The contribution to the Lord Teach Us To Pray series today comes from Paula Mitchell. She is the founder and program director of Doorways Ministries providing days of prayer, Ignatian retreats, and a 9 month program based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as ways of deepening our lives with Christ. She is also the city coordinator for the Ignatian Spirituality Project, a Jesuit organization dedicated to offering spiritual retreats inspired by Ignatian Spirituality to people experiencing homelessness.
Free our Hearts
St. Ignatius of Loyola developed a way of prayer and reflection built on his own experience in seeking how to best serve God. Ignatius believed this method of paying attention to God, which had deepened his own desire to love, serve and follow Jesus, was intended to be shared with others. It was a way to seek and find God in all things in order to gain the freedom to will God’s will in all of life. His experiences of sharing God’s love and faith with all kinds of people grew into the book he called The Spiritual Exercises. These prayer exercises are an invitation to journey in the company of Jesus seeking the grace of deeper friendship and intimacy with him. Their intent is to move us to a stance of freedom as we discover how to live our lives deeply oriented to Jesus and his purposes. They open us to God’s Spirit and help us notice and name our desire, to freely be who God created us to be, to discern God’s voice among the many voices vying for our attention, to find God in all things, and to be free to go with God as he leads. Jesus is our model of spiritual freedom; he knows who he is, he finds God in all things, he only does what he sees his Father doing, he knows his call, and he knows where he is going-his life is intentional. In the Spiritual Exercises we wrestle with the questions of who am I? What do I want? What are my deepest desires? What is God doing/initiating in my life? What is my call? And what do I need to let go of to follow this call? I believe a truly spiritual life is a life deeply centered on Jesus. As our relationship with him moves from doing things for him, to simply being with him, the emphasis shifts from what we do to how Jesus is initiating in our lives. This frees us from being over burdened and over responsible for our spiritual life and particularly our prayer. When we put the emphasis where it belongs, on what Jesus is doing and what is happening in our lived experience (seeing God in all things) our prayer becomes a matter of paying attention and noticing rather than doing things right or well. In prayer we center ourselves in God’s love for us and our love for God. As we let go and still ourselves in God’s presence, we learn to trust and rely on the Holy Spirit’s work in us, and focus less and less on our abilities and resources to be God’s person in the world. Prayer is a gift we receive more than a goal we achieve. So the question is: What helps me receive the gift and remember God’s presence in and with me? What new opportunity is God offering? Where am I being challenged to new growth, a new perspective, or a new image of who I am or who God is? How am I invited to join Jesus is bringing God’s kingdom to our world? And what is the grace I desire from God? These questions help me pay attention to the prayer being given and help shift my prayer and life from being self-centered to God-centered. I’ve discovered as I spend more and more time in Jesus’ presence listening to his voice, my life become more and more about friendship and intimacy with him, and less and less about what “I do” for him. To be spiritually free we see all of life; what we see, hear and experience as ways to serve God and bring God’s kingdom to our world. We seek to let all the gifts and graces we are given lead us to an attitude of gratitude to God. To let them lead us to him. This means we turn away from those things that don’t lead us to God. The goal is freedom to move toward that, which fulfills and leads us into deeper intimacy with Jesus. This deep heart work is a continual process of falling more deeply in love with Jesus and surrendering our lives in deeper and deeper ways to his purposes. So often, we want to do great things for him, instead he asks us to live every moment of every day for him, trusting that he is working in the small details of our lives, in the people he has placed around us, and in the tasks we are called to do. May you continue to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. May you take time to simply be in his presence. May you trust his work in you. May you be blessed as you follow where he leads.
[caption id="attachment_7256" align="alignnone" width="300"]
The light of God shines through[/caption]
Last week I did not have an opportunity to post my weekly list of prayers from facebook and twitter, so I thought that I would get a head start and post them early this week. Some of them are drawn from the liturgies that we used at the Celtic retreat so are a little longer than usual.
God awaken us to Jesus, give us his passion for prayer,
God awaken us to Jesus, give us his passion for people,
God awaken us to Jesus, give us new hearts and new spirits,
God awaken us, may our needs drive us to you and the needs of others drive us to them,
God awaken us, let zeal for your ways consume us.
-----------------------------------
Father may we stand,
In the centre of your hope and promises.
Christ may we stand,
In the centre of your love and faithfulness.
Spirit may we stand,
In the centre of your sustaining presence.
