Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday Prayer: God is Not A Problem
God Is Not A Problem
Kilian McDonnell
("A problem is something which I meet, which I find complete before me." Gabriel Marcel, The Mystery of Being)
God is not a problem
I need to solve, not an
algebraic polynomial equation
I find complete before me,
with positive and negative numbers
I can add, subtract, multiply.
God is not a fortress
I can lay siege to and reduce.
God is not a confusion
I can place in order by my logic.
God's boundaries cannot be set,
like marking trees to fell.
God is the presence in which,
I live , where the line between
what is in me and what
before me is real, but only God
can draw it. God is the mystery
I meet on the street, but cannot
lay ahold of from the outside,
for God is my situation,
the condition I cannot stand
beyond, cannot view from a distance,
the presence I cannot make an object,
only enter on my knees.
McDonnell, Kilian. Swift, Lord, You Are Not. Saint John's University Press, Collegeville, MN. 2003. p. 92-93.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday Prayer: Epiphany 4B
Praise God, give thanks to God with your whole heart!
Great is God's mercy, justice, and faithfulness,
now, and, for ever.
Oh God, help us to be mindful of others that we may
tend to those who are hungry with food and
those who are thirsty may have water.
Use us, Oh God, to help build up the body
of Christ, to be nourishment and
a compassionate hand to those in need.
Holy Divine One, be with those tonight who weep,
those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit,
bring them comfort, as only you can.
Bring them your peace. Turn their despair
into a glimmer of hope, a hope for hope.
In your mercy, tend to those who weep.
God of justice, guide the leaders of this
and every land to the ways of compassion,
dignity of others, and just societies.
Instill in them courage and wisdom
strength to do the right thing
courage to face into the bitterness of greed
and turn their fear or apathy or selfishness
into kindness.
God, Holy One, lead us. Today and always
into the fullness of your desire, into
the depth of grace, into the strong arms
of your mercy. Teach us to be your people.
Teach us to follow you. Teach us to be your
hands, your heart, your love, your compassion,
your mercy, in all we say and do.
Amen.
Great is God's mercy, justice, and faithfulness,
now, and, for ever.
Oh God, help us to be mindful of others that we may
tend to those who are hungry with food and
those who are thirsty may have water.
Use us, Oh God, to help build up the body
of Christ, to be nourishment and
a compassionate hand to those in need.
Holy Divine One, be with those tonight who weep,
those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit,
bring them comfort, as only you can.
Bring them your peace. Turn their despair
into a glimmer of hope, a hope for hope.
In your mercy, tend to those who weep.
God of justice, guide the leaders of this
and every land to the ways of compassion,
dignity of others, and just societies.
Instill in them courage and wisdom
strength to do the right thing
courage to face into the bitterness of greed
and turn their fear or apathy or selfishness
into kindness.
God, Holy One, lead us. Today and always
into the fullness of your desire, into
the depth of grace, into the strong arms
of your mercy. Teach us to be your people.
Teach us to follow you. Teach us to be your
hands, your heart, your love, your compassion,
your mercy, in all we say and do.
Amen.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Know Myself
I thank you, Lord, for knowing me
better than I know myself,
and for letting me know myself
better than others know me.
Make me, I ask you then,
better than they suppose,
and forgive me for what they do not know.
attributed to Abu Bakr (573-634), father-in-law of the prophet Muhammad and first caliph.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
In Beauty May I Walk
In beauty may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
Beautifully will I possess again.
Beautifully birds . . .
Beautifully joyful birds
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.
With dew about my feet may I walk.
With beauty may I walk.
With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty below me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
A Navajo Indian Prayer of the Second Day of the Night Chant (anonymous)
Found here.Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday Prayer: Breaking Down
Breakdown
I was terrified I'd break down.
I did.
It didn't matter.
-Rosalind M. Baker
Thank you dear God,
that when I break down,
I land on you.
When I break up,
You hold my pieces.
When I am broken,
Worn out,
Confused,
Tired,
Bewildered,
Your presence surrounds me silently.
And we wait together in that silence,
for wholeness to begin growing.
Amen.
I was terrified I'd break down.
