Community call to prayer:
Like a flock of birds on the power line singing in the dawn of a new day, we gather in this place our God.
From all our different corners we come together to lift you up in our lives.
To pray, to worship, to meditate on your word.
Make your presence known to us Creator Father, Jesus, Holy spirit.
Play your favourite relaxing music.
Breathing Exercise.
Let your body, mind and spirit be relaxed and ready to receive and to give this morning. To breathe in and breathe out this morning.
We will now do a gentle breathing exercise.
I invite you to stand up find a bit of space so you have room to raise your arms to the sides.
Stand with your back straight and your feet about shoulder width apart.
Sink your weight into your legs. Place your hands in front of you.
Look at the ground at a spot about 2 metres (6 feet) in front of you.
Breath slowly and smoothly through your nose.
Breath in/ inhale as you slowly raise your arms up and away from your body.
When your arms are about parallel with the ground, stop inhaling, drop your wrists and begin lowering your arms as you exhale/ as you breathe out.
Bring your hands back together so your fingers just touch for a moment.
Raise and lower your arms smoothly and fluidly, just as if they are wings on a bird.
Do this four or so times and then sit down, with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Continue to focus on your breathing as we meditate on these words.
Words for Meditation
” The Lord breathes out, and we breathe in; then the breath of life comes into us.” (http://instameme.com/here+i+am+lord+hymn)
Jesus, resurrected said “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you. With that he breathed on them and said …receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21
“The Jewish name for God – Yahweh – was not spoken, but breathed. Its correct pronunciation is an attempt to imitate the sound of inhalation and exhalation. We do that every moment: our first and last word as we enter and leave the world..” (Richard Rohr).”
An old hymn. You may like to make this your prayer this morning.
O Lord, breathe Thy Spirit on me,
Teach me how to breathe Thee in;
Help me pour into Thy bosom
All my life of self and sin.
- I am breathing out my sorrow,
Breathing out my sin;
I am breathing, breathing, breathing,
All Thy fulness in.
I am breathing out my own life,
That I may be filled with Thine;
Letting go my strength and weakness,
Breathing in Thy life divine.
Breathing out my sinful nature,
Thou hast borne it all for me;
Breathing in Thy cleansing fulness,
Finding all my life in Thee.
I am breathing out my sorrow,
On Thy kind and gentle breast;
Breathing in Thy joy and comfort,
Breathing in Thy peace and rest.
I am breathing out my sickness,
Thou hast borne its burden too;
I am breathing in Thy healing,
Ever promised, ever new.
I am breathing out my longings
In Thy listening, loving ear;
I am breathing in Thy answers,
Stilling every doubt and fear.
I am breathing every moment,
Drawing all my life from Thee;
Breath by breath I live upon Thee,
Lord, Thy Spirit breathe in me.
A B Simpson ( 1834-1919).