Contemplation - inner work for outer change

I am so excited.  My issue of GEEZ magazine (Summer 2011) just arrived in our mailbox and I need to find time to read it.  I actually opened to a random page and read right through it standing in the middle of the kitchen floor.

a sample of the headings this issue are...

• Forget 'making a difference'
• Seven varieties of religious contemplation
• Speechless for a week
• At least now I know I'm neurotic
• Those who sing pray twice
• Three stations of the activist sould
• a call for monks and activists to unite

and on... but I have to go out now... this will be by my side for every spare moment... to speed read and/or savour at leisure... and possibly both ... it's definitely going to the cabin for the whole summer so you can read it too...


later man, jan

Contemplative Worship May 12 - 9:30am

Fire & Grace Contemplative Worship Service

Living Spirit United Church – May 12, 2011

Welcome

Please enter quietly

 and join with us to hold the silence for all.

“When intellect exhausts itself,
from inky darkness
soul launches into the luminous void;
a moth flutters toward the Midnight Sun.”

                                                (Moth to the Flame – Aaron Stephens)

Opening Reading  (spoken together)

“From my first breath I have longed for Him. 
                           This longing has become my life.” (Rumi)

Chant:

O You whose face illumines my dark room,

This moth encircling You, is my heart.

 (repeat)

Lectio Divina 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?

"Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."
                                                 (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

Chant:

If you will, if you will, if you will, if you will.

You can become all flame, become all flame, become all flame.

You can become all flame… become all flame!

(Darlene Franz, Seattle)(repeat)

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

Prayers of the people followed by Our Father.

Chant:

If you will, if you will, if you will, if you will.

You can become all flame, become all flame, become all flame.

You can become all flame… become all flame!

(Darlene Franz, Seattle) (repeat)

Closing:  (spoken together)

We give thanks to You,

        who are the Source of Love;

        whose Light shines forth

                throughout the universe!

Come, awaken our hearts that

        we might do your Work;

For, without You, we can do nothing;

        ‘tis your Love that loves

                through us.

                        (Psalm 107 trans Nan C. Merrill)

Namaste.

“Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened”  Matthew 7:7

Please Join us for Fire & Grace Contemplative Worship

 Wednesdays evenings at either Wild Rose or Hillhurst United. 

1^st and 3^rd Thursday mornings - St Laurence Anglican

2^nd and 4^th Thursday mornings - Living Spirit United

For more information on detailed dates and times please call Jan Bacon at 403-242-2115 or email baconj@telus.net

Contemplative Worship April 28th 9:30am

Welcome

Please enter quietly

 and join with us to hold this silent space for all.

Jesus answered them, “The hour has come, for the Son of man to be glorified.   Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.                                                     (John 12: 23-24 NRSV)   

   

Fire & Grace Contemplative Worship Service

Living Spirit United Church – April 28, 2011

Welcome 

Opening Reading  (spoken together)

Come and find the quiet centre

          In the crowded life we lead,

Find the room for hope to enter,

          Find the frame where we are freed:

Clear the chaos and the clutter,

          Clear our eyes that we can see

All the things that really matter,

          Be at peace, and simply be.     (#374 Voices United)

Chant:

Listen, listen, wait in silence listening,

For the One from whom all mercy flows.

 (Psalm 130 ) (repeat)

Lectio Divina 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?

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

(Frederick Buechner)

Silent Meditation (20 minutes ended by a bell)

Prayers of the people followed by Our Father.

Chant:

If you will, if you will, if you will, if you will.

You can become all flame,

become all flame, become all flame.

You can become all flame… become all flame!

(Darlene Franz, Seattle) (repeat)

Closing:  (spoken together)

Lift up your hearts to the Most High!

Let the earth ring with songs of praise!

Be glad O people of the Light!

Let your life be impregnated by Love’s gifts.

Discover in the Great Silence the mystery

of who you are, and be true to your self.

For wherever you dwell, there is beauty;

Infinite Love is everywhere.

Know that the beauty hidden within your soul,

Is seen by the eyes of your heart.

Let the still small voice of the Beloved

Guide you by day and comfort you at night;

Then will you be blessed and, in turn,

You will be blessing to the world.

                             (Psalm 129 trans Nan C. Merrill)

Namaste.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all from whatever faith, who reject Hatred and practise LOVE !

"Holy Week is the most sacred & most mystical passage in the Christian year.

It is when we ritually relive and reclaim the very epicentre of Christianity as Jesus

reveals the depths of love, and wages his very life for the reality of the premise he staked

his whole ministry on ... that Love is stronger than death -- the strongest power in the world --

stronger than fear, stronger than hatred, stronger than division, stronger than violence. 

"Despite the venerable input of tradition, inclusivistic, judgemental and punitive theologies

are no longer luxuries the world can afford.  The epicentre of Christianity is Love, has always been love,

and in Holy Week we enter that Epicentre."

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, Palm Sunday Sermon, Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver

Listen, if you will, to Rev Cynthia's podcast

later man, jan
www.cathedral.vancouver.bc.ca/2011/04/18/bourgeault-sermon

It's a Small World...

It's a Small World and with Kiva.org you can be in almost every corner of it!

I sit here at home and reach out into the world.  And everywhere, I am among friends.  I feel a sense of connection in every direction.  My heart feels so large and warm and full of God's energy to share.  I have been given so much love and joy and friendship.  Please use some of mine. I have extra.  And as your life gets better, send it back so I can pass it out again.  That's the joy of Kiva.  The way to use and re-use small amounts of money to help someone help themself.