I did.
It didn't matter.
-Rosalind M. Baker
Thank you dear God,
that when I break down,
I land on you.
When I break up,
You hold my pieces.
When I am broken,
Worn out,
Confused,
Tired,
Bewildered,
Your presence surrounds me silently.
And we wait together in that silence,
for wholeness to begin growing.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday....
As I go through my to-do list,
I am sitting in my office listening to the pre-school children
singing with a guitar/music leader.
"Twinkle twinkle little star....
Here we go loopedy lou,
Here we go loopedy lie...
The itsy bitsy spider...
B-I-NGO!..."
This is Your voice singing to me this morning.
In the shrieks and melodies and the laughter and silly sounds
of children all around me.
Sing to me, dear One,
sing to my heart, my soul,
Fill me with Your Song
that I might sing it to your world,
with all that sings in creation.
Amen
I am sitting in my office listening to the pre-school children
singing with a guitar/music leader.
"Twinkle twinkle little star....
Here we go loopedy lou,
Here we go loopedy lie...
The itsy bitsy spider...
B-I-NGO!..."
This is Your voice singing to me this morning.
In the shrieks and melodies and the laughter and silly sounds
of children all around me.
Sing to me, dear One,
sing to my heart, my soul,
Fill me with Your Song
that I might sing it to your world,
with all that sings in creation.
Amen
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday Prayer
Cradling God, it is another week and I am tired. Even in times of rejoicing, the cycle of living creates wear and tear on my body... mind... soul. In your loving arms, rock me gently and set me down with grace into this week.
Nurturing God, the season of Epiphany goes on and I still long for yet more inspiration. You have set before me a marvelous creation full of plants, animals, and people that reflect your love. Spoon into my heart the food for which my spirit longs... the sustenance of my faith... your daily presence.
Restoring God, I believe your kin-dom is at hand. Forgive, I ask, my unbelief. Continue your work, still on-going, which brings the world ever closer to the possibility with which you have instilled it. Bring forth the kind of healing that only a Creator and Lover can bestow.
Merciful God, you have already lived this Monday many times. Be with me in my one experience of this day. Send your Spirit to guide me, follow me and lead. Help me to see and to believe that there is nothing this day holds that is without your touch.
Amen.
Nurturing God, the season of Epiphany goes on and I still long for yet more inspiration. You have set before me a marvelous creation full of plants, animals, and people that reflect your love. Spoon into my heart the food for which my spirit longs... the sustenance of my faith... your daily presence.
Restoring God, I believe your kin-dom is at hand. Forgive, I ask, my unbelief. Continue your work, still on-going, which brings the world ever closer to the possibility with which you have instilled it. Bring forth the kind of healing that only a Creator and Lover can bestow.
Merciful God, you have already lived this Monday many times. Be with me in my one experience of this day. Send your Spirit to guide me, follow me and lead. Help me to see and to believe that there is nothing this day holds that is without your touch.
Amen.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday Prayer: Epiphany 3B
In the still small voice of the rain,
in the wind of the sea, and the warmth of sun
in the deep of night and the heart of day
when we least anticipate it, God calls.
Surely God is always near, right here,
Or, over there.
Surely there are times we know not where.
But surely there are occasions when we turn
When we go regardless, and follow Jesus
Down the unsuspecting twisting road
When we walk with God
because
God walks with us.
In these moments, when we are certain we are lost
When God beckons us and then waits until we turn
To see, to feel, to know, to recognize
God with us.
When sorrow catches a glimpse of hope
When suffering is wrapped in mercy
When despair is held in grace and love
When God is God and there is peace
Peace in our hearts, for that moment
Let us pray.
in the wind of the sea, and the warmth of sun
in the deep of night and the heart of day
when we least anticipate it, God calls.
Surely God is always near, right here,
Or, over there.
Surely there are times we know not where.
But surely there are occasions when we turn
When we go regardless, and follow Jesus
Down the unsuspecting twisting road
When we walk with God
because
God walks with us.
In these moments, when we are certain we are lost
When God beckons us and then waits until we turn
To see, to feel, to know, to recognize
God with us.
