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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

904.0. "Prayer as Conversation with God" by NITTY::DIERCKS (Not every celebration is a party!) Tue Apr 19 1994 17:03

    
    
    I was the assisting minister at the 9:30 worship service in my church
    this past Sunday.  In that role, I chanted the liturgy, led the creed,
    led the prayers, and assisted with communion (this time I presented
    the host and gave a blessing to the not-yet-communing children).  My 
    point (there really is a point to all this):  I was raised in the
    Baptist Tradition -- lots of "Thee's" and "Thou's" and "hast's", etc.,
    in the prayers.  That's not how I speak, so it's not how I pray.  I
    tend to be very conversational in my prayer, both in private and public. 
    A couple of people, after the service on Sunday, commented that they
    thought my prayers "felt different".  When pressed as to what they
    meant, they couldn't really put their feelings into words except to say
    that they (the prayers) felt more personal and more intimate.  How do
    you pray?  Do you talk *with* God, *to* God.  Is it conversation? 
    
        Greg
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904.1NITTY::DIERCKSNot every celebration is a party!Tue Apr 19 1994 17:048
    
    
    FWIW, I took several of my petitions on Sunday from a book by Chris
    Glaser called "Coming Out To God:  A Book of Prayers for Gay Men and
    Lesbians and their Friends and Family".  (I'm participating in a
    weekend retreat where he will be the key-note speaker this weekend.)
    
          Greg
904.2AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webTue Apr 19 1994 17:077
    I attended a retreat called Journey to Genesis last weekend.  It was
    suggested that we view God as our lover.  One of the exercises was to
    write a love letter to God.
    
    Interesting exercise, as was the resistance.
    
    
904.3TFH::KIRKa simple songTue Apr 19 1994 17:4919
904.48-) (but really serious)NITTY::DIERCKSNot every celebration is a party!Tue Apr 19 1994 18:0618
    
    >>I attended a retreat called Journey to Genesis last weekend.  It was
    >>suggested that we view God as our lover.  One of the exercises was to
    >>write a love letter to God.
    
    I like that, I like it very much.
    
    (As long as we're baring out souls (pun intended)):  My therapist and I
    spent a lot of time last Saturday talking about prayer and its role in
    our lives.  I told him that I really do have difficulty praying because
    I bring so much negative baggage from my early church experiences with
    me into my prayer time.  Our conversation, to put in mildly, surprised
    me.  He know, from previous conversations, that I'm a naturalist.  He
    suggested that I pray when I'm naked and most vulnerable.  I tried it
    several times over the weekend and can't put into words the feeling --
    truly amazing.
    
        Greg -- nude pray-er
904.5CVG::THOMPSONAn AlphaGeneration NoterTue Apr 19 1994 18:367
    
>    Interesting exercise, as was the resistance.

	I'm hard pressed to understand how this was a useful and positive
	exercise. Can you tell us more about it.

			Alfred
904.6AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webTue Apr 19 1994 19:1716
    The focus was on our relationship with God.
    
    We discussed the concept of God as lover.  How would we relate to God
    as our lover.  It is Biblical you know.  To love God with all one's
    heart, soul, and mind.  Doesn't that qualify as God as lover.  The
    discussion was around how in our relationships with those we love we
    learn more about loving by giving love than receiving love.  We
    discussed alternatives to prayer of asking for whatever we were asking
    for.
    
    We went off by ourselves for 1/2 hour and wrote our letters.
    
    We got back together and discussed what the process was like for us,
    the results, the resistance etc.
    
    Patricia
904.7AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webTue Apr 19 1994 19:205
    By the way, it was as a result of this exercise that I found the Wisdom
    of Solomon material.  God is potrayed as Bride and lover their.  In the
    prophets also, God is potrayed as Groom and Israel as Bride.
    
    Patricia
904.8COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Apr 19 1994 21:225
re .7

The Resurrection is the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, at which the Church (we)
are the Bride of Christ.

904.9CSC32::J_CHRISTIEMost Dangerous ChildWed Apr 20 1994 01:346
    In public prayer I've referred to God as "the lover of our very souls,
    closer to us than our very breath."
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
904.10NITTY::DIERCKSNot every celebration is a party!Wed Apr 20 1994 19:2516
    
    
    Just remembered another neat thing that happened on Sunday (though it's
    not related to the topic -- it's my base note and I can do what I
    want!!!!  8-)   )  I was standing in the back of the church chatting
    with folks after the service when a woman walked up to me that I
    vaguely remembered seeing before but didn't really know.  She was
    holding a baby boy about 6 months old.  My friend Jo was standing next
    to me.  This woman says, "Can he be trusted?".  Jo says, "Sure."  This
    woman says to me "I have to go to the bathroom -- hold my baby, he
    likes to pull beards."  and took off.  He was such a sweet boy - though
    he did like to pull beards.  I love the babies!  Maybe I should
    volunteer for nursery duty.  (I wonder if you can volunteer for nursery
    duty and get by without changing diapers?)
    
         Greg
904.11AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webWed Apr 20 1994 19:325
    Greg,
    
    Not a chance.  No hazzard pay either.
    
    Patricia
904.12CSC32::J_CHRISTIEMost Dangerous ChildWed Apr 20 1994 19:385
    .10  The best part is you don't have to take 'em home.  No wonder
    folks enjoy grandparenting more than parenting!  ;-}
    
    Richard
    
904.13Celtic spiritualityADISSW::HAECKMea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!Fri May 03 1996 13:445
    In June I will be going on a silent weekend retreat with the topic of
    Celtic spirituality.  I am going into it with the perception that
    Celtic spirituality is a sort of constant praying.  I am hoping to gain
    some guidance in maintaining the constant awareness that God is always
    with me.
904.14MKOTS3::JMARTINMadison...5'2'' 95 lbs.Fri May 03 1996 14:118
    Debbie:
    
    Could you expound a little more on Celtic Spirituality.  Curious minds
    and all!
    
    Thanks,
    
    -Jack
904.15ADISSW::HAECKMea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!Fri May 03 1996 20:546
    > Could you expound a little more on Celtic Spirituality.  Curious
    > minds and all!
    
    Not until after my retreat!  :-)  
    
    And you may have to remind me.