C O N T E N T S F I R S T A Meditation & Prayer Practice . 1 from Rev. Carrie Houston A U S T I N Song of Petition . 4 "Abide With Me" (arr. Moses Hogan) Choir of Washington National Cathedral A B A P T I S T Prayer for Perspective & Confession . 4 "Prayer for a Pandemic" (Unknown) C O M M U N I T Y O F F A I T H A Message to Children . 5 9 0 1 T R I N I T Y S T . from Dorothy Strickland ( 5 1 2 ) 4 7 6 - 2 6 2 5 Song for Comfort . 5 "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (arr. Mack Wilberg) Baylor A Cappella Choir O N L I N E A Homily on Anxiety & Fear in Uncertain Times . 6 from Rev. Griff Martin W O R S H I P G U I D E Poem for Reflection . 9 S U N D A Y , M A R C H 1 5 , 2 0 2 0 "Pandemic" (Rev. Lynn Ungar) Song of Hope . 9 "Hard Times Come Again No More" (arr. Nick Johnson) Moment for Mission . 10 from Rev. Jared Slack Meditation & Prayer Practice As a kid, I ate a banana before every violin audition or competition I had. It was inevitable—I would get sweaty palms, shaky hands, and butterflies in the pit of my stomach before my number was called to perform. I was told that eating a banana was supposed to help calm you. I didn’t know why a banana was the cure-all for nervousness (because I really don’t like bananas!), but I was desperate for all the help I could get. If Google had existed back then, I would have discovered that foods rich in potassium can help regulate electrolyte balance and manage blood pressure. It’s also why they are readily available after a long race. Eating a banana is an easy way (well, only if you like bananas!) to get that much needed potassium to bring your blood pressure down, thus curbing some of those anxiety symptoms. Instead of telling me to reach for a banana, I wish my violin teacher would have taught me techniques to reduce those feelings of anxiety, fears, and stress, through breathing techniques and mindfulness. Bananas only helped anecdotally, because I still entered that audition room with the same shaky limbs and sweaty palms, two things that can really hinder a violin performance. What I’ve learned as an adult is the power of mindfulness over our anxieties and fears. When I start to feel my heart race because I’m nervous to give a big speech (ok, sermon), or when I sense tension in my body because I am stressed about an upcoming decision I have to make or task that’s been left undone, I reach for some simple deep breathing exercises that slow my mind down and calm my body. (Example: breathe in for 3 counts, exhale for 5 and repeat for a few minutes.) These same exercises can be done as a way of prayer, where we can experience the benefit of increased oxygen to our brain and body and at the same time, connecting to our Creator in a personal and vulnerable way. I find that in these days of fear over all the unknowns we are encountering, be it COVID-19, closed schools, economic markets, or quarantines, we need to implement these stress-relieving techniques even more than ever before. If you haven’t experienced the helpfulness of meditation or breath prayers, I invite you find some time to open yourself up to a new spiritual practice. Breath prayers are simple, one or two verses, that you repeat as you inhale and exhale. You’re likely experiencing heightened anxieties and fears this week, so my prayer for you is that this is beneficial to reduce some of the things that are weighing you down. First, select one or two lines from scripture that you will meditate on. They can be familiar or new. Here is a list of examples from scripture that work great as breath prayers, as compiled by Sarah Bessey: 1 (Meditation & Prayer Practice cont.) (From Matthew 11:28-30) (From Psalm 23) Inhale: Humble and gentle One, Inhale: I will not be afraid Exhale: you are rest for my soul. Exhale: for You are with me. (From John 15) (From Psalm 46:1) Inhale: True Vine and Gardener, Inhale: You are our refuge Exhale: I abide in You. Exhale: and our strength. (From Romans 8:38-39) (From Psalm 74:16) Inhale: Nothing can separate me, Inhale: Both day and night Exhale: from the love of God. Exhale: belong to You. (From Psalm 46:10) (From Psalm 91:1) Inhale: Be still Inhale: I find rest Exhale: and know you are God. Exhale: in Your shelter. (From Matt. 6:10) (From Psalm 103: 4-5) Inhale: On earth Inhale: You surround me with love Exhale: as it is in heaven. Exhale: and tender mercies. Inhale: You fill my life (From 2 Cor. 12:9) Exhale: with good things. Inhale: Your grace Exhale: is enough for me. (From Philippians 4:7) (From 1 John) Inhale: Peace of Christ, Inhale: There is no fear Exhale: guard my heart and mind. Exhale: in your Love. Now that you’ve selected your meditation verse, let’s begin our prayer. First, center yourself. Find a space that is silent and where you can sit comfortably. Place your feet in contact with the ground, and close your eyes. Become aware of your breath. Stay in touch with all that is happening within your body as you breathe, but breathe normally. Don’t feel like you have to change up your breath. Begin to imagine you are in a place, a safe place, your own personal sanctuary. It can be a place that you’ve visited, a place you wish to visit, or one that is made up in your imagination. How does the air smell? Is it cool? Warm? Dark? Bright? Imagine yourself in that place. 2 (Meditation & Prayer Practice cont.) Now that you are centered, you can begin your prayer with your selected scripture verses. This example is from 1 John. Inhale. Fill your lungs completely with a deep breath of air. Feel the air filling your lungs. As you inhale, say: There is no fear Exhale slowly and fully. As you exhale, say: in your Love. Repeat this breathing pattern for as long as you feel you need it. Start with ten complete breaths. You can even switch your up your verses and see how your heart and mind respond. I hope you find this technique to be a way to experience relaxation and stress relief during this time of unknowns. Rev. Carrie Houston 3 Song of Petition "Abide With Me" (arr. Moses Hogan) Performed by the Choir of Washington National Cathedral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQcc559uDeA Prayer for Perspective & Confession "Prayer for a Pandemic" (Author Unknown) May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country, let us choose love. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen. 4 A Message to Children A message for parents to read to their children from Ms. Dorothy: Hi ____________________, (your child's/children's name[s]) Do you know how special you are? You are the only person God has ever made who is exactly like you! I feel such joy when I see you at church! I’m sad that we couldn’t be at church together today. But I want you to be safe and healthy! You do not need to worry about getting sick. Lots of people who care about you are working hard to protect you: your parents, your grandparents, your doctor, your school teachers, your church teachers and pastors. See! You are special and important to so many people! We all love you! I love you! And God loves, Loves, LOVES YOU! Love, Ms. Dorothy Song for Comfort "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (arr. Mack Wilberg) Performed by the Baylor A Cappella Choir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcBRJpF-Vw 5 A Homily on Anxiety & Fear in Uncertain Times John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I won’t lie.... this is not my favorite of Jesus’ sayings. I feel this is very much a “because I said so” response. So I want to argue with Jesus on behalf of all of us this morning... I would begin with this... “Jesus, There is a lot to be anxious about these days.