sacred gesture
As our planet earth whirls eastward toward the sun-star, I arise on this autumn morning refreshed by sleep. I greet the mellowness of this fall day with gratitude. As trees and plants acknowledge the death segment of their yearly cycle, I take hope in this morning that echoes the resurrection of your son Jesus. On this first day of the week, I enter into my heart to be one with you, my Sacred Guest, as I pray in silence.
period of silent prayer or meditation
I unite myself with all your children who on this day gather for prayer and worship of you. One with all the disciples of the Risen and Cosmic Christ, I now sing of my love for you.
a psalm, spiritual reading or personal prayer
May I greet every gift of this day with a song of gratitude. May my heart be full and content, like a harvest festival, as I enjoy this day of rest and re-creation. Guide me, O God, to spend it in a spirit of holy rest, free from the clock and its deadlines, free from the need to be useful.
Blessed are you, O God, who takes delight in the play and leisure of this first day of the week. I ask that these sacred elements of Sunday in which I engage will be worship and prayer, a holy communion with you who also played and rested on the seventh day of creation.
I begin my day as I place before you these intentions for my family and friends:_______. May these prayers be a communion ritual of love with them. I pray as well for all who are in need of your presence: Grant your servant the grace of worship, as I fashion this day and every gift that it holds into the music of my continuous song of gratitude. I take up the challenge of this day one with you, my God, as I bow in adoration.
Blessed are you, O Harvest of my heart,
Sacred Source of all life,
Delight of my days.
sacred gesture
sacred gesture
Holy Mother, Divine Father, you who are beyond all images, this first day of the week is coming to a close. I thank you for all it has held for me, the pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, each moment rich with a lesson for my pilgrimage home to you. Sleep, death's sister, is near at hand. But before I release control of this day, I desire to enter into holy communion with you. One with all the earth, one with all who pray as the book of this day is closed, I enter into silence.
period of silent prayer or meditation
In the darkness of my heart, crowded with the memories of this day and my plans for tomorrow, I have sat in stillness with you, my Beloved. One with the harmony of the moon and stars, I now sing of my love for you, as I pray.
a psalm, spiritual reading or personal prayer
A new week of seven days has begun. Many will be the demands upon me and many are my needs. So I place before you, Divine Beloved, these intentions:_______. I am mindful also of those who are in need, the helpless and the oppressed, victims of violence and injustice. Be with them this night. I pray as well for the needs of my family and friends:_______. Be as close to them as you now are to me.
Once again, this planet's perpetual path around the sun has come to the shrine of autumn. A year has passed so quickly since last we visited here. Remind me by this season of completion that soon my life will come round full course. As I now open the doorway of sleep with confidence, may I do the same, when the time comes, with the doorway of death.
With a full heart and my soul at peace, I surrender to the sleep of this night, as I bow before you.
Blessed are you, O Harvest of my heart,
Sacred Source of all life,
Ever-watchful Guardian of my sleep.
sacred gesture
