Dear Family of Love!
Tonight I decided that I needed to get some extra rest and renewal and that means praying in place. Not a bad thing to do on Self-Care Saturday! We must honor our bodies, minds, and spirits every day and not just on You Matter Monday, Take Care Tuesday, and Self-Care Saturday. This is all about listening to what our bodies and God is saying to us! We need to listen closely so that we don't miss God's and our body's signals are saying. When I came back from dinner tonight I sat in the chair with my laptop and fell asleep. That is how I knew it was the right choice for us to do tonight. Have you ever had those moments? Our ears aren't the only things that we need to use when we listen to God and our bodies. We listen with our spirits, hearts and senses as part of connecting to God and our bodies. This is a special kind of Holy listening is what is needed now more than ever. It helps us live better spiritually, physically, and be in tune with God, ourselves, and each other. We all must realize that our bodies encase our souls and they must be fed good food, Good News, and good rest, and good and a positive mind set. The main source of nourishment comes from Love. Love is what binds us to care for our bodies, minds, spirits, each other, our selves and importantly God. Yes we get to care for God by caring for the least of these and loving our family members who are our neighbors. Tonight I would like us to go deeper into the center by relaxing and asking God to help us to listen to God and what our bodies are saying to us. We can do this silently or with music for however long it takes. If you are new to Walk With Me on Our Journey, I would suggest a 10 minute time of reflection with the use of either a timer or piece of music ten minutes in length.
Let us begin with our breathing exercises:
Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and then out from your mouths.
Now let us do this:
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Exhale Love
You may use the following phrases as well:
Taize Top List
As we conclude our meditation time let us visually imagine that we are lighting a candle to lighten our hearts and set the tome for our prayers and as we see the candlelight let us remember that we are to hold the Light of Christ to all of our family members so that the pathway may be made plain and safe as we walk together in love as Christs and God's family members and each other's.
Lighten our path O God so that we may see clearly the pathway you have set before us.
Lighten our path O God with love and brightness so that we may be united with you as your family.
Lighten our path O God with peace that we may become your peacemakers and that we may spread the Good News of Justice, Love, and Mercy throughout the world.
Lighten our path O God to our hearts and souls that we may be connected to the least of these and tenderly and lovingly care for them.
Lighten our path O God to all of our family members who are ill that we may compassionately care for them and pray for them when we aren't present. We pray this night for_____________
Lighten the path O God for all who are mourning that they may be given holy comfort and may feel your arms gently enfolding them.
Lighten our path O God to you in our bodies, minds, and spirits that we may take time to connect with you with holy listening. May we go deeper and seek your presence and listen with open ears, hearts, and calm and attentive spirits.
Lighten our path O God so that we may raise our voices in prayer and thanksgivings for__________
Accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus who is "The Light of the World". Amen.
Extra Canticles if you would like to use them. From THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
O Gracious Light Phos hilaron
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded *
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth *
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him *
throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; *
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen
The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen
Psalm 23 King James Version
The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; *
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
mine enemies; *
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
And a special version from Bobby McFerrin
Psalm 23
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! May you listen to God and you body tonight and find rest. I give God thanks for you this day and always. Remember Self and Sabbath Care is an entire weekend long and through out the week to come.
With love, ears and a tender heart ready to listen to you when ever you need me,
Sara
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