When sorrow catches a glimpse of hope
When suffering is wrapped in mercy
When despair is held in grace and love
When God is God and there is peace
Peace in our hearts, for that moment
Let us pray.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Breathtaking Presence
With more awareness we may discover
that small gaps in our daily round
can be places of silence. These are the found times
or rather the moments in which we ourselves are found.
Mostly they come when we are waiting:
in the doctor's office, on the telephone,
in traffic jams and the checkout line.
In just those moments we have an opportunity
to turn our attention to our physical being,
to the rhythm of our breath,
to the texture and feel of things around us.
By noticing particulars we can also begin
to notice the space in which they are held. . .
the vastness that holds everything--
the great lap of silence.
These waiting moments in our daily round
can turn out to be treasures. We can allow them
to support us instead of distracting us
or blocking us.
Here in each day is a wealth of time
we can take advantage of. They are breath breaks.
If we learn to rest and renew in them
our lives will go from disconnection and haste
to breathtaking presence.
~~Gunilla Norris
that small gaps in our daily round
can be places of silence. These are the found times
or rather the moments in which we ourselves are found.
Mostly they come when we are waiting:
in the doctor's office, on the telephone,
in traffic jams and the checkout line.
In just those moments we have an opportunity
to turn our attention to our physical being,
to the rhythm of our breath,
to the texture and feel of things around us.
By noticing particulars we can also begin
to notice the space in which they are held. . .
the vastness that holds everything--
the great lap of silence.
These waiting moments in our daily round
can turn out to be treasures. We can allow them
to support us instead of distracting us
or blocking us.
Here in each day is a wealth of time
we can take advantage of. They are breath breaks.
If we learn to rest and renew in them
our lives will go from disconnection and haste
to breathtaking presence.
~~Gunilla Norris
Norris, Gunila. Inviting Silence: Universal Principles of Meditation. Blue Bridge: NY, 2004. 21-22.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday Prayer....
So, today...here is your Tuesday Meme....
1. Pray three gratitudes....
2. Ask for guidance for something that is niggling you
3. Pray for a frenemy (my least favorite, but hey, it's important)
4. Take a minute and just do Spirit breath prayers...breathe in and out.
5. Be silent.
6. Know that God is with you, every moment.
Love and blessings to you....
1. Pray three gratitudes....
2. Ask for guidance for something that is niggling you
3. Pray for a frenemy (my least favorite, but hey, it's important)
4. Take a minute and just do Spirit breath prayers...breathe in and out.
5. Be silent.
6. Know that God is with you, every moment.
Love and blessings to you....
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunday Prayer: Epiphany 2B
Holy God, may we hear your voice
In the stillness of night, in clatter of day
You call us, and we respond,
Here I am!
May we follow you and
May we love as you love.
Holy One, through trials and turbulence
Make us steady, your hands
Holding strong the fragile and weak
May we love as you love.
Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives
be food for the hungry, bread
clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word
May we love as you love.
God of justice, remove the barriers
Of our lives that keep us from
One another, barriers we construct
Based on skin color, religion, or gender
May we hear, and follow, graciously.
May we love as you love.
Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into grace and mercy,
And, following the example of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and all your Saints,
May we love as you love.
Amen
In the stillness of night, in clatter of day
You call us, and we respond,
Here I am!
May we follow you and
May we love as you love.
Holy One, through trials and turbulence
Make us steady, your hands
Holding strong the fragile and weak
May we love as you love.
Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives
be food for the hungry, bread
clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word
May we love as you love.
God of justice, remove the barriers
Of our lives that keep us from
One another, barriers we construct
Based on skin color, religion, or gender
May we hear, and follow, graciously.
May we love as you love.
Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into grace and mercy,
And, following the example of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and all your Saints,
May we love as you love.
Amen
Saturday, January 14, 2012
We Praise You
We praise You, Lord, that You searched for us in Your humility.
We praise You, Lord, that You kept us in Your mercy.
We praise You, Lord, that You adored us in Your humiliation.
We praise You, Lord, that You provided for us in Your generosity.
We praise You, Lord, that You watched over us with Your strength.
We praise You, Lord, that You made us good with Your goodness.
