{"id":7887,"date":"2019-07-24T19:08:12","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T17:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=7887"},"modified":"2019-07-31T17:11:17","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T15:11:17","slug":"guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service<\/a> of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc<\/a>. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Colomba le Roc is run by Rev Joanne Evans-Boiten<\/strong> and her husband, Ian<\/strong>. Here Joanne shares some reflections on the word “embrace”.<\/p>\n

Joanne writes,<\/p>\n

A few years ago I was asked to do a talk about my experiences as a pilgrim on the way to Santiago. <\/p>\n

No talk nowadays is complete without plenty of pictures and so I chose some photographs taken on my journey. However, I missed a suitable illustration to express the welcome I had felt at times, particularly in moments of difficulty. So I looked on the web and googled \u201cwelcome, pilgrim\u201d.<\/p>\n

One photograph in particular stood out. It was of a man, arms wide open and a big smile on his face. The picture did not just say \u201cwelcome\u201d. It said \u201cWelcome. I am so glad you are here – I have been waiting for you.\u201d <\/p>\n

To me, that is what the word “embrace” is about in the first place: arms wide open as a sign of welcome. A welcome that is as non-judgmental, as loving, as that of the Father in the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32<\/a>)<\/p>\n

But these same arms are also cherishing arms that protect; arms like the wings of a mother hen who covers her chicks when they are in danger and who is willing to give her life so that they may live. <\/p>\n

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
\nAll people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.<\/em><\/p>\n

Psalm 36:7<\/a><\/div>\n

 
\n 
\nCeltic Christians used circling prayers as reminders of God\u2019s protecting embrace. This prayer by David Adam<\/strong> from his book, Tides and Seasons<\/em><\/a>, was written in that tradition:<\/p>\n

Dressing Prayer<\/h3>\n

This day I bind around me
\nThe power of the Sacred Three:
\nThe hand to hold,
\nThe heart to love,
\nThe eye to see,
\nThe Presence of the Trinity.<\/p>\n

I wrap around my mortal frame
\nThe power of the Creator\u2019s name:
\nThe Father\u2019s might, His holy arm,
\nTo shield this day and keep from harm<\/p>\n

I cover myself from above
\nWith the great Redeemer\u2019s love.
\nThe Son\u2019s bright light to shine upon me,
\nTo protect this day to eternity<\/p>\n

I pull around me with morning light
\nThe knowledge of the Spirit\u2019s sight.
\nThe Strengthener\u2019s eye to keep guard,
\nCovering my path when it is hard.<\/p>\n

This day I bind around me
\nThe power of the Sacred Three<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

by David Adam, from Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition<\/a>, p. 11<\/p>\n

 
\nMay God\u2019s embrace empower us too to welcome and protect those who need it most.
\n <\/p>\n\n

