Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Life's Journey together.
Today is supposed to be Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday but it doesn't seem to have all the bubbly joy that title suggests. We awaken with news about two back to back shootings that involve 2 African Americans and law enforcement officers. Regardless of what your personal feelings are we find ourselves mourning again loss upon loss. I don't know about you but we keep seeing all this poignant and gut wrenching mourning from their family members time and time again and it is painful. We keep adding faces to our boards of those who have passed. They join the Orlando 49 and everyone else who doesn't have a face in our current cycle of violence. Our blog title this evening is "As long as you speak my name I shall live forever" - African Proverb
The reason is this, we all carry a unique identifier and that is our name. Our name and very beings carry power when we speak them aloud. Hey you!,doesn't carry power! When we call out the names of the Orlando 49 we give them back their presence and power and memory to us all. I am involved with a group called Ashes To Ashes 4 Ever that is remembering the over 3,000 documented lynchings in America from 1877-1950. I have chosen to speak the name of Moses York. As we speak the names we remember a life lost. Tonight I speak the names of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Tonight we speak the the truth to power that yes racism is still alive and we need to be at the business of healing and recognize what is truly happening and not putting a white shroud or hood over the current events.
Tonight before we forget please join with me in this prayer:
O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servants Alton and Philando, and deal graciously with their families and communities in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ( From the Episcopal Church on FB)
I speak the names today of Alton, Philando, Moses, Trayvon, Tamir, Sandra, Freddie, Amadou, and the many others who have lost their lives. We also in fairness and mercy remember the many law enforcement officers who have lost their lives as well. We remember the 4 law enforcement officers who lost their lives in Dallas this evening.
God, our hearts continue to be heavy and in mourning ! We light our candles and in the words of the African Proverb - "As long as you speak my name I shall live forever" We pray for all the innocent lives that have been taken in acts of violence towards women, children, disabled, LGBTQ, African American, Sikh, Native Americans, Hispanic, Indigenous peoples, and all those who are brothers and sisters who live and practice their faith under the umbrella of the 3 Abrahamic Faiths( Christians, Jews, and Muslims). We speak their names so that they may live forever in our hearts. We light our candles and remember. We light our candles to pray and give a visual representation that we must continue to hold vigil and hold space for those who mourn. We speak the names again for the Orlando 49 and add Alton, Philando, Moses, Trayvon, Tamir, Sandra, Freddie and the many others we remember and speak aloud___________________
We light a candle for each of the Orlando 49 now in remembrance;
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
Let Light Perpetual Shine upon all of them as we speak their names. 
We dedicate our additional prayers for the Tender and precious ones who have lost their lives and who are still living.
We offer our humble and tender hearts to you O, God this night.
We pray and give thanks that you made forgiveness and love possible in this your fragile world.
We come to you with humility asking for forgiveness of all wrongs we have done this day. Help us to atone and be at one with you again.
We pray for all of our tender souled family members who are in need of our prayers and kind deeds.
We pray for peace in our hearts, minds, spirits, and in this world now more thank ever that we may become truly the Family and Children of God.
We pray this night for all who are ill and who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirit.
We pray this night that we remember that wherever we plant our feet, look to the skies, touch with our hands, is holy. May we remember this holiness always.
We pray that we may always remember that every day is holy and that we must be aligned with you not just on Sundays.
We pray for all who are refugees,prisoners, captives, asylum seekers, and those who have been victimized by violence, terror, injustice, and abuse. We pray especially for all women and children who have been victims of human trafficking.
We pray that our hearts may be filled with love, joy, hope, and peace and hearts that are equipped for loving and forgiving all of our family members.
We pray for_______________________
We give thanks for__________________
We lift these our prayers heavenward and heart wards to you O God of Many names. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you and give God thanks for you always! Have a blessed night and feel and know that you are loved, matter, and are precious treasures.
With love, prayers, and blessings,
Sara
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