Ashes to Ashes

William Law was an 18th century English poet, mystic, writer, and Anglican priest. Among his many other writings, Law adapted the monastic model of the daily "hours of prayer" (times when monks would gather together to recite the psalms and pray) for use by people who were not called to monastic life.  He suggested six different periods of prayer each day.  His belief was that each specific period of prayer should focus on something different, and should consist of both "structured" prayer and "free" prayer.  Law's model was set up along this line:

1. Praise and Thanksgiving (use of Psalms) -- beginning of each day
2. Prayer for humility -- 9:00 a.m.
3.  Prayers for universal love (intercession) -- noon
4.  Prayers for grace of resignation to God's will -- mid-afternoon
5.  Prayers of self-examination (confession) -- sunset
6.  Meditation upon death -- bedtime

When I first read of Law's proposed subjects for prayer, I found myself nodding in agreement at each one... until I came to number 6.  "Meditation upon death," I thought.  "How morbidly British!"  But over the years, as I've continued to look at and, at times use, his model, I began to see the wisdom in such a proposal.  It is not morbid at all - at least in my experience - to meditate upon death.  I have found it to be a simple, albeit profound, reminder of my own mortality.  I will not live forever.  That reminds me to cherish life each day, to live intentionally each moment, and to not fear death.  After all, as the first sentence in the Presbyterian Church's Brief Statement of Faith reminds us (borrowing from the Heidelberg Catechism), "In life and in death we belong to God."

Today is Ash Wednesday.  Ashes are a reminder of our mortality, and of God's sustaining love and grace which always surrounds us... in life and in death both.  Today marks

the beginning of Lent, a time of invitation for us to reflect, to repent, to pray, to meditate, to do acts of compassion, to give of ourselves to others.  This invitation - this call - is always extended to us.  During Lent we simply are encouraged to remember.

Blessings and peace on your Lenten journey.

Models for Prayer - historical and new

How do you pray?  Do you have a set place or places in which you pray?  Do you have a set time or two each day that you pray?  Do you use a specified form for your prayers, or do you pray what's on your heart and mind at the moment, or do you use some combination of the two?

There are a multitude of models for prayer.  Some of these are:

1.     The monastic model - Monks and nuns observe eight traditional "hours" (periods) of prayer during the day when they gather together.

2.     William Law - An 18th century English clergyperson, Law adapted the monastic model for individual use, suggesting that times of prayer each day should focus on different things:

a.     praise and thanksgiving

b.     humility

c.     intercession

d.     grace for resignation to God's will

e.     self-examination (confession)

f.      meditation upon death

3.     Dietrich Bonhoeffer - This 20th century German theologian suggested that we spend time each day in meditation upon a portion of Scripture and its meaning for us in that moment, prayer for strength and guidance and spiritual growth, and prayers for others.

4.     The Jesus Prayer - Used mainly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Church, the Jesus Prayer is a model for trying to attain St. Paul's injunction to "be constant in prayer." (Rom. 12:12)  It consists of a constant repetition in the heart of the simple prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

5.     Silence - In the 46th Psalm, we read the words, "Be still, and know that I am God."  The early Desert Fathers and Mothers -- those spiritual leaders of the Church during the early centuries of the Christian Era -- valued being silent before God above most everything else.  One of those leaders, Abba Arsenius, once said, "I have often repented of having spoken, but seldom of having remained silent."

6.     Spiritual Direction - The art of spiritual direction is an ancient discipline of spirituality in the Church.  It is the practice of putting yourself under the direction of someone more experienced in the Faith, more experienced in prayer, more experienced in life in the Spirit.

7.     Use of Prayer Books or other Devotional Books - Sometimes it helps to have words to guide and inspire our prayers, because sometimes we simply have no words to pray, and sometimes such guides remind us of other things and people for which to pray.

In the last couple of weeks, I've experienced yet another way to pray... a kind of prayer only possible with 21st century social media and technology.  Two different groups have invited people to join on Twitter for a time of prayer together.  The host sends a tweet that opens the time in prayer, and then suggests in a new tweet a subject around which to gather our prayers, and people may either pray on their own or reply with a tweet of something for which they'd like those gathered in cyberspace to pray.  After a set amount of time, the host tweets a closing prayer.  I don't know how to explain it, and I know it sounds pretty "out there," and I didn't think I would like it, but it works.  I wouldn't want that to be my only discipline of prayer, but it was a new, refreshing way to be with others in prayer in a very real and intentional way.

So, back to the beginning... How do you pray?  Do you join regularly during the week with others to pray?  Do you follow a particular form for your prayers?  I'd love to hear something of the spiritual discipline that you follow, and, with your permission, I'd love to share some of your responses.

Busy-ness and praying?

