praying with music2016 - diocese of rochester hymn book – ray simpson (pub). kevin mayhew. good...
TRANSCRIPT
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.