospital to tell us about St Cross hospital. She did this in a very gifted way which helped us understand and see the benefits of the new 'hub and spoke' structure of the NHS. She acknowledged the pain and bereavement for the smaller hospitals losing specialist services, but spoke of the benefits of being a smaller local hospital focusing on recovery, dialysis and orthopedic surgery for the area. She felt there was now a real unity and sense of family among staff; caring for each-other to enable care of patients. Gave us lots to reflect upon through the lens of Stafford's experience. If only Stafford could lose its blame and shame... there is new hope and purpose!   The ministry time was not really right after this sort of talk.....

"In his heart a man plans his course,                             
      but the Lord determines his steps."

Too tired to tell you about how God provided for accommodation - an amazing story for another time, but I will leave you with a few pictures and just explain that (having showered at Barbara's) we are being fed in Rugby Methodist Church Centre (RMCC) where 4 of us are sleeping on the beds and bedding provided by the night shelter. Outside are three homeless guys who live in old cars or the bike shed on the Carpark. We have had free-run of the whole building and Matt has had 3 piano's to play... and has played each one (which has helped my nerves fighting with technology in the Church Office!!
I will close with the RMCC daily prayer:
     "Lord Jesus, we thank you for all we have at RMCC and pray that you will guide us through
     your Holy Spirit so that we can see what you want us to do to increase our love for 
     one another  and be able to spread your gospel to those who use our building, 
     live in our town and share our lives."

The wonderful spread provided at Rugby Methodist Church

Saturday 27th May: The Adventurous Four and the hidden people.

Much refreshed from our 'pampering' and relieved by the overcast sky, we regathered at the URC church and said goodbye to our hosts. David had returned to lead us in morning worship and we were joined unexpectedly by 3 NHS staff including a GP from Northfields who we were able to pray with. Anxious to try to keep to timetable, the much-depleted band of four set our best feet forwards. We were soon walking through gloriously wet grass; cooling our still hot and itchy feet. The morning was through some stunningly beautiful countryside, through the villages of Barston and Berkswell to Eastern Green. At each village church we were welcomed by a couple of people with refreshments, chatted briefly, prayed and journeyed on. With only 4 of us; each had a good turn at carrying the cross and Gay seemed to gain winged feet when she was cross-bearer! We had good chats with dog-walkers and several folk wanted photos of us... the scallop shells are good conversation starters.

Great home-made cookies outside Barston Church Centre. 

The cross before me, the world behind me... no turning back, no turning back.

By contrast the afternoon was right a-cross the city of Coventry. It's interesting walking through a busy city-centre carrying a five-foot cross fluttering with blue ribbons; how many people manage to pretend they haven't seen you, (mobiles are an excellent distraction). The conversations we had were with children, young lads who moved out of our way on the towpath, two immigrants and a young gay chap who was marking the first anniversary of his mother's death, asked us to pray for him and then called for God's protection and provision over Gay and I on our journey... we were both moved to tears.

Footsore, but ON TIME!! and joined by 5 others, we walked the last half mile to the vast University Hospital in silence. A lady  standing at the bus-stop saw the banner, smiled and put thumbs up. On the way to the chapel I was able to slip Prayer books into the hands of two cleaners and a ward orderly.. the' hidden people' of the NHS.  Kirsteen, the Baptist chaplain, welcomed us and... once most of us sat... we found we couldn't stand! She reflected on Luke 8:40-56, the woman with the haemorrhage who Jesus identified from among the crowd. In her closing prayer she spoke of the Jesus who makes 'hidden people visible'. God had certainly lead us to some hidden people along our way. May they feel his touch and power go out to them.

Three of the adventurous four! (Matt took the photo!)

We had just found our route blocked by a fallen fir tree. Matt suggested we retrace our steps to the last road, but the explorers pushed through on their hands and knees, pushing and passing the cross under the vegetation. Scratched and laughing, we emerge into the sunlight again!

'Yea... though I travel through the valley of the shadow...

Day 1 : We will go out with joy!

Day 1 (excuse the mixed sizes... too tired to fiddle!)

 Being 'sent out with joy'!!  Thanks to John, Bishop Geoff and all of you who came.



