Welcome to Southside Fellowship on this last day of July.
May the Christ who is in all, around all,
and over all be made known to us in this time of worship.

We are in the midst of a summer series on prayer.
Our English word Pray is derived from the Latin Vulgate ` precare' which means:
to `entreat, ask for.' The word passed from Latin to French and became ` preier; '
and then made its way into English as the word `pray.'

Likewise our word Prayer is derived from the Latin word ` precarius.' A word familiar to our ears for it is the origin of our English word: `precarious.'

The original meaning of the word precarious was a legal term more closely related to its Latin origin meaning: ` obtained by asking,' and later `held through the favor of another.'

To be held by the favor of another introduced the notion that such favor could be withdrawn and by the 18 ^th Century ` precarious' came to mean something risky, dangerous, and uncertain.

Perhaps it is fitting that we should be aware of the etymology of the words pray and prayer. Is this dialogue we seek with God about our entreating God, asking something of God? For what then are we asking?

Is this dialogue precarious in the original meaning of the word, `Are we obtaining something from God that we have asked for, are we holding something through the favor of God?'

And we might also identify prayer with the modern meaning of the word `precarious' for prayer also opens us to risk, danger, and uncertainty; even as it is itself at times if not often experienced as risky, dangerous, and uncertain.

Still we pray we entreat.
And our prayers we hope; will mitigate the precariousness of life.

Today we enter into prayer through silence.
Silence has its place in prayer and is found at the center of the disciplines of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Silence is equally a part of the Judo-Christian tradition .
'' It is good that one should wait in silence for the saving works of God'' (L: 3:26)
`` Be still before Yahweh and wait patiently for God.''( P: 37:7); and perhaps most familiar to all: ``Be still and know that I am God.'' (P: 46:10)

We will pray and worship in the manner of the Society of Friends who center their worship around silence. The Society of Friends began in the mid-17 ^th Century as a renewal movement.

When we pray we do so, knowingly or unknowingly, along a spectrum of structure and anti-structure. At the end of the spectrum where structure is greatest we pray using the frame work of liturgy and written prayers. At the other end of the spectrum we find anti-structure where individual experience rises to the surface.

In this respect , a worship service that entrusts the form the worship will take to the Spirit and the individual through silence; a Friend s meeting is more akin to the free flowing praise and unstructured worship of a Pentecostal Church; encounter is fostered through the unvarnished experience of the Spirit's speaking through the Spirit; where-as the dependable liturgy of the Catholic Church represents the other end of the spectrum where contemplation is fostered through structure.

Today our worship will lean in the direction of anti-structure.

Make yourselves comfortable.

Allow yourself to settle into the silence.

For those of you who need or want a structure in the silence consider the liturgy on your Communicator What Happens in the Silence. This is not a prescription for worship one must follow, but if it helps to focus you in the silence use it to your benefit.

Come back to the silence; the mind will wonder, but seek to discipline its wondering habits and ask it to be still. When you find your mind wondering you might bring it back to the silence with these words, ``Be still and know that I am God.'' Or you might envision the risen Jesus before you saying to you, ``Peace be with you.''

Ultimately, the quest to know God in the silence will move us beyond our given understanding of praying as an act of entreating God; and it will move us toward a place where words cease to flow out of us in our attempt to form meaning and quit our angst; and rather we will find in the silence that meaning; The Word will begin flowing into us.

Jesus stood before them and said, ``Peace be with you.''
``Be still and know that I am God.''