We Have A Labyrinth!

We've been planning this since late Spring. It is one component of a dreamed spirituality center at Grace Episcopal Church. It is the first piece we've finished.

Mom spent July and August organizing work crews--mostly of one or two--to sweep and shovel sand from the parking lot. Bill powerwashed each section as it was completed. I kept in touch with the project via Mom's regular email updates, which went to most of the parish membership. It was very frustrating for her to have only one or two people show up.

So, with the parking lot cleaned, four of us gathered to lay out and paint the labyrinth. Here are Mom, Carol, and Lois as we prepare to start chalking at 1:00 p.m. Starting with a 12 foot center circle, we drew 12 concentric circles, with each of the 11 outer circles 28" from the one inside it. These would become the waling path. Once the circles were down, I went around drew lines to mark places where the path would turn, and where we needed to erase parts of the circles so the path would be continuous. It took approximately 2 1/2 hours to chalk the labyrinth. Lois walked the chalk labyrinth to make sure we had the path drawn correctly.

Using 4" rollers and lavender paint we centered the painted lines on the chalked ones. We put the last of the paint down at about 6:45 p.m. and spent 15 minutes cleaning up. Then Mom and I walked the finished labyrinth, but only in to the center. We were too tired to spend 20-30 more minutes walking back out.

So, we have a labyrinth. Being the recovering perfectionist that I am, I might ask, "Is it perfect?" My response to myself is, "Does it have lines? Can you walk it? Then it's a labyrinth."

After coming home, I made the mistake of attempting to practice. Too tired to toot!

But, we have a labyrinth!!!!

Peace,
Jeff

Asking for Prayers

Tomorrow morning five people I have come to know and care for deeply will meet together to make a decision that affects the direction of my life from this point forward. We have spent many hours together answering questions together and sharing our stories. Their job tomorrow is to sift through what they have heard from and learned about me and decide whether or not they believe I am called to ordained ministry. Whatever their decision, I know that these five people will continue to support me as I take the first steps into a new life.

It has been a long journey reaching this point. I cannot say that I won't be disappointed--and very likely upset--if their decision is "no." However, I do know that the journey does not end with a "no" answer. It just means attempting to discern where my gifts can best be used in the church. It will also mean some serious reflection on my current job at the Episcopal Church Center and whether or not I can, or wish to, remain employed there. If, on the other hand, the answer is "yes," I will once again raise my eyes and shout out to God, "What are you thinking??!!!??"

Pray for Leona, George, Kim, Ryan, and Diane as they gather.

Peace,
Jeff
(13)

An Oasis Of Crosses

Working for a church organization does have its advantages. We can have a Christmas party in December. We have the opportunity to attend Morning Prayer and a noon Eucharist every day. Employees don't have to worry about displaying symbols of their faith. One of my colleagues is Native American. She decorated her cubical with some sacred objects and beautiful artwork with Native spirituality themes. I have my prayer corner.

I do not perform any work in this corner of my cubicle. This is where I pray, meditate, and reflect. You can see a Book of Common Prayer, a Bible, prayer cards, pictures of sacred sites, and of course, my collection of crosses--though not all of it.

I bought this "Elements Cross" in the bookstore at the retreat center where the Evangelism & Congregational Life Center had it first retreat together after the reorganization. The carved designs represent the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Not everything hanging in this corner is a cross. To the left of this cross you can see half of a medallion depicting St. Brigid of Ireland. If you look closely at the picture of my corner, you can find a pewter coyote, a pair of beeswax candles, and a small crystal a friend brought back from her time with John of God in Brazil.

I found the cross on the left, along with another small one, in my desk drawer when I began working at the Church Center. One of my colleagues said they were leftover giveaways from some part of previous Episcopal Youth Events. The middle ceramic Celtic Cross I bought during my first trip to Ireland. I usually try to buy work by local artists when I travel, and I brought several back to give to friends. On the far right is a "Preaching Cross" I purchased at General Convention 2006 in Columbus, OH. I haven't yet worn it when preaching.

