Summer Prayer Guide
Summer Prayer Guide
Week 1: Refresh
You're invited to set your intentions for the summer,
making room to be filled, restored, and refreshed.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into your body.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale….
Consider, as you breathe in, that you receive each breath as a gift. And release it again.
As you release each breath, consider what you might need to release in your life.
What are you carrying that feels heavy?
Can you release some frustration or weariness with your breath?
After some breaths focusing on releasing, can you turn your attention to the inhale?
And consider what you might need to receive from God?
What gifts might God offer you - for your refreshment, for your healing, for your growth?
Breathe in the goodness and love of God for you.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotation for the week:
Now read the prayer below. Read it through three times, reflecting each time.
You can ask God to help you notice things in the text and in your life, to make connections and bring it to life.
The first time you read it, see if a certain word or phrase stands out to you.
There's no need to figure out why, just notice what grabs your attention the most.
O Lord, release me
from the fears and guilt which grip me so tightly;
from the expectations and opinions which I so tightly grip,
that I may be open
to receiving what you give,
to risking something genuinely new,
to learning something refreshingly different. (Ted Loder)
Read it through a second time. This time, see if you can notice if that word or phrase feels connected to something in your life - a circumstance or a person, or a feeling.... Again, no need to figure out why that may be, just notice if you sense a connection to your life in some way.
For the and final third time, see if there is any sense of a next step to take in your life.
Do you feel invited to make a shift? Take an action? Make a note of it, and return to it throughout the summer, asking God to guide you.
Reflection Questions on the theme of Refresh:
Consider the questions for reflection for this week. Feel free to just ponder them in silence, or journal with them. Discuss them with family and friends...
1. What are our hopes and fears for the summer? Can we let our imaginations build something beautiful? Consider how your answers might change when you ask this of yourself, and then ask it of family or our community...
2. What are some settings/activities that will refresh/recharge us?
3. Who are some people that can help refresh/recharge us?
See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time.
Make a note of it and return to it throughout the summer.
Watch to see how God weaves things together.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love in my life.
Help me notice and respond to you.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Refresh.
Week 2: Connect
You're invited to consider ways you're needing to connect,
and how best to do that over the summer.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with quietness. Take a moment to settle down into this time and space, into your body.
Feel your feet connected with the ground. Feel yourself supported by your chair.
Let that remind you that you are rooted and grounded in Love.
Bring your attention to your breath, and fill your lungs deeply. Inhale...hold at the top…exhale….
As you continue to breathe, just enjoy the rhythm of in and out, receiving and releasing again.
See if you’d like to integrate these three phrases with your breath as a kind of breath prayer.
The first is, “I am here.” In your mind, say “I am” on the in and “here” on the out. I am…here.
Do that for five breaths.
Now shift to “You are here.” For five breaths.
And finally, “We are here.” Five breaths.
Hold some space here for as long as you like.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotation for the week:
Rachel Naomi Remen says,
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen.
Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Can you sit in silence now?
Do you notice anything stirring in you as you hear these words?
Thoughts? Feelings? Desires? Longings? Gratitude? Hope? Disappointment?
Does it feel related to our theme of connect? (It doesn't need to. Feel free to explore whatever you notice, with curiousity, courage, and compassion.)
Whatever surfaces, consider looking at it together with God who holds these things so tenderly - maybe as tenderly as you might hold a little chick or a butterfly.
See if you can be as tender with yourself. Take your time.
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. Is there a hobby, interest, or even a part of myself I want to reconnect with this summer?
2. Who are the people I miss and am drawn to reconnect with this summer?
3. Is there space in my life for community and new connections?
See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time.
Make a note of it and return to it throughout the summer.
Watch to see how God weaves things together.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love in my life.
Help me notice and respond to you.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Connect.
Week 3: Savour
You're invited to practice slowing down,
taking time to savour the good around you right now.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into your body.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale….
Now, notice your surroundings. Can you notice something beautiful in the room?
Let your eyes stay with it when you find it. Notice its beauty and linger with it. Enjoy it.
Now, moving to your other senses, you may want to close your eyes.
What sounds do you notice around you? Stay with them for a while.
Do you notice any aromas?
What is your body touching - what textures do you feel right now?
See what these things you’ve noticed stirs up in you. See if there’s any gratitude alongside everything else. Close this portion as you sit with an inner “Thank you!” if you’re able, or just sit a moment in some stillness.
Hold some space here for as long as you like.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotation for the week by Mary Oliver:
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.
Give in to it. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty.
Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Where do you notice joy in your life? Even if it’s a very small thing, how might you make space for joy - right now at this moment? Try this: Imagine Joy as a welcome friend, who finds you in the park. Move over on your bench to make room for Joy to sit beside you.
Can you sit with a sense of the abundance of Joy, or might you notice some hesitancy or resistance to allowing Joy?
Remember to be tender and curious, exploring a little with God. What comes to your attention?
Take your time. Feel free to journal, or make a note of whatever is coming to your attention. You may want to return to it later, or continue exploring now. When you're ready, consider the questions for reflection this week.
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. How can I practice intentionally noticing the gifts of the present moment?
2. What can I use as a reminder to pause, let a “glimmer”* fill me, let it be enough…?
*Deb Dana says glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They are small moments when we are in a place of connection or when our body is regulated, grounded, ready to receive. These moments cue our nervous system to feel safe or calm. As we notice and make room for them, these moments can accumulate and shape us in gentle ways, leading to resilience and joy. Can you notice glimmers in your life?
3. What brings me pleasure? How can I linger there this week?
See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time.
Make a note of it and return to it throughout the summer.
Watch to see how God weaves things together.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love in my life.
Help me notice and respond to you.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Savour.
Week 4: Intention
You're invited to spend some time considering how to grow in
intentionality around your time and energy.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into your body.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale….
I invite you to use the in and out rhythm of the breath to receive and release again, just like our first week.
Receiving on the inhale, release on the exhale...
Now, if it feels good to you, consider allowing the receiving breath to be receiving Love and the releasing breath to be releasing fear and anxiety. Breathe in love, and breathe out fear. Knowing that perfect love casts out fear, receive God’s perfect love as you breathe in, and release your fear and anxiety on the breath out.
You may notice specific fearful things come to mind, or you may just trust that release is happening.
As you spend some time here, you may notice the breath practice shifting... maybe you begin to want the exhale to serve as a way of sharing love in the world. Feel free to explore and play around, pausing the recording if you’d like.
We focused on savouring last week, so let’s use our growing savouring skills to notice and value the things that are important to us - to help us journey towards intention. At this point in the summer, let’s not get too specific or start making plans exactly, but just notice the things that rise to the surface in terms of our own needs and longings, desires for connections, invitations we’re noticing to linger and savour. What are you drawn to hold onto?
It may be that you notice a little panic even, around how quickly the summer is moving. If so, give it a listen.
Ask God to help you see what it is you’re afraid to miss out on. What were you hoping for that you’re afraid won’t happen?
Give those deep desires some room in a gentle, heart-centered way.
Later, they can turn into specific plans…as we start looking ahead, doing some noticing and making some choices.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotations for the week:
Fear and love are two big motivators for us. Out of fear, we move away from things and out of love, we move toward things.
When we are motivated by love, and allow ourselves to be drawn toward something good, there’s lots of room for intentionality,
for groundedness, for noticing God. When we’re running away out of fear, there isn’t usually time for any of that.
Consider the wise words of our two quotations for this week, and how might this wisdom apply to your life…?
How might love - receiving and sharing it be connected to intentionality? How might fear play a role?
The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.
― Stephen Covey
Live intentionally. Forget that and your life will be lived for you. ― Linus Mundy
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
See if you notice a connection between fear/love and setting intentions.
1. What tensions, like time, energy, scheduling, competing needs (personal vs familial) will I face this Fall?
2. What are the “big rocks”? In order to say yes to something, what might I need to say no to?
3. What do I want my rhythms to look like? What do I want our rhythms to look like?
4. How can I carve out Sabbath time in my week?
See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time, that you'd like to make note of. If so, do that, and return to it throughout the summer. Just see how God weaves beautiful things together.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love. Help us notice and respond.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Intention .
Week 5: Service
You're invited to consider how you can share what you have received.
You might also notice how you are already doing that.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into your body.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale….
Feel free to play with the in-and-out rhythm of the breath - receiving and releasing. I receive, I give. See what comes to you.
As we consider giving ourselves to service, I offer a posture prayer from Danielle Strickland and Infinitum Life. We’ve done it before at Nexus. There’s a series of three postures with both constricted and relaxed versions. We’ll start with the constricted version and release it, noticing how it feels to surrender, to be generous, to be open. Just like with all the prayer exercises, let’s be gentle, compassionate and curious with ourselves and whatever comes up as we do this work.
First, let’s clench our fists, assuming a boxer’s posture of defence, struggle, fighting.
