Welcome to

Anglican Beads

Archbishop Harold Nutter, Diocese of Fredericton

As Christians we share a glorious variety of patterns of worship which have come to us from the Early Church Fathers and the Patriarchs and Saints of our individual tradition. While we rejoice in the variety of worship they also pose a real spiritual danger for us, if we allow them to become simply rites to be expected.

Ones Anglican liturgy can easily become a mindless repetition of the same words almost akin to a prayer wheel that spins out the words of prayer without an experience of living worship.

Prayer Beads serve to recall us to a living experience of the Christ and of the God who meets us person to person. What do I mean by this? Let's take the very important words that illustrate the wonder of meeting God. The first is meditation. Here is the challenge to approach God in quiet and silence and allow God to give us the message that comes from a verse, or passage of scripture. It takes time, patience, and the discipline to clear our minds of everything except God.

The other word is Contemplation, not identical to meditation, but similar to it. Again in quiet we look at God, at the Lord Jesus, at the saints, or at our acquaintances and really see that person after we have cleared our minds of all our fears, challenges or thoughts.

The story of an elderly lady who came daily to the Parish church and just sat for some time. The priest was curious enough to ask her why she did this every day and out of her growing fellowship with our Lord she gave this answer: "Why, sir, I just sit and look at Him and He looks at me, and I feel His love."

What more can we ask, or what could enliven our faith more than that - Contemplating - Looking deeply - at the Lord!

As you use these beads don't try to do them all with speed. Take one and use it to think quietly and deeply about the words suggested for the day or season. Then in the light of those thoughts, look deeply into the face of our Lord and feel His love.

If you can use all the beads or only one or two at a time, you will grow into a knowledge of the Lord God and of ourselves as His servants.

                                          Bishop Harold Nutter, 2008