Shared Prayer at Othona

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…. At the still point, there the dance is,

But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,

Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,

Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,

There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

T S Eliot

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“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard

And sore must be the storm –

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chilliest land –

And on the strangest Sea –

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

- Emily Dickinson

Still point at the centre,

Draw all our work into yourself.

Take from us all our doing,

And all that cannot be changed now,

Help us to lay it down and let go into your calm.

Give peace to all the burdened whom we have me this day.

Still point at the centre, help us rest in you.

May we sleep trustfully in your care, as we like down this night.

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Tess Ward

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New Zealand Night Prayer

Lord, it is night.

The night is for stillness.�Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.�What has been done has been done;�what has not been done has not been done; let it be.

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The night is dark.�Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives�rest in you

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The night is quiet.�Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us,�and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.�Let us look expectantly to a new day,�new joys, new possibilities.

In your name we pray. Amen. (Bosco Peters)