“Why Gratitude?”
As we continue our focus on gratefulness, let’s dig a little deeper and explore how the energy of gratitude helps us remain in the present and expand our awareness of blessing all around us.
Speaker: Rev. Melanie Eyre
Talk only on You Tube (high-speed available)
KIDS PROGRAM ~ Sundays at 10:30am via Zoom – Contact us to register
When available, a revised transcript of this week’s talk is provided below for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Prayers, readings, and songs from this week’s service are also provided below.
Community Circle Zoom Meeting/Discussion: Wednesday, November 24. 2021.
PRAYERS
Opening Prayer
A Prayer of Gratitude and Wisdom
I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to learn to solve.
I asked for prosperity, and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage, and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love, and God gave me people to help.
I asked for favors, and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed.
~ Hazrat Inayat Khan
Community Prayer
Making Our Souls Great
To pray is to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments. Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.
It is all we can offer in return.
Who is worthy to be present at the constant unfolding of time? Here we are amidst the meditation of the land, the songs of the water, the humility of the flowers, flowers wiser than all alphabets –
Suddenly we feel embarrassed, ashamed of our complaints and clashes in the face of tacit glory.
How strange we are in the world! Only one response can maintain us: gratefulness for the gift of our unearned chance to serve, to wonder, to love life and each other. It is gratefulness which makes our small souls great.
~ Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
TALK TRANSCRIPT – No transcript today. However, we invite you to listen to Rev. Melanie’s talk here.
About Rev. Melanie
Rev. Melanie Eyre is an ordained Interspiritual Minister and long-time student of the world’s many diverse faith traditions. She has served as One World’s Spiritual Director since 2015 and is the founder of the North Fulton Interfaith Alliance here in Georgia. Outside of One World, Rev. Melanie has a beautiful family and enjoys officiating traditional and non-traditional rituals and other special ceremonies that mark important life transitions – weddings, baby blessings, and celebrations of life.
For more about Rev. Melanie and her practice, visit her website: Memorable Services with Heart.
MUSIC
Safe in Your Love by Michael Stillwater
This written by Darius Rucker
This service aired on November 21, 2021
