Be still and watchful
Sunday, October 19th
Gathering Music
Glenda Stansbury
Here We Open Our Hearts
Let us begin the day with this time of consideration, holy listening, supported silence, song, and prayer. We invite you to settle into your seat, let your shoulders drop, and take a deep breath as we reflect together.
As we reflect together, remember: your whole self is welcome here
- What “noise” makes life loud?
- In reflecting on the last week, were there moments when you needed stillness to cope, to heal, or to find clarity?
- What practice(s) might you develop around intentional stillness to help quiet the noise?
As we reflect together, remember: your whole self is welcome here
Call + Response
One: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
One: I thank you God for most this amazing day
For the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky
I who have died am alive again
This is the birthday of life and love
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
One: How should any human being doubt unimaginable You?
tasting touching hearing seeing breathing
lifted from the no of all nothing
Now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened.
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
One: I thank you God for most this amazing day
For the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky
I who have died am alive again
This is the birthday of life and love
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
One: How should any human being doubt unimaginable You?
tasting touching hearing seeing breathing
lifted from the no of all nothing
Now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened.
All: Grant us wisdom to perceive you. God of mercy, hear us.
Stillness
In this moment, we invite you into silent prayer, meditation, or further contemplation of the considerations.
Prayers of the People
One: Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, in this world where not all things are as they should be, “Your kingdom come,” we pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
All: If we want a garden, then we have to sow the seed. Plant a little happiness, and let the roots run deep. If it’s love that we give, then it’s love that we reap. God, hear our prayer.
One: Give us this day our daily bread.
All: You already know that it is not just flour, yeast, salt, and water, that we are after, Holy One. Every day we need work, rest, and play. God, hear our prayer.
One: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
All: All of us have fallen short at one time or another, so may mercy be our first instinct. Let us loosen our grip on grudges and grievances. God, hear our prayer.
One: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
All: We know that violence begets violence, so help us transform our pain instead of transmitting it. Grant us courage to do the next right thing. God, hear our prayer.
One: We lift up the beloveds of this congregation: for Jonathan, Lynn’s sister Becky, Shannon and Rebecca, Meg, Joan, and Dennis.
All: In a world where it is so easy to feel forgotten, may our beloveds know that we hold them close. God, hear our prayer.
One: Despite our best efforts, we do not always know what we need, what our neighbors need, or what to say.
All: Trusting that the Spirit intercedes for us, God, hear our prayer.
One: In our sleeping and waking, in our work and in our play, in our responsibilities and in our rest, come to us, Holy One, abide with us, and grant us your peace. Amen.
All: If we want a garden, then we have to sow the seed. Plant a little happiness, and let the roots run deep. If it’s love that we give, then it’s love that we reap. God, hear our prayer.
One: Give us this day our daily bread.
All: You already know that it is not just flour, yeast, salt, and water, that we are after, Holy One. Every day we need work, rest, and play. God, hear our prayer.
One: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
All: All of us have fallen short at one time or another, so may mercy be our first instinct. Let us loosen our grip on grudges and grievances. God, hear our prayer.
One: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
All: We know that violence begets violence, so help us transform our pain instead of transmitting it. Grant us courage to do the next right thing. God, hear our prayer.
One: We lift up the beloveds of this congregation: for Jonathan, Lynn’s sister Becky, Shannon and Rebecca, Meg, Joan, and Dennis.
All: In a world where it is so easy to feel forgotten, may our beloveds know that we hold them close. God, hear our prayer.
One: Despite our best efforts, we do not always know what we need, what our neighbors need, or what to say.
All: Trusting that the Spirit intercedes for us, God, hear our prayer.
One: In our sleeping and waking, in our work and in our play, in our responsibilities and in our rest, come to us, Holy One, abide with us, and grant us your peace. Amen.
Hymn
If You But Trust In God to Guide You, Hymn 410
New Century Hymnal
New Century Hymnal
Pastoral Prayer
Rev. Sheridan Irick
Meditation
Rev. Sheridan Irick
Reflection
Before you go into the rest of your day to act, take a moment to give yourself the space and time to check in with yourself and with the Holy Spirit for guidance. When you are ready, you’re invited to come forward and light a candle as a reminder of how the practice of stillness can illuminate our path forward.
Benediction
As you go out into the remainder of the day, may you carry the still, small voice of the Divine within you. May your hearts be filled with peace, your hands moved by compassion, and your steps guided by love.