We praise You, Lord, that You taught us in Your intimacy.
We praise You, Lord, that You lifted us up in Your love.
Mechthild of Magdeburg, "The Flowing Light of the Godhead"
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Thursday Prayer
O, Begin!
Fix some part of every day for private exercises. . . .
Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily.
It is for your life; there is no other way:
else you will be trifler all your days. . . .
Do justice to your own soul;
give it time and means to grow.
Do not starve yourself any longer.
John Wesley
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Wednesday Prayer
The Sun Never Says
Even
after
all this time,
the sun never says to the earth,
"You owe me."
Look
what happens with a love like that--
it lights the whole
world.
-Hafiz
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Tuesday Prayer Meme
(actually, I am not sure what a meme is, but it sounds good....)
Take a couple of moments, and just breathe centering breaths....
And then,
1. Give thanks for something you are looking forward to....
2. Offer a prayer for a colleague whom you know needs prayer
3. Pray for yourself...
4. Pray for someone who really 'bugs' you (like a frenemy)
5. Pray for a place in the world for which you have concern...
6. Offer a blessing
7. Breathe a few more centering/cleansing breathes.....
8. Be silent
9. Listen
10. Be silent
11. Amen
Take a couple of moments, and just breathe centering breaths....
And then,
1. Give thanks for something you are looking forward to....
2. Offer a prayer for a colleague whom you know needs prayer
3. Pray for yourself...
4. Pray for someone who really 'bugs' you (like a frenemy)
5. Pray for a place in the world for which you have concern...
6. Offer a blessing
7. Breathe a few more centering/cleansing breathes.....
8. Be silent
9. Listen
10. Be silent
11. Amen
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday Prayer: Baptism of Jesus/Epiphany
Holy and Gracious God, speaking into our lives
The voice of the LORD is glory and strength,
The voice of the Lord is holy splendor, full of majesty,
May we hear, deeply, may You sound-through us
May we be your body, hands, feet, heart
Reaching out to others may we extend your love.
Creator God, stir us, we pray
For the voice of the Lord speaks into our lives.
May the LORD bless God’s people with peace
May the LORD give strength to God’s people!
That we may care for the broken,
Hungry, needy, sick, bereaved,
Creator God, whisper to us in the silence
For you, God, called the light Day,
and the darkness You called Night.
You named all creation.
Baptized by the Spirit,
May we quietly hear you and
Gently follow. Inbreaking God
Shout us out of our illusions.
God of mercy, lead our leaders
Nations, cities, houses of worship,
Houses of people, lead all with mercy
That we, all, may be merciful as you.
God of compassion, through your Holy Spirit
Forgive us, redeem us, restore us, teach us, fill us.
Incarnate God, divine and human
Body and spirit, us and you
Baptized in the Spirit,
Ascribe to us, your compassion,
That we may be your voice, your heart, your hands
This day and every day.
Amen.
The voice of the LORD is glory and strength,
The voice of the Lord is holy splendor, full of majesty,
May we hear, deeply, may You sound-through us
May we be your body, hands, feet, heart
Reaching out to others may we extend your love.
Creator God, stir us, we pray
For the voice of the Lord speaks into our lives.
May the LORD bless God’s people with peace
May the LORD give strength to God’s people!
That we may care for the broken,
Hungry, needy, sick, bereaved,
Creator God, whisper to us in the silence
For you, God, called the light Day,
and the darkness You called Night.
You named all creation.
Baptized by the Spirit,
May we quietly hear you and
Gently follow. Inbreaking God
Shout us out of our illusions.
God of mercy, lead our leaders
Nations, cities, houses of worship,
Houses of people, lead all with mercy
That we, all, may be merciful as you.
God of compassion, through your Holy Spirit
Forgive us, redeem us, restore us, teach us, fill us.
Incarnate God, divine and human
Body and spirit, us and you
Baptized in the Spirit,
Ascribe to us, your compassion,
That we may be your voice, your heart, your hands
This day and every day.
Amen.
Friday, January 6, 2012
A Thought on Preparing for Prayer
While I think there is a place (perhaps a big place) for prayers that are flung God-ward in haste born of need or emotion or...I found this thought provoking. What do you think?
