Prayer BenchJune Newsletter
Prayer BenchJune Newsletter
Samples of New Resources
Hello Prayer Bench newsletter readers, welcome to the June edition.
Reflection: What is the gift you carry in your soul?
Pause & Practice
Samples of New Resources
What You Said
Reflection: What is the gift you carry in your soul?
There is an old Jewish-Christian tradition which says:
God sends each person into this world with a special message to deliver,
with a special song to sing for others,
with an act of love to bestow.
No one else can speak your message,
or sing your song,
or offer your act of love.
These are entrusted only to you. (Source unknown)
I really believe that each of us has a unique gift to bring to the world God loves.
Just as our fingerprints are distinct and matchless,
so too are the talents, qualities, and passions that reside within us.
Our unique gifts are often the result of our experiences, challenges and joys,
which shape us into the individuals we are today.
What is the gift you carry in your soul?
Pause & Practice:
Perhaps we know, intuitively, the gift in us the world needs. We get up every morning and share our talents, time, qualities and passions with the world. We know, without knowing, what we are meant to be, to do, to share generously with the world.
Perhaps we can’t say what our gift is in one sentence or even a paragraph. Perhaps we don’t need to know. It is enough to know we carry a gift in our soul and have a responsibility to offer it to the world.
We carry gifts into each day. Pause now. Acknowledge the gifts you carried into this day. Take your attention to your heart. Wait. Listen. See the day with the eyes of your heart. Notice what rises. You might be surprised.
Samples of New Resources
There are two new resources in the Prayer Bench. Simply visit the Prayer Bench shop and you can read and use a sample of each one. This will give you a sense of their flavour and how you might use them in worship or your personal practice of prayer and reflection.
For your information, the Worship Sheet available as a sample is a reflection called “And Sarah Laughed” and is based on the story for this week in the Revised Common Lectionary.
It’s ready! Let Us Pray: A Digital Resource Collection of Prayer is the work of Jane Doull who curated a life-time of prayers she wrote for this project. This is the first volume which includes a full set of prayers for every Sunday from September 1 to the end of December. The 60 page document is available now for use in worship, small group or meetings, and personal prayer.
There is an 9-page Sample available which will introduce you to Jane and her craft of writing prayers. There are samples of prayers drawn from the first section: Creation & Ordinary Time. The document also includes a set of prayers for every Sunday in Advent and Christmas.
It is Jane’s wish — and mine — to make the prayers in this four volume collection available at the lowest cost possible. We share this resource for the nourishment of worship leaders, communities of faith and those who use it in their daily prayer. We are excited to offer Volume 1. This comprehensive resource includes three other volumes. Learn more.
What You Said (used with permission.)
About Worship Sheets
Hello Janice,
This is fantastic, thanks! I used your free sample of the story of Sarah and Abraham, as an add on to my Holy Humour Sunday worship service, which prompted me to purchase the set of worship sheets.
I appreciate your story telling and look forward to using them when I need a spark, or I am feeling depleted from a full week of work.
In gratitude, Lynn McGrath, Agassiz United Church, Chilliwack BC
About Worship Sheets & Let Us Pray
Our summer student is going to help me put together three pre-recorded worship services in case of storm closures. I just ordered Worship Sheets and we’ll use these to build our services around. Love the collection of prayers as well.
You rock. Rachel Campbell, Trinity United Church, Summerside, PEI.