A couple of years ago I participated in an ecumenical gathering of educators to work on an antiracism/multicultural curriculum for children. During our closing worship, each of us received one of the small crosses here on the left.

Bishop Riah, the previous Bishop of Jerusalem, gave me the olive wood Jerusalem Cross at "Will Our Faith Have Children?" in February 2003. That was the conference when everyone was afraid we wouldn't be able to get to Chicago in February. Instead, we got stuck at the end of the conference because a major snowstorm hit the East Coast.

My colleague Ruth-Ann gave me this ceramic crucifix during our first trip to the Dominican Republic for a meeting of the Episcopal Council for Christian Education. It was at that meeting enough people spoke to her about applying for the Staff Officer for Children's Ministries & Christian Education position at the Church Center. She served in that position, which made her my boss, for one year--until the reorganization. Now she is a valued colleague and a dear friend.

Because of my corner, colleagues often bring back crosses when they travel. This simple wooden cross came back from the Philippines when my colleague and friend Angie visited her family there after attending an Asian Ministries conference in Taiwan. She also brought back a traditional shirt, which I hope to be able to wear by the time Summer begins.

This large mosaic cross was made for me by a member of the Episcopal Council for Christian Education as a "thank you and farewell" gift after the reorganization took me out of Children's Ministries. By the time she brought it to me my boss had moved me into the Children's Formation position, so it became a "welcome back, we missed you" gift.

If you look to the right of this one in the picture of my corner, you'll see one made of Tinker Toys (the new plastic ones). We made them during a meeting of the Episcopal Council for Christian Education on Long Island a couple of years ago.




The latest addition to my collection is this small Ethiopian Cross. My colleague Clay brought it back from his pilgrimage to Ethiopia at the end of January. He has wonderful stories, and we are all waiting for his written "report."

This cross was cast in silver alloy using the lost wax method. It is designed to go on a staff, but as it's only about 6" tall, it isn't a Processional Cross. Although, I've seen some on the Internet that aren't much bigger called "Small Processional Crosses," and looking at pictures of Ethiopian priests carrying crosses (that are not the hand crosses), you can see a wide variety of sizes.



Peace,
Jeff
(12)

Of Lightning Rods And Church Communities

I'm still processing what happened at yesterday's Annual Parish Meeting. Or should I say grounding myself after having served as a lightning rod.

It is no secret that Grace Episcopal Church is in financial trouble. No secret to anyone willing to listen, that is. It seems that the Treasurer's bombshell--at least it was a bombshell to a number of folks in the parish--brought a few people up short. We're using half of our remaining endowment to balance this year's budget? Welcome to the real world, fellow members of Grace Episcopal Church!

Then started the questions and comments. How do we get more people to join and increase our pledges? You can't expect the current members to give more. Why aren't the groups for which we provide space paying more rent? If it costs that much money per week to keep the building open, they aren't paying their fair share.

Finally, I spoke up. I told about my experience of visiting another parish, signing the guest book, and receiving a box of pledge envelopes the Wednesday after my visit. I said that increasing membership in order to increase pledges is looking at the problem the wrong way around. I pointed out that Grace has always viewed itself as a congregation doing outreach to the community, and that the other congregations worshipping in the building have been part of that outreach. I continued that if we start to treat the parish as a business rather than a church, then we risk ceasing to be a Christian community. Finally, I pointed out that given the fact that we were using more than $280,000 from our endowment to balance the budget, we as a parish are not paying our fair share of the operating expenses either.

What they heard was me calling them unchristian.

At that point I said nothing more. Others in the congregation spoke up to tell them I had not called them unchristian. Nor had anyone asked them to give any more financially. Lois reminded the congregation that there have been ample opportunities for them to discuss the parish's uncertain future--the meagerly attended cottage meetings being one attempt by the leadership to engage everyone in the conversation.

I continued to be the recipient of dirty looks for the rest of the meeting and as the meeting broke up.

