Prayer to Go

Prayer to Go

By Carolyn BeardReligion & SpiritualityChristianitySpirituality
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Prayer to Go episodes

  • 023 Lament: Music and Prayer

    You love her music, but have you heard her story? In this episode, singer-songwriter Sherdonna Denholm talks about difficulties in her prayer life and how music helps her communicate with God, especially in times of lament.

    Take-aways:

    1. There are always challenges to our prayer life.
    2. Prayer is a time to lay bare to God. God sees and God knows.
    3. Art helps us share otherwise inexpressible parts of our soul.
    4. Art can be especially helpful during times of lament.
    5. Prayer isn’t perfect.

      6. Mentioned in this episode:

      This episode featured Sherdonna Denholm’s “Be Still My Soul,” used with permission. Connect with Sherdonna on her website and listen to her soulful music on Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

      Sherdonna quoted Psalm 38, which you can read here.

      Want to dig deeper into the study of the Psalms? Check out Episode 003 “Morning: Psalm 51”, Episode 008 “Despair: Psalm 4”, and Episode 012 “Tears: Psalm 6”.

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    6. 022 Creation: God the Potter

      “Because God made us, we are called to make as well.”

      In this episode, we explore what it means to made in God’s image. MacLean Collins, a senior at Princeton University studying visual arts, joins us to explore the relationship between God’s creation, artistic expression, and self-love.

      Mentioned in this episode:

      Connect with MacLean Collins and check out her amazing artwork on Facebook!

      This episode featured Sherdonna Denholm’s “Be Still My Soul,” used with permission. Connect with Sherdonna on her website and listen to her soulful music on Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

      Read Jeremiah 18 (God as the Potter) here.

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    7. 021 Soul: Art and Prayer

      A song that speaks to your soul. A painting that moves something inside of you. A poem that lifts your spirits.

      Much like prayer, art has the ability to connect our inner sense of self with something much bigger. In our new series, “Art and Prayer,” we look at the relationship between art and prayer in the Christian tradition and learn how can making or enjoying art can help enrich our faith lives. Tune in to listen to interviews with musicians, artists, and writers about how their creative craft connects them with God.

      Mentioned in this episode:

      Sherdonna Denholm’s “Be Still My Soul”

      Did that song speak to your soul? This episode features Sherdonna Denholm’s “Be Still My Soul,” used with permission. Connect with Sherdonna on her website and listen to her soulful music on Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

      A Prayer for Musicians and Artists

      O God, who saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      (The Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, page 819)

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    8. 020 Breathe: Yoga and Meditation

      Just breathe.

      In Episode 020, seminarian and yoga instructor Laura Di Panfilo shares her experience with yoga and meditation as prayer practices and leads us in an interactive meditative prayer. Find a quiet space to listen and take a moment for mindfulness!

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    9. 019 Small Blessings: Kodak Moments

      A rainy morning. A small cat *squeak.* A piping hot chai tea latte.

      God is in the small moments. In Episode 019, I introduce my practice of finding God in life’s “Kodak moments,” or ineffable instants we experience every single day.

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    10. 018 Found: The Labyrinth

      Thank you to our guest contributor, Rev. Len Scales, who serves as the Presbyterian chaplain at Princeton University. Learn more about Princeton Presbyterians here and connect with the worshipping community Breaking Bread here.

      Want to try a labyrinth? Find a labyrinth near you with Labyrinth Locator.

      Unable to get to a labyrinth? Don’t worry! You can make your own, perhaps by printing out a labyrinth and tracing your finger along the path. Try one of the links here – this one is my favorite!

      Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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    11. 016 Intercession: Between Life and Death

      We ask our friends to pray for us – why not ask saints to lift up prayers on our behalf? In this episode, our guest contributor Sarah Gianakon discusses the ancient Christian practice of intercession, or the act of one person lifting up prayers to God on behalf of another. Also featured in this episode are relics, the incarnation, and Gnosticism!

      Sarah Gianakon is a graduate of Princeton University, alumna of the Fulbright program in Germany, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Philosophy in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at Oxford University. Yep – she’s one smart cookie!

      Take-aways:

      1. Intercession is the practice of one person lifting up prayers to God on behalf of another.
      2. James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NIV).
      3. In early and medieval Christendom, the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead was permeable.
      4. The doctrine of the incarnation is the idea that, in Jesus Christ, the divine took on human form.

        5. Learn more:

        Check out Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov here

        Read more about Gnosticism here

        Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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      5. 015 Guidance: Prayer Beads and the Rosary

        Does your mind wander when you pray? Get out of your head by grounding your prayers in a physical practice, such as the guiding use of prayer beads. In the episode, Carolyn discusses the use of prayer beads in the Christian tradition, including popular ways to pray the Rosary.

        Mentioned in this episode:

        The Dominican Rosary

        Use this infographic on the traditional Dominican rosary here

        Follow these step-by-step directions to pray the Dominican rosary here

        The Anglican Rosary

        Check out this infographic on the Anglican rosary here

        Follow these step-by-step directions to pray the Anglican rosary here

        There are many more renditions of the rosary and uses of prayer beads in Christianity. What version do you like to pray? Comment to join the conversation!

        Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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      6. 014 Prayer: What is prayer?

        What is prayer? Do we have to close our eyes? Bow our heads? Put our hands together? Kneel? In our new series, “Prayer Practices,” we unpack the definition of prayer and explore various traditions we can use to expand our prayer and faith life.

        Mentioned in this episode:

        Pope Francis’ homily on prayer – Catholic News Agency

        Carolyn’s Sermon on Mary and Martha – Blog

        Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Prayer – Biography

        St. Thérèse of Lisieux – Biography

        Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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      7. 013 Compassion: Jesus on the Cross

        Do you struggle to call yourself a Christian? Most days, I do, too. Join Carolyn in a moment of contemplative prayer as we discuss two stories from the Gospels: Lazarus’ death and Jesus’ crucifixion.

        Mentioned in this episode:

        Read the story of Lazarus’ death (John 11:1-44) here

        Read the story of Jesus’ resurrection (any Gospel, here Matthew 27:32-50)

        Learn about Jesus’ stigmata in Episode 007 “Love” here

        Ingmar Bergman’s film Winter Lights – watch the scene Carolyn mentions here

        Prayer to Go is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://prayertogopodcast.wordpress.com/

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      About Prayer to Go

      From the publisher's feed

      Prayer is hard. Whether you don't know what to say or you don't have the time to say it, "Prayer to Go" is here to help. Each episode focuses on a different prayer in the Christian tradition and includes both readings of the prayer and information about its history, meaning, and significance. "Prayer to Go" is the perfect soundtrack for your busy routine and can help you encounter God in your everyday life - even when you're on the go.