PRAYER SAMPLER: Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Fall Gathering

 Mark your calendars for October 23-24 when Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande will gather at Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church (8700 Alameda NE, Albuquerque) for "Prayer Sampler." 

This will be a time to be refreshed and inspired as we experience many types of prayer. Taize, Lectio Divino, and Contemplative Prayer will be highlighted. There will be some fun surprises throughout the day, too! 

Registration information will be available September 1 with early bird pricing of $60 available through the end of September. You are encouraged to attend in person as these forms of prayer are best experienced 'live,' however a Zoom option is available for those who cannot travel. 

Attendees are encouraged to submit a prayer (or 2) to Cindy prior to the event. All the prayers will be compiled into a booklet for each participant as a way to enrich our prayer lives through the sharing of prayer. (These don't have to be original prayers, just a favorite prayer from any resource.) 

The working schedule for the event is:

Friday 10/23

5:00: Check in
5:30: Light Soup and salad meal (by Council)
6:00PM: Intros and Making Prayer Booklet Activity
7:00PM: Healing Prayer Service (Pat)

Saturday 10/24

8:00AM: Check in and Light breakfast available
8:30AM: Welcome
8:45 AM: Opening Prayers
9:00-10:30AM: Lectio Divino Presentation by Scott Sharpe
10:45-12: Taize presentation with Noonday prayers using Taize led by Rebecca and Dave Hemphill
12:00PM: Lunch
1-2PM: Contemplative Prayer with Denise Tierney
2PM: Sharing of the day's insights
2:30PM: Closing Prayers  

Coming in Pentecost: Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Event

 

All women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande are invited to participate in this year's Thy Kingdom Come* prayer event. Follow this website for the images and prompts from Thy Kingdom Come as well as suggestions applicable to our diocese! I hope you will take on this 11-day discipline as a way of praying for the world.

 You can do this personally or with friends. As Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, you are encouraged to read the daily posts as a starting point for prayer and meditation. We’ll be posting the inspirational art by the Rev. Chris Duffett (from Thy Kingdom Come) and prompts to help you each day.

You can take this to a deeper level by praying for five specific people to come to Christ. Make a wristband from ribbon or string with five knots to remind you of your promise. In the DRG, we'll be praying for five diocesan churches each day. They'll be listed in the daily mediations. 

Using the concept of Prayer Walking as a way to pray during these 11 days. Use the prompts on the daily posts to guide your thoughts. If you walk 10,000 steps daily, you will have walked about five miles each day (a mile for each person you are praying for, perhaps). Over the 11 days, that adds up to 55 miles—or about the distance from Albuquerque to Santa Fe or Las Cruces to Deming or slightly further than Roswell to Artesia. If you aren’t praying for five people, you could pray for specific places in your community like schools or hospitals, or just for the people on the streets you walk along. Of course, walking shorter distances each day is still beneficial! 

You could also include others in your family or church by setting up prayer stations with activities. Maybe you want to organize a vigil to pray for 24 hours.

*The purpose of the ministry of Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. You can learn more at Thy Kingdom Come | Thy Kingdom Come. You can even add your ‘light’ to the world map as you promise to pray. Light Up The World in Prayer | Thy Kingdom Come.

Bringing Creativity to Prayer and Worship Event

 

Bringing Creativity to Prayer and Worship
July 30, 8:30-3
St. Francis, Rio Rancho, NM

After TWO+ years of COVID-delay Women's Ministry is delighted that we can gather for this inspiring event. We'll be at St. Francis, Rio Rancho and there are some local in-home lodging options.
Linda Rounds-Nichols* is our leader. She will lead us in a full day workshop/ retreat event from 8:30AM-3:30PM on July 30 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Rio Rancho. (2903 Cabezon NE, Rio Rancho) 

Come ready to use creativity and play as ways to joyfully pray and worship! During this retreat we will learn and experience a potpourri of ways to utilize rhythm, movement, and the visual arts in our prayer and worship. 

