@Home Retreat, November 2020

Triangle@Home Monthly Morning Retreat
November 21st, 2020
9:00-10:00am

 

*Prepare your space: Find an area where hopefully you will not be disturbed for your quiet time. Perhaps you want a blanket for yourself. 

*Gather your supplies: Timer, note paper and/or journal, pen. You may want to bring in one or two inspirational books. 

*Create an “altar”: Put a few meaningful items out, include a candle. 

*Opening Song – Amazing Grace or song of your choice

(You Tube Link) Alan Jackson – Amazing Grace

Lyrics:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Newton

*Opening Prayers: The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary or your choice.

*Intention: This is a reflective, healing time and we ask that it be filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, the care of Mother Mary and the guidance of all our guardian angels. We are here to learn from one another and to support each other on our journey towards a closer, more intimate relationship with Our Lord. 

*Write out a prayer request or a few and add them to your “altar.” 

*Reflection – Just when we thought it was getting safer to resume our lives, the Covid 19 virus has become more rampant. Add to that, the political climate has presented itself with conflict and angst.  Now we are faed with decisions about the holidays that are causing sadness and separation. We are still faced with daily decisions based on little information about how to take care of ourselves and our families. How are you doing? How have you continued to stay connected to God, the Divine, Our Lord? What has come into your heart and your life during this time of chaos and uncertainty, peace, hope, fear, compassion, gratitude? 

Using your journal write about any insights. (10-15 min.) 

This Saturday in the Catholic Church is the:

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

*The Gospel reading is:

LK 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,

came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,

“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,

If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.

Now there were seven brothers;

the first married a woman but died childless.

Then the second and the third married her,

and likewise all the seven died childless.

Finally the woman also died.

Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?

For all seven had been married to her.”

Jesus said to them,

“The children of this age marry and remarry;

but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age

and to the resurrection of the dead

neither marry nor are given in marriage.

They can no longer die,

for they are like angels;

and they are the children of God

because they are the ones who will rise.

That the dead will rise

even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,

when he called  ‘Lord’

the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;

and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,

for to him all are alive.”

Some of the scribes said in reply,

“Teacher, you have answered well.”

And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

*Journaling Time – What did you hear God sharing with you? What do you want to share with God? (10-15 minutes) 

*Centering Prayer – 10 to 20 (recommended) minutes of silent time (you decide.) 

Guidelines: 

1. Sit comfortably.
   

2. Choose a sacred word on which to focus.
   

3. Set a timer.
   

4. Don’t judge, just observe.
   

5. The phrase that often precedes Centering Prayer is: I let go of security, affection & control and fully accept this moment exactly as it is. (Optional)
   

6. Take a few breaths at the end to return to the present moment and to reflect
   on the experience. 

7. *Make it Your Own:
   Perhaps you have an inspirational book you have been meaning to investigate but you just haven’t had the opportunity. Now is the time. If you have some time left before the end of the hour open it and see what other messages the Holy is sending to you.

8. You could also use this time to say the Rosary. Saturday in the Catholic Church is set aside as “Mary’s Day” and the reflection is on the Joyful Mysteries.
   

*Closing Prayer – 

Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence. 

When the loud outer noises of my surroundings and the loud my fears keep pulling me away from you, 

inner noises of 

help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you. Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying: “Come to me, you who 

are overburdened, and I will give you rest… 

for I am gentle and humble of heart.” Let that loving voice be my guide. Amen 

Excerpt from With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ave maria press, 2006 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 

*Sharing a Word Exercise – choose a word from your reading or your quiet time (your sacred word?) and share it on an email to me. Feel free to share any other thoughts or insights you have gained from this sacred time. I will send out an email with everyone’s response some time today. 

Thank you. 

Jean Costa, MSW, RYT 

Certified Spiritual Director, JeanAnneCosta@gmail.com