One in Three, Three in One may we stand,
In the centre of your eternal purposes forever.
------------------------------------
Life of God be with you this day,
Love of the Creator fill your heart,
Light of the Saviour guide your steps,
Hope of the Sanctifier teach your minds,
Life of the Three sustain you,
Love of the One encircle you,
Now and always, this day and forever.
------------------------------------
Lord, let us walk into this day
Your light before us,
Your shield behind us,
Your friends beside us.
Lord, let us walk into this week
Your life before us,
Your strength behind us,
Your love around us.
Lord, let us walk from this place,
Your wisdom before us,
Your truth behind us,
Your breath within us.
Lord, let us walk into the world,
Gratitude in our hearts,
Thanksgiving on our lips,
Joy in our spirits.
Lord, let us walk into your loving presence,
In the name of the One who loves us,
In the name of the One who cares,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
----------------------------------
(The Rising - one of my favourite Celtic prayers)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life
-------------------------------
As this day begins Christ be with us,
Be in our hearts and in our minds,
Be in our souls and in our spirits,
Be in our thoughts and in our desires.
As the day begins Christ walk beside us,
Show us the love only you can give,
Show us the light only you can provide,
Show us the wholeness only you can reveal.
As the day begins, Christ surround us,
Circle us with your presence,
Protect and keep us,
Bring us the assurance of your love.
------------------------------------
Let us walk into this day
God's light before us,
God's shield behind us,
God's friends beside us.
Let us be filled
With the music of God's world,
With the wonder of God's love,
With the glory of God's presence.
-------------------------------------
May the prayers of my heart be acceptable to you O God.
May they be rooted in the reality of your presence,
And grow in the security of your love.
May they blossom in the assurance of your faithfulness,
And bear kingdom fruit, abundant, pressed down,
Overflowing from my heart to others.
---------------------------------------
Go into the world today knowing we are touched by the Triune God,
Let your life shine with the holiness of God,
Let your heart be transformed by the peace of Christ,
Let your ways be filled with the joy of the Spirit.
The light of God shines through[/caption]
Last week I did not have an opportunity to post my weekly list of prayers from facebook and twitter, so I thought that I would get a head start and post them early this week. Some of them are drawn from the liturgies that we used at the Celtic retreat so are a little longer than usual.
God awaken us to Jesus, give us his passion for prayer,
God awaken us to Jesus, give us his passion for people,
God awaken us to Jesus, give us new hearts and new spirits,
God awaken us, may our needs drive us to you and the needs of others drive us to them,
God awaken us, let zeal for your ways consume us.
-----------------------------------
Father may we stand,
In the centre of your hope and promises.
Christ may we stand,
In the centre of your love and faithfulness.
Spirit may we stand,
In the centre of your sustaining presence.
One in Three, Three in One may we stand,
In the centre of your eternal purposes forever.
------------------------------------
Life of God be with you this day,
Love of the Creator fill your heart,
Light of the Saviour guide your steps,
Hope of the Sanctifier teach your minds,
Life of the Three sustain you,
Love of the One encircle you,
Now and always, this day and forever.
------------------------------------
Lord, let us walk into this day
Your light before us,
Your shield behind us,
Your friends beside us.
Lord, let us walk into this week
Your life before us,
Your strength behind us,
Your love around us.
Lord, let us walk from this place,
Your wisdom before us,
Your truth behind us,
Your breath within us.
Lord, let us walk into the world,
Gratitude in our hearts,
Thanksgiving on our lips,
Joy in our spirits.
Lord, let us walk into your loving presence,
In the name of the One who loves us,
In the name of the One who cares,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
----------------------------------
(The Rising - one of my favourite Celtic prayers)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life
-------------------------------
As this day begins Christ be with us,
Be in our hearts and in our minds,
Be in our souls and in our spirits,
Be in our thoughts and in our desires.
As the day begins Christ walk beside us,
Show us the love only you can give,
Show us the light only you can provide,
Show us the wholeness only you can reveal.
As the day begins, Christ surround us,
Circle us with your presence,
Protect and keep us,
Bring us the assurance of your love.
------------------------------------
Let us walk into this day
God's light before us,
God's shield behind us,
God's friends beside us.
Let us be filled
With the music of God's world,
With the wonder of God's love,
With the glory of God's presence.
-------------------------------------
May the prayers of my heart be acceptable to you O God.