Because of the hands-on format, this will be totally in-personm and attendance is limited to 20 women.  Lunch will be provided. 

Download and Share this Flyer with your Parish and Friends!

$5 donation holds your spot, and will be used to thank St. Francis for their hospitality!

*Linda is a Veriditas trained Labyrinth Facilitator, a SoulCollage® facilitator, a member of the Spiritual Care Association, and of Spiritual Directors international, and is a lifelong spiritual seeker. Linda attends the Church of the Holy Spirit, Gallup and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Sedona. She recently returned from a Veriditas retreat in France and is sure to inspire us all! 

Prayer for the World

If like me (Cindy), your heart is aching for the world and all of God's Beloved children, we can pray. We can too often forget the power of prayer. The bad news can make us feel that we are in a wasteland. However, we are promised For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. God does hear and honor prayer offered in sincerity and love.
Prayers are needed for all the disasters of earthquake, fire, and flood across the globe due to climate change; the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan; the world-wide on-going COVID 19 Pandemic; the racial, social, economic, medical inequities facing so many; the misinformation feeding fears and divisions; and the multitude of other trauma we are assailed with from our news feed and all media, and so much more. 
 I invite you join in prayer using this Litany (from my website) adapted from the Great Litany in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, or your own prayers.

Another tangible way to help is a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development or many other groups.   

ANEW2, August 22: What's Different? What's the Same?

 Vicki and Aamna, two of the co-authors of Three Paths, One God led a lively discussion of the similarities and differences of the the Abrahamic faiths. Speaking from their faith heritage, each woman, and Rabbi Min (absent due to the Sabbath) have created an interesting and inspirational work that explores how much we have in common by using prayers for Morning, Midday, and Evening focused on 7 common themes.   

We all learned a lot about the commonalities, and differences. 

Our next Zoom is the Province 7 ECW Assembly on September 12. You can register online. 

An October event is still being debated, due to Diocesan Convention happening the end of the month. 

In November, we'll join the Rev. Carolyn Metzler for an inspiring retreat "Wilderness Spirituality: Finding our Way through a Changed World". Registration available in September. 

Dec. 12 will be a Zoom Christmas party, unless by some chance we can meet in person!

Holy Week 2020-Ideas and Inspiration

This week is Holy Week. It will look very different than years past, and it can still be a journey of faith. 
We can share the journey with family around our own tables, and with friends across social media and other virtual links. Maybe make a plan to pray with friends via Facebook, Google Hangouts, Zoom, Messenger, or other virtual format.  
Be innovative and you will find yourself enriched as you link with others during Holy Week. 
For instance: Set up your own altar area with a cross and candles, maybe a prayer book, flowers or other items that help you focus on God. Take time daily, alone or as a family (or online with family and friends) to pause and pray, to ponder God's great acts of grace and mercy we remember this week.  

The Diocese of the Rio Grande is providing resources for home Holy Week activities for adults and children.  Bishop Michael Hunn will be offering daily video messages.

Other resources include:

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has ongoing messages on the Episcopal Church website, or sign up for the daily news feed.

The Episcopal Church has Sermons for every day of Holy Week. 

Ongoing musical offerings from the Cathedral on YouTube
Continuing daily services across the diocese.

Footprints From the Bible blog study.
Prayer time ideas from Thy Kingdom Come.
Ideas for Holy Week, from the Ecumenical Coalition has several helpful ideas like "Share in prayers at home on Good Friday and blow out a candle to symbolize the crucifixion." 

Remember, as always, the Good Friday offering goes to the Church in the Middle East. You can donate online this year.

As I learn of more options, I'll update this page. 
If you know of something, email Cindy, and I'll add the idea. 

And remembering to pray for the COVID19 pandemic. Here is one suggestion:

Prayer at Noonday

The prayers today are from Daily Prayer for All Seasons. These are the prayers for the hour of None, or afternoon. I have added the Gospel reading for today. 