 
\nFrom the blog<\/strong>
\nCircle me, Lord<\/a>
\nIn the school of prayer with the Celtic Saints<\/a>
\nUp to us<\/a>
\nWelcome ~ embrace<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)   On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, … Continue reading “Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,45,3],"tags":[164,171,47,169,170],"class_list":["post-7887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-guest-post","category-prayer","tag-embrace","tag-joanne-evans-boiten","tag-morning-prayer","tag-pilgrim","tag-pilgrimage"],"yoast_head":"\nGuest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Prayer matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d7cfb57015760090abcefb20ec632d96\"},\"headline\":\"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":514,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Embrace\",\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\",\"morning prayer\",\"pilgrim\",\"pilgrimage\"],\"articleSection\":[\"bible\",\"guest post\",\"prayer\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/\",\"name\":\"Guest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00\",\"description\":\"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg?fit=800%2C1067&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg?fit=800%2C1067&ssl=1\",\"width\":800,\"height\":1067},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/24\\\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/\",\"name\":\"Prayer matters\",\"description\":\"International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\",\"name\":\"Irene Bom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Irene Bom\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d7cfb57015760090abcefb20ec632d96\",\"name\":\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Joanne Evans-Boiten\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters","description":"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters","og_description":"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","og_site_name":"Prayer matters","article_published_time":"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/"},"author":{"name":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/d7cfb57015760090abcefb20ec632d96"},"headline":"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’","datePublished":"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00","dateModified":"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/"},"wordCount":514,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg","keywords":["Embrace","Joanne Evans-Boiten","morning prayer","pilgrim","pilgrimage"],"articleSection":["bible","guest post","prayer"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","name":"Guest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - Prayer matters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg","datePublished":"2019-07-24T17:08:12+00:00","dateModified":"2019-07-31T15:11:17+00:00","description":"Joanne Evans-Boiten of Colomba le Roc, a Christian retreat in France, shares her reflections on the word, 'embrace', and a prayer by David Adam.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg?fit=800%2C1067&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/to_love_and_to_cherish_ian_evans_big.jpg?fit=800%2C1067&ssl=1","width":800,"height":1067},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/","name":"Prayer matters","description":"International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4","name":"Irene Bom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Irene Bom"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/d7cfb57015760090abcefb20ec632d96","name":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b62c46cdb4d90725c8f96cc85720a123fe958144b73e8687f9fa49711be79099?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Joanne Evans-Boiten"}}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8u2Du-23d","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7642,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/06\/13\/proclaim-the-wondrous\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":0},"title":"Proclaim the wondrous","author":"Irene Bom","date":"June 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Garden at Colomba Le Roc Retreat, France \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 But you are a chosen people, set aside to be \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God\u2019s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "benediction"","block_context":{"text":"benediction","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/benediction\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16341,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/05\/26\/on-my-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":1},"title":"On my mind","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Philip Roth: \"make the daily connections\" \u00a0(Artwork: Irene Bom) \u00a0 \u00a0 UPON RANDOMLY THINKING OF ANOTHER PERSON God, as I hold ____________ a moment in my thoughts, I ask that you would hold them eternally in yours, remaining ever at work in their heart and life, even now directing their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12918,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/05\/01\/in-the-school-of-prayer-with-terry-hinks\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":2},"title":"In the school of prayer with Terry Hinks","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Here are some extracts on the topic of prayer by Terry Hinks from his introduction to Luke's Gospel in God's Embrace: Praying with Luke. \u00a0 \u00a0 I've also included the prayer inspired by his reflections on the disciples' request in Luke 11:1, 'Lord, teach us to pray'. \u00a0 I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7875,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/16\/welcome-embrace\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":3},"title":"Welcome ~ embrace","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 The Welcoming Prayer Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me in this moment, because I know it is for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for security. I let go of my desire for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8221,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/09\/24\/on-pilgrimage\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":4},"title":"On pilgrimage","author":"Irene Bom","date":"September 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"From my book shelf \u00a0...\u00a0 links included below \u00a0 \u00a0 Quotable quotes and a prayer from the To be a pilgrim workshop I led in Geneva recently. \u00a0 People of all faiths seem to recognize pilgrimage as an essential spiritual practice. In researching WHY this should be the case, there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "event"","block_context":{"text":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/event\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1187,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/06\/21\/guest-post-1-fire-reflections\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":5},"title":"Guest post #1 : Fire reflections","author":"Stewart Lamont","date":"June 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Wildfires have been raging for days in central Portugal, 90 miles (150km) north of Lisbon, with devastating effect. \u00a0 Reflections and a prayer from Stewart Lamont who is currently serving as locum in our sister church, St Andrews Lisbon. \u00a0 Reflections 20 June 2017 Most of us shuddered with horror\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "guest post"","block_context":{"text":"guest post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/guest-post\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/joanne-evans-boiten\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/\" rel=\"category tag\">bible<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/guest-post\/\" rel=\"category tag\">guest post<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)   On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7887\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}