Let us pray.
Blessed First-mover of all things, who from time immemorial in love for thyself and for us hast made all things to be, who camest into created time and space to be one with us, descending even unto death:
wherever we be lethargic, make us quick,
wherever we be withdrawn, make us present,
wherever we be remiss, make us full-of-grace and truth,
recreate us and let us burn with the radiant light of thy Holy Spirit, giving warmth to all those around us: that we may all behold ourselves resurrected in thee, full of life and vigor even in the cold, white winter of our flesh; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A Prayer for Healing
Let us pray.
O you who press in on us like stone, planing, shaping, grinding, who insert your hand and jumble us in order to rearrange us, pulling our insides out and making what is outside in: bind these ruins with your loving Spirit that we may be whole in you, never overflowing with excess, never overcome with need, simply what you have called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
O you who press in on us like stone, planing, shaping, grinding, who insert your hand and jumble us in order to rearrange us, pulling our insides out and making what is outside in: bind these ruins with your loving Spirit that we may be whole in you, never overflowing with excess, never overcome with need, simply what you have called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Brief Explanation
My dearest Reader,
Welcome to my new BLOG. I hope that if provides you some inspiration.
Most of you know me to like my dose of theology and liturgy. Unfortunately, I oftentimes find myself more confused and distracted by many competing voices when I put a lot of time and energy into reading and trying to write about these [albeit good] foci. Go ahead and say it: "Welcome to the year 2010, Dale!" Admittedly, I've found myself getting my gander up while on my little soapbox about certain theological positions. I was and am wrong in for that... In any case, I had been searching for something to BLOG that had substance and inspiration, but that isn't just another voice in the chaos. I'm tired of talking heads and pointed anonymous commentary.
When I stopped searching, I found it!
Last month, in my life of prayer I began to pen prayers here and there. These are not positive statements about anything, really. They produce in technicolor all the doubts and concerns I have when I approach the Divine as well as my confidence, hope, and love. And, frankly, my Friends, there aren't a whole lot of answers. The more you pray, the deeper and more awesome the Mystery. It pervades us, grabs us, searches and shakes us to the core, and we're left to try and make what little sense we can.
So far, these seem to come in stages. There are some days and weeks where I can't get much out. Thank God in those days for prayers that have been written by others and which I cling to when my faith is next to empty. Then I'll hit a bout of inspiration and... well, here that is. May they aid you in your discoveries of the Mystery.
A word about the form. These are Collects. Collects are prayers said by one person on behalf of the community, "collecting" a period of silent personal prayer into a communal expression. They begin with the bidding: "Let us pray." A period of silence should follow. Then the collect, and the ancient communal response of affirmation"Amen", or "May it be so". I hope that these will not be my prayers alone, but yours too.
A collect has a more or less set formula. It begins with the invitation: "Let us pray". Silence. Then there is an address to God. Then follows an ascription of praise about God. Then comes a petition for us. Next we add a subordinate clause that expresses how the petition fulfilled will affect us. The Collect closes with an clause of invocation. Finally, everyone affirmingly says: "Amen".
Invitation. Silent Prayer. Address. Ascription. Petition. Effects. Invocation. Affirmation.
The desired One is already pressing in upon us.
Blessings and peace to you all.
Always,
Dale
Welcome to my new BLOG. I hope that if provides you some inspiration.
Most of you know me to like my dose of theology and liturgy. Unfortunately, I oftentimes find myself more confused and distracted by many competing voices when I put a lot of time and energy into reading and trying to write about these [albeit good] foci. Go ahead and say it: "Welcome to the year 2010, Dale!" Admittedly, I've found myself getting my gander up while on my little soapbox about certain theological positions. I was and am wrong in for that... In any case, I had been searching for something to BLOG that had substance and inspiration, but that isn't just another voice in the chaos. I'm tired of talking heads and pointed anonymous commentary.
When I stopped searching, I found it!
Last month, in my life of prayer I began to pen prayers here and there. These are not positive statements about anything, really. They produce in technicolor all the doubts and concerns I have when I approach the Divine as well as my confidence, hope, and love. And, frankly, my Friends, there aren't a whole lot of answers. The more you pray, the deeper and more awesome the Mystery. It pervades us, grabs us, searches and shakes us to the core, and we're left to try and make what little sense we can.
So far, these seem to come in stages. There are some days and weeks where I can't get much out. Thank God in those days for prayers that have been written by others and which I cling to when my faith is next to empty. Then I'll hit a bout of inspiration and... well, here that is. May they aid you in your discoveries of the Mystery.
