Fire & Grace Contemplative Worship

Fire & Grace

Contemplative Worship

Living Spirit United Church

January 12, 2011

“The tao that can be named isn’t the eternal Tao.”     

 (the opening line of Lao Tzu’s Tao to Ching)

Welcome

Opening Reading  (spoken together)

 

“God is reality. 

God is all that has happened, is happening, and will ever happen; 

and all that didn’t, hasn’t and won’t ever happen. 

God is everything and it’s opposite.”

          (Rabbi Rami Shapiro)

Chant:

Spirit of Truth, enter my mind,

Soul of Wisdom, enter my heart.

 (repeat)

Readings…

1^st reading – listen, what word or phrase draws you.

2^nd reading – listen, for an image that relates to your life.

3^rd reading – listen, what might God be calling you to?

“We are fashioned in the image and likeness of God the way a wave is fashioned in the image and likeness of an ocean.  

The more we focus on the wave aspect of ourselves the more we play God:  seeking to control our lives by controlling the lives of everyone else.  The more we play God the less godly we become and the more damage we do.  

The more we focus on the oceanic aspect of ourselves, the more we are surrendered to God: we stop playing God, and realize that God is playing us; we discover that we are vehicles for creativity and freedom. “

                                                                          (Rabbi Rami Shapiro)

Chant:

Spirit of Truth, enter my mind,

Soul of Wisdom, enter my heart.

 (repeat)

Silent Meditation (15-20 minutes ended by a bell)

Prayers of the people followed by Our Father.

Chant:

Jesus said… What are you looking for? 

The kingdom of God is within you and outside of you. 

This is my very body, this is my blood.

*I am here, I am with you, I am He…

I am here, I am with you, I am He… 

(* repeat to bell then repeat entire chant)

Closing Prayer:  (spoken together)

“My God, the soul you place within me is pure.   

And because it is pure I am free to live today differently than yesterday.  Because it is free, I am free to live today without the burden of past habits, past fears, past mistakes, and past failures.   

I am free to look at my past without repeating it; to examine it for lessons to be learned and amends to be made; and to draw from it what guidance I can to live today differently.   

My God, may I use today’s gift of freedom to further my capacity to serve You by serving Your creation with justice, compassion and humility.”                                  (Rabbi Rami Shapiro)

Namaste.