Welcome
The Quiet Garden Prayer
Oh Lord Jesus, true gardener, work in us what you want of us,
For you are indeed the true gardener
at once, maker and tiller and keeper of your garden
you who plant with the word, water with the spirit
and give your increase with your power.
Amen
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest Matthew 6:31(a)
Some thoughts from ‘Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient…... Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach,
one can collect only a few … and they are more beautiful - if they are few!
‘The mind wakes, comes to life again. Not in a city sense—no—but beach-wise. It begins to drift, to play, to turn over in gentle careless rolls like those lazy waves on the beach. One never knows what chance treasures these easy unconscious rollers may toss up, on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind; what perfectly rounded stone, what rare shell from the ocean floor.’
“One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”
Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“Beachcombing” - Adapted from Landscapes of Prayer –by Margaret Silf
Beachcombing is a wonderful way to pray. You might like to try it. You don't need a beach or an ocean to do it. Just a little time, a little patience, open eyes, and an open heart.
The "beach" is simply the experience of your day, just as it was, with all its ups and downs, its beautiful shells and its stinging jellyfish.
To make this kind of prayer, just wander along that "beach" and see what you find. Remember, we are all different – and, on our beaches and seashores we might all find very different things!
What has happened today to delight you, to give you a glimpse of joy, to make you feel more alive,
more connected to God, to yourself or to others?
Who or what has nourished you in some way today, or helped you heal a hurt?
Has the surf of your own life, the things you have said and done today, brought nourishment, healing, or a loving touch to someone else's beach?
Has anything happened today, or been said or done, that has triggered feelings of anger or sorrow
or resentment in you?
What do you think was at the root of these feelings?
As you look back over your beach (today), notice the trail of your footprints. Is there anything you regret in the path you have walked, or anything you would want to handle differently in the future?
If so, simply let it rest there between you and God without judging yourself or anyone else.
As you bring your prayer to a close, gather up the treasures of your beachcombing, store then away in your heart, and then let the incoming tide wash everything else away.
Tomorrow you will walk once more on virgin sand."
“Beachcombing” - Adapted from Landscapes of Prayer – finding God in your life and your life by Margaret Silf
Silence and Stillness in Church or Garden
Soon we’ll be spending some time in stillness and quiet … perhaps pondering on what we have just read … maybe sitting quietly indoors, or outside … just talking time to ‘be’ – to be with God … to listen to him … something, perhaps we don’t have or make time for very often …
Maybe spend some time beachcombing in your quiet space
Share with God your beachcombing experience – or maybe just ‘be’ – be with him … listen to him … perhaps ‘hearing’ him through the natural surroundings
Let’s in this time of stillness, prayer, meditation and contemplation ponder how we find God in creation and the natural world… and how he might find us!
Sharing and Group Discussion
So … how was your beach during our quiet time?
An Irish Blessing (Sung by Roma Downey)
May the Blessing of Light be upon you
Light on the outside, light on the inside.
With God’s sunlight shining on you,
May your heart glow with warmth,
Like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike.
May the Light of the Lord shine from your eyes,
Like a candle in the window,
Welcoming the weary traveller.
May the blessing of Gods soft rain be on you,
Falling gently on your head
Refreshing your soul with the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming.
May the strength of the winds of heaven bless you
Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean
Sparkling after in the sunlight.
May the blessing of Gods earth be on you
And as you walk the roads
May you always have a kind word for those you meet.
May you understand the strength and power of God in a
Thunderstorm and winter
And the quiet beauty of creation
And the calm of a summer sunset
And may you come to realize
That insignificant as you may seem
in this great universe
You ARE an important part of Gods plan.
May he watch over you
And keep you safe from harm.
Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Phil Coulter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3Md-4w3gk
Thoughts to ponder:
“Gratitude - To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything.” Thoughts in Solitude 1956 by Thomas Merton
“Patience, patience, patience - is what the sea teaches - patience and faith.”
“One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea”
“God may want you to be the answer to your own prayer”
“I want first of all … to be at peace with myself -
I want a singleness of a purity of intention as a central core to my life”
“I want to live in grace as much of the time as possible -by grace I mean in a harmony - essentially spiritual - which can be translated into outward harmony.”
“I feel we are all islands in a common sea”
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach, one can collect only a few …
and they are more beautiful - if they are few!”
Some thoughts from ‘Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“All through your life your soul takes care of you... your soul is alive and awakened, gathering,
sheltering and guiding your ways and days in the world. In effect, your soul is your secret shelter.”
Awaken your spirit to adventure; hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will home in a new rhythm, for your soul senses the world that awaits you.
To Come Home to Yourself. May all that is unforgiven in you, be released.May your fears yield
their deepest tranquilities.
May all that is unlived in you,blossom into a future, graced with love.
John O'Donohue from his books:To Bless the Space Between Us (US) / Benedictus (Europe)
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, LORD,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.
You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honoured guest and fill my cup to the brim.
I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
and your house will be my home as long as I live.