St. Paul called us to "pray always," or "pray without ceasing."  The Orthodox tradition of the Jesus Prayer as a guide for praying continually is helpful, but I don't always remember to use that.  (If you are not familiar with that particular spiritual tradition among our Orthodox brothers and sisters, and if you'd like to know more, just holler; I'd love to talk with folks about that.)  So living into an attitude of prayer is something that I continue to find myself needing more and more.  It's ironic, isn't it, to think that finding/making time for prayer is something that a "Church person" needs to do more of?  And yet I confess it freely... knowing that I am most assuredly not alone in this need.

Whether working in and for the Church, or working somewhere else, or going to school, or living into retirement, most all of us have busy lives filled with too many things, too many appointment, too many worries, too many distractions from the spiritual life.  In his wonderful and challenging book, The Contemplative Pastor, Eugene Peterson wrote these words.  Now, he was writing to pastors, but I think it applies to most all of us.

"It takes time to develop a life of prayer: set-aside, disciplined, deliberate time. It isn't accomplished on the run... I know I can't be busy and pray at the same time.  I can be active and pray; I can work and pray; but I cannot be busy and pray.  I cannot be inwardly rushed, distracted, or dispersed.  In order to pray I have to be paying more attention to God than to what people are saying to me; to God than to my clamoring ego."

I'm going to be working again to make the time to pray... even, or perhaps especially, as I work.  Work and prayer are not mutually exclusive; quite the contrary.  The key, I believe, is being consciously aware of God's presence within us, working through us, in the lives of others we meet, in the splendor of creation.  Care to join in this endeavor?

A Prayer on Mother's Day

Years ago, a colleague, the Rev. Georgiana Kugle, shared with our lectionary study group a prayer that she had found, and said that she used it in worship each Mother's Day.  I found it so meaningful that I have used it since.  I will not be leading worship this Sunday, but I thought I'd share it here.  (Inspired by this, I wrote a similar prayer that I have used on Father's Day.  I'll share that when that day approaches.)

A Prayer on Mother’s Day

Most Holy and Eternal God, your love is from everlasting to everlasting.  We put our faith and our hope in you.

This day we approach you mindful of the world in which we live.  In this country and in many others, mothers are being remembered and celebrated, families being honored and recognized.  Our prayer today is for the joys and sorrows this day brings.

For those who have mothers they dearly love, may we take time today to appreciate the gifts and graces that have come to us through her.

For those whose mother is dearly loved but no longer living, may we take time to remember the gifts and graces that have come to us through her.

For those who have recently lost or who are facing the imminent loss of their own dear mothers, may they find comfort in their grief, hope in their despair, courage in the love they have received.

We give thanks, gracious God, for these good mothers who gave us birth.  We give thanks for the families who have and who do sustain and support us in our living, and who love us no matter what!

We pray, compassionate God, for those whose mother has been a source of hurt and pain, for all those for whom one or more members of their family has caused them to suffer.  May they find refuge in your love.  May their wounds be healed.  May they find in you, in us, and in others the nurturing, sustaining love that is needed for their growth and well-being.

We give thanks to you, O God, for all those who, responding to the difficult lives of others, have stepped in to become surrogate mothers; for those who, in the absence of our own mothers, for whatever reason, have stepped into our lives providing the guidance and stability, the nurture and the love needed.

We remember single mothers and fathers who struggle to be both parents to their children – to provide all the emotional, physical and spiritual needs without the constant support of a spouse. May they find the strength, the courage and wisdom for their task.

Look now, loving God, upon all those who are mothers – biologically or by the role they play in the lives of others.  May they remember what precious treasures children are.

We join all mothers everywhere in praying that their children may be a joy and a blessing.

We pray for those mothers who have been hurt, disillusioned, or disappointed in their role as mother.

We pray for those who have been denied a longed-for chance at motherhood, and for those whose years of mothering have been cut short by the loss of a child.  We turn to you, most holy God, knowing and trusting that you offer consolation that seems impossible.  May these receive comfort for their soul, and peace and hope for living, that their gifts may not be denied to others.

Hear our prayers this day, O God, and give to us such assurance of your love that your love may spill forth from us into the lives of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.  Amen.

(A Mother’s Day Prayer composed by the Rev. M. Gayle MacDonald for use in worship.  Shared with a lectionary group by the Rev. Georgiana Kugle, Omaha, Nebraska.)

Prayer as a way of life?

Years ago I saw a cartoon... one of those "church chuckles" things.  It showed a pastor in his study at church, kneeling by a sofa, obviously in prayer.  The church secretary walks in, sees the pastor, and says, "Oh, good.  You're not busy."

There are times for me that praying comes as naturally as my breathing... and that's my goal.  There are other times - okay, that's most of the time! - when prayer is not the first, natural, automatic, primary, consistent part of how I spend my day.  St. Paul tells us to "pray always."  I'm sure he doesn't mean that we spend every moment with our eyes closed, head bowed, and hands clasped.  After all, that's sure not how HE spent his days!  What I believe he meant is that we live every moment in communion with God... in contact... in relationship... conscious of the Lord's presence within us, around us, and within others.  And that, after all, is the essence of what prayer is and does, don't you think?