A word about the form. These are Collects. Collects are prayers said by one person on behalf of the community, "collecting" a period of silent personal prayer into a communal expression. They begin with the bidding: "Let us pray." A period of silence should follow. Then the collect, and the ancient communal response of affirmation"Amen", or "May it be so". I hope that these will not be my prayers alone, but yours too.
A collect has a more or less set formula. It begins with the invitation: "Let us pray". Silence. Then there is an address to God. Then follows an ascription of praise about God. Then comes a petition for us. Next we add a subordinate clause that expresses how the petition fulfilled will affect us. The Collect closes with an clause of invocation. Finally, everyone affirmingly says: "Amen".
Invitation. Silent Prayer. Address. Ascription. Petition. Effects. Invocation. Affirmation.
The desired One is already pressing in upon us.
Blessings and peace to you all.
Always,
Dale
9-23-2010
Let us pray.
Thou Beginning and End of all things seen and unseen: endlessly submersing, supporting, surrounding, sustaining; thou who createst even those spirits who choose to do evil, in their guile still calling them sternly, respectfully, with longing love by name; how much more we might have known thee had we looked into the eyes of those whom we hate and felt love; how much more we might have been like thee had we seen thy saving face in those whom we feared, frantically seeking them out and confronting them with the truth of your grace when they spited us even unto death: indeed, even in our remorseless coldheartedness thou lovest us and them equally, knowing in the Word of thy Heart that all are thine through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, O God, world without end.
Amen.
Thou Beginning and End of all things seen and unseen: endlessly submersing, supporting, surrounding, sustaining; thou who createst even those spirits who choose to do evil, in their guile still calling them sternly, respectfully, with longing love by name; how much more we might have known thee had we looked into the eyes of those whom we hate and felt love; how much more we might have been like thee had we seen thy saving face in those whom we feared, frantically seeking them out and confronting them with the truth of your grace when they spited us even unto death: indeed, even in our remorseless coldheartedness thou lovest us and them equally, knowing in the Word of thy Heart that all are thine through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, O God, world without end.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Youth
Let us pray.
Friend of our Souls, always young and growing inside of us, changing us as we change, staying the same so that we can look to you for love; call us to you, sit us on your knee, and teach us that we are your children; remind us that we are your friends; that way we will be one, as you and Jesus are One, doing your business of loving the world: through the same Jesus Christ our best friend, who lives and cares for us with you and the Holy Spirit, the Three of you only one God, always and for ever.
Amen.
Friend of our Souls, always young and growing inside of us, changing us as we change, staying the same so that we can look to you for love; call us to you, sit us on your knee, and teach us that we are your children; remind us that we are your friends; that way we will be one, as you and Jesus are One, doing your business of loving the world: through the same Jesus Christ our best friend, who lives and cares for us with you and the Holy Spirit, the Three of you only one God, always and for ever.
Amen.
8-17-2010
Let us pray.
Gracious nursing Mother, who in loving us witholdest nothing from us, but bestowest upon us the sweetness of thy very self; while we cry so longingly for the nourishment only thou mayst give, keep us this day from every act of ownership of and attachment to thee: that yet while unsatisfied our hope - that even in our most intense desire thou hast already filled us to overflowing, that in our darkness thou art with us, and that in our waywardness we are never lost to thy love - may lull us quietly to rest upon thy breast. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Gracious nursing Mother, who in loving us witholdest nothing from us, but bestowest upon us the sweetness of thy very self; while we cry so longingly for the nourishment only thou mayst give, keep us this day from every act of ownership of and attachment to thee: that yet while unsatisfied our hope - that even in our most intense desire thou hast already filled us to overflowing, that in our darkness thou art with us, and that in our waywardness we are never lost to thy love - may lull us quietly to rest upon thy breast. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
8-16-2010
Let us pray.
Inexpressible God, always present while unattainable, obvious while defying all logic, giver of words that cannot describe you, make us fully aware of your pressing presence upon us; that we, beholding your inexhaustible mystery may not be staggered by your lofty breadth but filled instead with joy in the fullness of your pounding self-revelation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Inexpressible God, always present while unattainable, obvious while defying all logic, giver of words that cannot describe you, make us fully aware of your pressing presence upon us; that we, beholding your inexhaustible mystery may not be staggered by your lofty breadth but filled instead with joy in the fullness of your pounding self-revelation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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