 Opening

As shadows lengthen, we are filled by the day’s encounters; now, more than ever, we accept the depth and breadth of God’s grace.        

May our sacrifice be love as we practice mercy on earth.



Prayer

God of love, the day is long and its burden is heavy: Give us grace to see your hand at work in the lives of those around us so that adversity will not overwhelm us, nor resentments possess us. Remain with us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.



Praise Love Bade Me Welcome

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eye’d Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack’d anything.

A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here: Love said, You shall be he.

I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear, I cannot look on Thee.

Love took my hand and smiling did reply, Who made the eyes, but I?

Truth, Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, Who bore the blame? My dear, then I will serve.

You  must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat.
So I did sit  and eat.   (George Herbert)



Scripture         

He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them. Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:1-16)



Meditation

We cannot know whether we love God although there may be strong reason for thinking so, but  there can be no doubt about whether we love our neighbor or not. Be sure that, in proportion as you advance in affection for sisters and brothers, you  are increasing your love  of God. (Teresa of Avila)



Who is hard to love just now? What would it cost us to love that one?



Prayers            

O God, you beckon us with promises of love; fulfill our desire for you.
You pursue us even when we flee from you; Bring us to our right minds.
You delight in us and show us your compassion; make us mindful of the deep need in the world.
Here, the people may add particular intercessions or thanksgivings.
You give us the gift of your unbounded love; Pour out your love on all the world.



Lord’s Prayer



Merciful God, return us now to working and relating in our world; return us, stimulated by hope, strengthened by faith, and directed by love. Thus, we are heartened to reconcile all people, created, redeemed, and sustained by you. In the name of Christ. Amen.



Going Out

May our sacrifice be love as we practice mercy on earth.


The other readings for today from the daily lectionary are: Exodus 7:8-24, 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6, Psalm 119:145-176, Psalms 128, 129, and 130.

Daily Prayer: In the Morning

In this time of self-isolation due to the Coronavirus, let's explore together some of the prayer resources available. I'll be posting a different service each day. Some, like today, will be from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Others will be from other sources. Even though this one is titled 'In the Morning', you can certainly pray it at any time of the day. 

I have included the Gospel reading from today in place of the I Peter reading suggested in the BCP. I think these two stories speak to this time. Not just because of the healings that occur, but because as the Forward Day by Day author says, "Jesus blows God's love and healing power wide open, negating ethnic, political, and social boundaries..." 

In the Morning (BCP pg. 137)

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
    and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
    and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading from Mark 7:24-37

24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 28But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ 29Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ 30So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ 


A period of silence may follow.

A hymn or canticle may be used; the Apostles' Creed may be said.

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.


The Lord's Prayer

The Collect

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Other prayer resources compiled by Mary Steele: https://resourcesforvirustime.weebly.com/

April 29: Prayers for the week Leading up to Electing Convention

Pray individually and/or with your group during this week leading up to the Electing Convention, using these or other prayers. .
Sunday, April 29: Prayer for Seeking a New Bishop for The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande

Holy and Almighty God our Father, You have blessed us in the Diocese of the Rio Grande in manifold ways over the past years. You have strengthened us, united us, loved us, guided us.
We thank you, Lord.
Touch the hearts of able clergy men and women throughout the Episcopal Church so that they might hear your call upon their lives to do your work among us and with us and through us.
We entreat you, Lord.
Be with our Diocesan Bishop Search Committee that they will discern your will in choosing good candidates who will be elected by the diocese to be our future Bishop.
We entreat you, Lord.
Be with our Diocesan Transition Committee as they guide us in blending our lives and our ministries with that of our new Bishop in order that we move forward in our life together.
We entreat you, Lord.
Be with us all. Give us patience and trust as we seek a new shepherd for our diocese. Be with us, Lord, for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen

Monday, April 30: For the Mission of the Church
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
.
Tuesday, May 1: For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop Michael, the Candidates for Bishop: Lucinda, Michael, & Simon; and all diocesan clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, May 2: For the Unity of the Church
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thursday, May 3: For a Church Meeting
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in Albuquerque for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday, May 4: For a Church Convention
Almighty and everlasting Father, who has given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with the Spirit’s grace and presence, the clergy and the laity soon to be assembled in your Name, that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of the One who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Electing Convention, Saturday May 5: For the Election of a Bishop
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

More Retreat News

The Bishop wasn't the only speaker at the Lively Lent retreat. In the afternoon, we had 3 workshops providing insight into ways to live more fully into Lent and into our baptismal vows and ultimately be more fully aware on the Road to Jerusalem and Emmaus.

