Sunday Oct. 22, 2023

Call To Worship:

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your partnership with them and with all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Songs:

You Are My Sanctuary

You are my sanctuary

My hiding Place

Where I belong

You are my peaceful harbor

You will bring me safely home

Out in the dark when the light is gone

Your waves and breakers role over me

And when my anchor won’t touch the ground

Deep calls to deep

You are my sanctuary

My hiding Place

Where I belong

You are my peaceful harbor

You will bring me safely home

You are my sanctuary

My hiding Place

Where I belong

You are my peaceful harbor

You will bring me safely home

In the morning

In the night

In the darkness

In the light

You alone

Will be my guide

For you are with me

In the morning

In the night

In the darkness

In the light

You alone

Will be my guide

For you are with me

You are my sanctuary

My hiding Place

Where I belong

You are my peaceful harbor

You will bring me safely home

Instrument of Peace

Lord make me
An instrument of peace
An instrument of peace (2X)

Where is there hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me sow light
For in the giving we shall receive
And in the dying we’re given life

Lord make me
An instrument of peace
An instrument of peace (2X)

Where there is sorrow let me sow hope
Where there is doubt let me sow faith
Where is injury your pardon give
Your consolation to those in pain

Lord make me
An instrument of peace
An instrument of peace (2X)

Teaching: What if Jesus Was Serious: Culture of Gratitude

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Breath Prayer into Communion:

General format:
A general format that is often followed for simplicity is:
Inhale, repeat a name for God.
Exhale, repeat a short prayer.

Today, we will use this simple prayer:
Inhale, Thank you, God.
Exhale, For your Presence.

How to enter into breath prayer:
✦ Feeling inspired in the moment
- As you go about your day, something may inspire you to engage in this practice.
✦ From Scripture
- As you read scripture, you may want to summarize the reading into a simple breath prayer to practice to end your session.
✦ From your Prayers
- You may long to bring your prayers into your life. Prayers for friends, family, or the world, can be declared with each inhale or exhale outside of your usual time of prayer.
✦ From your Desires
- What do you desire from God? You can intentionally pray your desires, trusting God knows the depths of your soul.
✦ With the rhythms of your life
- As you practice your Liturgy of the Day practice, or as you are walking, taking a shower, washing dishes, etc, you can add in a breath prayer.

Experience Breath Prayer:
This week, try to enter into breath prayer in at least one other way listed above. Try to practice daily as you can remember.

REMEMBER: There's no right or wrong! There's just you and God interacting authentically!

✦ Keep in mind that the longer the prayer, the harder it is to remember. As you practice, try writing a prayer that is short and sweet so it matches easily with your inhale and exhale and is easy to remember.

✦ Hold space for your prayer to shift and change as you practice. As the desires from within arise, notice if you feel inspired to shift a word or two around of your prayer, or if it becomes simplified to a single word on the inhale, and a single word on the exhale. Allow the changes to happen, trusting the Spirit.

✦ Does this feel like an attainable practice? How will you remind yourself?

✦ What do you desire from God as you engage in this practice this week?

How to Practice:
✦ Aim to practice breath prayer at least once a day. It could be after reading a passage and you take 3-5 intentional breaths with a prayer, or it could be feeling inspired to engage in a breath prayer while rocking in a chair or walking outside. Eventually, the idea of praying while breathing can feel as natural as breathing itself.

Benediction:

Our Father in heaven,

May your name be revered as holy.

May your kingdom come.

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

May the strength of God pilot us;

May the wisdom of God instruct us,

May the hand of God protect us,

May the word of God direct us.

Be always ours this day and for evermore.

Amen

Jared KingOctober 21, 2023