May they be rooted in the reality of your presence,
And grow in the security of your love.
May they blossom in the assurance of your faithfulness,
And bear kingdom fruit, abundant, pressed down,
Overflowing from my heart to others.
---------------------------------------
Go into the world today knowing we are touched by the Triune God,
Let your life shine with the holiness of God,
Let your heart be transformed by the peace of Christ,
Let your ways be filled with the joy of the Spirit. Celtic spiritualitycontemplationmeditationMSA eventsPrayer and inspirationRhythms of lifespiritual practices
Celtic Retreat Liturgy and Lectio Divina
[caption id="attachment_7251" align="alignnone" width="200"]
The altar complete[/caption]
Gathering Prayer: A Responsive Prayer
Eternal One you are our life,
Redeeming One you are our salvation,
Indwelling One you are our joy,
We give you thanks for the gift of this visit within your creation,
May our hearts swell with gratitude as we enter into your presence.
We give you thanks O God for the beauty of this land,
We give you thanks O Christ for the abundance of our lives,
We give you thanks O Spirit for the flourishing of friendship,
Most holy Trinity, One in essence Three in person,
We thank and praise you with heart and soul and mind.
God we pause in the busyness of our lives to give you thanks,
May we look back with gratitude,
May we look forward with anticipation,
May our hearts respond with thankfulness,
And our lives respond with praise.
God may we live fully in the wonder of this moment,
Our eyes open to see in every sight a cathedral giving glory,
Our ears unstopped to hear in every sound angels singing Alleluia
May we enjoy each cathedral moment before it bursts,
Giving thanks and praise with grateful hearts.
(Let us offer words of thanks to God)
God the fulfiller of enduring promises,
Christ the sharer of abundant love,
Spirit the giver of eternal life,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For your welcome to this lavish feast of plenty,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God of the plentiful and ever giving heart,
Christ of the generous and overflowing bounty,
Spirit who gives enough for our own needs and abundance for every good work,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For the wonder of your provision that never runs dry,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God whose love never gives up,
Christ whose forgiveness never says no,
Spirit whose mercy never lets go,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For the hope and promise of your inexhaustible abundance,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God may we always savour what each moment holds,
May we live in the promise of your love and faithfulness,
And ever trust in the One for whom all things are possible,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For all that was, for all that is and for all that is to come,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God may we look and see your abundance pressing in all around,
Rich fruit, luxuriant growth, laden branches hanging low,
May we remember they can obscure the path that winds so narrow out before us,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For your provision that is inexhaustible, a harvest that never ends,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God as we eat from your table of plenty,
May we see what you have placed in our hands,
Beauty beyond words, creativity beyond imagining, generosity overflowing,
Everything is God bathed, Son drenched, Spirit inspired,
May we taste and see that all you give is good,
And raise our voices in praise and thanks and gratitude.
Amen.
Song: For the Beauty of the Earth
Introduction to Celtic tradition
Setting up the Altar
[caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Decorating the altar[/caption]
God as we gather from your beautiful creation to build our altar,
Open our eyes to see the many gifts you pour into our lives.
We come to you with grateful hearts and thankful spirits,
Allowing love of you to bubble up from within us and overflow.
May we seek you with teachable spirits,
Willing to obey, to trust and to serve.
Let our lives give thanks as a sacrifice that truly honours you.
May we follow this path and see the revelation of your salvation.
(Go out to collect items for decorating the altar)
Regathering song – Morning Has Broken
Introduction to Lectio Divina
Teach us to pray O Lord with gratitude and thankfulness,
Draw us closer to you, to your world, to each other.
Teach us to pray O Lord with compassion and love and forgiveness.
Open our eyes and our ears and our mouths,
Teach us to pray O Lord with joy and praise and faithfulness.
Until all that we are and all that we do,
Becomes a gift of prayer to you.
Scriptures for Lectio Divina & meditation
Psalm 100 (NLT)
Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)
Song to end with – God Alone Suffices
[caption id="attachment_7250" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Meditating sitting on the logs[/caption]
The altar complete[/caption]
Gathering Prayer: A Responsive Prayer
Eternal One you are our life,
Redeeming One you are our salvation,
Indwelling One you are our joy,
We give you thanks for the gift of this visit within your creation,
May our hearts swell with gratitude as we enter into your presence.