Susan Hutchins shared her work in Columbus and Palomas with a slide show. She works with the poorest of the poor in these sister communities. The simplest items are warmly welcomed-blankets, gloves, etc. Women are empowered to begin cottage industry making baskets and other items from donated supplies.

Part of the ministry is the Shoebox ministry at Christmas gives the Palomas children (1000 last year) a chance to have something special. Recently she asked diocesan churches for blankets because families in Palomas did not have any. Her living room was filled with donations from across the diocese which she delivered to many families. One touching story was of the way a family handed the blanket down the line to the youngest child because he was the one who did not have anything to sleep under.

The Rev. Susan Collis, of St. Francis on the Hill, shared a series of hands-on ways to pray in untraditional ways.
1.      Write a card to someone you’ve been meaning to contact.
2.      Braid together 3 ribbons: you, God, issue while praying about the issue.
3.      Use play dough to form an image of your issue and manipulate it to see what happens. Or just play with the dough and see what emerges.
4.      Use bubbles as a medium to send your prayers heavenward.
5.      Create a prayer plaque or scriptural reminder to place on your desk or in your prayer area.
6.     (This last one is a little hard to describe) Take a rock. Hold and pray into it an issue while walking, kneeling, or standing. Offer it to God. We placed ours in a water basin on the altar.
Participants found these prayers very inspirational and shared some of their insights and experiences.

Finally, Cindy Davis shared some ideas for using journaling as a conversation with God and offered ideas for places where inspiration for jounaling can be found, including pictures, quotes, the Bible, music, nature, etc.

To close the day we had a time of brainstorming the future of women of the DRG. This conversation continued in Roswell with the ladies there. Check back for some of those thoughts.

Prayer with Bible Story

Holy Week is a wonderful time to use the Bible story itself as a prayer aid. You can use any Bible story as the basis for reflection and meditation. During Holy Week, a natural story would be the Entry into Jerusalem, Maundy Thursday, the Passion and Resurrection. You could meditate on the different parts of the story on the appropriate day or pick a day to consider all the aspects of this special week.
As with most of the prayer aids there are many ways to implement this prayer discipline.
Start out by reading the selected Bible story several times. Sometimes it helps to read the same story in several different translations. After you have really read and re-read the story, set it aside and imagine yourself in the story. Pick one of the characters and ask some questions about what it would have been like to be in the story.
"How would I have felt?" "What would my reponse have been?"
Can you relate the story to your own personal experience? "Do I respond like [character]?" "Did the character respond in the best way?"
After you sit with the story and the character for some time and consider some of these questions, you can ask "What did he/she/I learn about God through this story?" "Where is God in the whole picture?"
Finish your meditation with a prayer, thanking God for the insights. Ask God for help with anything that was difficult for you in the story.

Letters to God

Years ago, when I was a teenager, my grandmother gave me a book filled with "Letters to God" about things teenage girls struggle with. I think it was called "A Girl's Letters to God" by Margaret or Margo someone, but it must be out of print because I cannot find anything remotely similar in a Google search. (It's not Judy Blume's book Are you There God? It's me Margaret)
However, the premise of the book (and the many new books of similar titles and even a website Letters to God) is that we can write letters to God. We may not get a physical letter back in the mail as a response, but the act of writing out our feelings, needs, wants, thanksgivings makes it concrete and sometimes you do get an answer. I have a friend who swears that God does answer her by things she gets in the mail. She'll be wondering and praying about something and will get a piece of mail that points her in the right direction.
Writing to God can be done as part of a journal or prayer diary or you can simply write out your letter like a real letter:

Dear God,
It's me... I've been wondering about...
I've been praying that...
Can you hear me, God?...
I need...
Can you help...
Why do I feel...
Thank you God for...
Have you ever written a letter to God? Did you get any response?  Whether you get a physical reply or not-know that you have handed over the prayer need to the One who really can take care of it. 