When you lend, you know you are truly creating dignity and hope and joy and friendship.  You may not get to see it first hand but it's real.  Every picture on the Kiva website is someone whose whole life is in the process of getting better.  And you -- *you*  --  are the person making that more possible every day.

I hope as you read this you feel so much love.  There truly is so much out there. If you haven't made your first $25 loan on Kiva, try it today.

later man, jan

Contemplative Worship – April 14, 2011

Fire & Grace Contemplative Worship Service

Living Spirit United Church – April 14, 2011

“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.”
(G. K. Chesterton)

Welcome

Opening Reading (spoken together)

Praying in Silence is an act of sacrifice.
We must relinquish for a time our usual powers and sensibilities to undergo a kind of transubstantiation of our being.
We relinquish our usual powers of sensing and knowing and acting.
This element is crucial, for otherwise we are engaging in an act that is essentially self-centered. (Robert Sardello)

Chant:

Listen, listen, wait in silence listening,
For the One from whom all mercy flows.
(Psalm 130 ) (repeat)

Lectio Divina Readings…
1st reading – listen, what word or phrase draws you.
2nd reading – listen, for an image that relates to your life.
3rd reading – listen, what might God be calling you to?


“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8: 26-27)

Chant:
Bind my head and my heart in You,
Holy One, O Holy One.
(repeat)


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

Prayers of the people followed by Our Father.

Chant:
Bind my head and my heart in You,
Holy One, O Holy One.
(repeat)

Closing: (spoken together)

It is written
no eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him…
But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

Namaste.

I am so lucky...

Many days I get out of bed wondering how I could have been so lucky. It could me dealing with an earthquake or a tsunami. It could be me dealing with fear living in a country torn by war. It could be me sorting through the garbage in our back alley searching for enough recyclables to earn a little cash like that fellow I saw yesterday as I was leaving comfortably in my car. Life will be easier for him with the new black bins, he won't have to untie all those bags, sigh. So yes, I feel lucky. I thank my parents for the life they gave me and the country they chose for me.

This all came to mind today while reading a blog I follow that I want to recommend to you. Betty is on a week-long service trip with 10 students from her husband’s college to San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala. Today's blog is called...
I smell like smoke. I feel like worms.

I always enjoy Betty's words. I always benefit in some way from Betty's insight. I hope you will also.

later man, jan

Tomorrow is the 15th... WooHoo !!!

The 15th !!!
This is the day so many of us wait - not so patiently - for each month.
Kiva borrowers repayments are posted back to our Kiva Credit!!!

I have posted on this blog and and told most of my friends about Kiva.org over and over again...

but today I thought... hmm... perhaps I've missed someone.

This (old) video pretty much tells why I love to lend $25 to women around the world.

later man, jan



(link added because Facebook doesn't play the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRhbdFMq_I&feature=player_embedded )

sending love and light to Japan and around the world...

try this distance healing meditation 6 minutes a day...

The main purpose is to fill the dense body with that healing neutral energy. It's not about anything but you. Once you have filled yourself & surrounded yourself with this loving energy, simply stay with it.

Sit down wherever you are; get comfy; and take in a big deep breath & let it out through you nose in a big way. Do this once more. And again.

Now, begin breathing slowly, deeply, in & out.

Going inside, let the breath flow through the body from feet to head; from head to feet & back to heart.

Now, just focus on the heart chakra area; breathe in; breathe out.

As you do this over and over, begin to feel, hear &/or see the heart chakra slowly growing with heat & light, pulsating; expanding.

When it feels right for you, let it expand outside the dense body & allow it to surround yourself. Feel the warmth, the love, the joy.

Breathe in; breathe out. Continue to feel the expansion as the energy of the heart chakra fills the space around you; and then, only if/when it feels right, let it out further into the room & yet beyond, further & further. Set your intention to send this warmth, love and yes, joy to all those hurting today in our world.

All the while, remember to breathe in; breathe out.
Do this for 6 minutes & that’s it. You’re done!

Now, go with joy into the day with your love-filled self! Thank you!

later man, jan

Forever Young. A song for Wootton Bassett

"This video has been especially commissioned to accompany the song for Wootton Bassett 'Forever Young'as a tribute to the people of Wootton Bassett and the surrounding area for the way they turn out in all weathers at the repatriation of our brave soldiers from Afghanistan.

Written by Alan Pettifer, the song features: Colette Cassin vocals. The City of Bath Junior Bach Choir directed by Adrienne Hale, Mike Stainer keyboards, Alan Pettifer guitar, Peter Lamb Bass and Julian Scott Drums. Matthew Walton from Wootton Bassett Brass and Brunel Brass, playing cornet as he does for some of the repatriations.

To make a difference to the families of the fallen,The 'Forever Young' cd single is available for £2.99 plus postage from: http://www.foreveryoungasongforwootto... http://www.Amazon.co.uk or as a download from: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cassincobjbc

It is a permanent way of remembering these sad times as well as all profits are going to 'Afghan Heroes', a charity set up to provide support for the families of those lost in conflict. This DVD is now available was filmed and produced by Roger Calcut of Wiltshire Media and all the cd artwork produced by Stephen Baron of 'Pope Baron designers'. All artists and contributors to the CD and DVD have given their time for free and we thank them all."

later man, jan