We give you thanks O God for the beauty of this land,
We give you thanks O Christ for the abundance of our lives,
We give you thanks O Spirit for the flourishing of friendship,
Most holy Trinity, One in essence Three in person,
We thank and praise you with heart and soul and mind.
God we pause in the busyness of our lives to give you thanks,
May we look back with gratitude,
May we look forward with anticipation,
May our hearts respond with thankfulness,
And our lives respond with praise.
God may we live fully in the wonder of this moment,
Our eyes open to see in every sight a cathedral giving glory,
Our ears unstopped to hear in every sound angels singing Alleluia
May we enjoy each cathedral moment before it bursts,
Giving thanks and praise with grateful hearts.
(Let us offer words of thanks to God)
God the fulfiller of enduring promises,
Christ the sharer of abundant love,
Spirit the giver of eternal life,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For your welcome to this lavish feast of plenty,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God of the plentiful and ever giving heart,
Christ of the generous and overflowing bounty,
Spirit who gives enough for our own needs and abundance for every good work,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For the wonder of your provision that never runs dry,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God whose love never gives up,
Christ whose forgiveness never says no,
Spirit whose mercy never lets go,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For the hope and promise of your inexhaustible abundance,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God may we always savour what each moment holds,
May we live in the promise of your love and faithfulness,
And ever trust in the One for whom all things are possible,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For all that was, for all that is and for all that is to come,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God may we look and see your abundance pressing in all around,
Rich fruit, luxuriant growth, laden branches hanging low,
May we remember they can obscure the path that winds so narrow out before us,
Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,
For your provision that is inexhaustible, a harvest that never ends,
We praise and give you thanks this day.
God as we eat from your table of plenty,
May we see what you have placed in our hands,
Beauty beyond words, creativity beyond imagining, generosity overflowing,
Everything is God bathed, Son drenched, Spirit inspired,
May we taste and see that all you give is good,
And raise our voices in praise and thanks and gratitude.
Amen.
Song: For the Beauty of the Earth
Introduction to Celtic tradition
Setting up the Altar
[caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Decorating the altar[/caption]
God as we gather from your beautiful creation to build our altar,
Open our eyes to see the many gifts you pour into our lives.
We come to you with grateful hearts and thankful spirits,
Allowing love of you to bubble up from within us and overflow.
May we seek you with teachable spirits,
Willing to obey, to trust and to serve.
Let our lives give thanks as a sacrifice that truly honours you.
May we follow this path and see the revelation of your salvation.
(Go out to collect items for decorating the altar)
Regathering song – Morning Has Broken
Introduction to Lectio Divina
Teach us to pray O Lord with gratitude and thankfulness,
Draw us closer to you, to your world, to each other.
Teach us to pray O Lord with compassion and love and forgiveness.
Open our eyes and our ears and our mouths,
Teach us to pray O Lord with joy and praise and faithfulness.
Until all that we are and all that we do,
Becomes a gift of prayer to you.
Scriptures for Lectio Divina & meditation
Psalm 100 (NLT)
Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)
Song to end with – God Alone Suffices
[caption id="attachment_7250" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Meditating sitting on the logs[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7237" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Celebrating the beginning of building[/caption]
Our 21st annual Celtic retreat is over, from my perspective the best that we have ever had. Sitting amongst the trees, soaking in the beauty of the land, participating in Jeff Johnson's melodies, fellowshipping with friends old and new enriched and enlivened our day in ways that I could never have imagined.
[caption id="attachment_7236" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Morning worship[/caption]
I always love the decorating of the altar which begins our retreat with a sense of connectedness to the land.
[caption id="attachment_7235" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Decorating the altar[/caption]
Jeff's evening Selah service was a particularly worshipful and contemplative time for me.
[caption id="attachment_7238" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Jeff Johnson Selah service[/caption]
We had lots of fun activities for the afternoon. Artistic crafts to do, prayer trails to walk and labyrinths to meditate in.
[caption id="attachment_7239" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Painting prayers on rocks became works of Celtic art[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7240" align="alignnone" width="200"]
Prayer flags became works of art too[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7241" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Unexpected art - Kayra makes a Celtic cross[/caption]
The logs became the focus of our time together in so many ways. They provided places to sit and meditate, a focal point for lunch conversations and in the afternoon the centre of our dedication of the beginning building.
