Interfaith Prayer Experience

[Sandy]

Hi Divine Love Family & Friends,

I`d like to tell you about an unexpected experience at a local protestant church these days. They have had what they call a "Sing & Praise Service", something to attract younger people to go to church again, but at the same time still a weired sight to me in this country. Let me put it this way - Germans are not exactly famous for whole voice - whole body worship. ;) I, too, stood there at first not knowing how to bring this slightly embarrassing dancing and loudly singing of songs together with my otherwise more natural, "more being me" silent, individual, personal way of praying. What helped, though, was that the third or forth song eventually sounded a little familiar - a german adaptation of Tim Hughes` "Hear I am to worship"; that`s when I became able to relax a little and truly focuss on the Father. But that hasn`t been the real exciting part of this service experience, but what truly amazed me was what happened then, after the singing and dancing - when it came to prayer I expected a commonly said traditional christian Lord`s Prayer, but instead the minister had prepared different corners at the church building - each corner providing the individual prayerful soul a different outer room to pray just the way it feels most inspired or closest to God. In one corner he had prepared different texts for meditation as well as pillows to sit on comfortably. In another corner they had build a miniature cardboard wailing wall. Yet in another corner there were candles to light and incense to burn as well as prayer rocks. Finally there was a corner where the minister sat with two of his helpers and welcomed anyone interested to pray together with him. The atmosphere was beautiful. Altogether different from what I had expected. And I thought - Here someone has figured that it`s not the correct terms or the right outer form that count in prayer, but the sincerity of a soul longing for God`s Love. :)

May you all enjoy a LOVE-filled Pentecost weekend!

Sandy

[jrm13]

sounds good a me

[David Kenney]

thanks Sandy, that's beautiful!

[Amada Reza]

Here someone has figured that it`s not the correct terms or the right outer form that count in prayer, but the sincerity of a soul longing for God`s Love.

Dear Sandy,

Thank you for sharing this inspiring experience. This kind of fellowship gives me hope that we will arrive someday to a brother- and sisterhood of pure, God-given love. May we see one another as children of a beloved Maker, whatever Name we use.

Sending you, my divine love family, all my love,

Amy

[jrm13]

Happy Mothers Day to Kathryn and Amy and all the other mothers on this board! May you have a wonderful day filled with your children's love!

[Kay Ann Ray]

Dear Sandy, John, David, Amy and other beloved friends,

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" comes to mind. I feel that it helps me grow spiritually when I become more accepting, flexible and aware of the many different ways people choose to worship. And I agree that it is 'the content of a person's heart' that makes the difference between soulful prayer and lip (mental) worship. It always feels so freeing to me when I realize that each individual soul needs to only answer to the laws of God. It is not the evaluation of fellow beings which needs to be heeded, but the dictates of ones own heart.

My friend John, I have been enjoying your positive and loving comments. Thank you for your participation on the Board.

God bless you, each and every one. It is such a wonderful awareness to know that God is in charge and that the more Divine Love I allow to grow in my soul, the more joy and fulfillment I will experience. I sincelely appreciate the privilege of forgiving unfortunate happenings because I then can let them go and progress to higher levels of consciousness.

I love you and pray that you and your loved ones are having a fun and love filled day.

Your friend and sister in the Christ Love, Kathryn

[jrm13]

God bless you Mama Kathryn

[Amada Reza]

Let me put it this way - Germans are not exactly famous for whole voice - whole body worship.

Hello all,

I would like to share my experience of last night's "interfaith" choir performance at a nearby church. In addition to the spiritually uplifting songs, my heart was touched so deeply because this 60-person community choir dedicated the program to their former director, who had left last year with some bad feelings. He was present and directed one of the songs that he had composed. There were many tears throughout the performance; it was a public healing of long-standing relationships around this lovely outreach.

I am inspired again, Sandy, by your sharing of this "whole voice, whole body" worship. It feels no less than divine when our hearts are brought together in song with feelings of hope, joy, and love for one another. The world will be healed one song at a time, beginning with the song in each of our hearts. :)

All my love to you, dear family,

Amy

[Sandy]

... and this experience was inspiring to me, too, so that is why I shared it with you, my friends.
I am feeling that this interfaith dialogue is really important, and that the Divine Love Movement does play an important role here. I am feeling this for two reasons mainly - 1.) the role that Jesus plays, 2.) the attempt of members of basically all religions and spiritualities to describe and give a name to an experience we discern as a Divine Love inflowing.
These days I am hearing alot about a gap between so-called Christian religions and all other religions which do not call themselves Christian. Perhaps there has always been such a division, but I am only feeling it more intensely these days. Anyway, the difference lies in what? Where one sees Jesus, right? As the son of God and a part of the Godhead (Christian) or simply a good man and prophet? (non-Christian) I believe in seeing Jesus` role as the first recipient of God`s Divine Love and our first and greatest teacher and beloved brother and master, we are building a bridge between that dividing gap.
Likewise, as I said before, when I am trying to describe what the Divine Love of God means to me, feels like to me, I often hear a response similar to "oh, but that is just what I am feeling as well when I am praying, meditating, writing, gardening, singing, dancing, going to my church/temple/mosque, ... .
This is amazing. Wonderful. The greatest joy for me to hear. :):):)

[Amada Reza]

I am feeling that this interfaith dialogue is really important, and that the Divine Love Movement does play an important role here. I am feeling this for two reasons mainly - 1.) the role that Jesus plays, 2.) the attempt of members of basically all religions and spiritualities to describe and give a name to an experience we discern as a Divine Love inflowing.
... I believe [that] in seeing Jesus` role as the first recipient of God`s Divine Love and our first and greatest teacher and beloved brother and master, we are building a bridge ...

Dear Sandy,

I agree that interfaith dialogue is important to bridge our differences. When the Divine Love is active within us, we see little difference between the souls of God's children. We are better able to celebrate the joy and awe we share living in this beautiful world.

Jesus' love for humankind is big enough to include everyone. As our elder brother, he is an example of love, kindness, caring, understanding, and compassion. I do not believe that he holds it against someone if they do not believe in him, personally. We are brothers and sisters, equally cared for by a Loving Creator. I want to be more accepting of the differences I see between myself and others so that I might love as Jesus does, and become a part of that living bridge.

Thank you, dear sister, for sharing your joyful heart!

Love,

Amy