An Interfaith Prayer Service
and Essays on Ecumenism
by Susan Helene Kramer
Español: Un Servicio
de Oración para grupos de diferente fe religiosa
contents
Introduction
-Some Definitions of Ecumenical
1. Religion and
Spirituality
2. Devotions
3. Part of the One; One of the Parts
4. An Ecumenical Prayer Service
Links
Some
Definitions of Ecumenical
Accepting
diversity without adversity in spiritual life, practices, beliefs.
Cooperation between religions for the common good of
all.
Respecting others' right to religious freedom.
Practicing one's own religion while learning about
other religions.
10
people can be practicing 10 different religions
yet share the same spiritual experiences and understandings
Religion, with its guidelines and rituals,
provides form and format for living a spiritual life; the practices act as aids
to reach the goal of living a spiritual life spontaneously.
What is spirituality? An
underlying basis of pure unconditional love, arising in format of caring acts.
Pure unconditional love is the spiritual
basis of religion. It is when we act with caring love - unconditional love at
all times - that we feel joy and peace. Symptoms of joy and peace are an
energized body and harmonious thinking.
Religious tools are the means by which we dig
into the depths of our mind and soul through devotional and service-full
practices, nurturing our character into a full-blown flower of wisdom.
A spiritual life is a most practical life. A
practical life, because acting from an energized body with harmonious thinking
reaps results for our good and the common good most efficiently, most easily.
And isn't what is done for the highest good, the most efficiently, the most
practical approach?
Religions may seem to have many differences
at first glance but the common goal is spiritual enlightenment. Our upbringing,
culture, personal tendencies may draw those 10 people in a room to 10 different
religions but the goal of each person is joy in living by the easiest route.
Spiritual practices common to many religions:
1. A form of supplication, prayer for intercession;
2. A time of listening quietly for the answer in reflection,
meditation;
3. An interval for giving thanks, appreciation for new
insight;
4. A time for action; action in the world based on new
insight.
The church or temple or mosque or hut or cave
or quiet corner of a room or stillness alone at night provide
a setting for soul searching. And action on insight is accomplished for all,
universally, in daily living.
Religion in its meaning of re-alignment leads
us to realign with our beautiful, radiant and spiritual selves, that we may
most happily and harmoniously lead fulfilling daily lives - spiritual lives.
Devotional
practices awaken a sleeping heart
when energized with dedication
Life itself becoming a prayer
when lived lovingly
Giving thanks, being devotional, becomes a life-long
habit when begun early.
Giving thanks can be in the form of prayers
or devotions from religion, leading to uplifting thoughts arising
spontaneously at any time.
Prayers and devotions can generate feelings
of appreciation.
When we are devoted to our religious
practices the rewards show in our daily life as increased clarity of mind
springing from the awakening of a pure heart of love - love developing from
dedication and self-giving of our time and energy to even thoughts of love
preceding acts of love.
When we feel appreciative we are feeling
happy and peaceful in that moment. In times of stress, taking time to remember
one thing we do have, with appreciation, helps us see the light at the end of
the tunnel.
Daily life has moments of ups and downs; the
downs more easily transformed into sweetness by an appreciation, uplifting
verse or thankful thought.
Devotions
to religious practices of our choice
a way to open our heart, our lives
to love's inception, reception
creating an easy mind
to most easily act for the highest resolve
of the issues in our lives
Part
of the One; one of the parts
While living a practical life in this world
I participate in the world making daily
decisions and doing my own activities.
All the while I know that on the unseen
levels I am part of all, part of the One, and all and the One are part of me.
How does this idea take form?
While conscious that I am an integral part of
the web of existence, I use my thinking mind to carry out my daily existence
and do the activities that give me the most joy; choosing to act for the
greatest good of each situation and taking responsibility for my actions.
I enjoy feeling interconnected with each
aspect of creation in the world, feeling on the unseen levels actually part of
all. Spiritually I do not feel separate from any aspect of creation, though my
physical body and thinking mind seem separate.
While I have a separate body and thinking
mind I use it to share my acquired insights and knowledge; living a practical
useful life. Even a person living on the planet in an enlightened state of
consciousness is still carrying a physical body and has a thinking mind to
be used in the highest service at all times and takes responsibility for
actions even more than before enlightenment, as now there is not the excuse of
being a learner, only. In an ecumenical light the examples of recognized
enlightened beings from history can be our examples: Jesus Christ, Buddha,
Mohammed, Master Sivananda
of Rishikesh to name just a few.
Yes, we are part of the One and the One is
part of each of us. While living in our body we honor the pervading Spirit by
being a comfort to all; by being good, doing good, being responsible citizens
of the world.
