Rhythms of Prayer

This week we have a guest writer for “Words from the Rector”, Laura Chin.  She and her family have been attending Mariners’ Church for 2 years.  Her husband, Jeff, and 4 children, Theo, Naomi, Asher and Ozzy bring so much life and depth to our church family.  Laura, in addition to leading a home-school coop and being a part time speech pathologist, is studying to earn her Masters of Divinity and discerning a call into vocational ministry.  This summer Laura will be doing a 10-week internship with Mariners’ Church, so I asked her to write an article while Christiane and I are away.  Please enjoy the insights Laura brings about Scripture, not only from her education, but also from a lifetime of walking with God.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd

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Greetings Mariners’ Family,

Jeff and I are admittedly novices when it comes to the rhythms of daily prayer. Over the past five years, God has slowly drawn us into the Anglican Church through the liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. One specific element that I love about the daily lectionary readings is how readers are invited to experience the breadth of emotions present in the Psalms.

The words of the Psalms embody a range of emotions including worship, praise, lament, anger, despair and hope. The array of emotions depicted throughout the Psalter illuminates the array of emotions we experience as humans.

During an Old Testament class last semester my professor taught on a cyclical framework that radiates throughout the Psalms. This model was introduced by a theologian named Walter Brueggemann who suggests that a pattern of orientation, disorientation and reorientation is represented throughout the book. (For those who are visual learners, see the image below).

Orientation can be described as moments of equilibrium when life feels settled and secure. These are moments when we experience joy and it’s easy to relish in God’s creation like the birth of a baby, the viewing of a beautiful landscape or an intimate conversation with a friend. An example of a Psalm of orientation is Psalm 100 which starts with:

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2    Serve the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.

Disorientation is when we experience the brokenness of life and everything feels chaotic or sad. Perhaps we have experienced the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or cannot break the cycle of addiction. The Psalms also give us words to pray during disorientation like in Psalm 6:

6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.

Lastly, Reorientation is when we are filled with God’s grace and, even though the season may be hard, we are overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness. Despite difficult circumstances, God draws near to comfort us. Psalm 18 says:

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

As the semester progressed, it became evident that this cycle is demonstrated throughout the Psalms, throughout the entirety of Scripture and a person’s daily life. I invite you to consider how this model provides a framework for the season of life that you are navigating.

I hope you sense how this model gives the Body of Christ hope. If you are in a disorienting season, when things feel dark and uncomfortable, this model demonstrates how you will soon be propelled into a new season of reorientation. If you are in a season of reorientation, have grace for yourself as you establish new rhythms and your daily life adjusts to change. And, finally, if you are in the sweet season of orientation, praise God for His goodness and faithfulness!

Thank you for sharing this space with me!

Peace to you,

Laura Chin