There is great power in the prayer of community.
Many of First’s folks, by themselves or gathering as family, are praying this small prayer between 10:00 and 10:30 every day.
Allow about 10 -15 minute (adapt this to address the spirituality of children, youth... as you need)
Here is a suggested liturgy:
A prayer time for First United
Gathering:
Recall that there is much healing power in prayer.
Healing and grounding for ourselves,
For those we love,
those we care about,
for our country, the environment, the world..,
Bringing others into the circle of our prayer energy:
In what ever way is comfortable for you,
recognize God-with-Us, the Eternal Love
embracing and energizing, comforting and healing...
Imagine others from First, praying with you, you with them, at this time.
Bring into your Circle of Prayer any and all you care about (name them)
(allow time for all to voice what is on their heart.)
Take some time to let your Sacred Love connect with the Sacred Love of what was named
Say a little prayer
Example:
Holy One, God,
be with all that we have named
and be with each of us here
and with our couple/family/church community
as we ground ourselves in You.
(add anything else you wish)
We send Healing, Loving, Sacred Spirit energy
to give Wisdom to our Leaders
strength to Brian and those working with him,
Hope to our environment.
(if others are with you, ask them if they would like to add anything)
Praying the prayer that Jesus taught us (Voices United page 916)
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 echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world!
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, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, 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 for ever.
Amen.
Song
Perhaps sing a hymn, as many verses that everyone knows the words.
Closing
And so we end this time of prayer
grounded and resting in the Sacred
energized by the Christ-energy.
We are not alone,
Thanks be to God.