Opening Body Awareness Practice
With your eyes open and a soft focus, take and release three deep breaths before letting your breath return to normal. Gently close your eyes. Then feel the weight of your body on the chair, bed, or floor. Finally take a minute to do a body scan: noticing how the body feels as you scan steadily down from the top of the head to the feet, not trying to change anything, just noticing. Close the practice with another deep breath, in and out.
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
Psalm Portion
(from Psalm 23, Bobby McFerrin Version)
She lets me lie down in green pastures; she leads me beside quiet waters; she restores my soul.
Words of the Followers Portion
Colossians 1:27
God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth as you devote the next minute to naming your loved ones, presenting them in love before the one who is Love.
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
Today, identify one thing feel appreciation for: a person (living or passed on), a beloved pet, or houseplant, a recent kindness received, big or small. Fine to repeat earlier this week. Then place a hand over your heart, take in and release a nice deep breath, and rest your focus on the subject of your appreciation, the feeling of appreciation for a half a minute or so. Close with another deep breath.
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
Benediction
May God bless you and keep you. May God cause light to shine upon you and be gracious to you, May God turn towards you and grant you peace.