[caption id="attachment_7242" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Meditating sitting on the logs[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7243" align="alignnone" width="300"]
lunch on the logs[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7244" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Dedicating the logs[/caption]
And the eucharist led by episcopal priest Bob Dietel was the crowning glory of our celebration
[caption id="attachment_7245" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Eucharistic elements on the altar[/caption]
For more photos check out Andy Wade's great slide show on the MSA blog :
Celebration, Retreat Prayer and Imagination.
And the liturgies should be posted this afternoon.
Celebrating the beginning of building[/caption]
Our 21st annual Celtic retreat is over, from my perspective the best that we have ever had. Sitting amongst the trees, soaking in the beauty of the land, participating in Jeff Johnson's melodies, fellowshipping with friends old and new enriched and enlivened our day in ways that I could never have imagined.
[caption id="attachment_7236" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Morning worship[/caption]
I always love the decorating of the altar which begins our retreat with a sense of connectedness to the land.
[caption id="attachment_7235" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Decorating the altar[/caption]
Jeff's evening Selah service was a particularly worshipful and contemplative time for me.
[caption id="attachment_7238" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Jeff Johnson Selah service[/caption]
We had lots of fun activities for the afternoon. Artistic crafts to do, prayer trails to walk and labyrinths to meditate in.
[caption id="attachment_7239" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Painting prayers on rocks became works of Celtic art[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7240" align="alignnone" width="200"]
Prayer flags became works of art too[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7241" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Unexpected art - Kayra makes a Celtic cross[/caption]
The logs became the focus of our time together in so many ways. They provided places to sit and meditate, a focal point for lunch conversations and in the afternoon the centre of our dedication of the beginning building.
[caption id="attachment_7242" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Meditating sitting on the logs[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7243" align="alignnone" width="300"]
lunch on the logs[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7244" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Dedicating the logs[/caption]
And the eucharist led by episcopal priest Bob Dietel was the crowning glory of our celebration
[caption id="attachment_7245" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Eucharistic elements on the altar[/caption]
For more photos check out Andy Wade's great slide show on the MSA blog :
Celebration, Retreat Prayer and Imagination.
And the liturgies should be posted this afternoon.
[caption id="attachment_7231" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Decorated Altar, Celtic retreat 2012[/caption]
Our annual Celtic retreat is over, one of the best we have ever had. Jeff Johnson's beautiful chants and music are still with me as I unpack and prepare for the coming week. Those of us who stayed through the weekend finished out time together with this liturgy.
As this day begins Christ be with us,
Be in our hearts and in our minds,
Be in our souls and in our spirits,
Be in our thoughts and in our desires.
As this day begins Christ walk beside us,
Show us the love only you can give,
Show us the light only you can provide,
Show us the wholeness only you can reveal.
As this day begins Christ surround us,
Circle us with your presence,
Keep protection near and danger far,
Bring us the assurance of your love.
Pause for a time of silent reflection on the glory of God.
Lord, let us walk into this day
Your light before us,
Your shield behind us,
Your friends beside us.
Lord, let us walk into this week
Your life before us,
Your strength behind us,
Your love around us.
Lord, let us walk from this place,
Your wisdom before us,
Your truth behind us,
Your breath within us.
Lord, let us walk into the world,
Gratitude in our hearts,
Thanksgiving on our lips,
Joy in our spirits.
Lord, let us walk into your loving presence,
In the name of the One who loves us,
In the name of the One who cares,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Three, Three in One.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.
Time of sharing - What are you are grateful for this morning?
Eternal Spirit
Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all. loving God, in whom is heaven.
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the earth!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, spare us, from the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
Time of Prayer
(The Rising)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life,
Amen
Decorated Altar, Celtic retreat 2012[/caption]
Our annual Celtic retreat is over, one of the best we have ever had. Jeff Johnson's beautiful chants and music are still with me as I unpack and prepare for the coming week. Those of us who stayed through the weekend finished out time together with this liturgy.
As this day begins Christ be with us,
Be in our hearts and in our minds,
Be in our souls and in our spirits,
Be in our thoughts and in our desires.
As this day begins Christ walk beside us,
Show us the love only you can give,
Show us the light only you can provide,
Show us the wholeness only you can reveal.
As this day begins Christ surround us,
Circle us with your presence,
Keep protection near and danger far,
Bring us the assurance of your love.
Pause for a time of silent reflection on the glory of God.
Lord, let us walk into this day
Your light before us,
Your shield behind us,
Your friends beside us.
