Comments on: silence

By: Robert Jackman

Robert Jackman — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:31:33 +0000

Silence solve your major problem. Also silence is the sign of peace.

By: Marina

Marina — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:41:11 +0000

As a single mom, I have come to understand that silence is truly golden! Early in the morning, before the busy-ness of the day, or later in the evening, when the kids are sleeping peacefully, and all the chores are done – there aren’t many things that edify the soul as much as a hot cup of tea taken in silent contemplation.

This is a part of the ‘balance’ that so many people seek in life – but it is overlooked because it is so simple a thing. Never mind children, I know a lot of ADULTS who have forgotten how to be still! lol

“The simplest things are often the most true.” ~ Richard Bach ~

This is especially true of silence! Thanks for the reflection, Reverend Peters Many Blessings

By: Schley Cox

Schley Cox — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:27:42 +0000

One of the tricks of the journalism trade I learned years ago was using the prolonged silence during an interview. After an uncomfortable time of silence the person interviewed would start talking about what was really on their mind rather than just responding to my (I thought clever) open ended questions. Praying in silence before God is much the same. After getting through the rote prayers and sitting, kneeling or standing in silence for too long we start to tell God what is really on our mind.

This is the way the Psalmist prayed. He was so comfortable in the presence of God he sometimes could talk of his hatred for his enemies and how he would like to smote them clear into the next county. It is difficult for us to tell God how we really feel. Instead we tell him how we think he wants us to feel.

Be silent for a while in prayer. Your heart will know when it is time to talk to God and tell your truth.

By: Bosco Peters

Bosco Peters — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:42:10 +0000

Thanks Jonathan – that’s what I thought, but I also saw other attributions online.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:56:29 +0000

“Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time”

Thomas Carlyle

By: Jayne Webb

Jayne Webb — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:37:23 +0000

Some people are naturally prone to inner silence others need to learn how to still the mind chatter which for some can be a constant stream of random consciousness which kicks in when silence is used in worship. I have been exploring ways of handling this stream and developing approaches to inner silence in workshops outside of worship so that when we use silence in worship people are able to enter into the experience both corporately and individually.

By: Dan Ballinger

Dan Ballinger — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:03:41 +0000

I’m Roman Catholic and I particularly love that silence and weight of action was emphasized in the most recent edition of the GIRM, where we leave 10-20 seconds of silence between each of the elements of the Liturgy of the Word.

As a music minister, I’ve taken it a step further by utilizing more dynamics in music, using less ‘busy’ instrumentation, and by allowing more pertinent parts of the Mass (ie. the cleansing of the communion vessels) to stand on their own, in silence. Basically, silence (when used correctly) can be as profound a statement as a rousing praise chorus.

I’ve also brought more dynamics and use of silence into a non-denominational contemporary praise band that I lead. Same effect

By: Bob Wann

Bob Wann — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:31:07 +0000

Thanks so much Bosco for your reply, I very much appreciate it! The other responses were thoughtful as well. I am eternally thankful for the Trappist Monastery that I attend/retreat at every year. The times of ‘silence’ are healing and restorative. I’m pleased to read that you’re an Associate with the Trappists in NZ. I believe, more than ever in this ‘plugged in’ generation we need to detach, disengage and debrief to connect with our God in the beauty of nature. So many times, this is where I am restored. David was right when he wrote “He leads me beside waters of rest, He restores my soul (Ps. 23).” This is another thing that silence (with worship & His Word) does. Thank you, Lord!

By: thePearlwithinU

thePearlwithinU — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:39:28 +0000

I LOVE SILENCE! Because it is then when I hear GOD’s voice speaking to me while my heart burns in His Holy presence.

By: Michael Church

Michael Church — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:29:42 +0000

Coincidentally, my congregation just asked for more silence in worship.

We’re a small English-language mission parish in Romania, and we just held a review of our first 8 months. The small group was divided between native and non-native speakers, from a variety of original church backgrounds, and the oldest person there was 44.

To my delight, they were quite happy with our worship life, apart from two areas. One was that our liturgy and preaching use a kind of English which is more accessible to native speakers than those who use English as a second (or, more typically, fourth) language. The other was that they needed more silence.

Our service book, the US Lutheran Book of Worship, calls for deliberate silence in three places: after the penitential rite, the sermon, and the post-communion prayer. (Another, during the penitential rite, is also customary.) My wife, who is the other pastor here, observes them more faithfully than I do. To my own chagrin, I have over the years come to reduce these silences to a pause — a few beats, rather than a time suitable for genuine reflection upon the mysteries.

Well. That’s going to change.

By: marika

marika — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:34:15 +0000

check out Guardini’s book “Preparing yourself for Mass” (http://www.amazon.com/Preparing-Yourself-Mass-Romano-Guardini/dp/0918477506) I just loaned the book out, but the first three chapters are Stillness, Silence and the Word, Silence and Hearing. I found it a very helpful book to better participate at Mass and to truly appreciate the silent pauses.

By: yeny

yeny — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:41:03 +0000

Silence is the perfect time to evaluate ourself, we can think clearly in silence and most of right decision come when we think at silence. I though that everybody need the silence time in their life.

By: Laura M. Bernard

Laura M. Bernard — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:03:09 +0000

I believe that silence is a crucial element for anyone to be in a real, profound relationship with God. Within silence, we can come to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit; we have a conversation with God, and we admit our faults; within silence we can tell God about our fears & needs; we can thank Him for the day’s blessings; we can pray for our country & it’s leaders; also, I don’t think anyone can attain true peace without first “making peace with silence.” Within a worshiping community, I believe that it is helpful to first, as a worship leader to direct the moments of silence by stating, as an example: “Let us now silently give our thanks & love to our Lord for all our blessings; thanking Him silently, for as many as we can think of.” I think that during a service (I’m a Catholic), it would be wise at first to guide the congregation in their thoughts & prayers until they are used to it.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:41:06 +0000

“God is silence, and in silence is He sung and glorified by means of that psalmody and praise of which He is worthy.” ~ Abraham of Nathpar (c. 6th century CE)

I come from an evangelical, ‘seeker-sensitive’ (for lack of better labels, but just to give you a context) background. We are all about getting people hyped up and joyful to worship in God’s presence. If you’re familiar with the model, every detail is meticulously planned out and followed according to our chart. I think there is a lot of good in this model. However (and unfortunately), silence has never been an element in our planning.

In my personal life, I have cherished silence. I would love to incorporate it into our weekly experiences as a corporate body. You give some excellent ways to begin to incorporate silence and I appreciate it. Thanks so much!

By: David | Dah•veed

David | Dah•veed — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:34:37 +0000

I think that use of silence should be sufficiently useful. Silence must be settled into. In my experience, in most liturgy using “silence”, it is just a moment of nothing and so short that just as it is becoming something, it is over. It is not of sufficient length to be more than a moment of wondering when the worship leader will end it and move on. Not enough time to settle into thoughts, meditation or mindfulness, but just enough to say that it was there on the leaflet.