Oh Thou, From Whom the Breath of Life Comes

It is 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday evening…Giving Tuesday…and I have been holding off finishing this letter so that I can let you know where we stand in reaching our goal of $15,000 for our refurbished women’s restroom. I am so excited to let you know that we are just $1,457 from our goal. A huge thank you to all who have contributed to make this possible. If you want to contribute, there is still time. You can donate online or send a check to 54 River Rd. Windham, ME 04062.

We have entered the Advent season. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation. It is a time of keeping alert and awake, listening for the God of Hope.

While we begin the four weeks of Advent it is in a uniquely new way due to COVID-19. We begin the season with a new perspective on what is most essential in our lives. We have an opportunity to shift our gaze from what, for many, is the “normal” frenzy of holiday shopping and busyness, to new ways of being and connecting that are lighter on the earth and that promote the life and dignity of all creation.

And in the light of a new way of being, the talk series for Advent turns us inward to find rich and deep transformative meaning in one of the most well-known and oft-cited prayers in human history know as either the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father. This is the prayer taught to us by our elder brother and wayshower, Jesus the Christ, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25.

This powerful, ancient prayer has gone through many translations and interpretations, and we will explore three of them this month. The Aramaic language, like Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic, has layers and levels of meaning.

Here’s the English translation that some say may not be accurate; however, it is a beautiful one that we will be using…

Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,
who fills all realms of sound, light, and vibration.
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiness.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Let Your will come true – in the universe just as on earth.
Give us wisdom for our daily need,
detach the fetters of faults that bind us, like we let go the guilt of others.
Let us not be lost in superficial things,
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth.

Here is a link to listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic.

In Sunday’s talk I focused on these two verses:

Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound, light, and vibration.

May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiness.

Kahil Gibran in The Prophet wrote: “What is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether.”

In the message I talk about the one question we all ask, and that is “Who am I?” I share some important information from Gregg Braden on just this topic you are going to want to hear.

I also invite you to look at your connection to God and ask: Is it a cobweb or a cable? Find out by listening to the message

Next week’s talk title is “O Birther! Father – Mother of the Cosmos.”. It comes from Neil Douglas-Klotz in his book Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus.

You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey

P.S. Giving Back Week…is the opportunity for you to express through your giving how much you value the offerings that our community offers during the month.

For your safety, continue to social distance and wear face masks. The church building remains closed for gatherings of all services and group meetings. All business with the church office needs to be via telephone or email.

LET’S STAY CONNECTED