I am not going to apologize for being the truth teller. Nor am I going to apologize for having a vision of church, of Christian community, that is larger than what many at Grace Episcopal Church can see. Nor for being angry about the way so many have worn blinders for so long when it comes to the financial situation of the parish.

It becomes clearer with each passing day that many members of the parish still think in terms of church the way it was in the 1950s and 60s. Church will never be that way again. The more I see and read, the more I believe that Phyllis Tickle has it right. We are in the midst of a great upheaval in Christianity.

In the meantime, I will pray the prayer Lois now uses on every piece of parish communication:

What is God calling us to do in this place?

And pray that other members of the parish will do the same and seriously listen.

Peace,
Jeff

Something To Ponder

I'm still working my way through Sandy Sasso's God's Echo. It's a short book, but lately I've been spending my train rides doing Sudoku puzzles. However, this evening during the commute home I got tired of the numbers and pulled the little book from my briefcase to read. On page 113, Sandy writes

Prayer has its place, but it is not a substitute for courage and responsible action.

In other words, eventually you have to get off your duff and actually do something. God isn't going to do it alone.

I haven't been writing much over the past week. I've been working with my hands to transform some plain wooden boxes. I am taking an idea I had and wrote about, and I am creating it into reality.

Creating it into reality.

Definitely something to ponder as I look at the future.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Jesus Prays

Reading Plan Text for June 6: John 17:6-12

Jesus Praying

Jesus Praying in Gethsemane

Jesus at Prayer

Jesus Praying

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Trust

Reading Plan Text for June 3: John 16:16-24

I'm with the Disciples here. I'm confused, uncertain, and sitting in the mysterious darkness. The not knowing and not understanding frustrates me. The potential loss of a friend scares me. The fact that Jesus holds all the cards and doesn't seem willing to share angers me. Just how the h-e-double-toothpicks does Jesus ALWAYS know what they're talking about? (Yeah, yeah, I know, fully human and fully divine, but for heaven's sake, you'd think he'd be more HUMAN sometimes!) And that birth analogy comes right out of left field.

It all comes down to change. We don't handle change very well, especially big change. And the impending change is one of the biggest these folks will ever know. Jesus promises new life with the change.

But promises count for nothing. Show me. If you can't give me what I need NOW, then it's time for me to move on. If you can't be open and above board, why should I trust you?

Now there's the crux of the whole matter: Trust. Do we really trust God? Do we really trust Jesus? We're constantly asking for more signs, more information, more, more, more. At what point do we simply accept what we've already been given? Where is our faith? When do we learn, "in our gut," so to speak, that God's time and God's ways are not our time and our ways?

Oh, God, "I believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Never Alone And Never Done

Reading Plan Text for May 9: John 12:27-36

One of the interesting things about John's Gospel is that Jesus never goes away to a quiet place to pray and reflect. He often leaves places and crowds, but that is to escape arrest or stoning as it is not yet "his time." There are no quiet places in John's story. Something is always going on.

Instead, in this passage we see Jesus praying in the moment where he is.

And even at a moment of extreme anguish and questioning, Jesus continues teaching. Somehow he manages to be at peace, be with God, and continue his calling in the midst of the turmoil around and within him.

Take a deep breath. "Be at peace."

Let it out. "Be with God."

Repeat.

Sometimes, like tonight, it is all the prayer I can manage.

Peace,
Jeffri

Sleepless in Norwalk, Part 2

My mind continues to spin projections and more projections. Every time I think I've reached a calm place, I turn out the light, and it starts again.

Spinning, spinning, spinning...

I pulled out my Prayer Book again to re-read the portion Psalm 31that I read during Compline last night (well, before Midnight, anyway). It reads as a prayer.

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame: *
deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.

5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.

And the repetitious meditation using my prayer beads.