Respecting
the many paths that lead
To the same joyful goal
As part of the One; one of the parts
Living a practical life in this world
May
the light of wisdom
Enlighten us all
Clergy of various faiths participate with the
focus on the 'spiritual light' that enlightens all; promoting peace within
each, and by caring, loving thoughts and acts, a growing world peace.
The meaning of the word enlighten is to be
spiritually 'in light'.
With this in mind, a central symbol of worship
could be a candle that is placed at the center of a table at the front; lit
before the ceremony.
A moderator presides at the side front that
lets the congregation know what is coming next and to introduce the
participants.
Preparations:
Distribute the program of events to the congregation. Include the text of
prayers offered by each clergy, and words to the songs to be sung by all. Congregation to take their copy home.
The Ceremony:
The congregation first take their seats. Moderator
stands at side front.
The representatives of each faith enter from
the back in a procession while uplifting music is played or sung, each holding
an unlit candle, and one at a time approach the central lit candle lighting
their own candle, and then placing it in a holder next to the main candle. Each
clergy remains standing in front of their candle facing the congregation.
In turn, clergy offer a prayer from their own
religious tradition that is universal in nature. When all clergy have concluded
their opening prayer, the clergy are seated along the front row.
The moderator announces that a minute of
silence will begin.
Next, offerings are made at the front of the
room, of inspiring song or dance from each faith, or in honor of each faith.
After the offerings of singing or dancing,
each clergy in turn comes forward, facing the congregation, and offers a short
homily (time allotment preset) along universal lines, and returns to their
seat.
At the end of the short homilies, the entire
congregation, led by the moderator, recites a universal prayer for peace. An
uplifting song is sung by all as the clergy leave in a recessional.
Example of a prayer for peace:
A
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord,
make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred... let me sow love.
Where there is injury... pardon.
Where there is discord... unity.
Where there is doubt... faith.
Where there is error...truth.
Where there is despair... hope.
Where there is sadness... joy.
Where there is darkness.. light.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek.
To be consoled...as to console.
To be understood.. as to
understand.
To be loved... as to love.
for
It is in giving... that we receive.
It is in pardoning... that we are pardoned.
It is in dying... that we are born to eternal life.
Recessional song idea:
Let There Be
Peace on Earth
"Let
There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be!
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let
peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take, let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace
eternally!
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!"
-- Written by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson
Modify the basic ceremony format to suit
the situation.
One modification could be that each member of
the congregation receives a small candle with a paper shield near the base along
with their program. At the end of the homilies, the person seated nearest the
center isle goes up and lights their candle from the main candle and returns to
their seat and passes their light, candle to candle, down the row. When all
candles in the congregation are lit this way the recessional takes place
singing the uplifting song.
Susan Helene Kramer is an international
author of more than fifty collections and thousands of articles on philosophy,
yoga, rhythmic dance, ballet, music, social issues, relationships, practical
spirituality, and meditation for children, teens, adults and those challenged,
with some Dutch, French, German, Greek, and Spanish translations, and with her
husband, Stan Schaap- http://www.powertoshare.com lives in
North Holland, The Netherlands.
homepage http://www.susankramer.com
email susan@susankramer.com
biography http://www.susankramer.com/Biography.html
site map
text copyright 2002-2013 Susan Helene Kramer
photo by Stan Schaap
Santa Barbara, California USA
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
|
Book by Susan Helene Kramer: |
God Speaks Through
the Holy Spirit - Reflective Meditations
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Spiritual
Connections: |
1. Autobiography of a Yogi by
Paramahansa Yogananda: book online
http://www.crystalclarity.com/yogananda/
2. Christian Classics
Ethereal Library: literature
http://www.ccel.org/
4. Deepak Chopra: inspirations, workshops
http://www.chopra.com/
5. Ecumenical
Peace Prayers
http://www.thewildrose.net/peace_prayers.html
6. Integral Yoga Teachers: worldwide directory
http://www.iyta.org/
7. The Path by J.
Donald Walters, Swami Kriyananda: book online
http://crystalclarity.com/kriyananda/
8. Satchidananda
Ashram: interfaith philosophy
- LOTUS, classes and programs
http://yogaville.org
9. Self
Realization Fellowship: programs
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/index.html
10. Master Sivananda of Rishikesh: books online
http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/download/download.htm
11. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: translations by various people in many
languages
http://hrih.hypermart.net/patanjali/
12. Swami Ramananda: links
to articles online
http://www.susankramer.com/ramananda.html
|
page first published July 14,
2002; updated October 25, 2013 |