Second Prayer Call Report

The second prayer call went well. Megan reiterated vision for these calls and then Jonathan led the prayer reading (that Megan created). We had visual art too, which was great, to reflect on. Jonathan introduced the silent prayer time with a quote from "the Practice of the Presence of God."

We then broke into two groups and prayed for the following things:
1. DSC Conference may 13-15.
2. DSC Groups:In TX, IN and OH. One excerpt from those prayers: "We ask for new confidence for the risk of being creative in front of others. Protection, bolstering of who they are. Equip them to overcome obstacles and the things that fill our time and keep us from the creative purposes you have for us."
3. Greenhouse Arts in CO.
4. Adam Fleming's coaching clients
5. Anna P's: Solo art exhibit
6. Jonathan Reuel's upcoming album
7. Zac's finances

1. Our Vision for the Third Tuesdays DSC Prayer Call call is that the love and purposes of God will mature in us and through us as we learn and pray together. We want to:
a. Follow Jesus in prayer - learn from what Jesus said re: prayer and what he modeled.
b. Pray in and for community - pray as a group, pray for the wider DSC community, the wider body, and beyond.
c. Pray creatively - practicing various forms of prayer including practicing the presence, personal house of prayer model, using images, silence, meditation, read prayers.

"If sometimes she becomes a little distracted from the divine presence, God gently recalls Himself by a stirring in her soul. This often happens when she is most engaged in her outward chores and tasks. She answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of her heart to God, or by a meek and fond regard for Him, or by such words as love forms on these occasions. For instance, she may say, "My God, here I am all devoted to You," or "Lord, make me according to Your heart."

It seems to her (in fact, she feels it) that this God of love, satisfied with such few words, reposes again and rests in the depth and center of her soul. The experience of these things gives her such certainty that God is always in the innermost part of her soul that she is beyond doubting it under any circumstances." (From "the Practice of the Presence of God." Gender changed to reference us as the bride of Christ)

Feb 15, 2011: Prayer Reading for Third Tuesdays Call

The following is based on several versions of the book of common prayer, and A Place Apart readings compiled and altered for Third Tuesdays Prayer.
Leaders read plain text, group reads response in bold. Images of paintings by Mark Daniels.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Holy, Holy, Holy
Creator God
Beyond Comprehension,
Beyond mystery,
Present within every created thing,
Nurture the mystic within me.

Nurture the mystic within us.

Help me to awaken
From empty dreaming
So that I may become
One with you
And all creation.

Lord, Awaken us.

Source of all creativity, we are made in your image.

Thank you for giving us our creative natures. Thank you for giving us the ability to grow in skill and expertise.

Holy Spirit walk with me
As you walked with Christ
Into the desert,
The vast and empty space.

Lord, walk with us.

Walk me through the Valley
Of the shadow of death.
Expose my clinging
To the half-life,
To fear.

Lord, walk with us.

Shepherd us, Lord, with a faithful heart : and guide us in the way of truth.
You built your sanctuary like the heights of heaven : like the earth which you founded for ever.

Comfort me in my loneliness
So that I may comfort the lonely.

Holy Spirit, Let it be.

Through my suffering
Lead me to those who suffer.

Lamb of God, let it be.

Anoint my weeping
that I might weep with the brokenhearted.

Son of David, Let it be.

Use even my darkness
To bring forth light.
In my healing
Anoint me to heal.
Fill me with such abandon
That laughter becomes my second language.

Raiser of the Dead, Let it be!

So you shepherd us with a faithful and true heart : and guide us with the skillfulness of your hands.

Shepherd us, Lord, with a faithful heart : and guide us in the way of truth.

(Genesis 31:25 – 50 Hebrews 7:1 – 28)



Benediction:
Holy God unite me
To family and friends
To my community
To my enemies
To the poor
To the rich
To the hungry
To the filled
To the privileged
To the despised
To all humanity
To myself.
In your Spirit’s presence
I am fully alive.
In your Spirit's presence, we are fully alive.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors. Amen.

First Call Great

We just finished the first of our Third Tuesdays conference calls focused on prayer. We hope to do these every month.

We had a very small group of 5 which was good since we're working out how praying over the phone works. The call had a good balance of structure and creativity. We used a written prayer culled from several different daily prayer resources (including excerpts from A Place Apart's daily prayer cycle). We spent some time in silence, working on practicing the presence of God. We also took time to pray for the DSC groups in Ohio, Indiana and Texas. The TX group has their first regular meeting tomorrow, so the timing was good.

As a leader in the DSC for years I feel very relieved to see this happening and excited to be a part of it. It feels a bit like when your back has been slightly out of whack and it gets put right. This is something we need. This is good. This is part of who we are meant to be and we are becoming it -- steadily and surely -- because Someone patient and trustworthy is initiating and sustaining the process.

- Jonathan

Come join us on the third Tuesday of February.

First Prayer Reading for Third Tuesdays Call

Here's is the first prayer reading. It's based on several versions of the book of common prayer, and APlace Apart readings compiled and altered for Third Tuesdays Prayer.

Come, let us bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Lord, have mercy.
Judge your earth with mercy, Lord.
Teach us to love justice.
(Psalm 94:2-4:)
Rise up, O Judge of the wicked; give the arrogant their just deserts.
How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph?
They bluster in their insolence, all evildoers are full of boasting.
Judge your earth with mercy, Lord. And teach us to love justice.

Come to me beloved, Embrace me
In the beauty of your completeness.
In the midst of storm,
Through thunder, lightening, and violent wind,
Help me to live in stillness.
As the world races, And humanity falls exhausted,
Quiet my spirit, Lift me to dancing.
Open me to my smallness
Within a galaxy of 200 billion suns,
Within a universe of millions of galaxies,
Make me smaller still;
The tiniest speck
But in your mercy
A speck of light.

Holy Spirit, guide us in the imprint of Christ’s footsteps to pursue justice, counting our neighbor’s welfare to be as important as our own.
Teach us to pray.
Help us turn our attention towards you throughout the day. Draw us towards you.
Teach us to pray regularly.
Open our hearts and lives to you great love which is an ocean that surrounds us everywhere and at all times.
Teach us to pray deeply.
You are good and kind and just and generous. You are love.
Teach us to pray without ceasing.
Teach us to pray.