Opening Body Awareness Practice
With your eyes open, take and release three deep breaths. Let your breathing return to normal, and with the next out breath, 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
“Lord, save my soul from lying lips, from the tongue of the deceitful” (Psalm 120:2)
Words of Jesus Portion
(Luke 13:32)
Upon hearing that Herod wanted to kill him, Jesus said to those who were warning him, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.”
Contemporary Words
“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”—Cornell West
Prayer for Courage in the Face of Evil
Lord, you know that that the wickedness of men is a weight on our souls. You know we get angry and frustrated and distressed by the actions of bullies In high places. But Lord, we take shelter in you, and we ask you to take up our cause, and the cause of the oppressed! We call out to you to resist the proud and lift up the lowly, for your Name’s sake. Amen.
Breath Meditation Practice
Over the next minute, breathe in through the nose to the count of 5, and out through the mouth to the count of 6. Release any tension in the body with each out breath. As you notice that your mind has wandered, gently return your focus to the breath.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in and out 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
Take a few moments to identify three things you are thankful for: whatever comes to mind.
Closing 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
Go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor, you are not alone!