Clay Prayers

Perhaps drawing isn't your cup of tea. Not everyone is inspired by each of these prayer suggestions. That's why there are so many different ways to pray! Sometimes it is important to get out of the Left Brain analytical mode and let the Right Brain help with praying, though.
Playing with clay is one way to do that-and it's astonishingly comforting to revert to childhood and play with play dough or other forms of clay. Just the act of rolling the smooth clay or dough into a snack and manipulating it can be quite soothing if you are having a rough day.
The Bible citation that jumps to mind when talking about clay is Isaiah 64:8 "We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of thy hand." God molds us, according to Isaiah, like the potter does the clay. In playing and praying with clay, we have the opportunity to be creators, too.
How do you pray with clay? First you need clay or play dough. You can even make your own if you don't happen to have children or grandchildren handy with a supply you can use. Here's a recipe I used with my children. You can find more at: http://www.playdoughrecipe.com. 
Salt Dough

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

2 cups of flour

1 tablespoon of cooking oil

Food coloring (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together. Knead the mixture until it’s doughy. Divide into balls and knead food color in if you want. Keep it wrapped in plastic as it will harden in the air. (It's probably edible, but probably yucky.)

Now that you have your play dough or clay, you can take colored lumps of it and form shapes of things you are thankful for-a new baby or a house or other blessing. 

You can shape the lump into something that represents how you are feeling. Maybe a rainbow if you are joyful or a cup if you feel that you need filled up with the Spirit.

As I said at the beginning, sometimes it is therapeutic to just manipulate the clay and let your mind roam. God hears the thoughts of our hearts whether we are able to articulate them or not.

Dawn Prayers

Today is the first Monday of daylight savings time this year. If you are like me, the 'spring forward' sets my internal clock off a bit. It is still dark when I get up and even when my husband goes off to work, when just last week, it was light at that time. Somehow it makes it feel like I got up too early. But there are advantages to being up while it is still dark.
As the sun starts to rise, the world outside my window comes into view and gradually the shapes of the neighborhood homes and yards become more clear. It occurs to me that this is a perfect metaphor for a way we can pray for those around us.

In the darkness before dawn, we can start out praying in general for the larger world. As the light makes things more distinct, we can pray for each of the homes around us, even if we don't know the people all that well. When the dawn shows greater detail, our dawn prayers can go into more detail about the needs we are aware of in the neighborhood and city and world.
By the time the sun illuminates the city, we will have wrapped it in prayer-and what better way to start the day? 

Prayer Phrases

I've titled this 'prayer phrases' because the term 'mantra' confuses some people. These are short, spoken, repetitive verses or prayers that calm our souls and draw us "deeper in and higher up" as CS Lewis says in the Last Battle. As you slowly and prayerfully repeat the phrase or mantra, you are able to let go of the outside worries and by concentrating on the words allow the world to recede into the background.
Mantras are often used as part of a 'Centering prayer' discipline, but they can also be used to calm your troubled soul when the busy-ness around gets to be overwhelming or when you just need to seek God's quiet and be in God's presence.

Some commonly used phrases are:

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Jesus Christ come and meet my deepest need.

Here I am Lord, send me. 

