2023 INFORMATION for PLACE OF PRAYER
599 New Boston Road Bedford NH 03110
www.placeofprayerbedfordnh.org
Facebook: Place of Prayer Bedford NH
email: placeofprayerbedfordnh@gmail.com
603-494-7020 phone, text, voice mail
Directions: from the east: Rt. 114 to light, turn onto New Boston Rd., 6 miles on right, after Sandford Engineering, after sign for New Boston, next dirt road/private drive: Boulder Drive.
Directions from the west: 101 to Horace Greeley Rd. on left. At the fork take left onto Chestnut Hill Rd., pass the Space Station and Klondike Corner, Boulder Dr. is on left. If you pass The Pulpit on the right, you need to turn around and go back. Watch for Sandford Engineering, and the Private Road of Boulder Drive.
Rev. Dr. Lori Wiley, Curator and Chaplain
Pastor Lloyd and Lori Wiley, Proprietors
Alternate phone/text: 603-860-1598
Alternate email: cdflloydandlori@gmail.com
What you can find here:
PEACE AND QUIET
SOLITUDE
A PRAYER GUIDE
PRAYER PARTNERSHIP
TOURS
EVENTS
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
SPONSORSHIP
INFORMATION
PRAYER GUIDE and SELF GUIDED
You may do a self-guided tour alone or with a friend, or with the pastor/chaplain, who serves as your Guide. Text or call 603-494-7020, (or email) if you would like a guided tour of the stations, or a walk-through together. You may select the stations you wish to see (see list at end), and let your Spiritual Guide/Chaplain know. Once you have done the walk through, feel free to go back to the stations that best meet your spiritual needs. (34)
SELF-GUIDED TOUR
You will find a map showing each of the areas and stations. Wander around at your own pace. Take your time. This is your time and place to be alone with God, and we respect that. In fact, that is what the Place of Prayer is all about.
GUIDED TOUR
From Pastors Lloyd and Lori: We love showing people around, telling the story of each station, and enjoying the Place of Prayer together with you. To ensure that we are available, call ahead of time, or on your way. (603-494-7020 or 603-860-1598) If you see one of us around the place, feel free to come over and ask for a tour or prayer time together. If you are coming as a group, please reserve and confirm the date and time in advance.
PRAYER PARTNERSHIPS, SUPPORT, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
While the Place of Prayer is designed for solitary prayer, Prayer Partners and Prayer Guides are available in person and over the phone (603-494-7020)
GROUP TOURS
Groups such as a family, or church, or a Bible study group, youth group, friends, couples, dates — reserve a date and time – all are welcome! Your group should plan on a half hour minimum for a tour, two-hour maximum. The Place of Prayer is available for a Retreat: spend the day, or a half day. Schedule a Silent Retreat!
CHILDREN AND PRAYER
Children love to pray! Many of the stations are child appropriate. The Helen Keller Sensory Garden and the Magic Miracle Glade are appropriate for ages 2 and up. The Secret Garden, the Memory Garden, the Pet Memorial Garden, and Children’s Prayer Path are appropriate for school-age children.
EVENTS
There are scheduled seasonal events throughout the year. Blessing of the Animals, Easter, Christmas, and other Holy Days; bonfires when snow is on the ground. Follow the Place of Prayer Bedford NH on Face Book for announcements of these events. Send an email to PlaceofPrayerBedfordNH@gmail.com to receive announcements of upcoming activities.
WORKSHOPS
A variety of workshops are scheduled around the topic of prayer: Prayer Walking, Praying in Color, Contemplative Prayer, Healing Prayer and Healing Herbs, Praying with Children etc. Follow on Face Book to see what is being scheduled.
SPONSORSHIP
Become a sponsor! Get your family or church or group to become Sponsors of the Place of Prayer! Volunteer in keeping the grounds and gardens raked and weeded. Pray for visitors. Bring decorations, or plants that would be appropriate. Pray and help financially as you see fit. This is a faith-based ministry.
