Dear Family of Love and Praying Pilgrims,
Today is Wednesday in Easter Week, I don't know about you but it seems only yesterday that we were in Holy Week and readying ourselves for Maundy Thursday. Today in our lectionary we meet Jesus and two distraught followers on the road to Emmaus who didn't recognize Jesus until he broke the bread and prayed with them. To be effective in this season of prayer we must be like the bread that Jesus broke open. We must be broken open too! Our hearts and heart homes must be broken in order to receive prayers and to pray. Praying isn't supposed to be this rote routine that is devoid of emotion, no, not at all. Praying requires us to meet Jesus with our open hearts, open spirits, and open minds. We must be open to a Loving God who shows us how to be one with each other and in the breaking of bread in the prayers.
Dear Ones it is time for us to be at prayer. Let us take bit of time to breathe and find our place at the center of our beings. Every day we should do this because having rattled minds and spirits do not make us effective prayer pilgrims. Today we will use this phrase: "Peace be still" and the "Be Stills" together.
Take a deep breath from your diaphragm (deep down in your lungs).
Fill your lungs slowly.
Exhale slowly and pause.
Peace Be Still
Peace Be
Peace
Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know.
Be Still.
Be.
Repeat until you find yourselves at peace and ready to be at prayer.
Let us be broken open to meet Christ and each other in a time of CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love and Mercy) as we pray. Let us be broken open like the bread that Jesus did when he was known to his followers on the road to Emmaus. "Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the bread"
It is that time of the day when we light our candles and be at prayer. Tonight we pray as one Family of God united in purpose to pray for the people of Burundi, Pakistan, The Middle East, Central America, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo. We pray for peace in these regions and an end to sectarian violence and terror. We remember and pray for all victims of human trafficking throughout the world and that all of our family members who have been enslaved and kidnapped may be safely returned to their families. We pray that we as a family may lovingly respond to the needs of the poor, immigrants, refugees, and those who are being denied universal human rights of dignity, equality, freedom, and justice. We pray for and end to discrimination and hate of all kinds and that our voices may rise in response for our family members who have lost courage to use there. We pray that we may stand up and be one with God and each other with our heart homes open with love, and remembering this " The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!"
Here is our meditation music for tonight: Paul Winter Consort -Icarus
Collect for Wednesday in Easter Week (BCP)
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us spend time reading, praying and meditating upon the lessons appointed for this day:
Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him
Psalm 105:1-8
1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
and speak of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *
continually seek his face.
continually seek his face.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
O children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God; *
his judgments prevail in all the world.
his judgments prevail in all the world.
8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, *
the promise he made for a thousand generations.
the promise he made for a thousand generations.
Luke 24:13-35
Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Risen Lord we pray these prayers. Open our hearts, minds, and spirits to pray, love, and spread your light to a fragile and broken world. Break us open to you, each other, and ourselves like the bread at the Emmaus feast.
Risen Lord Be with us this night and give us courage to feel and know your presence in our lives.
Risen Lord we pray for all of our family members who do not know you yet.
Risen Lord may we always love the least of these our family members.
Risen' Lord we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Risen Lord come into the hearts of those who are seeking do divide and not unite. We pray for peace and that hearts may be turned towards God.
Risen Lord guide all those who are transitioning into the Thin Places may they have a pain free and joyful journey into eternal joy.
Risen Lord help us to comfort all who mourn and give them love and compassion.
Risen Lord we pray for all those in ministry that they are getting rest after Holy Week and Easter Day.
Risen Lord we pray for an end to violence, abuse, and terror.
Risen Lord may we always meet you in the fellowship of breaking bread.
Risen Lord we pray for________________
Risen Lord we give thanks for________________
Risen Lord we pray these our prayers and thanksgivings in your Name. Amen.
The Emmaus Song- Kenneth Marsh
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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you. May you have a wonderful and restful sleep.
I give God thanks for you this night and always! Tomorrow is Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday. Let's get back to our Gratitude and Joy Jar tomorrow.
With Lots of Love and Blessings!
Sara
Looks wonderful. May I share on my group, Celebrate What Christians Have in Common? Also, I am kinda a dunce about computer thingies, but I can't see a place to subscribe to this blog. I would love to get it in my email if that is possible. gloriamarie@gmail.com Thanks
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