On the week beads: Be at peace; be with God
On the cruciform beads: All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

Peace,
Jeffri

Living Your Strengths - Part 4

Today I went into "Learner Mode" and did some research on the web about the StrengthsFinder Instrument and Living Your Strengths. What I found was fascinating. Several colleges and universities are using Strengths-Based principles for students and faculty. The two most comprehensive that I looked at today were the Noel Academy for Strengths-Based Leadership and Education at AzusaPacific University in California and Baylor University's (Texas) Student Life Calling & Strengths pages.

The Noel Academy has downloadable resources for Faculty and Student Service Professionals. There is a Strengths Themes Discussion Guide, a StrengthsFinder Validity Study, and probably the most interesting in terms of Living Your Strengths, a Spirituality Journey Camper Notebook. Here are the Discussion Guide Questions for my Signature Themes:

• Learner – What are you learning that is exciting to you? What types of things do you like to learn about? Tell me about your last trip to the library? You went to look for a magazine article, went straight to the mag rack, got it, copied it, and left…?? How do you learn best?
• Input – What stimulates you intellectually? Do you have a collection of any kind? What are you most curious about/want to know more about?
• Intellection – You like to think and exercise your muscles in your brain. What have you been thinking about lately? What types of courses/activities stimulate your thinking? Do you spend much time writing/journaling/listing your ideas/reflecting?
• Achiever – Tell me about a typical day for you. What is it like to have this strength? What do you enjoy about your day? What goals are you working toward?
• Focus – What goals do you have for yourself? How do you keep track of how you are doing with your goals? How does your focus strength help you when it comes to studying?

Obviously, these are aimed at an academic community, but they can serve as a starting point.

The Baylor University pages were a lot more interesting to me, especially the Grow Spiritually resources. Here you will find Strengths Inspired Prayer, Strengths Inspired Devotionals, and a Theology of Strengths. There are prayers for all 34 themes but devotionals for only some. Here are the prayers for my Themes:

• Learner: Lord, thank you for the process of learning and self-improvement. Help me find joy in outcomes.
• Input: Lord, thank you for the desire to collect and archive all kinds of information. Help me distinguish majors from minors and when "enough is enough."
• Intellection: Lord, thank you for intellectual discussions and challenges for the mind. Help me give credence to emotions and words of the heart.
• Achiever: Lord, thank you that I have the stamina to work hard and be productive.Help me to "be still and know that you are God."
• Focus: Lord, thank you for allowing me the concentration to prioritize and act on a task. Help me always keep the big picture in mind.

I also found many congregations in a variety of denominations using Living Your Strengths in small groups, leadership workshops, and a surprising number of Stewardship programs. And here's one I couldn't resist simply because of the name: Church Marketing Sucks.

And I'm having the hardest time typing "strengths." I keep typing "strenghts" instead. Mom pointed out that "ght" is the more common letter combination.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: The Light Of The World

Reading Plan Text for April 8: John 8:12-20

Today's passage contains another of the famous "I am" statements. Compare John's Jesus saying "I am the light of the world" with Matthew's, who says, "You are the light of the world." Matthew is showing an example of how to live life. I much prefer Matthew's "you" because I think it shows us Jesus involved in what he does best: teaching and doing.

John, however, is continuing his treatise on who Jesus is and why we should believe in him. Jesus' discourse continues in the manner of a trial. Testimony is being given and being challenged. Of course, as is always the case in John, the Pharisees don't get it. They continue to take everything literally, even when Jesus, for the first time (according to Burridge), directly quotes the law to them using the phrase "your law.". This isn't about "man's law." It is about divine revelation.

Burridge also continues his explanation that John is building and extended metaphor in which Jesus is deliberately making a connection between himself and God leading the Israelites through the wilderness. This particular thrust of John's Gospel had escaped my notice before reading Burridge's commentary.

One feature of Burridge's commentary that I have not mentioned so far is the little piece at the end of each chapter. Often it is "Prayer." Sometimes it is "for Reflection and Prayer," or "for Prayer and Reflection," sometimes "for Meditation and Prayer," and occasionally just "for Reflection." I always read them, but rarely do I take on the reflection or meditation. This might be something to consider the next time a reflection shows up at the end of a chapter.

