Walk With me on Our Journey: It takes a village to come together as a family and raise each other up and not beat each other down.

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on Our Journey,

I hope and pray that all of you have had a Wonderful and Wonder-Filled Wednesday. Today I have been pondering what it means to be in community with each other. Most Wednesdays I have many groups that I spend time with. Today I attended the midweek Holy Eucharist and Healing service at St. Peter's Episcopal Church and my Cancer Rehab class at Marian Health and Wellness Center and capped it off with Caregiver Support Group at Mission Hope Cancer Center. These three groups albeit they are different, they have one thing in common and it is this, we are a family supporting each other in community. John Donne wasn't kidding when he spoke of the fact that "No Man is an Island! We all must rely upon each other and find common ground in community to do this. It is vitally important to see that it takes a village to come together as a family and raise each other up and not beat each other down. Community and common ground is where we meet as a family and not as those who hate and divide. I see our lives together here at Walk With Me On Our Journey as one where we learn from each other and how to love each other with the beautifully made differences that God has given us. Coming together and being united is one of the hardest things we will ever do but one of the most rewarding. Being a family takes more Love Energy than you and we can imagine. It requires courage, heartitude, and an openness like none other. Our hearts and minds need to be open to the reality that we are all different and don't march to the same drummer either. That's a good thing and not a bad one. So we need to embrace each other with love, kindness, and mercy. What I'm trying to say is that we all must love on another as God loves us. We all must raise each other up and not bully. We must raise our hearts in joyful song together for a peace -filled and peaceful world. Tonight let us be at prayer and find our way deeper into the center of our inner beings. Take time to add silence to the mix as we did last evening.

Now as we turn our hearts towards our time of prayer we ask that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit be in our midst. We give thanks for their loving and sustaining presence in our hearts, bodies, minds, and spirits and most especially in our lives.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray especially this night for all those who have been affected by gun violence of any kind. We pray for the families, victims, and the communities. We also lift up the city of Roseburg that as they continue to mourn they may find comfort in each other.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray this night for peace in God's fragile and broken world. May we as Children of God become blessed peacemakers and help soothe and care for the tenderhearted who are living in fear, terror, and adversity.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray this night for all those who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirit. We pray for the healing of those who are living with chronic and mental illnesses. May we as their caregivers and friends offer them solace and a soft place in which to fall. We remember them now by name____________.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray this night for all those who are the least of these that they may find shelter, food, and clothing. Give us courage to step up and help .

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray for all agencies and organizations that help minister to the needs of children, women, those who have been abused, chronic disease research and patient care. We remember especially this month: All Breast Cancer foundations, A.I.D.S. foundations, and Alzheimer's foundations.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray for all faith communities and the clergy who minister to them . We pray for a climate of love, dignity, and respect for all our family members who differ from us and that we may grow in love and unity towards and with them.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray and give thanks for all Caregivers: Remembering : Family members, Clergy, home health, hospice workers, mortuary ministries, EMTs., Police, Firefighters, Troops, day care workers, teachers and anyone else who provides care and protection for us.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We pray this night for all refugees,immigrants, captives, political prisoners, prisoners, those who are victims of human trafficking and slavery. and all who are in danger and have been victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We especially pray for all the leaders of the nations of the world and especially our President that they may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God and that they may have the courage to lead in times of trouble and in times of plenty.

Silence and reflection for a space.

We add our additional prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations to you Lord Jesus as we pray lovingly in their names and ours ________________ We pray these our prayers in Jesus most holy and life giving name. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family. I love you! Remember we are all welcome as family members in Walk With Me On Our Journey Village. It takes all of us to raise each other up and not beat each other down. I give God thanks for you this day and always.

With love in community with compassion and comfort,

Sara