Hands

This is a bit of liturgy I wrote for evening prayer in my local church.  

 

Evening Prayer—Hands

Lord come close to us

And draw us close to you

The day has passed and the night lies before us.

Today we have used our hands in many ways

Did we bless with a gentle touch?

Did we harm or destroy?

Have we worked or been wounded?

Who have we touched?

Take our hands Lord and use them as you would have them used for Your glory sake.

Lord we love you and lift our hands to you in thanks, praise and worship.

Silence is kept.

Open our hands to receive Your gift of love and life and all good things.
Amen.

The Word of God

Mark 5:25-29

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  when she heard about Jesus she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought,"If I touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped.

 

Jesus give us the faith to touch you and be healed of all our ill health in mind,   relationships, spirit and body.

 Trace around your hand  and listen to what God has to say to you about your hands and how you use them.

Open our hands so we can  let go of resentment, anger, greed, fear and hiding.

Open our hands however scared they may be.  Your hands have scars.  You know my pain.

Open our hands to receive  all the love and joy and peace you have for us. Open hands are hands of hope.

Open our hands to do all the work we need to do.

Open our hands and give them gentle strength to wash the feet of our friends, to hug the ugly and ill, to cradle the baby and touch the old.  Open our hands to all who need a touch of your love through us. 

We give your our precious hands as you gave us yours. 

 Bless and anoint our hands in Jesus name. Amen

Stones

For individuals: Take a deep breath in, hold it for a short time and gently release sending all the tension and pain with it. Give it to God. Five deep breaths is a good number but you may want to do more. 

Think about God being all around you and in you. 

Look at the stones in the photo.  Carefully look at each one. Imagine spontaneously picking one up.  Imagine how it feels as you trace its form. Feel the weight, texture and feel any patterns and shapes. 

 

Tell God why you chose that stone?  What attracted you to it?  What does that say about you?  What does it say about the choices you make in everyday life?  Ask God what He thinks.  What has He got to tell you about Himself or about you?  Record what was most important from this time with God in your journal. 

 

In a group

The best idea is to have a collection of stones numbering a few more than the number of people in the group.  Place them in a pile in the middle of a circle of people or in a basket.  They could be surrounding a lit candle. If you don’t have stones you can use this picture.

 

 Guide the group to take five slow breaths. Ask them to look carefully at the stones they can see.  Then, after a few minutes, ask them to choose a stone in silence. Instruct them to look at the stone and feel its texture and shape while they tell God about it. Remind them that they are talking to and listening to God.  Then say, ‘tell God why you chose that stone.  (pause) Is it the one you wanted to choose? If not what one did you want and why?  (pause) Ask God what this tells you about the way you choose things and people in your life. (pause)’  Ask if anyone wants to share anything special or interesting from their time with God.  You may need to share yourself first.  No judgemental comments because there is no right or wrong way to talk to God.  If the answer sounds odd ask them to explain further.

 

Repeat

This exercise can be repeated with a new basket of stones or with a basket of shell or a selection of objects either natural or man made such as a number of cups, flowers or toy animals.  Every time this is done it is to hear from God. 

  May 6 Today i looked at the stones in the picture and a different one stood out to me.  The redish one with circles.  I liked the comfort of the circles going round and round and felt the rawness of the red like my hurt inside. I feel sore inside today God. 

Get started. Pray today.

So pleased you found me. I have been a Christian for over 40 years and want to share some hints on prayer. 

 

‘I never read this bit.’

How to use this blog.

Breathing

Concentration on breathing is an ancient and very effective way of stilling yourself.  Notice your posture change as you take a deep breath. You straighten up and lift your head gaining improved posture. Help yourself by sitting comfortably but straight and relaxed.  On a chair with feet flat on the floor is best unless you can actually do the lotus position.   Breathe in good things such as health, love, joy, peace, what ever you need that day.  Hold it within you for a moment to let it become part of you. Breathe out any bad thing such as sin, disease, hatred, anger or anything else holding you away from God and the people in your life.  You will get better at this with practise and find something specific that is just right for you. 

Journal

I refer to a journal sometimes.  I have always found that writing things down in a blank book I call my journal helps me to clarify my thinking.  It also affirms anything God has said to me. And there have been many times that reading back through my journal has given me fresh insights into my perceptions, desires, needs and growth.  I date things including the year.  Time flies.  I recommend you discipline yourself to do the same.  Still, being with God is more important than writing something down!  For group tools I encourage verbal sharing instead but a journal could be used instead or as well in a group. 

This book is mostly for individuals to find a way into the presence of God.  However these tools can be adapted for small groups as well.  Most activities can be used over and over again as they are but some need a little adjustment for the second and further use so I’ve included some ideas.