Dear Family of Love!
Happy First Sunday of Advent! We have entered the beginning of a new church year and a new Journey called Advent. We have the opportunity to go on the most remarkable adventure every year that is mixed with emotional highs and lows as we begin to travel life's journey with Jesus and honor Jesus and his life's journey. We are all on this journey together as we always have been but every year we see different hues and depths in the scripture readings and also we learn to be able to proclaim the Good News more richly and with more strength. What does the beginning of a new church year mean to each of us? It means we don't have to guilt ourselves by not being able to keep our New Year's resolutions. God gives us unlimited chances to do better and to make the necessary changes in our lives every nano -second of the day. The past is in our last breath we took and the future is n the next one that we take. Past, Present,and Future are very near. So today let us be awakened to the newness of a new year, awakened to see new possibilities as we travel this amazing spiritual journey, awakened to be able to serve God and the least of these. Each day during Advent we will have the opportunity to pray and meditate on the following key words and maybe take photos that bring these words to life by Tweeting them, Posting them on FB, and Posting them on Instagram. Today's word and mini phrase was #WakeUp ! Here is the Key word list for every day. These will form a global Advent Calendar..
Today let us meditate upon the mini phrase #WakeUp! The above list will be posted every day as our guide for prayers and meditations.So let us begin by Waking Up and going deeper into God's most holy presence and opening up our hearts and heart homes to God and ourselves.
Here is one of my favorite pieces by J.S. Bach to get us started.
Sleepers Wake
Take your time to do this and be prepared to sit quietly in silence after this piece.
Let us pray,
God wake us up out of the silences that make us complicit viewers as violence and hatred surrounds.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
God wake us up from out sleep that we may seek to know and serve you more fully.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.
Awaken our Hearts and voices O, God.. Amen.
Additional prayers from the BCP ( BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER)
First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your
presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in
companionship with one another your abounding grace may
increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth;
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
+++++++++++
Don't forget we are still having our virtual candlelight vigils every day beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST each and every day through the remainder of the the year. Light a Candle and be at prayer.
Good Night Dear Ones. I love you! May you have a restful and peaceful sleep. I give God thanks for you this night and always. Remember tomorrow is You Matter Monday! Remember you matter and everyone else does too.
Hope, joy, love, and peace,
Sara
Musical Selections to get you in the mood for season of Advent!
Advent Music
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