Bishop Geoff 'scalps' (oops) 'scallops' pilgrims.

Fred and Howard setting off.

It's like herding sheep!

3 nurses from Cannock hospital receive prayer books

Friday 26th May: 'Doing the Jesus Thing!'

The children's exclamation when they saw us yesterday carrying the cross along the canal towpath has stayed with us: "They are doing the Jesus' thing!" Is that what happens when we come out of our church buildings??

I woke at 5-ish and saw the clear sky and lay anticipating the heat, wondering of all your ardent prayers for fine weather have been abundantly answered?  Our host was up and about early, bringing round cups of tea and chivying us into action. As we gathered round the table for breakfast, she gave us all cockle shells soaked in saltwater,  a practice for travellers in the Iona Community and sang over us the Closing verse of a hymn in our worship booklets:
     "Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets:
     Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.
     Listen Lord Jesus, let my fears be few:
     Walk one step before me: I will follow you."

We re-gathered at Walsall's Manor hospital, dedicated to Sister Dora. The chapel there is a real haven of peace and the chaplain, Alison - as last night - had prepared prayer cards for each pilgrim. Bishop Clive joined us and reflected upon Psalm 23 and it's themes of care for the sheep (v.2-3), safety in travel through difficult places (v.4) and God's hospitality(v.5). All of which seemed to take on a fresh relevance to us pilgrims. ALison accompanied us for the first mile from the hospital and Bishop Clive to the edge of the Diocese: now we are truly 'entering foreign territory'. Initially the way was pleasant and 'beside still waters' and we had two fresh pilgrims join us and later on another family. We arrived at Birmingham City Hospital hot and weary.... to find about 8-10 hospital staff gathered in the chapel, along with two familiar faces; David and Marianne Jones from Stafford; such a joy and encouragement. The chaplains lead a beautiful service and we anointed and prayed for all the staff, then prayed over the box of prayer booklets we left at the hospital. By the time we had said goodbye to the staff, we had just 20 minutes to eat the wonderful spread the chaplains had provided for us. By now the jokes and rapport are passing round the group as we encourage one another. We were dispatched with the remains of the meal in Tupperware boxes!

The route ahead took us straight through the heart of Birmingham City Centre, carrying the cross passed armed police patrolling the shopping centre. It was rather surreal and poignant. Despite the punishing schedule, we were unable to walk passed three homeless people and stopped to talk and pray with them. We therefore arrived late to Moorfield Station, where we were joined by Jane, a respiratory consultant from Birmingham Children's hospital who had found out about the walk last week and accompanied us all the way to Solihull, taking her turn carrying the cross.
Halfway through the afternoon the heat and monotony of the canal towpath was telling on our feet. Fred and Gay had very sensibly taken shifts in the support vehicle with Dave, and Gay went ahead to the hospital to meet Ann; the volunteer chaplain who has bravely co-ordinated everything here. We managed to arrive at the hospital main entrance at 5.55pm for a service at 6pm. Cups of juice and water awaited us on a table in the foyer! The chapel at Solihull is 'cosy' and we just about squeezed into it. Our service was lead by David, an Independent Methodist Bishop (I'm learning new things) and was just very intimate and special. There was a real sense of God's presence as we anointed and prayed for the few staff (including Jane) and the volunteer chaplains who were there. Then everyone held hands in a circle to bless us: very needful as (once we had sat down) we were struggling to stand up again!

Barry and Elaine had laid up a wonderful table for us (Psalm 23:5), complete with napkins, flowers, wine and water glasses... and we feasted like Kings in the hall of the URC church adjacent to the hospital carpark. At 8pm our hosts arrived to drive us to their homes for the night; each knew who they were collecting. As I type this, Matthew is relaxing in a VERY long bath... and I am sat on my bed by an open window, enjoying the cool evening air and birdsong. Thank you, John and Sheila for your hospitality... you have really blessed us.  My turn in the bath now!

Next post will be a photo- gallery..... just haven't got ourselves organised yet!
Thanks to all of you who are praying... more prayers for the feet... and slightly less for the heat!

Thursday 25th May: London here we come!

