The Prayer Pack

Allofuspray indifferentwaysatdifferentstages inour lives.SometimesourwayofprayingchangesaswegrowinourrelationshipwithGod.

Listening to a piece of music can be especially helpful when settling ‘intoprayer’. It can calm us down and help to rid ourselves of some of the day’sdistractions,allowingustofocusmoreonourrelationshipwithGod.Obviously,not all types of music are conducive to entering into prayer. Instrumentalmusic,sungprayer in theMonasticsettingandrepetitivechantsareprobablythe best choices. Some may prefer well-known hymns. Being open toexperiencingandentering into thisdifferentapproach toprayerwill certainlyaffectthewayweprayandhowweexperienceGod.

Book suggestions –Youwill find reflection on the use ofmusic in prayer andcontemplationinthefollowingcomposers’publications:

SongsandprayersfromTaize–seealsoTaizewebsiteMusicfromtheIonaCommunity–seealsoIonawebsiteFountainofLife–MusicforContemplativeWorship–MargaretRizza.HasagoodintroductionHowcanmusicbringusintodeeperprayer.CelticHymnBook–RaySimpson(pub).KevinMayhew.GoodintroductiontotheplaceofCelticmusic/hymninprayer.

CDsTaizeInstrumentalmusic-forGuitar.Naïve-Auvidis.Paris.MargaretRizza–‘FireofLove’musicforcontemplativeworship/KevinMayhewSacredmusicofJohnRutter–andTaverner(various)InstrumentalmusicofKarlJenkins(Various)Insearchofpeace-TeresaBrown(Violin)DevineMusic

Websiteswww.Taizecommunity.comwww.iona.org.ukFrontcoverimage:www.Pixabay.com

PrayingwithMusic

“Thepersonwhosings,praystwice.”

MusicenhancesandenrichesourprayerfulcommunicationwithGod:

“Thepersonwhosings,praystwice.”

StAugustine

Chooseapieceofmeditative,reflectivemusic.

Stillyourmind–youcouldusetheprayersheet‘ListeningtoGodinsilenceandstillness’first.Playthepieceofmusic.Whenitisfinished,sitinsilenceforalittlewhile.Then:Playthesamemusicagain.Thistime,listenattentivelytothetempo,rhythm,patternsandmelodies.

Whatthoughts,feelingscometomind?

DoesthemusicsayanythingaboutwhatGodislike?

IsGodsayinganythingtomethroughthismusic?

IsthereanythingoranyoneIammovedtoprayfor?Whenthemusichasfinished,bestillforawhileandthengentlybringyourselfbacktotheroom.Endyourprayerbysayingthankyouorusingwordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.