First Church in Albany

Pastoral Reflection: It is a myth that only Pastors are to pray. Every prayer offered by anyone is significant. Prayer, unfortunately, has become limited; it has become in many cases "enshrined," and thus reserved for "sacred" places and spaces. It is not the place that sanctifies the prayer, but the prayer that sanctifies the place. Prayer is far simpler than we think, and also far more significant. Prayers can be offered anywhere. For example, one's whole being can be offered up to the Lord in the morning, or at any other time or place during the day. Prayers can be non-verbal, an attitude, an outlook, a private thought, or a groaning so deep that only the Holy Spirit can intercede for us. Gratitude goes hand in hand with prayer--- thanking God a lot. Prayers flow upward, inward and outward.

The Lord's Prayer is simple enough for a child. In fact, it is the first prayer many of us learn. Yet it is profound enough for a lifetime of exploration. The Lord's Prayer was given to us by Jesus as a gift. He directed us to "pray this way." "Our Father" brings forth childlike reverence and trust toward God. It is an address of intimacy. It shows us that God cares about the totality of our lives, as a loving parent. We can make the use of the words, "Our Father," either a "fence" phrase, or a "bridge" phrase. That "God belongs to all of us" is the message of John, Chapter 17.

"Who Art in Heaven" connotes that we may expect from God's Almighty Power all things that we may need for both body and soul. It has been suggested that wherever God is, "Heaven" is, and if we do not have glimpses of Heaven here and now, how are we going to know it anywhere else?

Discussion Reflections: Centering on the word "Our" in "Our Father" encourages us to ask what do we mean by "Our?" Do we mean those of us in the room, in our family, those in our church, our denomination, the church at-large, just those we like, those we agree with, or isn't "Our Father" referring to the Father of us all? Having an all-inclusive view expands our thinking and perception, and complements our faith in myriad ways. Wherever God is honored and adored, that is where "Heaven" is also. Heaven is conveyed in the Creation, for example, through the beauty and promise of the rainbow. When "Heaven" is within us, peace is within. This peace is found in the in-dwelling (and as one of the fruits) of God's Holy Spirit.

Introductory Reflection: To "hallow means to be in awe of, to set apart as holy, to revere, and to respect and honor greatly. "Hallowed is defined as "sanctified," "consecrated," "highly esteemed" and "sacrosanct." Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Ezekiel-- all were in awe of the Father. The disciples, John the Baptist, Mary (at even the appearance of an angel of the Lord), and Jesus--- all gave honor and respect to the authority and awesome Power, Love and Grace of the Father. How does God refer to God, and how do we? God said, "I am that I am" to Moses. Other names for God include: Father, the Eternal, Master, the Lord, the Almighty, the Most High, Deliverer, Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai, Jehovah, and Jah. Jesus said, "Abba, Father," denoting the intimacy and familiarity of a child to a parent. How is it then, that we can use God's name (or in other ways refer to God) without thinking, and without meaning to, in ways that demean God's name? Do we say, casually, "In the name of God," or "Oh God!," or "Oh Lord," "Gosh," "Gee," or the like? On examination, these are not "hallowed" references.

And do we pray only (even if unintentionally) for God to do things our way, instead of focusing our thoughts, as Jesus did, in placing "Your will, not mine," at the center of every prayer? Jesus taught us that "God is Love." The Prayer of St. Francis encourages us to bring light to darkness, hope to despair, forgiveness to anger, and also, to seek affirmatively to love, comfort, and understand, rather than to first seek these things from others. We are encouraged, then, to practice them affirmatively ourselves, regardless of the response. When we try to do this, it