"Saint George Unplugged"
A community prayer hour at home
Wednesday of Holy Week
March 19, 2008
7:00 to 8:00 pm
An "Unplugged Hour"
As part of our parish community's preparation for the great feast of Easter, we invite each household in our parish to set aside one hour of quiet reflection and prayer at home from 7 to 8 pm on Wednesday of Holy Week. Imagine how wonderful it will be for 1,452 households to be joined together in prayer at this same time! Here are some suggestions for your consideration.
Preparing a Sacred Space
 |
Dim the lights |
|
Turn off ("unplug" the TV |
|
Shut down the computer |
|
Take the phone off the hook |
|
Turn off the radio, cell phones and CD players |
|
Arrange a comfortable place to sit |
|
Add whatever you'll need, perhaps a Bible or Prayer Journal, pencil and paper |
Planning the Reflection time
Here are a few suggestions for how you might want to spend this time. Of course, what is important is that you do what you think would make this hour matter most to you. You might want to...
|
Sit in the quiet stillness for a while |
|
Light a candle |
|
Listen to the quiet |
|
Share with others or write a list of things that you are thankful for |
|
Share with your loved ones or write about something that has been especially significant to you lately |
|
Write about or draw/sketch a picture of something that gives you hope |
|
Hold a photo of a loved one while you pray for or speak to this person |
|
Recall a special memory - share or write about it |
|
Read Sacred Scripture, poetry or a spiritual book |
Opening Prayer
At 7 pm let us begin by saying the following prayer with the awareness that many others in our parish are praying it at this same time:
God of Wonder
We gather together
In the quiet of this night
Calling upon your Spirit of love
To light our way
Let us be aware of your presence
In silence and in trust
Reflection Time
Consider spending about 45 minutes with the reflection(s) that you have chosen from the preceding planning suggestions.
Prayer of the Faithful
In prayer now, let us ask the Lord to refresh and renew us
For peace among all nations, peoples and faiths, we
pray...
Lord, refresh and renew us in your Spirit
For the healing of hurts and the grace to forgive,
we pray...
Lord, refresh and renew us in your Spirit
For health and wholeness in body, mind and spirit,
we pray...
Lord, refresh and renew us in your Spirit
For the comfort and joy of Christ's Presence in us,
we pray...
Lord, refresh and renew us in your Spirit
Closing Prayer
We recite the Lord's Prayer together
Community Connection
As this time together ends, please take a moment to consider how you might share it with our parish community. Could you write a few words about what this time was like for you? Perhaps share a thought, a poem, a drawing, or a bible verse and what it meant to you? Were you joined to us in thought - from your living room, from a hospital room, a classroom, an airplane, or a car on route home?
Prayer Makes us Church
Prayer is no just words - it's how we live in the mystery of God's plan for us. Were you praying alone tonight or joined by family or friends? Were you a recent widower whose prayer was your grief? Were you a family eating together in silent prayer? Were you a new parent whose prayer was feeding and caring for a crying baby? Were you out working during this hour and was that labor your prayer?
The priests and people of St. George look forward to sharing this experience together with you. Let's mention it to one another! A section of the bulletin board in the Church Hall is also available for your thoughts and creative contributions.
Holy Week Services
Please join us for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil services at 7:30 pm where our prayer continues.