The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:4b-7)
This Sunday the Vision Alignment Team will tour the Grace campus to better understand how this substantial material resource can best be used to further Grace’s vision. Please join with our Daughters of the King chapter in praying for the team.
Music can be an entry into a time of worship and prayer. It calms and centers us. (Studies have shown it actually improves brain function.) Martin Luther said, "Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." And music is a treasure that has been a part of worship and prayer since before the time of King David. Psalm 150 lists eight different instruments. Paul writing in his letter to the Ephesians (5:19) tells the church to “sing and make music.”
If you have favorite hymns or praise music, listen to it as you begin your prayer time to bring you into a place where you can better hear God’s voice. Ending your prayer time with music is also a way to take that closeness with God into your day. If you don’t have favorite music, if you want to try some new songs, or if you’ve never used music to enter into prayer time here are some suggestions.
There are many recordings of hymns on YouTube. Here are two compilations: Traditional hymns with vocals and Instrumental hymns. Not all these hymns are in the Episcopal Hymnal but you can find individual recordings if you want to listen to a specific hymn. For those who want contemporary praise and worship music here is a playlist of Sunday Best from Adam Pryor, Grace Worship Coordinator, However you enter into prayer this week, please join us in praying:
Gracious Lord we ask that you be with the Alignment Team and their important work. Give them open minds and hearts as they move forward. O heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Morning Prayer: Collect for Guidance, page 100)