Dear Family of Love!
Happy Take Care Tuesday ! This is day 2 of Stop the Hate Week and begin to love and listen! How do we start a process of being reconciled and healed of our divisions? What does that look like to us given what has been happening in our country and the world at large ? I'm beginning to think that it is very similar to what we talked about during Bridge Week in Building Bridges and Tearing down Walls. I think we must start by coming together and acknowledging that we definitely need help and that healing of wounds, anger, suspicions, and fears will not happen overnight. We must begin at a place of general common ground. What are the basics we have in common? Instead of making my same old, same old list what is on your list? I can name 4 and remember this isn't a complete list.
We eat, drink, sleep, and belong to a family. Let's keep the list going!
Tonight I invite you to sit quietly and listen to the sounds your house and surroundings are making!
Write down the sounds you hear. Then when you are finished take time to "Be Still" Tonight our mindfulness phrase is :
"Peace be Still"
Let's let our minds unwind.
This is what we all need to do to prepare our hearts to find common ground. Silence, peace, and a mind free from jumbly junk. Now return to the list and begin to read and listen to the words on the list with listening ears and hearts.
Listen to these two pieces from Broadway shows they have a lot to say!
Carefully Taught -South Pacific
Children Will Listen - Into the Woods
Let us take time again to sit and ponder the words in both these songs. Let us prepare for prayer and our prayer vigils.
Let's light our candles and be at prayer for peace in the world and that we may begin by listening to on another without judgement and hate. Let us seek to find common ground and begin step by step building bridges of hope, love, mercy, understanding, and the willingness to see God in each other.
Help us to continue to use our listening ears and hearts to find our way towards full inclusion without fear. Let us learn to stop hating ourselves so that we may not hate others We pray for God's. Help us to love God, our family members, and ourselves fully and unconditionally! We pray for an end to hate, violence, terror, abuse, bigotry and anything that separates us from the Family of God.
Let us continue our prayer time with these classic prayers!
Our classic prayer selections:
The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3–12
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10
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.
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.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Jerusalem My Happy Home ( Land of Rest)
Jerusalem- Parry Mix
God of love we pray this night that we may be united in prayer with you and each other.
We pray this night that peace may prevail upon earth and that swords may be beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and that wars may cease and love and charity may take its place.
We pray for all the refugees that are in need of homes and understanding. Enfold them all with your loving presence and that they may be patient as they await resettlement.
We pray for all aid agencies who are helping our family members who do not have places to call home especially the homeless, hungry and ill clad in our midst.
We pray for all of our family members who know only hate and disunity that they may have their hearts tenderized and come to know that love is truly answer to being one with each other on life's journey.
We pray for all who are ill especially _________________may they find solace as they await your healing power O, God.
We pray and give thanks for this day _______________________
We lift up our tender hearts, hands, and feet to you O God that you may use us and respond to your call with a humble but resounding "Yes".
We pray this night for all the least of these that they may be protected and that no one will ever be seen as invisible.
We pray that we may be the voice of the voiceless, speak truth to power, and let justice roll down like an overflowing stream and that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O. God.
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.
Stay here for awhile and pray for all our family members who have unspoken prayers and remember to pray for all the families of those who seek to do evil that they may find solace and help in time of need. Remember that everyone is not excluded from our prayers even our enemies and those who wish us harm.
Or these-
God of many names heal this fragile and broken world that you created.
Forgive all of our deeds that led us to destroy and harm your world O God.
God of many names, take away all bitterness and division that have led us away from you.
Lead us to become the loving and united family you created us to be.
God of many names, we pray for the healing of all our family members who are ill remembering especially___________
Heal our bodies, minds, and spirits also.
God of many names, we pray for all who are dying and who have died. May they have a peaceful transition into the Thin Places.
Help us O God to see death as only the shedding of our mortal bodies into souls of everlasting life.
God of many names, be with all of our faith leaders and communities as they prepare for worship and devotion to you.
May we also prepare our souls and hearts to worship you wherever we may be this Sabbath weekend.
God of many names, we pray for the least of these who are our family members and, who are refugees, victims of human trafficking, abuse, terror, bullying, ---phobias, religious persecution, violence of any kind, and all those who are separated from their family members, nations and cultures by war or economic hardship.
May we see you in them at all times and in all places
God of many names, may we sew seeds of hope, joy, love, and peace and may we be truly united as your family of love.
Let us love one another and be untied as one!
God of many names, we offer our additional prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances to you on behalf ourselves and others especially________________________
God of many names, we offer these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus, our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother, and friend. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you and Give God thanks for you this day and always.
Peace, love, prayers, and God's Blessings be always yours,
Sara
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