[LITURGY] Hope in the Stillness

Intro: Hey South Bend City Church – Mariah here, the Director of Art and Worship. In this weekend’s liturgy we entered into some practices together: singing and breath prayer. Our hope is that this time is as meaningful for you as it was for us this weekend and that you join in with the rest of our community as we enter into these practices together.

He’s Able by Deitrick Haddon
Verse
Exceedingly, abundantly
Above all, all you could ask or think
According to the power that worketh in you

Chorus
Cause God is able to do just what He said He would do
He’s gonna fulfill every promise to you
Don’t give up on God cause He won’t give up on you
He is able
He is able

Chorus (x2)

Interlude
Oh – He is able
Oh – He is able
He is able

Tag
Don’t give up on God
Don’t give up on God
Don’t give up on God cause He won’t give up on you
He is able (Put your hands together, give God some praise)

Joy of the Lord by Maverick City Music
Verse 1
I’m pulling on joy from Heaven’s reserve
He’s stored up enough, for every winter I’m served
I’m seeing beyond my circumstance
This joy that I have is my inheritance
Joy, this is the joy of the Lord

Chorus
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Oh-oh-oh, He is my hope
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength

Verse 2
There is a Savior in the valley place
He’s walking beside me and He knows my pain
God, the beginning and the end
God, right there in the midst of it
Joy, this is the joy of the Lord

Chorus

Bridge (x2)
There’s gonna be glory
There’s gonna be glory
There will be glory after this
No need to worry
In this present suffering
There will be glory after this

Chorus

Outro
Oh-oh-oh-oh
More than a feeling burning in my soul
I’ve got this joy and it won’t let me go
Oh-oh oh oh
It’s like a fire shut up in my bones
Not just a feeling it’s the living hope

Tag
Not just a feeling it’s the living hope
Not just a feeling it’s a living hope
Not just a feeling it’s a living hope
Not just a feeling it’s a living hope

Chorus

Tag
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength

Mariah: Amen, that’s our prayer of hope this morning. Go ahead and grab a seat.
This morning we’re going to just continue in our time; we’re gonna just center ourselves in the here and the now. This is a practice called breath prayer – it’s been in the church for hundreds of years. I’ll walk us through it today, but this a practice that you can take into your everyday life. I know for me, it’s been really helpful and I hope that today it’s helpful for you as we root ourselves in the here and the now.

So if you’re comfortable with it go ahead and close your eyes, sit comfortably in your chair, feet flat on the floor, and start with practicing taking full deep breaths. Sometimes called belly breathing, full deep breaths today. Fill your chest and your ribs and your belly with a full breath and take ten full breaths. In and out.

And as you do so, what do you notice about your body today? How do you feel? Maybe you notice that you’re carrying tension. Maybe you notice that you feel a little anxious. Or maybe you notice that your heart is beating strongly and you feel healthy. But right now, would you just pay attention to what your body is feeling.

And a breath prayer links your rhythm of breathing in this way: as you breathe in, you call on a name or an image of God that’s personal to you and as you breathe out, you just share a desire of your heart. So today we’re going to use one example of a breath prayer.

As you breathe in, would you say within yourself: Be still and know

As you breathe out: that I am God.

You’re going to breathe this breath pray in and out. Breathe slowly, taking your time, there’s no rush here this morning.

Inhale: Be still and know
And breathe out: that I am God

As you continue to do this, just consider these questions this morning.
What do you notice in your body and your spirit and your mind?
How easy is it for the Divine to get your attention?
When are you able to hear God’s still small voice best?
In what ways has Love been inviting you to just simply be?
How are you being invited to be in this posture of being still and knowing that He is God in the coming days and weeks and months?

And as you feel ready, you can bring yourself back, you can open your eyes. There are many examples of breath prayer and maybe you’re drawn to a certain name or image of God or the Divine. As you breathe and pray, and as we continue to sing this morning, I hope that you find some new life. You find the ability to be still and to rest in the moment today.

Still by Amanda Cook
Chorus
So I will be still
I will be still
And know that You are
Know that You are God

Mariah: I ask that as we sing this next song that you would stand and join us as you are able.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Verse 1
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou has been Thou forever will be.

Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Verse 2
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Chorus

Verse 3
Comfort for pain and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Chorus (x2)

Mariah: So today would we root ourselves in stillness and rest and hope. Amen.