Love Challenge Week! Let's talk about being family!

Dear Family of Love,

Happy day of Sabbath Rest. I hope everyone had the opportunity to rest, relax, and renew. I'm hoping that you were able connect and reconnect with your family members today. It is never easy on Sunday but remember a few weeks ago I suggested that we enact our own blue laws and stay out of stores and devote our lives to family? Let's continue to try to do so. This isn't the time to choose retail therapy over family. Our family members are our human connections to God. They are more important than the Magic Of Macy's and the outlet malls. So let us make it a habit on the final remaining weeks of Lent to add to our Love Challenge, the importance of being family on Sundays. When Easter arrives we will all be ready for an easier time of being family and nothing will have to be forced. Let us try. If you don't have a family nearby, consider choosing your own or becoming part of a faith community. No one has to be alone.

Tonight let us meditate on what it means to be family and go deeper and discover what it means to be part of  the amazing Family of God/Love.


Let us begin by praying these prayers from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

For the Human Family
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

 For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 For the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 For Families
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary
in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in
which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee,
every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride
of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance,
patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those
who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the
hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the
children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among
us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to
another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Now let us engage in the "Be Stills"

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that God is Love.

Be still and know that You are Love.

Be sill and know that I Am Love.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Slowly inhale.

Hold.

Slowly exhale

Pause. Count to 10.

Repeat 4 times!

Let us now turn our attention from the Academy awards towards our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Let us pray for our family members who are struggling. We pray for an end to discrimination and that we may work to be united in love and in common ground. We pray that we may seek to use our voices when we see bigotry, racism, obias, isms, and hatred and anything that divides us one from another and you O, God. 

We pray for restful sleep and quiet minds and that we will awaken with loving hearts to serve and care for the least of these and our family members with whom we are learning to love and whom we perceive are different from us. 

Here are tonight's prayers: 

Here is meditation  and prayer music    Durufle Ubi Caritas Mix 

We pray this night for all who are grieving losses of  family and friends. We pray especially for ___________

We pray this night for those who are adjusting to new normals without support of family and friends.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are in the midst of severe weather that they may be protected and kept safe from harm.

We pray for the least of these that we may remember that we are the least of these and some times we may be homeless, hungry, and ill-clad. May we lovingly respond to each of our needs.

We pray that we may know and feel God's infinite love surrounding us and each other. 

We pray for all of our family members who have yet to know and feel God's love and the love that surrounds them.

We pray that we may love fearlessly without fear and may receive love in the same way.

We pray that we may lovingly help conserve your Cathedral of Life.

We pray for peace in this world and an end to violence meted upon your children and the relics of civilization.

We pray for all of our littlest brothers and sisters who are ill and are in the many Children's hospitals that are helping them heal.

We pray for all of our family members who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. May they be healed and given comfort.

We pray for all faith communities who are preparing for their week ahead in service and pastoral care. We pray for all who are preparing for the final weeks of Lent, Holy Week and Easter. We pray for all faith communities who care for their faith families and reach out to their wider communities. May we all be loving one to another and seek to find common ground.

We pray these our prayers and thanksgivings and lift them up unto you Jesus! Amen.

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Good night dear brothers and sisters of mine! I love you! May you find rest this night and remember to keep the faith fearlessly without fretting. Don't forget to place your worries, anxieties, fears and whatever else troubles you into the Worry/Sabbath Jar prior to You Matter Monday!  I give God thanks for you this night and always.

With infinite and abiding love, peace, and blessings,

Sara