Bedford Girl Scout Troops #60514 and #58226 sponsored the Helen Keller Sensory Garden for the Disabled, and The Secret Garden. The Bedford Lions Club and the Bedford Garden Club assisted with information for the Helen Keller Sensory Garden, which is handicap accessible, and Master Gardeners have served as advisors for the plant-based gardens. The Place of Prayer is community oriented.
COUNSELING, MEDIATION, RECONCILIATION
Pastors Lloyd and Lori are ordained ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the American Baptist Church VNH; Pastor Lori is recognized by the National Association of Congregational Churches, and the Presbyterian Church USA. They are trained and experienced marriage counselors. Pastor Lori is a certified mediator. We both have training and experience in Christian education, and child development as counselors and teachers, and are passionate about Biblical equality.
BIBLE MUSEUM
Seasonal displays and information are kept in the Bible Museum. Walking sticks, prayer chairs/kneelers, a sign in book, and other information can be found in the Museum.
PRAYER LIBRARY
Books to borrow regarding prayer and different ways to pray are in the Sun Room. There are also books about herbs as healers.
PLACE OF PRAYER AFTER DARK
The Place of Prayer is dimly lit for evening prayers. Flashlights are in the mailboxes. Please call ahead if you plan to come after dark.
SEASONS
Each season has its own joys. There are dozens of wildflowers, wild strawberries, wild blueberries for your viewing and eating pleasure. Come watch the birds, especially the waterfowl. Trees are beautiful in every season, especially the Fall, and blossoms in the Spring.
PLACE OF PRAYER IN THE WINTER
Some stations that are not plant-based will be open all winter, depending on the conditions of snow and ice. The Pond is open for ice skating and long walks on the frozen marshland. When iced over, it is a fantastic place to take a long Prayer walk!
PLACE OF PRAYER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
There are raincoats and umbrellas in the mailboxes. If there is thunder and/or lightning, please return to your car immediately.
The Sun Room is available when the weather prevents a scheduled event. Check first.
THE POND
The Pond is an unending source of viewing pleasure: water birds and animals, fish, lilies (pick some to take home!), marsh grasses, and more. A blue heron, ducks, and turtles on the log are a few of the many sights, and the peepers are deafening in the Spring. The paddle boat is available for your use. Please follow State law about having a life jacket with or on you. Pick the lilies! They are invasive. Maintained by Earl Sandford Engineering, the Pond is used for ice skating and walks in winter. Check with him to find out if it is safe.
NATURE
Come enjoy the Natural World God created and is sustaining! There are 120 birch trees, glorious in the fall, and beautiful in the summer. Collect acorns pine cones, rocks, and other artifacts of Nature! Go rocking. Use your app to identify wildflowers.
There are 20+ boulders (Boulder Drive) named for rocks mentioned in the Bible. The list is in the Bible Museum. Enjoy the many types of rock.
ANIMALS
DOGS WELCOME! WE LOVE ANIMALS! Bring yours! If your pet has died, you may bring a tribute to place in the Pet Memorial Garden. If your pet is very much alive, bring a token of blessing to the Pet Memorial Garden.
SPECIAL SERVICES
The Place of Prayer is available for private events such as a wedding, committal for the deceased or deceased pet, baptisms, and other important family or church events.
Re-use, Recycle, Restore, Re-purpose
We are committed to using local materials found on the property whenever possible. Go “rocking” to collect stones, acorns, pine cones, and hemlock cones. Anything found on the property is useful in some way. You may notice a small area near the Butterfly Garden where artifacts that came up through the earth are on display. Guess what they are and why they were found here!
STATIONS
BIBLE MUSEUM and PRAYER LIBRARY: All books are available to you. You may take a book and find a quiet place to read. If you wish to borrow the book, please sign it out. There are also free books available for you to keep and give to friends.
