1. The Heart at the Heart or (re)Discovering the Gospel, part IV Rick Wright 7 th Sunday of Pentecost (A) July 27 2014

2. Listening to the bishop March Lunch with a friend He meets for one hour with his bishop (= leader in the Christian church) Meeting between American and African bisops You Americans talk and plan and present We do not hear you talk about how you pray!

3. Romans 8 In the same way the Spirit comes alongside and helps us in our weakness. Because we do not know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself intercedes [prays on our behalf] with groans that are not spoken. And God – the searcher of the heart – knows what is the thinking of the Spirit. Because the Spirit intercedes for [prays on behalf of] the saints according to God.

4. The drama of glory Romans = story of Bible Bible = story of God and his relationship with the world What will God do to heal and save? Paul talks about the past Looks to the future In order to speak to the present

5. Heart of the storm Present = storm Sin / suffering / evil / injustice / death And joy / goodness / beauty / justice / life Storm ~ struggle between not yet and now Not yet = will be glorious! Now = sin / suffering / struggle ~ Heart at center of hurricane or typhoon

6. Romans 8 Heart of the storm -> Holy Spirit within us Prayer is our primary task We are weak and do not know what to pray for! Deepest place -> Holy Spirit in eternal communication with God Prayer = be quiet?

7. The heart Greek nous = true center of each human being Not source of emotion + feeling! Silence Awareness Kingdom of heaven Love + life + peace

8. Meletios Webber The language of the heart is silence – not a bleak empty silence but a profound and meaningful silence that ceaselessly sings the glory of God [25]. In the world there is a silence which is only the lack of noise. A negative silence waiting to be filled. However in the spiritual life we discover another more valuable sort of silence – and that is the silence which is the voice of God [56].

9. Anthony Bloom Prayer = journey through self To deepest place where God is Heart of the storm We meet with God

10. Prayer of the Heart Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Five minutes each day Sit – relax – be quiet No pictures or thoughts! Just Prayer of the Heart