What's up with the Silence?

-The Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia

Sometimes we listen for God in scriptures, and stories, and songs.  Sometimes we listen for God in the Silence.  The Silence is less about the absence of sound, and more about a quality of attention.  When we enter the Silence, we listen for God not only with our ears, but with our whole bodies, and our hearts.
 
There is silence in every liturgy.  The silence we're observing in our liturgy at Canterbury might seem familiar to you, or it might seem new.  During this season, we are observing two periods of intentional silence during the liturgy: a period of silence immediately following the sermon, and another period of silence immediately before the confession.   We mark the silence with bells.  The deep sound of the ringing bowl bell serves as an invitation to enter the silence.  The bright sound of the hand chimes marks the end of the silence.

Some people find it easy to enter the Silence.  Some people find it difficult to enter the Silence.  The Silence can sometimes make us feel anxious, or restless, or bored, but with practice the Silence can become a place where we find peace, and love, and strength.  When we enter the Silence, we remember that God is within us and around us.  Entering the Silence is a gift we can offer to ourselves and to the people around us. 

Click here for more resources on Silence, including books, articles, and short videos introducing a variety of prayer practices that can help people of all ages "Enter the Silence."