The Awake Community Gathers in Prayer and Praise of Creation
Last week, the Awake community gathered virtually on Zoom for our first prayer service of the year, Rejoicing in Creation. Together, participants reflected on the beauty of the world around us and gave thanks for the gifts of creation.
As the name suggests, this service was planned with the intention of being rooted in joy. Prayer team member Lynn Charnitz explained, “We recognize that many of Awake’s programs and offerings are solemn and heavy in nature, so tonight, we have designed our prayer to be a lighter service.”
The service began with the Canticle of Daniel (also called The Song of the Three Holy Children), which invites every part of creation to lift its praise to God.
Volunteers Justine D’Souza and Lisa Feighery alternated reading the text, which concluded each statement with the simple phrase, “Bless the Lord.” Feighery then read Wendell Berry’s poem “The Peace of Wild Things,” which offers comfort in time of anxiety:
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
Both the scripture and poem were followed by short periods of silence for reflection.
The service then continued with a slideshow of submitted photographs from members of the Awake community, which showed glimpses of the beauty each person finds in creation. Flowers, sunsets, and a few furry companions brought color and delight to the service.
Participants then broke into small groups to talk with others about aspects of the music or readings that they found meaningful, as well as the parts of creation that bring joy to each person. The service closed with a blessing from Irish poet John O’Donohue, which concluded: “And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.”
A short recording of Rejoicing in Creation is available on the Awake YouTube channel, ideal for use in personal prayer and reflection. The Prayer Team is planning our next opportunity to pray together in December. Please watch our website for further details, coming soon.
- Natalie Pucillo
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