This October #WalkSeePray with others
Claire Walford
How to mark Anti-Slavery Day in your church or community...
On 18th October, many organisations will mark Anti-Slavery Day. It provides an annual opportunity to raise awareness of modern slavery in our communities and pray for victims and survivors.
To help galvanise our Clewer friends and supporters, we have launched our #WalkSeePray campaign. Our vision is that, across the UK in the lead up to Anti-Slavery Day, individuals and groups will embark on local community prayer walks.
During the WALK, we want people to SEE what is around them and PRAY for God to bless and protect that place from exploitation.
Why this campaign?
This is because we believe that in order to prevent modern slavery, we need more resilient communities, and to build more resilient communities we need to know them better and consider how best respond to need, both generally and specifically.
By walking with us this autumn, and paying attention to your neighbours, businesses, buildings and spaces, you can understand what might be normal or out-of-place, so if something doesn’t feel right, or something changes and you can be better equipped to act.
Join in
Have you considered taking part? Could you commit to a one-off prayer walk? Or even a daily or weekly prayer walk in the month of October?
As well as individual walks, we would love to see many churches taking the opportunity to organise a corporate prayer walk, culminating in a short reflective church service. Is this something you could coordinate?
Here are some steps to consider as you plan a corporate prayer walk and church service:
- Agree a time and date – could you organise the corporate walk to take place on Anti-Slavery Day on Sunday 18th October?
- Agree a starting place for the walk – choose a building, park or crossroads at the heart of your community
- Agree a route – make sure the walk is the right length for the group. (Anyone less able might want to trace the route on a map, use street view or even a pre-recorded video)
- Consider how you will guide your companions to #WalkSeePray – will you agree to stop at key points and pray? Will you walk in silence? Will someone read a Psalm or Bible verse at each stopping place? Will you have a focus for your prayers such as the young people in your community or the businesses? We have brainstormed five different approaches to prayer here.
- End the walk at your church building where people can gather for a short service of prayer and reflection – download our Anti-Slavery Day liturgy and prayers PDF for additional ideas
- Let us know your plans! We’d love to mention your walk or service in our October or November newsletter. Send us an email on info@clewer.org.uk
- Take a photo of your feet while you walk and email it to us on info@clewer.org.uk or post on socials, using the hashtag #WalkSeePray and tag us!
#WalkSeePray
