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On Sunday morning, I was in a sanctuary, sitting in a circle with a loving community, and together, we had a time of prayer. During a portion of this prayer, people in the circle were invited to share their joys and concerns, and each time they mentioned a need or a gratitude aloud, they would conclude with,

“God in your mercy…”

and the whole circle of people would respond with, “… Hear our prayer.”

One of the things I noticed during this time was the energy I felt as people named those joys or concerns. I felt in my own body a “yes,” agreement, and it seemed we were all connected in the same energy.

I think this is much of what prayer is about, as well as an address to a Higher Power.

We hear each other deeply, and we
agree,
affirm, and
align.

We cast our hopes in the same direction.

I remember a mentor of mine concluding such moments with the phrase, “May we be a part of the prayers we make.”

The moment of this prayer — this address, this agreement, this alignment — is an invitation to care and act in these very directions. When we address together what’s most Ultimate for us, we align ourselves too. There is great love in the act of agreement.

— Renee Roederer