Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems and Reflections for Every Season Book

	Introduction	13
I.	Advent	19
	The Present of Presence	20
	The Many Disguises of Emmanuel	23
	The Gift of Hope	24
	The Word Was Made Flesh	25
	Light Our Way	27
	Mary and Elizabeth	30
II.	All Saints' Day / All Souls' Day	31
	Who Are the Saints?	32
	Remembering Our Spiritual Ancestors	33
	Celebrating the Radiant Light of the Holy Ones	35
	A Personal Ritual for All Saints' Day	37
	The Blessing of the Saints	39
	A Personal Prayer for All Souls' Day	41
	A Communal Prayer for All Souls' Day	42
III.	Birthdays	43
	Birthdays	44
	A Birthday Reflection	45
	Birthday Blessing	46
	A Ritual for Aging	47
IV.	Christmas	49
	Dancing God	50
	A Christmas Blessing	52
	Keeping Watch in the Night	53
	The Singing Tree	55
	The Christ Is Born Again	57
	A Christmas of Contrasts	59
	A Blessing of Angels	60
V.	Difficult Times	61
	In Difficult Times	62
	A Haunting Question	63
	A Prayer to Be Freed From Tizzies	65
	Searching for Oneself	66
	Hope Continues to Bloom	67
	Blessing Before Surgery	68
	For a Loved One Who Is Dying	70
	Blessing of One Who Draws Near to Death	71
	Leaning on the Heart of God	75
	Wounded Ones on the Road	76
	Blessing Prayer for Healing	78
VI.	Easter	79
	A Remnant of Resurrection	80
	A Springtime Prayer	81
	Tomb-Watch	82
	Awaken Me	84
	Praying With the Easter Stories	85
	The Easter Challenge	87
	Prayer to the Restorer of Entombed Vitality	88
	Come Out!	89
	Slow Greening	90
	Easter Meditation	92
	Reflection on Luke 24:13-35	94
VII.	Epiphany	95
	The Song of the Stars	96
	The Gift	97
	The Seeker	98
	Epiphany	99
	A Prayer for Epiphany	100
VIII.	Justice	101
	Apology to My Brothers and Sisters in Developing Countries	102
	The Blessing of Compassion	103
	A Prayer of Compassion	105
	Litany of Remembrance	106
	We Are One	108
	Prayer for Awareness	111
IX.	Lent	113
	The Echo of Ashes	114
	Create in Me a Clean Heart	115
	Carrying the Cross	117
	A Lenten Reflection	118
	Clothed With the Qualities of Christ	120
	I Must Stay at Your House Today	122
	The Farewell Tear	123
X.	Mary	125
	Feast of the Annunciation	126
	The Visitation	128
	Mary, Mother of Sorrows	129
	Feast of the Mother of God	134
XI.	Ministry and Service	137
	Discipleship	138
	To God Who Sings Through Us	140
	Giving and Receiving	142
	Jesus, What Were the Pains of Your Ministry?	144
	Jesus, What Were the Joys of Your Ministry?	146
	A Disciple's Prayer	148
	Take Nothing for the Journey	149
	Called Forth	151
	The Continuous Call to Conversion	153
	Put Out Into the Deep Waters	154
	Catechist's Prayer	156
XII.	The New Year	159
	The New Year	160
	I Arise in the New Year	161
	Reflection on a New Year	162
	Standing at the Gates of the New Year	164
	A New Year's Meditation	165
	The Old Year Runs Away From Me	166
	Leaving the Old, Welcoming the New	167
XIII.	Other	169
	Magnificant to the God of Dawn	170
	Six Gestures of the Morning Praise	171
	Blessing for a Newly Birthed Child	172
	A Parish Centennial Prayer	174
	The Twelve Steps Prayer	176
	Blessing of the Body	178
	Family Reunion	180
	The Seven Steps of Morning	182
	Praying With the Five Senses	184
	Blessing of a House	186
	We Remeber the Bread of Life	191
	Evening Prayer	193
XIV.	Pentecost	195
	A Prayer for Pentecost	196
	The Fruits of the Spirit	197
	Spirit!	198
	The Spark of God	199
	Blessing for Pentecost	200
	Astonished and Amazed	201
	Come, Holy Spirit	202
XV.	Thanksgiving	203
	Gratitude for the Little Moments	204
	When	206
	A Thanksgiving Blessing	207
	Discover the Treasures	208
	Memories of a Pilgrim Heart	210
	Autumn Prayer of Acceptance	212
	Thanksgiving	214
	Reflection on Autumn Days	215
XVI.	Transitions	217
	Crossing Over	218
	A Prayer in Times of Transition	219
	Moving Into a Retirement Residence	221
	Prayer of Discernment	222
	A Time of Difficult Transition	223
	The Leaf	224
	A Prayer for Those Who Journey	226
	God Is With Us on the Road	227
	A Time of Happy Transition	228
XVII.	Valentine's Day	229
	Containers of Divine Love	230
	Called to Love	231
	Praise to the Shaper of Hearts	233
	Will You Be My Valentine?	234
	A Heart Prayer	236
	The Heart of Eternal Love	239
Appendix	Chants	241