During Lent one year in the last congregation I served as pastor, we decided to offer a service of Morning Prayer every day at 9:00 a.m. in the Chapel at the church.  A handful of people came most days during Lent.  When Lent was over, they asked, "Do we have to stop now?"  I was stunned... ecstatically so!  I don't think I ever had someone come up to me and ask to keep praying together!  So, we decided to keep it going.  Now, after a few months, it generally was only one ruling elder who would meet me in the Chapel at 9:00 a.m. for Morning Prayer, but we did that for several years.  I miss that time.  I miss having someone to pray with.  More than that, though, I miss the spiritual discipline of being accountable to someone else for at least one time each day when I spend moments in prayer, silence, and Scripture reading.  I want to find that structure again.

How about you?  How is prayer for you?  Do you have someone with whom you pray?  Do you have a set time or structure or format for prayer, for silence, for meditation, for devotional reading?

I think we all want to feel centered in our lives:  anchored, solid, focused, balanced, at peace.  I believe we all want to live into that reality about which St. Paul wrote:

"Don't be anxious about anything; rather bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.  Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7, Common English Bible)

Maybe a group of folks in our Presbytery would like to begin meeting regularly to pray together.  Maybe such a group or groups already does that!  I trust you'll join me in wanting to find some folks with whom to engage in the practices of the spiritual life.  And in the meantime, keep praying; you, me, our churches, our communities, our world all need it!

Blessings and peace,

Steve

Learning a New Rhythm

For a little over 36 years I have served the Church as pastor of congregations.  To be sure, over those years I also have done other things:  Fire Department chaplain, college instructor in philosophy, Stated Clerk, and many community activities where I've lived.  However, the thing that has been consistent in my vocation has been serving as a pastor.  I have loved doing that... at least most of the time! :-)  What I know is that when you are a pastor, your primary focus is on preparing to lead folks in the worship of God on Sunday mornings.  Other things come and go - weddings, funerals, pastoral visits, crises, leaky roofs, boiler problems, etc., etc. - but that Sunday morning thing comes around every week... week in and week out.  And at least for me, that has led to a definite rhythm of my weeks.  I know each day where I'd like to be in terms of finishing the worship liturgy, writing my sermon, selecting hymns, and putting the bulletin together.  That rhythm affected and defined my work schedule, my devotional life, my time for study and meditation, and time for writing.

Now, however, for the first time, I am serving in a larger Council of the Church - as the Stated Clerk/Communicator for the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse - and things are different.  I absolutely love my new position!  Yet it is a change for me... not just a geographical change (I've never lived in the Northeast before), and not just a change in presbyteries and synods, but a change in how I structure my weeks.  As a result, I'm having to adjust to "Learning a New Rhythm."  No longer does the press of an approaching Sunday drive me to my books, to writing, to prayer, to reflection, to wrestling with biblical texts.  Yet what I am doing is so clearly ministry, and is a ministry I am enjoying to the fullest.  It's just that there's this different rhythm to my life and my work now.

Change is good... even for someone my age! :-)   And what change can do is to be that impetus to find our ways through life when we are "Learning a New Rhythm."  It's not a bad thing at all.  It's just, well, "different."  And so I'm adjusting to find my way into a new normal, a new routine, a new rhythm for praying, meditating, Bible reading, study, writing, and being in ministry with others.

Cardinal time - and I'm not talking baseball here

The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church are in conclave, and I have all sorts of mixed feelings about them.

There is a part of me that is drawn to the mystery and majesty of this occasion.  The setting alone induces awe, and their task is nothing short of daunting.

There is a part of me that prays for the Holy Spirit to guide them.  A part of that, I confess, is that it would be nice to see that the Church of Jesus Christ - at least at one time and in one place - emerge united.  The confession part of that for me, of course, is that my own religious tradition is not a paragon of unity!

There is a part of me that prays for the Holy Spirit to guide them because the job of the Bishop of Rome is so powerfully symbolic to the entire world, and that person needs to be a strong, compassionate, wise, competent, faithful person of genuine spirituality and impeccable integrity.

There is a part of me that, honestly, is disgusted by the whole thing.  A bunch of old men are sitting together to pick out one of their old-men-number to oversee a Church that continues to invest its power in mostly old men.  Lord, deliver us from such an outdated - and, I believe, unbiblical - model of leadership for Christ's Church!

There is a part of me that fears that those men will fail to choose someone who will handle the abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church any differently than the ways in which these cases already have been handled - or, perhaps more accurately, not been handled.  The new Bishop of Rome needs to ensure that things like this are dealt with appropriately, compassionately, justly, openly, and expeditiously.

The cardinals continue in conclave.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.