Summer 2020 Virtual Vespers: The Lord’s Prayer

Peace be with you! Welcome to virtual vespers, and thank you all so much for joining us in this experience of worshiping virtually. Today we have planned activities for you to do in your household that will be digging deeper into the Lord’s Prayer. You will need to provide a handful of materials explained at each “station” for this worship and we invite you to be creative with your resources! This vespers is one that might feel familiar if you have been to camp before because we love to explore the different ways that prayer can look in our lives at WCB! As you engage with our HopeFULL theme this summer, we invite you to use the ideas from this vespers to continue considering what prayer looks like in your life.

We will start our vespers with a variation of the Lord’s Prayer:

Eternal Spirit, Earth maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, loving God in whom is in heaven: 

The hollowing of your name echo through the universe! The Way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the World! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our home and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

– New Zealand variation of the Lord’s Prayer

Now we will begin exploring the Lord’s Prayer in sections:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name

• What name of admiration or respect could you use for God? Write or draw it on a piece of paper.
• We very often hear God referred to as “Father.” What does it feel like to use different words for God, like “Eternal Spirit,” “Creator God,” or “Earth maker”? How do different names for God help us to notice different aspects of God’s identity?

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

Create a visual prayer in response to one (or both) of these prompts: (for example, you might sculpt with clay, draw, or paint… be creative!)

• What does it look like for God to be present among us in the world?
• One definition of spirituality is to become more aware of what you are making in the world. What could you make to demonstrate your offering of God’s role of love/justice/peace on earth?

Give us today our daily bread

Take a piece of bread (or another food) and eat it mindfully. Notice the smell of the bread, the texture, and the taste. Think about the following:

• What do you need each day from God and others to be sustained?
• What do you have enough of that you can share with others?

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

• Give yourself, or exchange a water blessing of protection with a loved one
• Dip your finger in water and make a cross shape on your hand

“As Jesus calmed the storm, may God’s love calm your heart and your mind. May you turn to God in times of stormy fear, and rest easy in God’s loving embrace.”

– Water blessing of peace

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever, Amen.

• Copy down the Lord’s Prayer (or the earlier New Zealand variation) and hang it or place it in a spot that you will see often. For example, on your calendar or bathroom mirror.

Sending Blessing

As you go on your way, may God go with you. May God go before you to show you the way. May God go behind you to encourage you, beside you to befriend you, above you to watch over you and within you to give you peace. Amen.