the open office

Post-Partum

Amniotics spilt, and semiotics rupture;
There are no words, just raw screams and suckles.
Child of God, child of man - no difference:
New life is unmoored emotion,
a wide sea of tears and sick,
one desire: to feed, to gather more, be mother-close.

But God won't stay.

Controlled crying.
Separation an immediate fact post-partum:
we must learn to settle ourselves and enjoy the moments we have together.
Foretastes of another rupture to come,
a larger curtain rent, another cry of pain
when we'll be thrown down into
Mother's hands, never to leave them.

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A Form of Contemplative Prayer

Using Anglican Prayer Beads

Based on 1 Samuel 3

 

The Cross

The Lord’s Prayer

 

The Invitatory

"He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes."- 1 Samuel 3:18

 

The Cruciform’s

"Speak, your servant is listening."- 1 Samuel 3:10

 

The Weeks

"You called me, and here I am." -1 Samuel 3:4

From New Psalms

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A re-setting of St Patricks Breastplate for Saturday

I bind to myself today
There really is nothing like being free to call on the complete God, for God is both the nature and bringer of community and harmony… the creator of everything.

The whole story of a God who became one of us and one with us… who was born and named, who died a criminals death and was buried in a rich mans tomb… who was restored to life and left earth still alive and kicking… and who promises to hold me to my words and actions, to forgive me, to value me and to restore me to who I was made to be… to the community of God.

I bind to myself today
Surrounded by the support of God and all who serve God… the Angels and the loyal servants, the faithful and the humble, the teachers and guides, the pure and the good… they continually light the way for me… show me how to try to live and to love… God and humanity.

I bind to myself today
The power of the whole community of God,
The awesome nature of all laid out before me,

The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The density of rocks.

The whole of the wonder of creation… the chaos and the calm.

I bind to myself today
God's authority to keep me on track me when I am confused and lost,
God's strength to hold my arm when I stumble and fall,
God's deep wisdom to bring me a glimpse of understanding and fascinate me,
God's eye to watch over me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's words in my mouth,
God's hand to hold mine,
God's path open before me,
God's shelter to protect me,
God's love to secure me,

Against all those who seek to control, dominate and distract me,
Against everyone who plans and seeks to hurt me,
Whether they are far or near to me,
Whether they are known or unknown to me,
Whether they are strong or weak,
Whether they are human or otherwise,
Whether there are many who hate me or just a few.

I bind to myself today
I call on the whole of God and all that is good,
Against the worst of the world… the terrorists and the imperialists, the criminals and the con-men, the haters and the envious, those who seek to confuse me and lead me from the community of God, my own greed and insecurities.

Christ, protect me today
Protect me from all dangers on my journey and draw me to your heart

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in my home, Christ on my journey,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
To the promise and gift that I am free to call on the complete God, for God is both the nature and bringer of community and harmony… the creator of everything.

From Safe Space

A Prayer for a Grieving Parent

A Prayer from Meta Herrick:

Holy is your pain. Holy is your loss. Holy is your
suffering. Holy because you belong to Holiness.

God's tears roll down your cheeks, aching to join your own
in consolation. Let them fall into each other and know that                         
God has tumbled into your

Holy pain, Holy loss, Holy Suffering...                                                                     
to grieve with you.

Technorati Tags: Grief, Parenting

Embracing Our Finitude [1]

We used this piece in a service reflecting on our 'finitude'. We'd love to see ourselves as immortal. We're not. And Lent is a good time of 'mini deaths' to reflect on this.

//

We remember God, falling to earth as a seed, to live in our dirt, to suffer our pain, to understand our weakness, and to die and be buried. We struggle to understand life beyond death. We live as though immortal, and though death surrounds us on every side, we do not often confront it. In this communion, we remember God who died, and we hold the mystery of this death as comfort for our fear, pain and mortality.

[Call]
As we prepare to accept these symbols of God's death, we remember:
Those who have died
Those who mourn
Those who face death

[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds

[Call]
As we prepare to accept these symbols of God's death, we acknowledge:
Our fear of death
Our deadness of spirit
Our frailty and mortality

[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds

[Call]
As we meditate on these mysterious symbols of life beyond death, help us:
To live with uncertainty
To hold on to the world lightly
To comfort those who mourn

[Response]
But if it dies, it produces many seeds

Dismissal (after communion)

[Together]
Accept these symbols of life and death. May they lighten your spirit, enrich your life and give you peace. Amen.

Originally uploaded at vaux.net

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Technorati Tags: Death, finitude