Tonight's Prayer:

Light of the World, grant that I may not walk in darkness, but rather know you and your Father in the light of life. (p. 113)

Peace,
Jeffri

Unpacking Into A New Job

Two weeks ago, right after Easter, most of us in the Ministries with Young People Cluster had to pack up our offices. The actual packing week was last week, except that all but one of us was on the road for all or part of the week. Essentially, we had two days to pack, because Easter Monday was a holiday, and those of us in the new Evangelism and Congregational Life Center went on retreat Thursday and Friday. We packed in boxes rather than the plastic orange crates that were distributed during the "official" packing week.

Last Friday they shut down the computers and phones, and the actual move itself began. Over the weekend boxes and crates were moved out, offices painted, offices and cubicles cleaned, and new occupants' boxes and crates moved in. This is what awaited me when I walked to my new work area on the 5th Floor:


Since I started a new job today, only five boxes, my plant, and a file rack went to my new cubicle. Essentially, I'm almost back to the same physical location I started out in almost six years ago. This is the stack of boxes waiting for me in my new cubicle:

You can see my colleague Angie in the cubicle to the left. She and I traveled to Vancouver together to attend the Start Up! Start Over! conference as part of our training for our new positions. She also had to pack in boxes instead of the orange crates.

Also waiting, connected and ready to go, were my phone (with a new extension) and my computer:

May God the Father
be the guardian of this place
and bring His peace.

May his love be shared,
and his will be found here,
and peace between all people.

May the Spirit bring lightness and laughter here.

May He be the strengthener and comforter
in times of difficulty.

May the Lord give peace
but never complacency.

Here may encouragement be found
and relationships strengthened.

Each day, every day,
each going out, and each returning,
the Lord bless you and keep you.

Peace between person and person;
peace between all who work here;
the peace of Christ above all peace;
peace between friends
each day and every day.

I pray for all who work here.
May the joy and peace of heaven
be with with you and around you.
The Lord bless you.

Christ, in our coming
and in our leaving,
be the Door and the Keeper
for us
and all who work within this place,
this day and every day,
ever and always.
Amen.

---Celtic Daily Prayer, pp. 151-152

This cubicle is "backwards" from my old one. I had to do some thinking about how I wanted to set it up. It will probably take some more tinkering as I settle in. So here's the same side of the cubicle where the boxes were:

You can see Angie settling in to her cubicle, and Monna, who used to sit next to me, is back by the windows. And here's the other side of my cubicle:

The corridor outside my office has fewer crates and boxes, but some major stacks still remain to be unpacked by folks who are on the road during the first part of this week. This morning I also moved the files for my old department from one side of the floor to the other. Tomorrow we have to pack up and move an "intern" cubicle that no one had time to deal with in the last two weeks. We'll also have to unpack the "vacant" office where they put all the contents of the former Ministries with Young People's director's office.

I still do not have a clear idea of what my new job entails. However, I have the opportunity participate in the creation of this new position. I've not had that kind of opportunity before, and I'm actually looking forward to the challenge, even if it is a bit frustrating at times.

In case you're wondering about the back left corner of my cubicle, I have a collection of crosses that I've picked up during my travels or that people have given me. Many of them hung on one wall of my old cubicle. As I looked my new space, this corner just sort of presented itself. It became more than just a display area for my collection. It is now my meditation/prayer corner. Along with the crosses are some prayer cards, pictures, and a bible and a Book of Common Prayer. This should help remind me to include prayer in my daily routine at the office.

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of the universe. Your gifts are many, and in wisdom you have made all things to give you glory. Be with us now and bless us as we dedicate our use of this space to your praise and honor. As often as we worship you here, precede us and abide with us. Be known to us in the Word spoken and heard, in fellowship with one another. Give us joy in all your works, and grant that this space may be a place where your will is done and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Savior, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

---The Book of Occasional Services (2003), p. 245

Peace,
Jeffri

Still Ticking

As of yesterday, a week has passed since the date the "Reorganization Team" originally set for the official announcement of where we will be placed in the new structure at the Episcopal Church Center. Those of us who interviewed on Monday and Tuesday of last week pretty much know whether or not we have jobs, but there are still many unknown factors. And we cannot yet say anything to those folks across the church with whom we work. It makes for very awkward phone conversations. So, yes, I have a job, and no, I cannot say anything more. Please continue to pray for those of us who work at the Episcopal Church Center.

