September 26, 2013 Interpreter Magazine Hosts The Rev. Tom Albin - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

September 26, 2013 Interpreter Magazine

Hosts  The Rev. Tom Albin The Rev. Kathy Noble

“Lord, Teach Us to Pray”   The Upper Room, www.upperroom.org  Interpreter Magazine, www.interpretermagazine.org  Webinars and other resources, www.umc.org/pray

Participants  Sharon Conley The Rev. Greg LaDue Kristen Vincent

Conversation 1 The Gift of Ancient Practices

A Gift: Ancient Practices  SHARON CONLEY  Member of The Upper Room staff since 2005  Worked with Companions in Christ, Weavings, Alive Now, SOULFeast  Now designs online course

A Gift: Ancient Practices  TOM ALBIN  Dean of The Upper Room and director of ecumenical relations

A Gift: Ancient Practices  Kristen Vincent  Author of A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner's Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads  Owner and principal artisan of Prayerworks Studio  Blogs at www.abeadnaprayer.wordpress. com

A Gift: Ancient Practices  Greg LaDue  Associate pastor and director of The Counseling Center at First United Methodist Church, San Diego  Leads retreats using lectio divina, the labyrinth, meditation and contemplation  Teaches adult education classes focusing on the interface of spirituality and psychology

Conversation 2 The Jesus Prayer

The Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation 

The Jesus Prayer   A brief prayer that combines praise, petition, and confession.  Central to the hesychast tradition within Orthodox Christianity  Based on two prayers from the Gospels — the prayer of Bartimeus and the prayer of the tax collector

The Jesus Prayer   Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

The Jesus Prayer   Recommended to be prayed constantly , repeated while meditating, working, walking  Sitting with the back held straight and chin tucked in so that one can gaze upon one’s heart, then inhaling & reciting the prayer while holding the breath, and then exhaling  More commonly used as a breath prayer

Conversation 3 Protestant Prayer Beads

A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner's Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads 

Protestant Prayer Beads   Numbers 15:37-41

Protestant Prayer Beads   Tactile - help to focus  Tactile - reminder of God's presence  Visual  Structure  Tool for listening

Protestant Prayer Beads 

Conversation 4 Labyrinths

Labyrinths   Aid contemplative form of prayer…where prayer is understood as presence not so much petition.  Take the user into a sacred space on an inward journey to a "Center" and then back out.  Replicate the spiritual journey inward and back out into the world.

Labyrinths   Enter the labyrinth with the realization that one is entering a different reality and time.  Follows a defined path that leads into a center and back out.  Walk upright or on one’s knees following.  Focus on being present to presence.

Labyrinths   Enter the labyrinth with the realization that one is entering a different reality and time.  Follows a defined path that leads into a center and back out.  Walk upright or on one’s knees following.  Focus on being present to presence.

Labyrinths   May be music in the background,  Walkers often meditate on a portion of Scripture.  The time required depends on the individual. It is recommended that we pause occasionally to be really present.  The process is the important part, not the destination, in and then out.

Conversation 5 The Prayer of Examen

The Prayer of Examen   A way of examining or assessing one’s life before God on a regular basis.  Developed initially by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order (1491-1556)  Prevents us from allowing days and weeks to go by unexamined.  No judgment, but compassionate observation

The Prayer of Examen   Two movements 1. Consolation - Pause and peruse how God has been present and at work throughout the day 2. Desolation - Review our general spiritual health to uncover areas that need cleansing, holiness, and healing

UpperRoom.org/bookstore   Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices by Daniel Wolpert  Beginning Prayer by John Killinger  Companions in Christ: The Way of Prayer by Jane Vennard, Stephen Bryant and Marjorie Thompson

Tuesday, Oct. 22 – 7 p.m. www.umc.org/pray