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July 2019: Come Holy Spirit

7/17/2019

Our pattern of prayer in the Episcopal Church is one that shapes us for empathy and action. It is a pattern of prayer that helps us balance an inward focus with an outward focus, and trains us to notice and respond to the needs of others.

It is normal (and healthy) for a child's prayers to begin with those closest to them--family members, pets, best friends. The Book of Common Prayer offers us a pattern of prayer that can help people of all ages build a habit for praying, not only for those who are near to us, but for the whole world.

The Prayer Book instructs us to include at every Eucharist, our prayers for:

The Universal Church, its members, and its mission (The Church)
The Nation and all in authority (Our Country and Leaders)
The welfare of the world (The Whole World, including all people, animals, and the environment)
The concerns of the local community (Those Near to Us, including our city, our neighbors, our church, our school, our family)
Those who suffer and those in any trouble (The Suffering)
The departed (Those who have died)

For Children's Chapel at St. Mark's, we've set aside 6 small jars with visual prompts to remind us to offer prayers not only for ourselves, but for people, places, and things in each of these 6 categories. When a child offers a prayer, they are invited to place a small jewel or pebble in the appropriate jar. (I've made several extra copies of the visual prompts, in case you'd like to replicate this practice at home.)

On July 28th, the children will lead the Prayers of the People during Sunday Worship at St. Mark's. They will also lead the whole congregation in a sung response to the prayers: "Come Holy Spirit" by John Bell.

Come Holy Spirit (Come Holy Spirit)
Come Holy Spirit (Come Holy Spirit)
*Maranatha! (Maranatha!)
Come, Lord Come. (Come, Lord Come.)

* Note: "Maranatha" is an Aramaic word meaning "O Lord, Come!"

In the face of the needs of the world and the needs in our own lives, we don't need to tell God what to do. God doesn't need our instructions or advice. We just need to call on God--the source of all love, all life, all light; the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all things-- to draw near and dwell with us in the midst of all our pain, our suffering, our uncertainty, our need, our fear, our hope; and to grant us the strength, wisdom, and inspiration to respond with faith and courage to the needs of the world.

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Song of the Month

In early 2019 I began serving as assisting priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Albuquerque. St. Mark's is home to a diverse and rapidly growing faith community as well as a Montessori Preschool that serves ~50 preschool children and their families.

One of my first areas of focus at St. Mark's will be to explore creative ways to support the spiritual growth of St. Mark's families, not only at church and school, but also at home throughout the week.

We'll begin our exploration with a "Song of the Month." Each month we'll offer a simple song as an "anchor" for spiritual reflection and growth throughout the month. Parents and other adults in the St. Mark's community are encouraged to learn the song and access further materials for reflection online. Children will practice the song each week in Children's Chapel. Children will be invited to share the song with the entire St. Mark's community during worship (as the offertory anthem) on the 4th Sunday of each month.

If you are the parent/caregiver of a very young child (age 0-2), your child will still benefit enormously from daily exposure to the "Song of the Month". Even though they aren't yet singing, you can be sure they are already listening to you and learning! Experiment with incorporating the song into any part of your daily routine--waking, sleeping, bathing, dressing, diaper change, etc. From an early age, you can help your child establish a pattern of life in which prayer, spiritual practice, and song are a natural part!

If you are the parent/caregiver of an older child (age 3+) try incorporating the song and one short, thematically linked reflection question, action, or prayer into your daily routine--maybe at mealtime, at bedtime, or even during your daily commute.

If you are a teenager or adult with no young children at home, find a way to work the song into your daily routine--perhaps while your showering, driving, or cooking. Discuss the theme or reflection question with a friend or partner--or set aside some time to journal, draw, paint, blog or reflect in some other creative way on your own.

Sunday School Teachers and Small Group Leaders: Consider incorporating the "Song of the Month" or one of the relevant reflection questions into your own sessions, classes, or meetings each month if appropriate.

Everybody: Have fun! Sing out! Experiment! And above all--share your experiences and insights with one another and with me!

July 2019: Come Holy Spirit

Song of the Month

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