I confess:
My natural posture can often be to try hard.
To make something happen with white knuckles.
To fight for myself.
Consider things we’re trying so hard to do.
If I could just try harder, do better, do more … I could really … make a difference...
Take a moment here to notice where in your life you sense this posture showing up the most.
Let’s choose instead a posture of surrender.
God, I give up. I cannot do it. I need your help. I surrender to your ways; to your leadership.
You created me, you created all things, so You be in charge.
I turn this day, my life, my problems, my situation - over to you.
I choose surrender.
Now let’s assume a posture with our hands in front of us with a tight fist - a posture of grasping.
I confess:
My natural posture often seems to be one of taking, keeping, holding on tight to what I’ve got.
I have a sense of scarcity despite God’s abundance. Despite the enoughness of this moment.
Let’s choose instead a posture of generosity.
I open my hands. I remember Jesus, what you taught us - freely I have received.
Freely I give. I want to be in the flow of your love.
To live with your yoke that you describe as easy.
To learn the unforced rhythms of grace. What could that look like?
I think of what I need right now, with open hands.
I ask for what I need for today … patience, kindness, grace, peace, love, hope, gentleness, self-control…
As I freely receive those things, I open my hands and allow those things that I’ve received to spill out into the world.
I choose open-handed generosity.
Our final posture of confession is closedness - crossed arms.
I confess:
My natural posture is often to spectate. To critique, criticize. To say it’s not my problem.
Let’s consider the areas, places, times where we judge. Where we keep ourselves apart, distant, where we don’t get involved, where we critique people who try.
Let’s choose instead a posture of openness, embrace.
I want to be open. To the last, the lost, the least
To people I used to critique, places I think are hopeless, areas that seem too hard...
Others will find welcome in my heart.
Help me navigate openness and boundaries. Where can I draw the lines? Where do you draw the lines?
I choose openness.
Jesus, remind me of these postures I’ve chosen to live out today -
to live surrendered, generous, open. I pray in your holy name, Jesus. Amen
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotations for the week:
Staying in this place of prayer, consider our two quotes for this week, and allow God to apply them to your heart and life.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner
“This is how you change the world: the smallest circles first.”
― Richard Wagamese
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. What makes me glad?
2. When have I noticed joy or gladness when serving?
3. What needs do I notice around me? Is there something they have in common?
4. What could I do to meet the needs I notice? Have I already started in some small way? Are there others I can join?
Feel free to journal on each one, or choose one that stands out most to you. See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time, that you'd like to make note of. If so, do that, and return to it throughout the summer. Just see how God weaves beautiful things together.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love. Help us notice and respond.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Service.
Week 6: Remember
You're imvited to look back and remember what has been.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into our bodies.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale…. Do this a few times, until you feel a sense of sinking into this moment...
To take things a bit deeper, I invite us into a little trio...On the breath out, we’ll cycle through a little series of three phrases:
First: “in my past”,
Second: “in my future",
Third “is right here”.
On the breath in, use your name for God - whatever name comes to you in the moment, or the one you feel most comfortable with.
You can simply use God, or Love as I will do…you might try Creator, or Lord, Abba, Amma…whatever feels right.
Do that now with the breath.
Breathing in: LOVE…
Out: in my past….
In: Love
Out: in my future…
In: Love
Out: is right here…
Breathing in: God…
Out: in my past….
In: God…
Out: in my future…
In: God…
Out: is right here…
Do this for as long as you like.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotation for the week:
Staying in this place of stillness… consider the quotation for this week, and allow God to apply it to your heart and life.
“That [we] do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.” — Aldous Huxley.
With gentleness and compassion, consider areas where you tend to repeat the same mistakes, or encounter similar challenges….where you might be hearing the same old story. See if you can make a little room for a new story. What freshness could God be offering you right there?
If you notice some squirminess or resistance, consider reflecting on whether you actually want to move forward.
What seems to be holding you back? What happens when you give those feelings some loving attention with God?
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. What is the season I’m in right now in my life? When did it begin? What led up to it?
2. Could I create a timeline of my life as a way to reflect on my own history? (Consult Brad's blog for a resource to assist you in making a timeline of your life and reflecting on your personal history. You can also click here to find it, alongside a slightly more contemplative approach to the same activity.)
4. What could be my next right thing?
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love. Help us notice and respond to you.
Week 7: Boundaries
You're invited to consider how boundaries
might support what is yours to do.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Let’s begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into our bodies.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale…. repeat for a while until you notice some loosening and relaxing.
