Leader’s Notes:
In this session we are focusing on the theme of Sound – both the sounds we hear all around us and the Sound – the voice of the Eternal. We often need to quiet the sounds around us in order to hear the Sound.
You will see two options in the Reflection Action. The second option invites people to find a space on their own and explore making their own sound, or responding to the Eternal. While this may seem strange or unusual, we encourage you, as the leader, to try it out first. If this is your first time, write down what the experience is like for you so you can share it with the group. If you have time, do both Reflection Action options. Start with a few minutes of silence and then have people find their own space to explore what their personal sound is. If you do this, make sure to explain the entire exercise beforehand so people understand what’s happening.
Reminder, that any words that are italicized are a not meant to be read out loud, and is a note or instruction just for you
Welcome
Welcome to our session.
Does anyone have reflections or new thoughts to share about our last time together?
Note: watch your time. You may only have time for 2 answers
In this session, we are going to talk about Sound. When we say sound, we’re referring to the voice of the Eternal as well as the sounds around us.
Breath Prayer
As we move into our time together, we’re going to take a moment to release the day and centre ourselves in the Eternal through breath prayer.
As we breathe, I invite you to let go of your day. Release it. Feel your breath going into your lungs and out. We’re going to breathe together for one minute. If closing your eyes is helpful, you can do that now.
Take 30 seconds for just breathing and then start Shepherd, Guide Me or Yah-Weh breath prayer.
Note: If appropriate close with a prayer.
Go right into poem.
Poem
The Sound
Words can’t be found,
My mind fails to say what is being felt.
The tumbling of thoughts, ideas, desires and yearning all tangled without expression.
And yet….
The Sound.
The sound reverberates through my chest.
A groan, a cry.
Silent and yet a scream.
Where did it come from?
Who authored such a reverberation?
In the stillness, there are no words.
The air barely moved.
Breath moved in and out,
The tangled mess still present, but now expressed.
Because the Sound.
Krystle Moilliet
Introduction
Our lives are full of sound. Whether it’s music, the voices of those around us, the sound of being outdoors. Cars, planes, birds, yelling, crying, talking, machines, microwaves, footsteps, water pipes, dogs, cats, rain, pages turning, eating, a text message or notification. The tv, or podcast. Even your breath.
We don’t just have lives full of sound, we have lives overwhelmed by sounds – and not all sounds are helpful to our lives. We have gotten so comfortable with having multiple sounds at once we have forgotten how to have one sound. Or no sound… which ironically, if we allow it, can help us hear the sound around us.
With all the sound around us, when was the last time you just sat and listened? Not to respond, not to gain information, but just to hear?
Film Scene
As we watch this film clip together, this is your invitation: Listen and hear.
Note: You may want to use some of the breath prayers we’ve been doing together to help you enter into the story.
Watch film clip 8.1 – Sound
Film Reflection
During the film, as you listened to David speak of the divine sound – the voice of the Eternal – what did you think he was speaking of?
What stopped David from hearing, knowing and speaking of the divine? What restored this primal sound of love and eternity within him?
Psalm & Psalm Microfilm
Today we’re going to reflect on Psalm 29. As I read the Psalm, allow yourself to hear and experience the words.
Read Psalm 29
Give all credit to the Eternal, O heavenly creatures;
give praise to Him for His glory and power.
2 Give to the Eternal the glory due His name;
worship Him with lavish displays of sacred splendor.
3 The voice of the Eternal echoes over the great waters;
God’s magnificence roars like thunder.
The Eternal’s presence hovers over all the waters.
4 His voice explodes in great power over the earth.
His voice is both regal and grand.
5 The Eternal’s voice shatters the cedars;
His power splinters the great cedars of Lebanon.
6 He speaks, and Lebanon leaps like a young calf;
Sirion jumps like a wild, youthful ox.
7 The voice of the Eternal cuts through with flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Eternal rumbles through the wilderness
with great quakes;
He causes Kadesh to tremble.
9 The Eternal’s voice brings life from the doe’s womb;
His voice strips the forest bare,
and all the people in the temple declare, “Glory!”
10 The Eternal is enthroned over the great flood;
His reign is unending.
11 We ask You, Eternal One, to give strength to Your people;
Eternal One, bless them with the gift of peace
Reflection
Sounds are both heard and felt. How do you experience sound?
What are the ways in which you listen to the Eternal or experience the presence of the Eternal?
What sound do you long to hear from the divine?
Action Reflection Options
Option 1 – Sitting in Silence
We’re going to sit and allow ourselves to be in quiet for 5 minutes. During this time, reflect on what sound you long to hear from the Eternal.
If helpful, write down what you want to hear, and how you have heard from God in the past.
After the action:
Does anyone want to share what this was like to sit quietly for five minutes?
Option 2 – Making our own Sound
In a moment, we’re going to spread out. I’ll invite you to go outside or to another place in this building/house.
Note: Provide any necessary direction about appropriate places for participants to go.
Once you’re in your space I invite you to be like David in the film and try to vocalize the divine sound from within you. This is an imaginative exercise and nothing mysterious or crazy! Maybe the voice of the Eternal will come to you as a groan, a sigh, gentle laughter, a song, a loud noise, or quiet murmurs. Maybe you will go through all of these.
If you don’t feel comfortable making the sound out loud, you can write about the sound(s) that emerge in your imagination that you would like to make. This may be a moment for dreaming or longing or a simple prayer that you would know the divine sound deep within you.
After the action, once everyone is together:
What was this like to invite yourself to make a sound? Was it hard or easy?
Closing Thought
The divine sound is restored to David when he realizes that he is not lost or abandoned, and that he still has the Sound to guide him.
Like David, we are not lost or abandoned. We have the Sound to guide us in our everyday movements.
Closing Poem
To be calm and quiet all by yourself is hardly the same as sleeping.
In fact, it means being fully awake and following with close attention every move going on inside you. It involves a self-discipline where the urge to get up and go is recognised as a temptation to look elsewhere for what is really close at hand…
Prayer is a way of life which allows you to find a stillness in the midst of the world where you open your hands to God’s promises, and find hope for yourself, your fellow man and the whole community in which you live.
Henri Nouwen (20th Century).
Closing Prayer
Give thanks to the Eternal for speaking to us.