2019
Prayer Chapel
And as he (Jesus) taught them, Jesus said to them,
"My house will be a house of prayer…." -Mark 11: 17a
Our relocated prayer chapel (on the lower level underneath our office complex) provides a peaceful, calming area for personal prayer or small group prayer. The chapel is open during church office hours and on Sunday. Stop in and visit this beautiful space and admire the stained glass windows.
Sabbath Chapel Morning Prayer
On Sunday morning between 8:45 and 9:15am you are invited to gather to pray for our morning worship and its leaders. The prayer below is used each Sunday followed by 15 minutes of Centering Prayer. The Prayer Focus Team members facilitate this gathering, but others are encouraged to participate. A notebook with full instructions is on a small table in the chapel.
Prayer Resource Table
Prayer resources are available on a table just outside of the sanctuary. Please borrow for use or share with friends. You will also find the UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL there as well. The UPPER ROOM is also available on line at upperroom.org!
PRAYING WITH THE WORLD
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The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle guides us through every region of the world over the course of a year. Praying for each place on earth and its people at least once a year, we affirm our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems and sharing diverse gifts. Pray with us!
PRAYER LABYRINTH
Outside on church property at 6200 Burke Centre Parkway
We have a prayer labyrinth in the shape of a cross located behind our Fellowship Hall off the path behind our building. A prayer labyrinth is an opportunity to walk through and direct your focus toward God. Unlike a maze, which has dead ends and the possibility of getting lost, a labyrinth has a clear path with twists and turns. In this way it resembles the journey of life. There are many approaches one can take when walking the labyrinth. There are also benches scattered throughout as a place for reflection.
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Here are a few of these approaches to get you started:
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You can think of the labyrinth in three movements. As you move toward the center of the labyrinth, you can focus on letting go of worldly attachments or approach God with the questions on your heart. Once at the center, you can remain here to reflect upon your relationship with God right now and pray that your life may be centered on God. As you leave the labyrinth, you can reflect upon the ways that you will walk with Jesus away from the cross and what new places of hope and grace may be your next steps.
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Another way is asking God a question as you enter the path. Then, as you walk slowly through the labyrinth, listen for the Spirit’s nudgings. Let your steps and your silence invite the presence and guidance of God. As you leave, think about what ways God has revealed God’s presence to you in your walking.
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You can start your journey with confession, allowing your journey to the center of the cross being a giving up of those choices or struggles that are hindering your relationship with God. At the center, commune with God and ask for God’s forgiving Spirit to wash over you. As you journey out, name affirmations of God’s presence and love in your life. Pause at the exit and give thanks for your cleansing journey.
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Simply be silent and listen for the sounds around you and give thanks to God for God’s creation and the community around you.