When you're ready, consider something you find goodness and joy in - maybe something like sitting in the sun and soaking up its warmth...or being met by a cool breeze or a blustering wind...or find an object or a setting you can relish in...something you can savour...
Let your breath (both in and out) be "Yes." Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Allow the joy to be reflected on your face, in your eyes. Let the joy grow. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Now, find something to say no to. Let’s not go all the way to the very worst thing you can think of, but just something you know you’d like to move away from...maybe stress or anxiety, overcommitting, stinginess, graspiness... And now let your breath, both in and out, to be, "No." No. No. No. No. No. Can you say no with a smile on your face and tenderness in your heart? Can you say it with strength? Maybe some anger? Are there actions to go with the word? No. No. No.
After a while of saying no, let’s move back to the yes.
See what happens as you play around with yes and no throughout the week.
Prayerful Reflection on the Quotations:
Staying in this place of stillness… consider the quotations for this week, asking God to help you apply them to your heart and life.
The result of busyness is that an individual is very seldom permitted to form a heart.
― Søren Kierkegaard
Learn the art of saying “no”. When you exclude something, you invariably include something else even more fully.
― Linus Mundy
Hold these for a few moments, being curious with what you notice inside as you respond and make room for wisdom.
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. How do I tend to my values and priorities going into the fall?
2. What is most important to me, and how might I protect it?
3. What limitations might I need to embrace?
Has this reflection time stirred anything up in you? Ask God to help you notice what there is to see. You can make a note of it, discuss it with others, and bring it to God.
Closing Prayer:
Thank you God for your presence and your love. Help us notice and respond to you.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Boundaries.
Listen to Karla's two sermons on Boundaries: (Sermon 1: How Does One Follow The Jesus Path (And Not Get Taken Advantage Of)? and Sermon 2: I Don't Know What to do with Myself )
Listen to the Sacred Sofa Podcast's 3-part series as Grace and Brad chat with Karla about Boundaries:
Week 8: Gratitude
You're invited to consider the gifts of this summer, and let them lead you into the fall with gratitude and intention.
Click the button above for an audio guide version of the text below, or engage with the text on its own.
Centering Prayer:
Begin with some quietness, and settling down into this time and space, into our bodies.
Take some deep breaths. Inhale, hold at the top…exhale…. Continue for a while, until you notice a sinking, settling down feeling.
Breath Prayer: On the breath in, use your name for God - you can simply use God as I will do, or Love, or Creator...whatever feels right. On the breath out, let’s just say, "Thank you." You may notice things come to your mind, or just stay with those words. You may find the words shifting. Other words may surface, like grateful...satisfied...enough. And, you may feel the opposite of those things. If so, acknowledge what is there. Notice what you're feeling in your body. See if you can put some words to it as you continue to breathe, in and out, but mostly just be present to what you're noticing. And observe what happens to the feeling.
Lectio Divina on the Quotation:
(Latin for Divine Reading, Lectio Divina is an ancient art, a slow, contemplative praying Scriptures or other passages.)
I find Lectio Divina works much better if someone else reads it, so feel free to use the audio guide.
You can also read the poem yourself, three times.
The first time, listen to see if a certain word or phrase stands out to you. No need to figure out why, just notice.
The second time, see if you can notice something else in your life that feels connected to that word or phrase. Again, no need to figure out why, just notice if you feel a connection to your life.
The third time, see if there is a sense of a next step or action to take in your life.
On Waking - John O’Donohue
I give thanks for arriving
Safely in a new dawn,
For the gift of eyes
To see the world,
The gift of mind
To feel at home in my life
The waves of possibility
Breaking on the shore of dawn,
The harvest of the past
That awaits my hunger,
And all the furtherings
This new day will bring.
Reflection Questions (journal, reflect, discuss with friends...):
1. Looking Back: What did this summer give me for which I am grateful?
2. Being present even while looking back: Can I savour any specific moments / events / connections that come to mind?
3. Forward: What am I grateful for as I anticipate the coming fall season?
See if there’s anything stirring in you at the end of this reflection time. How does it feel to be in this liminal space - between summer and fall - summer not quite done, fall not quite here… What’s your invitation?
If you have done multiple times of intentional reflection over the summer, do you notice a theme or a common thread?
Can you catch a glimpse of what God might be drawing your attention to?
Closing Prayer: Thank you God for your presence and your love. Help us notice and respond to you - as the summer ends, and the fall begins, help us make space to listen.
Click here to read Brad's blog post on the theme of Gratitude.