Lord, let us walk into this week
Your life before us,
Your strength behind us,
Your love around us.
Lord, let us walk from this place,
Your wisdom before us,
Your truth behind us,
Your breath within us.
Lord, let us walk into the world,
Gratitude in our hearts,
Thanksgiving on our lips,
Joy in our spirits.
Lord, let us walk into your loving presence,
In the name of the One who loves us,
In the name of the One who cares,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Three, Three in One.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.
Time of sharing - What are you are grateful for this morning?
Eternal Spirit
Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all. loving God, in whom is heaven.
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the earth!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, spare us, from the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
Time of Prayer
(The Rising)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life,
Amen
Ryan Harrison has graciously provided today's post in the Lord Teach Us To Pray series.
Ryan is from Denver, Colorado. When she's not at her day job, she spends her time creating: writing and designing, or trying to build a community of love in her little corner of Denver. She always thinks about keeping a blog, but doesn't currently have one.
He bitterly referred to Colorado as God's punching bag, my neighbor across the way. Not knowing exactly how to comfort the grieving man who wasn't really speaking to me, I offered: "it doesn't make sense, does it?"
And I slipped inside my house, my eyes burning with the tears of my city's sorrow, to do the only thing I knew how to do in the face of such unspeakable pain... I went to pray. I knelt down on my floor, and the only words I could get out were come Lord-- and then the tears choked the rest away.
I don't know if you are familiar with a story called Three Hermits by Tolstoy. It's a short story and worth reading if you haven't. In the story, a bishop encounters an island inhabited by holy men, hermits whose only prayer is "three are ye, three are we, have mercy on us." The bishop attempts to teach these men the proper way to pray, the Lord's prayer, commanding them to repeat it until they've learned it. After the bishop is satisfied, he returns to his ship, only to find the three hermits running, on water, to him. They'd forgotten their teachings but with a humble, delighted heart the bishop ensures the hermits their prayers will surely reach the Lord's ear. Their small prayer was an invitation to the miracles of heaven.
The hermits faithful plea for mercy, my nearly wordless prayer, and the Lord's prayer have something in common: When Jesus taught us to pray, he showed us God's infinite power, enabling us to cry out to the Father for his mercy, for his provision, for his justice and his love. Indeed, in the many days since I encountered my wounded neighbor, I have prayed the Lord's prayer, especially when all other words have failed me. But I have also, always returned to my initial prayer of come, Lord, Jesus come.
It's not until I sit and meditate on these four words that I truly understand what I am doing. I am asking the Holy Spirit to work in my life. Like a young child who still tentatively reaches out for the treat she's being offered, or the timid teen who approaches the kind mentor asking "can I ask you a question?" I am reaching out to God: can you, will you come Lord? Is what I offer you enough?
I am finally inviting the healing balm of the Lord to be spread on my chapped and bleeding heart. I can pray with a million words, but only when I pray come, Lord, Jesus come do I realize how many walls are still crumbling in my doubtful soul. Come Jesus, and heal this little girl, still too young for the grief she knows.
Come Jesus, and revive this exhausted heart so that it can serve you again. Come Jesus, your kingdom on earth full of restored dwellings, redeemed in your presence. Come Jesus, sustain us on the path, nourishing us with humility and mercy. Come Jesus, our unfailing levy, our victorious lamb.
I will continue to pray my small prayer, my plea that is often the only thing prayer I know: come Lord Jesus, come. And as I do, I will continue to invite the power of heaven into my small life.
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A Favourite Celtic Prayer
[caption id="attachment_7227" align="alignnone" width="200"]
Celtic cross Clonmacnois[/caption]
Here is another of my favourite Celtic prayers. We will use this to close off the time at our Celtic retreat this weekend.
(The Rising)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life
Celtic cross Clonmacnois[/caption]
Here is another of my favourite Celtic prayers. We will use this to close off the time at our Celtic retreat this weekend.
(The Rising)
Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our brother Jesus,
In the radiance of the Holy Spirit,
In the faith of the apostles,
In the joyful praise of the angels,
In the holiness of the saints,
In the courage of the martyrs.
Let us go forth,
In the wisdom of our all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving brother,
In the truth of the all-knowing Spirit,
In the learning of the apostles
In the gracious guidance of the angels,
In the patience of the saints,
In the self control of the martyrs,
Such is the path for all servants of Christ,
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