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. For instance as I am writing this we are in the midst of packing our bags to get on a flight back home tomorrow because we think cutting our time away and coming back home seems like the right thing to do, and as we are planning to head to the airport I have stopped counting the times I have heard the CNN anchor talking about not getting on a plane.

Or, Jesus, just glance at the emails that have flooded my inbox already this day with folks worried about finances and jobs and paying rent. Or emails from other folks who have folks they are worried about in terms of jobs and paying rent. Or people who are just scared, scared of catching this virus, scared of a loved one catching this virus, scared of being stuck at home alone, scared of family and friends who live in hot spots. Or people who are grieving because something they really loved and looked forward to has been cancelled and this is a whole other type of grief.

Or, Jesus, look at the front page of any paper or news website. There is a lot that is going on that we are anxious about. And to be honest, there already was a lot to be anxious about... we live in an age of anxiety and we (well a lot of us) are already a very anxious people and that was before we heard of COVID19.

So what do you have to say now, Jesus?”

And after a brief pause (because Jesus is very thoughtful and listens fully before he responds)...

“Oh beloved... I say the same thing: Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and don’t be afraid...

6 (A Homily on Anxiety and Fear in Uncertain Times cont.)

"Beloved, there is a lot to re-learn about this text. Just think about when I said it, this is one of my last teachings to the disciples before Jerusalem and my last week here. So don’t Hallmark felt board this one, this one was said when things were turbulent and quite scary. These are words meant for tough times.

Beloved, maybe you need to know peace a bit better. Peace is not the absence of fear and anxiety, it’s a calm in the midst of fear and anxiety and only I can give you that (I am fully playing the resurrection card here Beloved, but I feel it’s a very fair card to play because that is why I am the only one who can give peace). This peace is the type of calm that comes from cuddling up in my arms and letting me hold you for a while.

So beloved let’s start there. Turn the news alerts off your phone, stop checking Huffington Post, turn the TV off, turn NPR off... for now let’s just plan on only watching enough news so that you know what you need to do right now and you are well informed, but past that, let’s turn it off. Instead cuddle up in my arms and let me hold you.

I can’t give you something you are too busy to receive. Beyond that all that news is just fuel to the anxiety fire already burning very bright.

So stop and breath, deep life giving breaths. Slow down. Let me hold you and give you peace.

And don’t let your heart be troubled because if it’s troubled, that is a good sign it is concerned with the wrong things. As one of my other favorite beloved children Anne Lamott writes, 'if you worry- don’t pray, if you pray- don’t worry.' A troubled heart is a worried heart.

And as one other of my favorite beloved children the Dixie Chicks sing, trouble is seeing double with the wrong one. Troubled hearts are full of the wrong things, I think I said it somewhere else, hearts are best used to love- to love Me, love others and love yourself. Start there and your heart fills up with the right things.

So try praying... try some time with me so that I can fill your heart (and it looks like you are going to have a lot of time on your hands the next bit to work on your prayer life and let’s be honest, how many times have you told me you want to do just that?)

And don’t be afraid... As one of my other favorite beloved children Elizabeth Gilbert writes, fear is a really bad driver. She compares our lives to a big old car trip and says that one of the most important choices we make each day is to tell fear that he can go along for the ride but that he can’t drive because he is a bad driver. 7 (A Homily on Anxiety and Fear in Uncertain Times cont.)

"So Beloved, how do you do this? Well, prayer and meditation and Sabbath are really good starting points. So is compassion. Think of something you can do for someone else today, often just getting your mind onto others is a huge step. Or even harder think of something you can do for yourself today.

But whatever you do don’t worry, after all who can add a single hour to their life by worrying? And if that doesn’t do it for you... pay attention to the birds and the flowers (just a reminder, these are some other things I said about worry it might be good to review).

And to mesh truths from two of my other favorite Beloved children, Saint Teresa and John Lennon, 'In the end all will be well, so if it’s not all well, it’s not the end.'

Trust me love wins.

Take peace in that, Beloved.

And also this... I love you.”

Rev. Dr. Griff Martin

8 Poem for Reflection "Pandemic" (Rev. Lynn Ungar)

What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down. And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart.Know that we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.) Know that our lives are in one another’s hands. (Surely, that has come clear.) Do not reach out your hands. Reach out your heart. Reach out your words. Reach out all the tendrils of compassion that move, invisibly, where we cannot touch. Promise this world your love— for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we all shall live.

Song of Hope "Hard Times Come Again No More" (arr. Nick Johnson)

https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp? &type=audio&productID=10936161 9 Moment for Mission Friday night, while settling nicely into a comfy evening of social distancing, I got the wild idea to make a soufflé. I had spent the better part of my usual day off working in my shop and listening to Great British Bakeoff through my airpods. So finding myself in the kitchen at 9 p.m. rummaging through my arsenal for what could passably come together as a soufflé worthy of St. Mary Barry isn’t far off brand for me.

But we were out of milk.

So I shook my fist at the universe for doling out this poorly timed lesson on being a better adult and set out for the corner store hoping against all hope that the same fate that befell my neighborhood HEB hadn’t set it’s sights on my beloved Bread Basket. I arrived to find milk in all it’s varying percentages, organic butter, locally sourced eggs, knock-off Oreos, and toilet paper individually packaged and priced like it was made from fine silk.

As I was walking out I yelled out over my shoulder to the owner, and said, “You guys are probably gonna be the only reason we make it through this.” To which he responded, “Thank you, my friend. We’ll be here.”

Now, I’m not naive enough to believe that he wasn’t also thinking about the potential $$$$, but in that moment I felt a an odd comfort. It’s nice to know that during whatever these coming days bring someone is there.

I wonder if the world needs a similar message from us now? We’ll be here.

Yes, stuff is shutting down left and right, and we’re doing that social distancing thing which means we aren’t doing our typical gathering… but I believe the church is made for moments just like this. While fear and uncertainty swirl, the church has, for years, been a stalwart for care and compassion in times just like these.

No, we’re not going to be able to do this work locked arm and arm. We’re spread out at the moment. But being distanced doesn’t mean we can’t be connected or that we can’t still be about the work of caring for our neighbors.

So, during this time I encourage each of you to look within and embrace that pastoral presence you possess within. How can you safely care and provide compassionate, healthy presence for the halo of people in your proximity? 10