MAILBOXES have things you might need: a raincoat, umbrella, flashlight, and bug dope. There is a map of the area, 2 Biblical plant lists, and various things to enhance your self-guided tour.
HILL OF CROSSES: The idea comes from Lithuania where there is a Hill of Crosses, set up as civil disobedience to the atheistic Soviet/Communist invaders. You may wish to find some sticks and erect your own cross!
ANGEL: The angel reminds us that “there are angels hovering around” as God’s agents. The Bible says to treat strangers well because they may be angels!
CIRCLE OF PRAYER: Feel free to browse Mark Batterson’s book about persistent prayer. Never give up. A circle has no beginning or ending, and we can circle our visions or problems in prayer.
HELEN KELLER SENSORY GARDEN was designed for those in wheelchairs or whose sight and mobility are limited. Each table is used to explore at least one sense.
MEMORY GARDEN: This quiet place is for Reminiscence Therapy: remembering a loved one, an experience, or an event. You may light a candle or write about a memory for the Memory Jar. Jesus said, “Remember me.”
PET MEMORIAL GARDEN is a place to commemorate and honor pets and all animals. You may bring an artifact to place there in memory or honor of your pet. We will celebrate a service for the Blessing of the Animals.
MAGIC MIRACLE GLADE is for celebrating God’s miracles. Surprises like Springtime, the first snow, clouds, flowers – this Glade is a place to laugh and enjoy God’s magic miracles.
THE SECRET GARDEN, based on the book by that title, is a sanctuary for enjoying shade flowers and meeting Jesus “in the garden.” This garden was designed by a Bedford Girl Scout Troop in 2021.
THE POND: You may take the paddle boat out, and collect water lilies. Enjoy the water and water life.
BUTTERFLY GARDENS: These are re-seeded annuals that take care of themselves, providing food for butterflies and bees.
PRAYER PATH: Fourteen stations to help expand your prayer life. It has been here since 2002, and was the original Place of Prayer.
BIBLICAL GARDEN: Each plant is named in the Bible. A story for each.
HEALING HERB GARDEN: A healing ministry that combines prayer, anointing, and use of natural plants that have healing properties. They may be used in a tea or salve.
PERENNIALS and NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIVES demonstrate God’s creative and sustaining plan for this earth. Natives grow without human intervention.
WATER GARDEN: Companion gardening of water and plants. The Pond is a natural water garden. There is a also a water garden near the Prayer Path.
VEGETABLE GARDEN inside fenced area, and FRUIT TREES (apple and pear), also RASPBERRY PATCH, Blueberries in Prayer Path area, and many wild strawberries scattered everywhere.
HOLY GROUND HEMLOCK GROVE: The soft ground under the hemlock trees is ideal for taking off your shoes and earthing. Connect with the earth, from which we came. Lie on the hammock and look up – you are in God’s cathedral! Cool off here in the summer.
PEACE PLANTS AND PRAYER PLANT: Pray for Peace within, peace with others, and World Peace.
PRAYER CHAIRS are for singing free style, and for meditating.
HAMMOCK: Lie down and look up. Meditate on this perspective.
PRAYER GARDEN: This was the second station set up, designed in 2003. A place to sit quietly and meditate.
PRAYER WALL: Designed to be like the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, where written prayers are stuffed in the cracks.
PATIO: A place to write, use your tablet, or visit.
PINE GROVE: Secluded from the rest of the Place of Prayer, it is a good place for reading, writing, making melody, or meditation.
CHILDREN’S PRAYER PATH begins at the Japanese Bridge and goes through the Secret Garden to the woods.
ROCK GARDEN is on the steep bank by Boulder Drive, showing Alpine plants and local rocks. Boulders have been named for rocks in the Bible.
PATIO in the West, and outdoor TABLE in the East, as well as benches for conversation and resting.
TRAILS and DIRT ROADSto the North. They are protected conservation areas, and are open to the public for walking.