"The author offers the reader the opportunity to find `the heart's true home'. It is obvious from the book's style that it is written by someone who has been on that voyage of discovery themselves, rather than by someone who has a dry academic interest in prayer. It is the burden of Richard Foster's life to show people that the genuine spiritual life is deeper, wider and taller than they could ever imagine, and to encourage them to `come on in' and discover it themselves.
The author never comes across as someone who knows it all. The book is full of descriptions of how he came to experience areas of prayer and he is honest enough to admit where is he is (at the time of writing), and the places that he has yet to explore himself. The effect of his style on me is that I find myself putting down the book, not to analyse what I have read, but to get on with praying myself.
There is no attempt to steer the reader in the direction of any particular church or form of Christianity. The author draws on the Bible and key figures from across all church boundaries and all ages over the last 2000 years who have explored the life of prayer - intimacy with God. Whether you are a new Christian, an old hand, or simply a seeker after truth this book will have something for you in it, as Richard Foster is an old hand himself, who is always keen to discover knew things about God's heart and is always open to fresh perspectives on the truth."
Rev Simon Tillotson says
"Without a doubt this is the best book on prayer that I have ever read. Prayer is also without doubt one of the most important and life-changing things we could ever do. It helps us immeasurably in our lives and learning how to pray better is always invaluable."
This course will take place at the Vicarage, Church Street, Whitstable, CT5 1PG on the following evenings.
We will listen to a reading of the book from the audio CD and then discuss the various issues. We do ask participants to purchase a copy of the book beforehand - if you need advice how to do this please email me at tillotsons@gmail.com
Please email me soon if you are interested in this course at tillotsons@gmail.com
Simon
ALL EVENINGS START AT 7.30pm and FINISH AT 9.15pm
WEEK 1 - Wednesday 15th October
Chapter 1 - Simple Prayer
Chapter 2 - The Prayer of the Forsaken
Chapter 3 -The Prayer of Examen
WEEK 2 - Wednesday 22nd October
Chapter 4 - The Prayer of Tears
Chapter 5 - The Prayer of Relinquishment
Chapter 6 - Formation Prayer
WEEK 3 - Wednesday 29th October
Chapter 7 - Covenant Prayer
Chapter 8 - The Prayer of Adoration
Chapter 9 - The Prayer of Rest
Wednesday 5th November - No Meeting
WEEK 4 - Wednesday 12th November
Chapter 10 - Sacramental Prayer
Chapter 11 - Unceasing Prayer
Chapter 12 - The Prayer of the Heart
Chapter 12 - The Prayer of the Heart
WEEK 5 - Wednesday 19th November
Chapter 13 - Meditative Prayer
Chapter 14 - Contemplative Prayer
Chapter 15 - Praying the Ordinary
WEEK 6 - Wednesday 26th November
Chapter 16 - Petitionary Prayer
Chapter 17 - Intercessory Prayer
Chapter 18 - Healing Prayer
WEEK 7 - Wednesday 3rd December
Chapter 19 - The Prayer of Suffering
Chapter 20 - Authoritative Prayer
Chapter 21 - Radical Prayer
