Proper 12C


In the gospel passage from Luke today, we hear that 
Jesus takes some time to pray. 
He does this frequently in the gospel stories.
Going off to spend some time reconnecting to the divine.
This is not the first time Jesus has gone off to pray 
nor will it be the last time
and the disciples are starting to realize something special is going on.  
The Jewish tradition had ways of praying... 
prayers for certain times and certain activities.
And however much Jesus was completing these, 
he takes more time to go and pray.
So much so the disciples want to be a part of it.

We think we should know how to pray as Christians
and we feel lots of things when we recognize that we don't.
Guilt, shame, blame.
As if we are supposed to know exactly how to do something 
even if we are not taught how to do it!

The liturgy tries to help us learn to pray.
We pray in many different ways during the service and that is supposed to guide you
deeper into your own prayer life.
We pray together, I pray for the community,
We pray in our own words, we pray in words set for us.
We pray seated, standing, kneeling...
We pray in so many ways as a community
and in so many different situations
so that people learn that they can pray anywhere and anytime.
Does everyone pick up on that?
Probably not.
Some of us, as we grow up with it, pick it up and recognize some of that intuitively.
However, especially if you come to Christianity as an adult, it can be difficult to understand.
Or even worse, growing up in it and not understanding as an adult and being afraid to ask.
Yet, even the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray.
So don't be worried about asking Jesus to help you to pray.
Might be the best first step.
If you don't have a regular prayer life at home, ask Jesus to teach you to pray.
And then listen.
Because have no doubt, Jesus will teach you pray, if you ask.

Just remember, the answer may not be exactly what you were expecting.
Jesus can be rather surprising.
And prayer can be rather surprising.
Many times prayer
communicating with God
is like communicating with children,
you got to be persistent, and no matter what, you'll be surprised.
But in the end you end up much better than you were before.

Wherever we are on our prayer journey we can always go deeper
Our summer reading book, Sacred Rhythms
invites us to look at our prayer practices and take a next step
adding in a different practice or a new understanding of something old
We never reach the end
There is so much still to be learned. 
Part of enlightenment is knowing how much we don't know
humility is just as much a part of the process 

add music 
 
In the spirit of prayer and going deeper
We are going to do something slightly different today during this time.
A sermon is supposed to be a reflection, 
a meditation on what we have heard in the scriptures.
What I have just heard in the scriptures is the longing to pray.
Jesus longs to pray 
The disciples long to pray
and perhaps we long to pray.
I feel it in my soul, 
when I take the time to listen to my soul,
this longing to pray,
but also I know the feeling of inadequacy,
the feeling of not knowing what to say,
the feeling of being so small and petty before God.
Thankfully, God invites us in,
No matter what
to connect
to pray.
I am going to guide us through a prayer meditation
to give us space to pray
perhaps in a different way


I want you to settle your body
I know those pews are not the most comfortable
but find a spot where you are comfortable
however you need to sit to settle
take a deep breath in
filling your lungs
and let it out
settling your arms and legs where they are

Take a deep breath in
and either close your eyes
or find a spot to focus on gently
let go of your breath

Take a deep breath in 
and quiet your mind
let out the air and let go of all the troubles on your mind
take a deep breath in
and notice what you truly want this morning

breath out and let it go

Keep breathing
slowly and steadily 
letting your mind soften



Eternal God,
we thank you 
we thank you for the gift of breath
we thank you for the gift of connection
we thank you for the gift of prayer.
Help us to connect to you this morning
help us to pray to you this morning
Help us in our asking, in our searching, in our finding
because we know you are with us
every step, every breath
of the way.
Help us to pray this day
with all that we are and all that we have.
We pray this through your Most Holy Name.
Amen. 



Inside of each of us
is a place
a soul place

where we know God is waiting for us
breath into this place

Here is where we ask
Here is where we search
and here is where we find

What is waiting there for you?

What longings does your soul cry out with?

What do you want to ask Jesus?


Take a deep breath and open your heart
Let Jesus hear what is waiting
Let Jesus hear what you are longing for
Let Jesus know what you desire


God is longing to pray with you
Just as much as you are longing for that connection

Sink into it

(give some quiet time - 2 min
set timer and wait and breathe)



As you are comfortable
open your eyes
gently
and take a look around
God is in this space
with us

Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,

thank you for this time together
thank you for the prayers we have.
Thank you for these blessed bodies
thank you for this beautiful space
thank you for this loving community.

We ask that you stay with us
as we travel through this service
as we travel through this day
as we travel through our lives.

We know you answer every prayer
we know you know every breath
We thank you for your amazing goodness.
With the blessing of all creation,
we say Amen. 

Amen.

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