The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Opening Light Meditation, Led by Rev. Julia Huttar Bailey
Picture the quality of a clear, yellow sunlight, such as you might notice in the early morning, shining through the leaves of a nearby stand of trees. Then, over the course of a full minute, imagine that same quality of sunlight streaming into your body from just above the head, steadily filling the body with light from the soles of the feet, up through the legs, filling the chest, the arms, shoulders, neck and head with light.
Words of Lady Wisdom
Proverbs 8: 1–3, 34–35
Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
Happy is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
Reflection
The People of Israel had a very diverse and multi-form understanding of the divine, with many different names and titles for G-d, including a robust understanding of G-d understood and experienced as a feminine presence. One of the ancient names of G-d in Israel, for example, is El-Shaddai, a feminine name, related, according to some scholars, to the word for breast. Of course, in later traditions, including Western Christianity, the feminine aspects of the divine have been suppressed by all-male hierarchies, so we have some work to do to recover this understanding of God. One thing is not disputed: Wisdom has long been personified as Lady Wisdom (Sophia in Greek), a female expression of the divine. In the first temple, Sophia was understood to dwell in the holy of holies. And later, Jesus, embraced her in his understanding of God. Marguerite of Oingt, a French Catholic mystic of the 13th Century has a famous prayer that begins, “O Jesus, you are my mother.”
Jesus as Embodiment of Lady Wisdom
Referring to himself in relation to his disciples Jesus said, “Wisdom is vindicated by all her children” (Luke 7: 35).
Later in the same gospel, this saying of Jesus appears: “How I longed to gather you as a mother hen gather her chicks under her wing” (Luke 13: 34)
Prayer for the Influence of Lady Wisdom
O Divine Spirit, who calls to us from the streets as Lady Wisdom inviting us into her house, open our hearts to new understandings and experiences of your holy presence today. Amen.
Prayer for Loved Ones
During this time, simply name your loved ones, accepting each as they are today, and holding them in love before the light and love of God.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Gratitude Practice
Allow yourself to feel gratitude, appreciation, or delight, for three things, small or big, whatever comes to mind.
Benediction
May the Lord who does not forsake us, who provides a safe retreat for weary souls in troubled times, show you to be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in time of trouble.
So have a blessed day, go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor: you are not alone.