Prayer

Praying with Beads or Knots

Anglican Rosaries, Prayer Ropes, Prayer Beads, and many others are ways to pray which involve your hands, a tactile focus of prayer, and can incorporate repeated prayers as well as personal “in the moment” prayers.

Some resources for prayer beads and knots include:

Nan Doerr’s book, “Praying With Beads”

Using an Orthodox Prayer Rope

Making and using a Prayer Bracelet

Anglican Prayer Beads

Some Helpful Prayers

From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day; preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity, and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God of Peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength; by the might of your Spirit, lift us, we pray, to your presence, that we may be still and know that you are God.

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love.

Coffee Prayer

A time of quiet prayer and reflection in one’s morning routine (it needn’t be coffee)

I poured a cup of coffee for myself this morning, and one for God too...

Yesterday I ran from one thing to another, from one appointment to another, one need to another, from 5 AM until I fell asleep putting my babies to bed at 9 PM. But in the midst of this I met with a wise soul, a Christian clergy person, who ended our meeting with a joint prayer. (I find that many of my Christian colleagues do this with such ease. Why don’t we rabbis? Can we just hold hands at the end of our meetings and say prayers? I’ll do it in Hebrew if that’ll make things feel more comfortable!) We are both going through things - both of us have close loved ones with cancer, both of us have demanding work for which we have been called to serve and give. And... and... and... So at the end of our meeting to talk about “things,” he asked if we could end our meeting in prayer.

He asked for healing for our loved ones. He asked for stamina for me. He asked that we both know we are always surrounded by God’s presence. He asked for other things too, but these are the things that stand out. It was a beautiful prayer. It was a balm to my soul, and honestly exactly what I needed to get through the rest of the day. I turned back to that moment until I fell asleep, and I have turned back to it now that I am awake.

But here’s the thing... I don’t believe prayer works in a simple “ask and ye shall receive” way. Those of you who heard my High Holy Day Rosh Hashanah Sermon heard my pretty sound rejection of the Superman/Santa Clause God.... You know the one! The one who is “making a list and checking it twice!” The one who with a furl of his cape flies in to save the day. The one who with a special red prayer telephone grants answers to prayers like they were wishes granted. If God worked that way, nobody would have cancer! Nobody would die in mudslides or fires or floods! No babies would die in accidents nor any children suffer! God would fix all of these ills. Or else God would be very, very cruel.

So why did this prayer comfort me? Well... first of all, at the end of the day, I don’t really know what God Is.... So maybe I am wrong and this is exactly how prayers work.

I am so willing to be wrong!!

But more... and this is the deepest truth I know... that prayer worked because it reminded me that God is already at work here. God is already present in the chaos of my life. God is already bringing healing of spirit and so much love to my mom, and giving me stamina every single day. God is drinking coffee with me right now, a radiance of Love and Presence I will never understand but can certainly sense and be aware of at every moment.

What that prayer may have done was change the heavens; what it certainly did was change me. And so this early early morning, when my house is still quiet - my favorite time of day - I can drink my coffee. I can pour a cup for God, occupying the chair next to me. I can drown in an awareness of Love and love surrounding me from all sides. That—and that alone, and that everything—is my prayer.

Rabbi Annie Belford

January 11, 2018

A Daily Examen

Ending the day by offering all that is past to God

Ending the day with A Daily Examen is a way of offering to God all that is past, marking ways to improve, and celebrating things done well

The link above takes you to a page about Ignatian Spirituality, following the teachings of 16th century priest, Ignatius of Loyola. He believed the daily examen was a gift from God which can help us see God’s work in all of our lives.

Below a simple Daily Examen which you can practice:

Open with prayer: “God, thank you for this day that is past; please grant me the serenity to see your presence throughout my life.”

Then think through or write down the following:
- Blessings and gratitudes from the day
- Ways you succeeded and lived as you and God desire
- Any failures and regrets, things you would have not differently or not done at all
- Ask, “Where was God throughout my day?”
- Where might God be leading you tomorrow.
Pray “The Lord’s Prayer” (see below-Prayers for God’s Will)
Conclude with a prayer like this: “God, I offer to you all of this day that is past; keep it for me that I may sleep in peace, and then, in the morning, give back to me that which I need, and hold for me that which I do not.”

Prayers for God’s Will

God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

The above are: “The Third Step Prayer” from Alcoholics Anonymous, “A Prayer of Self Dedication” from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, “The Lord’s Prayer”, and “The Serenity Prayer”