Opening Prayer

You ask us to come to you with our burdens and so we begin with the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Ask, and it will be given you/ search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. (Matthew 7:7)

Petitions

Hearts filled with trust, we come to you with very special needs, we pray.

Response: Grant us your wisdom,Lord.

Send us your wisdom. Hear the prayer we offer in faith, we pray.

Open for us avenues of understanding, we pray.

Collect

As we ask, seek and knock, we are confident that we shall receive, it shall be opened and your will made clear.

-- Rock Travnikar, O.F.M., The Blessing Cup, p.36.

Lord, I will trust You,
help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.

Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, can I trust You
to be stronger than each storm in me?

Do I still yearn for Your glory to lighten on me?

I will show others the care You've given me.

I determine amidst all uncertainty
always to trust.

I choose to live beyond regret,
and let You recreate my life.

I believe You will make a way for me
and provide for me,
if only I trust You
and obey.

I will trust in the darkness and know
that my times are still in Your hand.

I will believe You for my future,
chapter by chapter, until the story is written.

Focus my mind and my heart upon You,
my attention always on You without alteration.

Strengthen me with Your blessing
and appoint to me the task.

Teach me to live with eternity in view.

Tune my spirit to the music of heaven.

Feed me,
and, somehow,
make my obedience count for You.

-- "Brendan - In Exploration Of A Vision," Part XVI, in Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers And Readings From The Northumbria Community, pp. 191-193.

Peace,
Jeffri

Sunday's Prayer For The Bishops

Calm them, O God, as You stilled the storm.
Still them, O God, keep them from harm.
Let all the tumult within them cease.
Enfold them, Lord, in Your peace.


Creator, bless the work that is done
and the work that is to be.


Creator, bless the servants that they are
and the servants they will be.


Amen.


Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer, p. 38

Saturday's Prayer for the Bishops

Heavenly Creator, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the City of New Orleans. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form its civic life. Send the people honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, that people from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, p. 825

Friday's Prayer For The Bishops

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life, we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--Book of Common Prayer, p. 100

Thursday's Prayer For The Bishops

Almighty and most merciful God, grant, we beseech you, that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit our bishops may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you7, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer For The Bishops As They Begin Their Meeting

God our Creator,
when you speak there is light and life,
when you act there is justice and love;
grant that your love may be present in the bishops' meeting
so that what they say and what they do
may be filled with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.


--Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 141

Tuesday's Prayer For The Bishops

Help me today to realise that you will be speaking to me
through the events of the day, through people,
through things, and through creation.
Give me ears, eyes and heart to perceive you,
however veiled your presence may be.
Give me insight to see through the exterior of things
to the interior truth.
Give me your Spirit of discernment.
O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day.
If I forget you, do not forget me.

--Jacob Astley

Monday's Prayer For The Bishops

We cannot speak,
unless You loose our tongues;
We only stammer,
and we speak uncertainly;
but if You touch our mouths,
O God,
then we will sing the story
of Your wonders!

Teach us to hear that story,
through each person,
to cradle a sense of wonder
in their life,
to honor the hard-earned wisdom
of their sufferings,
to waken their joy
that the King of all kings
stoops down
to wash their feet
and looking up
into their face
says,
"I know -- I understand."

This world has become
a world of broken dreams
where dreamers are hard to find
and friends are few.

Lord, be the gatherer of our dreams.
You set the countless stars in place,
and found room for each of them to shine.
You listen for us in Your heaven-bright hall.
Open our mouths to tell our tales of wonder.

--Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer, pp. 198-199