Dear Family of Love !
Happy day of Sabbath Rest! Tonight is our wind down of Bridge Week in written form but not as the Family of Love! We have three remaining sets of keywords and concepts that are in the title. These must be linked together as part of our bridge building and tearing down walls. Tonight I had the opportunity to attend Community Speaks For Free Speech at the Pacific Conservatory Theater or as it is better known The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) in the Severson Theater. The Severson Theater is a box theater and you are very close to the acting company. This production was created by the Community Speaks Ensemble. The Ensemble went out into the community and did interviews about free speech verbatim. The play was in verbatim style and nothing from the interviews was left out of the the spoken word and even in the interviews set to music. It was an action packed hour both thought provoking at both the intellectual and spiritual level. Seeing this production ties in nicely with Bridge Week. Building bridges requires us to learn from each other at the heart, mind, and soul level. We mustn't take the opportunity of learning from each other for granted in all situations. Learning from each other requires not just hearing but holy listening without seeking to be ready with an answer. God will help us with the answer and sometimes that may be found in silence and sometime may be found in speaking truth to power with words that are constructive not destructive. As we learn from each other that makes it easier to walk united as the Children of God into a peaceful world based on listening and understanding. God expects us to care for the least of these who are our family members not by throwing money at them but by sitting down and getting to know them by listening, hearing their stories, and letting them talk even if the subject matter they are telling us rubs us the wrong way. When we do this we walk with them together as one family and as such God calls us and demands from us the letting go of our agendas for the good of all.
Remember last evening's blog? Take out the virtual bridge walk out again and this time we will imagine ourselves walking together across the bridge. Does that remind you of a certain famous picture? If you guessed the March to Selma crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge you are correct.
Tonight let us walk together across the bridges that we have built or are in the process of building this week by learning from each other. Let us each take a hand of someone who we do not know or rubs us the wrong way. Let us speak truth to power not in a voice that angers, harms or divides, but a voice that seeks to be compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful and with a tone that God calls us to use. Let us walk united at a pace that makes us one with each other. This is not a race but a time of togetherness and an awareness of our dependence upon each other. This a time where we all carry our Worry/Sabbath boxes that are now filled with items of our own agendas both hidden and overt to the place where we will meet each other before we walk across the holy bridge path, and burn them in the fire pit and join in the following prayer:
Prayer of 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.
After our walk across the bridge we will meet together for a holy meal together where we will have a time of togetherness "in the breaking of bread and in the prayers". We will seek to learn from each other's differences by listening and celebrating our new life together as the one beautiful family of God/Love. Let us now come together and engage in the " Adapted 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.
Happy Sabbath Day Family of Love! It is now time to begin our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Let us light our candles and be at prayer. God we pray that we may build bridges by learning from each other, walking united in love and peace, and by letting go of our agendas that seek only to divide and harm. We pray that we may build bridges where we may at the beginning meet each other halfway and begin a holy dialogue seeking peace and understanding. We pray that we may build bridges based on unconditional love and acceptance and common ground. We pray that we may build bridges by seeing God in and through each other by acknowledging that God made us in God's image and likeness. We pray that we may build bridges by engaging in holy listening with our listening ears and hearts. We pray that we may build bridges together and tear down the walls that seek only to divide, harm, and cause us to be afraid and hate one another without cause. We pray that we may build bridges of Compassion, Acceptance, Love and Mercy beginning this night and always. Amen.
Let us repeat the prayer of St. Francis as we go deeper into this time of prayer and meditation. This prayer is suitable for building bridges and tearing down walls.
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.
Let us listen to the same prayer as sung by John Michael Talbot Lord Make Me an Instrument- John Michael Talbot
Lord Jesus, as we approach the up coming week may we pray for peace in the world.
Jesus, give us the courage to become instruments of your peace and be "Lights of the World" and "The Salt of the Earth"
Jesus, grant us the wisdom to find out for ourselves the truth behind all the stories we read and see in social media and in the newscasts.
Jesus, we pray for the forgotten people in all the war torn areas of the world that our eyes may be opened and that we may have loving hearts to welcome them.
Jesus, give us we pray the energy to do the tasks no matter how large or how small you give us in service to you and in your Kingdom.
Jesus, we remember those who are on our hearts this night especially______________________
Jesus, protect all our family members around the world this night and 'Hide them under the shadow of your wings"
Jesus, keep reminding us that we are to be your hands, your feet, your voice, in the world. Give us by your example to never treat anyone as invisible.
Jesus, help us to be living and breathing Bibles by our love, compassion, mercy, words, deeds and remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi "Preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words!"
Jesus, we remember all of our vulnerable family members who are lonely, lost, refugees, homeless, hungry, and all the least of these. Help us to remember that by caring and serving them we are serving you.
Jesus, heal all those who are mentally ill, PTSD, Memory problems, and all those who struggle with daily living. We remember all of our family members who are disabled.
Jesus, help us to know that we are one with you and God and that we may never be afraid to come to you and knock at the door. Help us always to be listening and seeking you in those moments of stillness and calm.
Jesus we pray our gratitude list and offer our thanks to you!
Come Lord Jesus and be among us this night and always. Amen.
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Good night dear ones! I love you and my God Bless you this night and always. Remember tomorrow is You Matter Monday!
Love, joy, blessings,prayers, with thanksgiving to God for you!
Sara
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