From the Letters of Bishop Theophan the Recluse
Preparing For Prayer
All of us have this little sin hanging about us...we do not prepare for prayer. We take up prayer with flighty thoughts, willy-nilly, and rush to get it over with, as if it were an incidental, though unavoidable, bother—and not the center of our life, as it should be. Without preparation, how can there be a gathering of thought and feeling in prayer? Without preparation, prayer proceeds shakily instead of firmly. No, you must determine to deny yourself this little sin and under no circumstance allow yourself to come to prayer with your heart and mind unprepared, your thoughts and feelings scattered in a dozen directions. Such a careless attitude toward prayer is a crime... Consider prayer the central labor of your life and hold it in the center of your heart. Address it in its rightful role, not as a secondary function!
From the Letters of Bishop Theophan the Recluse
Preparing For Prayer
All of us have this little sin hanging about us...we do not prepare for prayer. We take up prayer with flighty thoughts, willy-nilly, and rush to get it over with, as if it were an incidental, though unavoidable, bother—and not the center of our life, as it should be. Without preparation, how can there be a gathering of thought and feeling in prayer? Without preparation, prayer proceeds shakily instead of firmly. No, you must determine to deny yourself this little sin and under no circumstance allow yourself to come to prayer with your heart and mind unprepared, your thoughts and feelings scattered in a dozen directions. Such a careless attitude toward prayer is a crime... Consider prayer the central labor of your life and hold it in the center of your heart. Address it in its rightful role, not as a secondary function!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Do not look back
Do not look back, my friend
no one knows how the world ever began.
Do not fear the future, nothing lasts forever.
If you dwell on the past or the future
you will miss the moment.
~~Rumi
no one knows how the world ever began.
Do not fear the future, nothing lasts forever.
If you dwell on the past or the future
you will miss the moment.
~~Rumi
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Wednesday Prayer
The Lesson
God is spirit,
and those who worship
Must worship in spirit and in truth. (Jn 4:24)
The Assurance
I am Present. (Ex 3:14)
From: A Prayer Book for the 21st Century by John McQuiston II
God is spirit,
and those who worship
Must worship in spirit and in truth. (Jn 4:24)
The Assurance
I am Present. (Ex 3:14)
From: A Prayer Book for the 21st Century by John McQuiston II
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
whew! a prayer for getting back into it.....
Dear God...
It's January.
The holidays are over--which were very nice, thank you.
Now I am facing the pile of stuff I didn't get to and need to get to, besides the new things on my list, which still needs to be made.
It's feeling a tad bit overwhelming.
So please...
in the chaos of the moment,
bring me back to
the still silent night,
the mystery of You.With.Us.
and remind me...
that everything will get done,
everything will be,
in it's own time.
Amen.
It's January.
The holidays are over--which were very nice, thank you.
Now I am facing the pile of stuff I didn't get to and need to get to, besides the new things on my list, which still needs to be made.
It's feeling a tad bit overwhelming.
So please...
in the chaos of the moment,
bring me back to
the still silent night,
the mystery of You.With.Us.
and remind me...
that everything will get done,
everything will be,
in it's own time.
Amen.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Sunday Prayer: Christmas I/Holy Name/New Years Day
Christmas I
Gracious God,
God of light,
God of life,
God of all that is
You come to us
in the darkness
of the night
and call us by name
Give us, we pray
the grace
to hear you -
the hope
to see you -
the love
needed
to mend
a broken world.
Help us
to be your
hands -
your
heart
your hope.
Be with us, we pray
with those
who suffer,
with those
who weep,
with those
dying
this night/day
and give us, we pray
your peace.
Amen.
Gracious God,
God of light,
God of life,
God of all that is
You come to us
in the darkness
of the night
and call us by name
Give us, we pray
the grace
to hear you -
the hope
to see you -
the love
needed
to mend
a broken world.
Help us
to be your
hands -
your
heart
your hope.
Be with us, we pray
with those
who suffer,
with those
who weep,
with those
dying
this night/day
and give us, we pray
your peace.
Amen.
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