Fall 2001
Retreat Directions
Will you
face the East.
We stand in
the light of the rising sun
to
honor the divine that is known in fire.
Spirit of
the searing desert,
Spirit of
the burning bush,
Spirit who
speaks from a pillar of flame,
We honor those
who practice your religion
Of
perseverance, suffering, discipline, and service.
With those
who perished in the fires of
With those
who kindle the Sabbath lights,
We reaffirm
our will to act in God's service,
And rejoice
that though we suffer,
Through God
we are reborn from the ashes.
Will you
face the South.
We stand on
the firmness of soil and rock
to
honor the divine that is known in earth.
Spirit of
the ripe and plentiful harvest,
Spirit who
labors and gives birth,
Spirit who
sustains us through the cycle of seasons,
We honor
those who practice your religion
and
celebrate the world that is your body.
With those
who dance under your night sky,
With those
who protect your clean air and water,
We reaffirm
our connection to the mother of life:
The world
that cradles all of humanity,
But through
adversity, challenges us to survive.
Will you
face the West.
We stand in
a land nourished by rivers
to
honor the divine that is known in water.
Spirit who
washes us clean of sin,
Spirit whose
sacrifice is the cup of compassion,
Spirit who
offers us living water,
We honor
those who practice your religion
and
slake their thirst with the love of God.
With those
who give a cold drink to a stranger,
With those
who weep yet work for change,
We open ourselves
to God's outpouring of grace
And imagine
a world in the image of Christ
Where
justice rolls down like the waters
and
righteousness flows like a mighty stream.
Will you
face the North.
We stand and
observe the air that we breathe
to
honor the divine that is known in wind.
Spirit that
awakens our clarity of mind,
Spirit that
blows away all illusion,
Spirit that
calls us to embrace the void,
We honor
those who practice your religion
of
awareness, compassion, and serenity.
With those
who seek the cessation of suffering,
With those
who look within for liberation,
We turn our
minds to letting go
And see your
nature in all things.
In
emptiness, there is no anger.
Will you
face the Center.
We stand,
but the divine spark dances.
Today we honor
the world's religions,
and
enhance our own from what we've learned.
Spirit
within, who contains all things,
Inspire us,
commune with us, dance in our souls.
Out of
darkness, we pray, may your pure light shine. Amen.
Copyright © 2002 by Christine Hoff Kraemer