Contemplative Prayer Practices
This past Sunday, we took time as a community to explore some of the contemplative prayer practices we’ve discussed throughout our recent What If? Reimagining Prayer series.
Together, we walked through practices that invited us into a deeper communal expression, while also providing space to explore prayer individually. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how God is communing with us in all things.
Missed it? Listen now on our podcast and find resources for a selection of the contemplative prayer practices here:
Breath Prayers
Invitation:
Practice rhythmic breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) while repeating one of the following breath prayers.
- Inhale: I am loved as I am…
- Exhale: … and You are making me new.
- Inhale: You collect my tears…
- Exhale: … I am held.
- Inhale: You are the God…
- Exhale: …who sees me.
- Inhale: This is not the end…
- Exhale: …liberation is coming.
- Inhale: Show me who I am…
- Exhale: …and what is mine to do.
After a few minutes of breathing this prayer, take a moment to create a personal breath prayer and write it down on the cardstock paper. Take this card with you and come back to this prayer throughout the week.
Reflection Questions:
- How did your body respond to rhythmic breathing?
- What phrase emerged as most meaningful?
Reflective Prayer Journaling
Invitation:
Write freely for 10 minutes, guided by one or more of the following prompts:
- Where did I sense the Sacred this week—in nature, in others, in silence, or in unexpected places?
- What moments, people, or experiences brought me peace, joy or a sense of meaning this past week?
- How did my words or actions contribute to healing and/or blessing and flourishing in the world this week?
- Where did I encounter systems of injustice, exclusion, or harm this week—externally or within myself?
- Were there moments where I prioritized certainty over curiosity, fear over openness this week?
- What pain, grief or frustration do I carry from this week? How can I hold this with grace and gentleness?
When you are finished, read over what you wrote in your journal or on the paper.
If you’d like to, underline a phrase to share with someone at your Neighbours Group or someone close to you, and share with them what this journaling experience was like for you.
Reflection Questions:
- What truth did your writing reveal?
- How might this shape your prayers this week?
Neighbourhood Prayer Walk (Outside)
Invitation:
Walk with a posture of openness. Reflect on one or more of these questions and remain curious around what surfaces in your thoughts and feelings.
- What do you notice around you?
- What needs do you see around you?
- What is hidden in plain sight?
- What joys do you see around you?
- Where might you see light breaking in?
Reflection questions for after your walk:
- What did you notice that you’d previously overlooked?
- How might God be inviting us to respond?