"The Lord is my light and my salvation."
We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.
Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.
CONTEMPLATIVE / SILENT PRAYER
Our Centering Prayer sit is 20 - 30 minutes sounded by the chime/chant. At the end of the Prayer sit, we will linger in silence a few minutes, then follow by praying together the Our Father.
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LECTIO DIVINA: Listening to the Word of God with the ears of our heart [See Chopping Wood (or Carrots) Under the Gaze of God for a discussion of Lectio Divina].
First reading & silent reflection: Reflect in silence.
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3. Though an army should encamp against me,
Our little lives, our big problems—these we place upon Thy altar!
Brood over our spirits, Our Father,
Blow upon us whatever dream Thou hast for us
That there may glow once again upon our hearths
The light from Thy altar.
Pour out upon us whatever our spirits need of shock, of lift, of release
That we may find strength for these days—
Courage and hope for tomorrow.
In confidence we rest in Thy sustaining grace
Which makes possible triumph in defeat, gain in loss, and love in hate.
We rejoice this day to say:
Our little lives, our big problems—these we place upon Thy altar!
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LECTIO: from Psalm 27
1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2. When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3. Though an army should encamp against me,
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4. And though war should rise up against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.
5. One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
4. And though war should rise up against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.
5. One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Second reading & reflection: What word or phrase catches your attention? Share or pass.
Third reading & reflection: How does this word or phrase touch your life? Share or pass.
Fourth and last reading & silent reflection: How is God inviting you to grow? We will reflect in silence for a few moments before we move from Lectio Prayer to the teaching by Father Keating.
Teaching:
Our little lives, our big problems—these we place upon Thy altar!
Brood over our spirits, Our Father,
Blow upon us whatever dream Thou hast for us
That there may glow once again upon our hearths
The light from Thy altar.
Pour out upon us whatever our spirits need of shock, of lift, of release
That we may find strength for these days—
Courage and hope for tomorrow.
In confidence we rest in Thy sustaining grace
Which makes possible triumph in defeat, gain in loss, and love in hate.
We rejoice this day to say:
Our little lives, our big problems—these we place upon Thy altar!
~Howard Thurman, Meditations on the Heart, 83-84.
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We now take some time to share our thoughts and reflections on our own spiritual journey and our prayer practice. Followed by brief prayers of intercession. Share or pass.
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Go in the name of Christ Jesus to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
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[This is an adapted format courtesy of Martha Johnston, Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, DC]
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