How’s this for a Dock Walk and a half… nearly 300 people turned up at Saul on St Patrick’s Day to take part in the pilgrimage walk to Downpatrick.  Organised chaos ensued as your trusty Chaplain, armed with the Dock Walk sound system (a rather trendy little Bose speaker  – which is rather more used to groups of 3, or maybe 30 at a pinch, than 300!) guided them along on a heart-stoppingly beautiful Spring morning, following in Patrick’s footsteps from the site of Ireland’s first religious community, to the historic old stone of Downpatrick Cathedral.

Along the way we stopped to share some prayers and moments of quiet, using some words from St Patrick’s Breastplate.  We used those words again on Sunday’s Dock Walk, our hearts filling with courage as we listened to this ancient prayer amidst the shining steel and glass of Titanic Belfast as the sun set behind the hills.  Maybe you’ll get a chance to use it again this week – whether out in the glories of creation, or stuck at your desk on a grey morning…

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.