Stay Treat Outline
Welcome to a unique space of communal reflection, contemplation, and prayer. Below is a rough outline of what we’ve planned for our time together.
What to Bring
-Yoga mat, blanket, or chair for sitting
-A journal or something to make notes
-Some sort of object from home that represents you or has a spiritual significance to you. No worries if you don't bring anything, we'll be using this as an ice breaker and you can also just talk about an object.
-Comfortable clothes. The current weather forecast is in the mid-high 60s.
-An open spirit :)
0) Opening: Pause & Pray
As you begin, take some time to slow down your breathing and center on being present. Find a comfortable place to sit, close your eyes and set an intention. Ask God to be present to you in this time.
1) Introductions and Spiritual Show and Tell
Share your name and tell us about the object that you brought (optional)
2) Lectio Divina
Lectio Devina means “Devine Reading” and it’s been a deeply held practice within the Christian community for centuries. In this time we’ll read the following selected Biblical passage three times and then take some time to listen in community to what is speaking to us.
Psalm 109
Prayer for Vindication and Vengeance
1 Do not be silent, O God of my praise.
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They surround me with words of hate
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
even while I make prayer for them.
5 So they reward me evil for good
and hatred for my love.
6 They say, “Appoint a wicked man against him;
let an accuser stand on his right.
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
let his prayer be counted as sin.
8 May his days be few;
may another seize his position.
9 May his children be orphans
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children wander about and beg;
may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit.
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.
12 May there be no one to do him a kindness
nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.
13 May his posterity be cut off;
may his name be blotted out in the second generation.
14 May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord,
and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
and may his memory be cut off from the earth.
16 For he did not remember to show kindness
but pursued the poor and needy
and the brokenhearted to their death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
may it soak into his body like water,
like oil into his bones.
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
like a belt that he wears every day.”
20 May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my life.
21 But you, O Lord my Lord,
act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is pierced within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
my body has become gaunt.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me according to your steadfast love.
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
you, O Lord, have done it.
28 Let them curse, but you will bless.
Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad.
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle.
30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
3) Breath-work Exercise or Meditation
A Meditation of Release and Grounding
Breathing: in-for-3 / out-for-5…
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God
Lord Jesus Christ
4) Moment of Silence and Song
Lyrics:
Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of God's unchanging love
Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I've come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy grace now like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave Thy God I love
Here's my heart, O take it, seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave Thy God I love
Here's my heart, O take it, seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of God's unchanging love
5) Solitude and Listening
Consider spending some time in silence and quite reflection. Listen for what might be coming up in your spirit and for God’s voice. Be sure to bring a journal and do your best to turn screens off. Also, consider taking something small and appropriate from the area home as a symbol of your shared intention.
6) Spiritual Show and Tell pt. 2
Share anything that resonated or spoke to you during your time of solitude and listening (optional)
7) Closing your time with the Lords Prayer
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For theirs is the kingdom, the power and glory forever and ever Amen