We gathered bright and early on County Hospital field... and it was brightly bathed in hot Spring sunshine.... and early at 8 a.m. John Marshall and Bishop Geoff led us in worship and reflected on Psalm 8. After the service one of the hospital staff came over to thank us and wish us well which meant so much. As we reached the canal it was already still and hot. Climbing up to the Chase at Brocton I stopped to talk with a local couple who wanted us to explain the scallop shells.
We were wearing them because they had been given to us at the service on the hospital field. When he knew what we were about he prayed for me and intimated that just as Pentecost had been a huge surprise to the disciples so he believed we too were going to be surprised by some sudden happening.
Laeter we met some children whose seemed to know that what we were doing was about Jesus and a little boy whose Dad works in the NHS. so I was able to give him a prayer booklet for his Dad.
Bishop Geoff walked with us to Cannock Hospital where we met Bishop Michael who walked with us to Walsall. We have enjoyed lovely hospitality along the route. the group were delighted with Matt's route choices as we walked through some truly beautiful countryside.
What a super welcome we had at the Manor Hospital in Walsall. The hospital and community were well represented in the chapel. Again we were made to realise show much pressure our precious hospitals are under.
We were not able to go into Cannock Hospital so we worshipped outside in the sun  but were delighted to have three senior nurses join us.
Today we walked with a merry bunch from Stafford but from tomorrow there will be the five in the core group heading for Birmingham  City Hospital then Solihull.
For tonight we have a wondrous place to lay our heads and we are so grateful to Karen and the church members who cooked a delicious and ample meal for us. We love you. Good night!

24th May 2017: The Eve of Departure

After a busy day finishing arrangements and packing, we gathered in our lady chapel at St John's where the hospital cross has rested since February 2015. After some time in quiet prayer, we said the Lord's Prayer together before walking up the road to the County hospital. The cross was carried by Gemma, a member of our church family, who is a midwife and works in Birmingham's Heartlands' hospital.
At 5.30pm we joined 20-30 people gathered in the Pilgrim chapel at County hospital. The sun was blazing through the stained glass window and down from the skylights, making for a very warm opening worship.
We were welcomed by Leo Varquez, chaplain at County, who spoke these words over the Walk:
     "We're praying here this evening with purpose, praying to God to fulfill what he has already begun. And praying for the Pilgrims as God is stiring them to take their prayers beyond the walls of our church buildings.
      As they put feet to their prayers, we pray that they may walk in godly vision as in the Old Testament when Joshua and Caleb walked throughout the Promised Land with a desire to see it as God saw it.
     God is already on the move, we're not praying here to get God started. He's already doing good things; and He has promised to do even better things, both great and small. Instead of holding off the worst, our praying can ask for God to bring on the best for our NHS."

We went home to our rest this evening with Leo's quote ringing in our hearts and thoughts:
    "When a human being works.... a human being works; 
      when a human being prays...God works."

Gemma carries the cross from St John's

Pilgrim Chapel at County Hospital

Counting Down to Departure

Today at Church young Nathaniel came running up and asked me if I was going to 'blog' the Walk, so here I am trying to master a new strand of IT as we count down to our departure!

The past week has been busy; trying to gather Prayer points from all the hospitals we will visit in order to post these on our website. Many of the Trusts had been affected by the Cyber-attack and there was a long delay in resuming e-mail communication, but all is now falling into place! Reflective jackets  have been delivered and we are waiting for the banners to arrive.

We have been so encouraged by people's prayers and generosity. Money has been steadily coming in to pay for the Prayer Booklets we have printed to distribute to NHS workers. Last week's concert raised a very biblical £777.77; which we all felt was God's sense of humor and a sign of his blessing.

So... what am I doing now?  Well, I have walked most days 5-10 miles in preparation, but I now feel it is time to rest, to eat and prepare in prayer. In John 4, we find Jesus resting at Jacob's well whilst his disciples go and find food. Like him, we need to work from a place of resting in God. The Hebrew day begins at sundown, when most humans are preparing to settle down for a night's sleep. This is a reminder that God is at work long before we join in. As a banner in the chapel of St Cross Hospital Rugby proclaims... he goes before us. How reassuring!