sacred gesture
This Saturday is saturated with the sacred. It is a day holy to all of Israel, set aside to remember the liberation from slavery and the completion of creation. I greet this day in a union with my Jewish brothers and sisters and with everyone who anoints the coming of dawn's light with prayer. One with all those I love, one with all those whom you, O God, love, I enter into the cave of my heart to sit in silence with you.
period of silent prayer or meditation
Generous are you, O Holy One, to overlook the wanderings of my mind as I try to center it in you. The Hasidic masters teach that "Every breath shall praise God," that every breath is a prayer. May each breath of my silent prayer be a morning benediction, one with the breath of heaven. To the prayer of my breath I add these words. It is my desire that each letter of my every word be filled with a fire of devotion for you.
a psalm, spiritual reading or personal prayer
May all my words and deeds this day be rooted in this time of prayerful communion with you, my God. May my worship extend to all I do this day, as I now ask these favors for those I love:_______. Grant me this day all I need to be a pilgrim, whether I am at play or at prayer, in work or at rest.
The brilliance of our one star, the sun, has hidden in daytime brightness the unfolding splendor of the millions of stars that light up our galaxy. To look upon a star so close, a mere 93 million miles away, is blinding. May I walk the pilgrim's path this day, aware that many other wonders may be hidden from my view, both near and far. Grant me the gift of worship on this autumn Saturday, the grace to live in perpetual wonder. May I treat all that is given me this day as gift.
Blessed are you, O Harvest of my heart,
Sacred Source of all life,
Delight of my days.
sacred gesture
sacred gesture
Seven holy flames dance atop the days of this week whose conclusion I celebrate this night. Each day has been holy, as has this Sabbath. On this day that remembers the creation of this planet, I rejoice that in an awakening of ecstasy you made your human creatures to be your lovers. One with all the earth, the sun and moon and with all those who love you, I enter into the prayer of silence.
period of silent prayer or meditation
I thank you that it is not a drab world that you created, but rather one of endless variety, color and form. I thank you for all the beauty you have bestowed upon this planet, so small in the vastness of the universe. May gratitude enflame every word I now pray.
a psalm, spiritual reading or personal prayer
I marvel at how my pilgrim path this day, while passing through the common and ordinary, has been filled with the extra-ordinary wonders which you have woven into your creation. I am humbled that you, my God, have watched over me and so richly gifted me this day. In trust as well as gratitude, I also ask these favors for those I love:_______. For myself, I only ask that my senses may be opened ever wider to the magnificent mystery of your presence in all that you have created. I place into your compassionate care the needs of those who this night are alone and lonely, who feel the sharp knife of separation, who are dying or mourn the loss of one they loved. May you who never sleep be at their side and at mine this night.
This autumn night, the windshield of the sky, reveals stars whose number and size stun my small mind. One star is awesome, but a million times a million stars, gathered in galaxies like gems in a necklace, is beyond my comprehension. I bow in humble adoration before you, O God, and the grandeur of your universe.
Blessed are you, O Harvest of my heart,
Sacred Source of all life,
Ever-watchful Guardian of my sleep.
sacred gesture
