Contemplative Prayer, Journaling and The Upper Room Living Prayer Center October 22, 2013

1. Contemplative Prayer, Journaling andThe Upper Room Living Prayer CenterOctober 22, 2013 Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

2. Hosts The Rev. Tom Albin The Rev. Kathy Noble Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

3. “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” • The Upper Room, www.upperroom.org • Interpreter Magazine, www.interpretermagazine.org • Webinars and other resources, www.umc.org/pray Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

4. Participants The Rev. Judy Shepherd The Rev. Daniel Wolpert Migdiel Pérez Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

5. Conversation 1: Why Pray? Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

6. Why Pray? • Migdiel Pérez, director, Living Prayer Center • Prayer is connecting with God, it gives me spiritual energy to live my life • Intercessory prayer is my favorite way to pray • Prayer journal with date of the request and date of the answer • Helps us remember the faithfulness of God as we review it Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

7. Why Pray? • Judy Shepherd, RN, pastor, Jennings Chapel UMC, Northport, Ala. • Prayer is our primary way to connect with God. • It includes listening and silence. • Example: holding hands with God as I walk through the day • Experience: Tongsung Kido (Korean way to pray aloud and altogether Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

8. Why Pray? • Daniel Wolpert, author, pastor and director, Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing • An active relationship with God • Example: married couple who communicate daily about all aspects of life • Experience: “people are hungry for a deeper life of prayer and encounter with the living God” Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

9. Conversation 2: Contemplative Prayer and Journaling Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

10. Contemplative Prayer • Creates a deeper awareness of: • Self • God • Increases our attentiveness to God • Contemplation, meditation and centering prayer are related means to an authentic life in God Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

11. Contemplative Prayer • The Lord’s Prayer can be • Recitation without contemplation; or, • Deeply contemplative • The attention, intention, and practice makes all the difference Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

12. Contemplative Prayer • Why the growing interest? • Work of the Holy Spirit • Spiritual hunger • Need to recovery from the self-centeredness of Modernism • Other Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

13. Prayer & Journaling • Another ancient practice gaining renewed interest • Honesty is essential • Find a teacher/mentor/guide • Writing in the presence of God is a prayerful act Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

14. Prayer & Journaling • My journal is my prayer. • I experience God as I write. • Sometimes I write to God, sometimes I write with God, sometimes God writes to me. • I journal regularly — it is a means of grace — one among many. Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

15. Discussion • These practices help us to bring our whole self to a Holy God. • Diversity is a result of the creativity of God, explore it and enjoy it. • Focus on God, relationship and attentiveness are essential. • Answers and insight follow. Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

16. Discussion • Engage your whole self: body, mind and spirit • Gratitude • Breath in the love and life of God, breath out anxiety, fear, and doubt Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

17. Conversation 3: The Living Prayer Center of The Upper Room Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

18. Living Prayer Center • Exists to help people learn and practice intercessory prayer • Offers the love of God to all who call • 800 telephone calls per day • The United Methodist Men an important partner Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

19. Living Prayer Center • Prayer requests come from all over the world via • Letters • Telephone • Worldwide web • Volunteers participate those ways. • Volunteers needed Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

20. Living Prayer Center • We say “living” prayer center because we began as a telephone-based ministry. The connection was “live.” • The telephone allows volunteers from all over the United States and Canada to pray with the callers from 7 a.m. to 11p.m. (CT) Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

21. Prayer Resources — Books • Daniel Wolpert, Creating a Life with God • Daniel Wolpert, Leading a Life with God • Rueben P. Job, et.al, A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God (UR, 2013) • J. David Muyskens, Sacred Breath: 40 Days of Centering Prayer Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

22. Prayer Resources—Online • Living Prayer Center: 800-251-2468 • http://prayer-center.upperroom.org/ • http://www.umc.org/pray • http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ • http://elearning.upperroom.org/ Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

23. Living Prayer Center now on Facebook1,578 followers and growing Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

24. The Upper Room Living Prayer Center P. O. Box 340004, Nashville TN 37203-0004 Phone: 877-899-2780, ext. 7215 Fax: 615-340-7523 E-mail: prayer@upperroom.org http://prayer-center.upperroom.org/ Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications

25. Next Webinar “Creating Sacred Spaces and Praying with Our Senses” Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 PM CST Register at www.umc.org/pray. Interpreter A Ministry of United Methodist Communications