Here is the rundown for our last two Lenten PraXis session for the March 16 and 23 held at Brookside UCC in Mendham and St Peter’s Episcopal in Morristown. Participants were asked to bring a blanket to place under the knees. These session involve a lot of kneeling postures. One needs to be aware of balance in these poses as well.
Vespers preamble
Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul!
6:15 pm
Orientation for those who are early
Any injuries we should be aware of?
Begin
In the Divine Liturgy of St Johns Chrysostom, we are told lay aside all earthly cares, as we prepare to encounter God in the flesh and blood of the Messiah
It is not easy to lay aside one’s Earthly or fleshly care, as we’ve said before. But Paul tells us this is what is needed in order to be present to the Spirit of the Messiah that dwell within us. Lent is such a time. It is a time for the imitation of Christ as we enter mysteriously into the story of the Gospels. It’s time for the challenge of letting go—letting go of distractions, attachments, habits and compulsions, as we strive in our askesis and prepare for the Feast of the Resurrection
What Earthly care do you lay aside for Great Lent? What part of your past are you letting go of, rejecting, or laying to rest? What things lay ahead that you must avoid, decline or ignore, in order to live a more like the Messiah.
Philippians 3: 7b-15a [Targum paraphrase by Cornelius Swart]
Paul states to the Church in Philippi
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him,[a]
not having [good standing with God]1 that comes from the law,
but that which comes through faith in the Messiah,
[approval]2 from God that depends on faith–
that I may know him [Christ] and the power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death, that,
by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect,
but I press on to [grasp this perfection]3,
because [The Anointed]4 Jesus has [grasped ahold of me]5.
[Brothers and sisters]6, I do not consider that I have made it [on my own]7. But one thing I do [know]8: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us who are mature think this way…
Flow
Sitting comfortably
Neck roll
Shoulder Roll
Arms out wrist twist
3 dynamic- Arms up, grab right wrist and lean left, reverse
Cactus
Up – inhale
Down- exhale
Back -inhale
Forward- exhale
Table
3 dynamic- Cat- cow
3 dynamic- Tiger Pose, back leg up, left then right (Vyaghrasana)
3 dynamic- Balancing Tabletop Pose- left arm and right leg extended, reverse (Bharmanasana)
Table, Down Dog, Step left foot forward and right knee down to Low Warrior I Series (Ardha Vibabhadrasana I)
3 dynamic — Arms to knee then above the head
3 dynamic — Arms behind the back- lean forward
3 static — Leg forward, bend forward, arms behind the back
3 dynamic — Half circle pose, extend leg to the side, lengthen over the opposite side, arm down to the ground (Ardha mansalasana)
Table -Down Dog-Walk to Forward Fold
Raise to arms overhead
Mountain
3 dynamic , 3 static– Wide legged Forward Fold
3 dynamic, 3 static– Goddess or Horse Stance (Utkatakonasana)
Legs together
3 dynamic — Chair
3 dynamic –to Revolved chair pose, (Parivrita utkatasana)
Mountain
Forward fold – Plank- Down Dog
3 dynamic- Three-Legged dog
Spin to sit
3 dynamic – Bridge
3 static – One-legged Bridge
3 dynamic — Hug legs
1 static each side, Belly Twist, Jathara Parivartanasana A
3 static — Happy Baby
Resting pose 12 breathes
Return the mind to the breath
Turn music off
Lectio Divina [paraphrase]- Read, Reflect, Respond and Rest
Not that I …. am already perfect,
but I press on to [grasp perfection]3,
because [The Anointed]4 Jesus has [taken grasp of me]5.
…. forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Rest in silence
Return the mind to the breath, then the body working up from the feet
Reread Philippians 3: 7b-15a
Sit up, silence or quiet sharing
Prayers offered up to others
Benediction and depart
Exit
Psalm 104 – O Lord My God, You are Very Great
Footnotes
Philippians 3: 7b-15a – Variations derived from The Step Bible Translation
[a] the mutual in-dwelling of God and humans. See post here.
1&2 dikaiosumē – state of being in proper relationship with God
3 &5 katalambanō- to grasp, attain, understand, realize, 5, take hold of, seize, overtake
4. christos- anointed, appointed*, one rubbed with oil to indicate their appointment to a high purpose
6. adelfos, brother but often inclusive of gender, referring to brothers and sisters in the plural
7. emautou, myself, my own, of my own accord
8. implied**
*appointed-anointed simile is my editorializing
** my editorializing
PraXis 