23rd Psalm Good News Bible
The Quiet Garden Prayer
Oh Lord Jesus, true gardener, work in us what you want of us,
For you are indeed the true gardener
at once, maker and tiller and keeper of your garden
you who plant with the word, water with the spirit
and give your increase with your power.
Amen
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest Matthew 6:31(a)
Some thoughts from ‘Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient…... Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach,
one can collect only a few … and they are more beautiful - if they are few!
‘The mind wakes, comes to life again. Not in a city sense—no—but beach-wise. It begins to drift, to play, to turn over in gentle careless rolls like those lazy waves on the beach. One never knows what chance treasures these easy unconscious rollers may toss up, on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind; what perfectly rounded stone, what rare shell from the ocean floor.’
“One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”
Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“Beachcombing” - Adapted from Landscapes of Prayer –by Margaret Silf
Beachcombing is a wonderful way to pray. You might like to try it. You don't need a beach or an ocean to do it. Just a little time, a little patience, open eyes, and an open heart.
The "beach" is simply the experience of your day, just as it was, with all its ups and downs, its beautiful shells and its stinging jellyfish.
To make this kind of prayer, just wander along that "beach" and see what you find. Remember, we are all different – and, on our beaches and seashores we might all find very different things!
What has happened today to delight you, to give you a glimpse of joy, to make you feel more alive,
more connected to God, to yourself or to others?
Who or what has nourished you in some way today, or helped you heal a hurt?
Has the surf of your own life, the things you have said and done today, brought nourishment, healing, or a loving touch to someone else's beach?
Has anything happened today, or been said or done, that has triggered feelings of anger or sorrow
or resentment in you?
What do you think was at the root of these feelings?
As you look back over your beach (today), notice the trail of your footprints. Is there anything you regret in the path you have walked, or anything you would want to handle differently in the future?
If so, simply let it rest there between you and God without judging yourself or anyone else.
As you bring your prayer to a close, gather up the treasures of your beachcombing, store then away in your heart, and then let the incoming tide wash everything else away.
Tomorrow you will walk once more on virgin sand."
“Beachcombing” - Adapted from Landscapes of Prayer – finding God in your life and your life by Margaret Silf
Silence and Stillness in Church or Garden
Soon we’ll be spending some time in stillness and quiet … perhaps pondering on what we have just read … maybe sitting quietly indoors, or outside … just talking time to ‘be’ – to be with God … to listen to him … something, perhaps we don’t have or make time for very often …
Maybe spend some time beachcombing in your quiet space
Share with God your beachcombing experience – or maybe just ‘be’ – be with him … listen to him … perhaps ‘hearing’ him through the natural surroundings
Let’s in this time of stillness, prayer, meditation and contemplation ponder how we find God in creation and the natural world… and how he might find us!
Sharing and Group Discussion
So … how was your beach during our quiet time?
An Irish Blessing (Sung by Roma Downey)
May the Blessing of Light be upon you
Light on the outside, light on the inside.
With God’s sunlight shining on you,
May your heart glow with warmth,
Like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike.
May the Light of the Lord shine from your eyes,
Like a candle in the window,
Welcoming the weary traveller.
May the blessing of Gods soft rain be on you,
Falling gently on your head
Refreshing your soul with the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming.
May the strength of the winds of heaven bless you
Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean
Sparkling after in the sunlight.
May the blessing of Gods earth be on you
And as you walk the roads
May you always have a kind word for those you meet.
May you understand the strength and power of God in a
Thunderstorm and winter
And the quiet beauty of creation
And the calm of a summer sunset
And may you come to realize
That insignificant as you may seem
in this great universe
You ARE an important part of Gods plan.
May he watch over you
And keep you safe from harm.
Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Phil Coulter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3Md-4w3gk
Thoughts to ponder:
“Gratitude - To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything.” Thoughts in Solitude 1956 by Thomas Merton
“Patience, patience, patience - is what the sea teaches - patience and faith.”
“One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea”
“God may want you to be the answer to your own prayer”
“I want first of all … to be at peace with myself -
I want a singleness of a purity of intention as a central core to my life”
“I want to live in grace as much of the time as possible -by grace I mean in a harmony - essentially spiritual - which can be translated into outward harmony.”
“I feel we are all islands in a common sea”
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach, one can collect only a few …
and they are more beautiful - if they are few!”
Some thoughts from ‘Gifts from the Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“All through your life your soul takes care of you... your soul is alive and awakened, gathering,
sheltering and guiding your ways and days in the world. In effect, your soul is your secret shelter.”
Awaken your spirit to adventure; hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will home in a new rhythm, for your soul senses the world that awaits you.
To Come Home to Yourself. May all that is unforgiven in you, be released.May your fears yield
their deepest tranquilities.
May all that is unlived in you,blossom into a future, graced with love.
John O'Donohue from his books:To Bless the Space Between Us (US) / Benedictus (Europe)
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, LORD,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.
You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honoured guest and fill my cup to the brim.
I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
and your house will be my home as long as I live.
23rd Psalm Good News Bible
