A Prayer For The Guiding Light of God’s Spirit (a prayer written especially for the listening process, to be read aloud by one or all who wish to join) O God, throughout the ages you have been a faithful light for your people. Today we once again find ourselves in need of your guiding light in this time of discernment. We humbly ask that you would give us grace to listen to one another with gentle and compassionate hearts. We ask for trust for those who are afraid. We ask for hope for those who are discouraged. We ask for wisdom for those who are in leadership. We ask for a fresh outpouring of God's spirit on EMU and the broader church. Show us the way forward, together. In the midst of our discernment may we not forget the other work to which you have called us - to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor, to shelter the homeless, and to bind up the wounds of those who are suffering. In your mercy Lord, Hear our prayer. Amen Breath Prayer Invite people to a time of silent prayer for 3-5 minutes. During this silence simply invite them to repeat a phrase over and over, paying attention to their breath and repeating this prayer silently with each exhale. Below are several examples that can be prayed silently with each breath. Choose only one to use with each prayer time. Be still and know that I am God. Surely God is in this place. Holy Spirit, guide us. (“Holy Spirit” on inhale and “guide us” on exhale.) Or create your own using scripture as your guide. Another option for breath prayer: When you inhale, invite God’s presence to be with you. When you exhale, release all your worries, stress and anxiety to God. After the time of silence, invite people to share how that prayer was for them. And, if there is time, ask them to share what they noticed. Hymnal: A Worship Book #720 Make this prayer of intercession personal by pausing after each “leader” section for others to add specific prayers. Then end each section with: In your mercy, Lord hear our prayer. The Love Prayer Jesus: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Matt 22:37, 39; 5:40 An invitation to pray for yourself and those around you. Leave a time of silence after each italicized part for people to name what comes to their mind. You will need to share what is in the parenthesis for people to know what they should be naming or thinking during the time of silence. I love you Lord. Lord Jesus, fill me with your love. Fill me with your love for… (those closest to me…) Fill me with your love for my neighbors… (literal neighbors, friends, acquaintances, others on campus…) Fill me with your love for your church… (leaders, church family/friends, the local congregation, the regional church body, and the denominational church body…) Fill me with your love for your world… (creation, world leaders, those who have little, those who have much…) Fill me with your love for my enemies… Lord Jesus, fill me with your love. Hands Down, Hands Up Prayer This is a prayer for openness and receptivity to God and God’s word, and each other. Tell the group to close their eyes and place their hands, palms down on their lap. Guide the group by saying: “We’re going to pray silently, first with our hands down in confession and then with our palms up in openness to God. With your palms down you are letting go of whatever might be distracting you. Let God have your worries and troubles. Maybe you need to ask for forgiveness.” (Pause) “Whenever you are ready to receive what God has for you, turn your palms up and wait on God.” (Pause.) When you, as the leader, see that each person has turned his or her palms up, conclude the prayer with: “Our lives are in your hands, O God. Amen.” Prayer for Discernment God, we thank you for those who have the ability to ask the difficult questions. May these questions not divide us, but make us stronger. God, help us to respect one another’s differences and show compassion. God, we thank you for those who don't offer simple answers to the complexities of life. May you give us the ears to hear the questions and the ability to respond with vulnerability and honesty. God, help us to listen to one another and to be awed by your mystery. God, we thank you for those who are not afraid to say, "I do not know for sure" or "I could be wrong.” May you help each of us to share from our hearts with integrity. God, help us to love one another, even those who take different paths from ours. God, we thank you for those who have rooted their faith deep within your wisdom, love and care. Guide us to be a part of this cloud of witnesses. God, give us the wisdom and courage to enter into discernment with this community. Adapted from the Beatitudes of a Still-Seeking Christian by Kate Compton From "600 Prayers & Blessings from Around the World", compiled by Geoffrey Duncan PARADOX The Christian faith is full of it, And so is all of life. Lord, bless our state of paradox; Let it not end in strife. Lord, bless our world of opposites And weave them into one. Lord, bless us as we live with this -A task scarcely begun! Sister Michell, OHP Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi Lord, make us an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let us sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Serenity Prayer (Reinhold Niebuhr) God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.