Rose Ayling-Ellis helped to bring sign language to our screens and our awareness. I am not very good with sign but I’m trying to learn and I would love us all to be able to sign Mary Sumner’s prayer for our 150th anniversary celebrations.
I am more than happy at meetings to teach the signs and what they mean in ‘modern’ words. Two branches have already tried it out. Meanwhile, here is the prayer, read slowly so you can watch the hand movements. To be authentic, you can switch the sound off and lip read. Have fun – giving it a go is more important than ‘perfection’. Anne M
Notes about the prayer in sign. The signs in the video clip are the nearest in meaning, rather than literal translation which can be confusing, especially with ‘old style’ or ‘poetic’ language. A deaf person may interpret the signs as follows: Today, God, may I meet many people for you; and every person I meet, by God’s spirit, be enlivened/motivated/inspired, because of the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the way I live. Amen
Another useful note: Sign may be used left-handed as well as right-handed. The ‘dominant’ hand leads the signs. Left-handed sign is a mirror images of right-handed sign.