Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Fathers throne Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempters snare,

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

OUTWARD JOURNEY OF DOING

Mercy
Compassion Justice

Devotion

Worship

Piety
INWARD JOURNEY OF BEING

 Prayer

Breath Prayer (how did it go?) Labyrinth Prayer beads Praying with art Praying with icons Chanting the Psalms Centering Prayer (Contemplation)

Meditation Lectio Divina

 Study of Scripture
Daily reading
Repetition/Memorization Using a variety of study resources Bible atlas Bible concordance Bible dictionary Bible commentaries

 Fasting
An acknowledgement of our dependence

on God Other ways to fast rather than from food:

TV viewing

Online activity (Facebook, email, etc.)

Spending money on non-essentials Gossip

 Journaling what to journal

Bible verses, sermon notes, phrases that

have a special meaning for you Quotes from books that are meaningful to you. Note any images that touch your life and especially feelings you have. Write how you feel about events, persons, ideas, and relationships. Books you are reading Ahas! Every month summarize key events.

 Accountability Groups
Where two or three are gathered in my

name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20 Wesleys societies, class meetings, bands Emmaus Reunion Groups Wesley Covenant Groups Renovar Groups (A Spiritual Formation Workbook) www.renovare.us

When in the past week did you feel closest to Christ?

 Simplicity

Solitude
Submission Service Acts of Mercy
When we choose to serve we are still in

charge. We decide whom we will serve and when we will serve . . . . But when we choose to be a servant we give up the right to be in charge . . . . We become available and vulnerable. - Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

 Worship

Confession
Guidance
Spiritual direction Spiritual friendship

Holy Reading

 Lectio slow, contemplative reading to hear with the ear of our hearts
Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia

(c.480543)

The Life of a Benedictine Monk

Ora et labora Lectio divina

 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD

was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - I Kings 19:12

4-R Method Read Respond Reflect Rest

 Lectio - reading/listening read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word

or phrase that is Gods word for you

 Meditatio meditation Take in and ruminate on the

word or phrase that is God's word for you

Mary treasured up all these

things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19)

 Oratio - prayer Loving conversation with the One who has invited us

into his embrace

Allow word to touch and change our deepest selves

 Contemplatio -

contemplation
Simply rest in the

presence There are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary

 Like an ascending

spiral by means of which we are drawn ever closer to God

No goal other than

that of being in the presence of God

 Psalms

Gospel of John
See Upper Room website

(Google Methodx and Lectio Divina)