As a church, we are setting aside Wednesday, March 3^rd, 2021 to intentionally pray and spend time in communion with God. In addition to this time of prayer, we are also fasting. Prayer accompanied with intentional abstinence of something we regularly partake in has a unique ability to align our hearts with God.

From 6am-6pm Associate Minister Heather Grantham will send prayers for strength and wisdom every 3 hours (6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm) via text message and posting in the Hamline Church Facebook group. Sign up by emailing Heather your cell phone number (hgrantham@hamlinechurch.org) or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4aa4ac2aa7f58-dayofprayer

What is a Day of Prayer and Fasting?

Prayer is simply spending time focusing on God, in community or in solitude. Fasting is when someone or a group of people (in unity) voluntarily abstain from an object or behavior they usually partake in for a spiritual purpose during a specific time. Some of us may choose to fast from food, tv, sweets, social media, news, doomscrolling, feelings of guilt, etc…

We invite you to use the time you would normally engage in this activity/behavior/object/habit to spend with God in prayer.

What does The United Methodist Church say about fasting?

There is a strong biblical base for fasting. Fasting has been a part of Methodism from its early beginnings. John Wesley considered fasting an important part of a Christian’s life and he fasted weekly. Wesley believed fasting allowed more time for prayer and was more meaningful if combined with giving to the poor. Wesley did advise caution against extreme fasting and against fasting for those in fragile health.

In The General Rules of the Methodist Church, we are asked to Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God. Certain ways we can stay in love with God, as Bishop Reuben Job states in his book “Three Simple Rules”) are:

• • The public worship of God.
  • The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.
  • The Supper of the Lord.
  • Family and private prayer.
  • Searching the Scriptures.
  • Fasting or abstinence.

Prayer and Fasting Helpful Suggestions

• What kind of fast will be most meaningful for you? Is it from a pattern of thought or from a food/drink or from social media? Write it down and share with our group.
• Plan your prayer time – when will you focus your attention on God? Heather will send texts and post in the Facebook group during the day on 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm. If you are fasting from technology, feel free to use your own prayers or use the ones on the back.
• Plan to abstain from your object/activity/behavior/habit from sunrise to sunset.

Suggested Prayers

My Heart Open Wide (prayer to say during fast)
I enter this sanctuary of fasting. I rest in the knowledge that I am your Beloved. I burrow in deep to your love. I wait in the stillness for vision. I feel the love of your heartbeat. I rest here and lay out my life to you the Holy One. I give you this moment to speak. I listen intently to sounds all around me. I breathe and give thanks for my life. I hear in the distance the sounds of the birds. I choose to let their song seep deep down inside. I see the great beauty of sunlight. I watch as it dances and fades. I trust in the light that you bring to my soul. I bask in your goodness, I soak in your ways. I remember the journey we’ve travelled. I feel you close at my side. I hold out my hand and invite you to lead. I’m waiting, I’m hoping, I’m watching. I’m listening, for your gentle hand on my life. I’m here with my heart open wide.
Amen

Julian of Norwich’s Body Prayer – “Oneing with God”
Body Prayer is comprised of four poses: Await, Allow, Accept, and Attend.

• The first pose, Await, is a posture of receiving, held with cupped hands extended at the waist to receive the presence of God.
• The second pose, Allow, is a posture of opening, reaching up with the hands open to the coming of God’s presence.
• The third pose, Accept, takes in whatever comes, standing with hands cupped at the heart.
• The final posture, Attend, is assumed with hands extended and palms open in willingness to act on what has been given.

While yoga evolved in India in the fifth and sixth centuries BCE, the movements of Julian of Norwich’s body prayer have much about them of the yoga sequence familiar to practicing yoga. The pose Await is reminiscent of the solid grounding found in mountain pose. Her second pose, Allow, recalls a sun salutation, which is initiated by raising the hands to meet above the head. The pose Accept suggests anjali mudra, the hands cupped at heart level pose of yoga prayer. The final pose Attend is reminiscent of extending the open hands to simply receive energy.

Simple Prayer to Break a Fast
Thank you for pouring new refreshment, peace and passion into my heart as I have fasted. Please help me to keep hold of this new treasure in my heart, as I return to my normal patterns of behaviors and habits. Please remind me each day to take real breaks from the normality of life, so that I might feast on your love and truth again. Thank you for your abundance and grace in my life. This day I celebrate your eternal goodness.
-Amen.