If none of these phrases catches your eye and heart, glance at some of the antiphons in the prayer book, esp. in Morning and Evening Prayer or chose a line of a favorite psalm. The important thing is that whatever phrase you choose is short and speaks to your heart and soul.
Find a quiet place and sit comfortably. Start repeating the phrase slowly-breathing in on the first part of the verse and out on the second (or whatever rhythm feels comfortable to you). Continue to breathe and say the words gradually relaxing and letting go of any thoughts that sneak in to distract you. Keep it up as long as you can, or at least until you find some measure of quiet in your soul.
I find this a wonderfully relaxing way to end the day-and if you doze off-you are resting in God's arms. What better place to sleep?

Post It Notes

What do those little yellow or pastel or bright colored sticky note pads have to do with prayer, you might ask? Actually they are a wonderful prayer aid. We are all used to jotting notes on them to remind us to 'pick up the laundry' or 'take the cat to the vet' or 'return book to Mary'.

They are just as handy to jot down prayers or thanksgivings during the day. Carry a small pad of them with you. When you hear about something that needs prayer, say a quick arrow prayer (see March 1) and then jot it down for more prayer attention later. If you remember something that makes you especially thankful, jot it down for rejoicing, too.

Keep track of your prayers for a week this way and you might begin to see a trend in the things and people you pray for. You might notice that you are offering more thanksgivings, too because you are more aware of things to be thankful for because you are writing them down! 

If you are someone who is totally paper-free, you can do the same thing on your i-pad or note pad on your phone, but there is something about the tangible effort of writing the prayer or thanksgiving on a piece of paper. Plus you can stick the note up on your computer or bulletin board or refrigerator as a reminder.

Arrows to Heaven

Paul advises us to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:16). That can sometimes be hard to do if we are in the midst of a busy day. A while ago, a priest introduced me to what he called "Arrow Prayers". These are just perfect for those hectic days when it seems that you cannot fit a prayer in anywhere, but when you really NEED to pray because there is someone on the phone who is contentious or the baby won't stop crying and you have to get out the door.

An arrow prayer is a quick prayer shot up to heaven. "God please help this person on the phone." "Lord help me to be more patient." "Please, dear God, help me to be kind even though I'm tired." These are some kinds of quick little arrow prayers. They can help us refocus on WHO is really important and in charge when we are feeling stressed.

Of course, there is the poem "The Difference" that is a perfect reminder that we need to start each day with prayer. No matter how busy and hectic it may end up being, if we've laid the foundation with some quiet time, it will be easier to shoot off that Arrow Prayer.

The Difference

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

'Why doesn't God help me?' 'I wondered.'

He answered, 'You didn't ask.'

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, grey and bleak;

I wondered why God didn't show me,

He said, 'You didn't seek.'

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

'My child, you didn't knock.'

I woke up early this morning,

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish,

That I had to take time to pray.

Anonymous

Praying the Psalms

Many people find the Psalms in the Bible a great source of consolation. As you read through the 150 psalms you will find a variety of human emotion. There is joy, grief, anger, fear, even hatred. No matter what you are feeling, you are certain to find the emotion mirrored in one of the psalms.

How do you pray with the psalms, though? There are some suggestions:

As Maria sings in The Sound of Music, "let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start." One way to use the psalms for prayer aids, is to start at the beginning-Psalm 1 (you can find them all at www.bcponline.org, too).

You can memorize some verses of your favorite psalm or even the entire psalm. There are many benefits to memorizing psalms and other verses from the Bible. When you are stressed, you will discover that your mind recalls a comforting verse or 2.

Another way to pray with the psalms is to take a favorite psalm and add your own intercessions or thanksgivings between the verses. Everyone knows Psalm 23. It is perfect for this kind of prayer, but many other psalms work too.

The LORD is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.         

Thank you God for all you provide for my life.                                                                                                                   

2He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.

Lord you bring me times of quiet and rest. Be with those who are in times of turmoil.  

3    He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.    

You direct me in the ways I am supposed to go. Help me to be aware of your actions.

4    Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Even when there is trouble you are my God beside me. Be with my friends who are sick or in sorrow.

5    You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

I know you will never leave me. Bless even those I disagree with or am angry with.

6    Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 Thank you Lord for all you do for me and all those who I love. Amen.