A Glimpse into Centering Prayer  with Sophia’s Spring 24 March 2021

Some of our friends couldn’t come tonight due to a funeral, so I’m sharing three elements which are different each week:  a “teaching moment” based on the writings of Thomas Keating or Joan Chittister;  a prayer of approach , which is a few verses from the Psalms translated by Nan Merrill; and a version of the prayer of Jesus which features inclusive language, many of which are translations from the Aramaic. The prayers are found on the internet.

The other two elements are the sharing of joys and concerns around our virtual circle, and the silent Centering Prayer time, about 15 minutes.

Feel free to join us any Wednesday from 530 to 6 pm via the link sent out for Sundays.

Teaching Moment

“Deep Knowledge of God”      from Who Is God? By Thomas Keating

Christ is all and in all.  Colossians 3:11 NAB

In the Kindom of Heaven Jesus says there is not Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. But everyone is one in Christ. That’s the way it actually is.  We don’t see it that way yet. That’s the problem. What ca we do to see it right side up?  It’s the deep knowledge or the true knowledge of God that Paul presents to us in his epistles. Over and over again he speaks about deep knowledge. Not just knowledge.  Not just intellectual knowledge.  Not conceptual knowledge. But the kind of intimate knowledge that is only comparable to the most intimate kind of human relationships. The deep knowledge of God – this is what he prays for his disciples.

Ephesians 1:7  NJB altered

May the Sophia of Jesus Christ give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed to bring you to the full knowledge of Sophia God.

Prayer of Approach

Psalm 45 from Nan Merrill’s Psalms for Praying

I address my verses to the Heart of all hearts;                                                                                                My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.                                                                                                     My heart overflows with gratitude and peace;

You are the lodestar for humankind;                                                                                                                        grace springs forth from your Love;                                                                                                                     You, who are closer than our breath,                                                                                                                                   speak to us from the silence.                                                                                                                                                   Those who listen and heed are blessed beyond belief!

 

Closing Prayer

EARTH DANCE, based on the Lord’s Prayer, published in Minnesota Women’s Press, December 1999.  Author thought to be Karen Loveland, as member of Unity Church, Santa Rosa, CA. Passed on in 2000 by Nancy Carroll

Our Mother,                                                                                                                                                                              which art the earth,                                                                                                                                              Nurturing are thy ways.                                                                                                                                                                        Thy web of life be woven,                                                                                                                                                   Thy way be found within,                                                                                                                                                   As it is all around.

Thank you this day for our daily bread and sweat                                                                                               and forgive us our misuse of you,                                                                                                                                 as we forgive others their misuse of us.

And lead us not into exploitation,                                                                                                                             But deliver us                                                                                                                                                        From lording it over you,                                                                                                                                                 And over each other,                                                                                                                                                 And over all our other fellow creatures.

For thine are the waters of life,                                                                                                                                 The hills, valleys, and plains of home,                                                                                                                      The breeding, seeding, feeding ground,                                                                                                              For now, and for as close to forever                                                                                                                        As we will ever come.

Ah, woman!

 

May the blessings of Sophia be with you .  Kathy Hore

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