Good Evening Dear Family,
Do you know what time it is? No, I don't mean chronological time, I mean it is time to act and call people out on their behavior and speech. These past few days, I have come to the conclusion that we are being led into a feeding frenzy where hate, division, fear, etc. have sucked us in from what we are truly called to do and be. God doesn't like it when we slander our brothers and sisters in words and deeds. God doesn't like it when we become hateful towards each other. God keeps reminding me that my strongest voice comes in times such as these and that doesn't mean a quiet voice like Georgette on "Mary Tyler Moore". My voice, your voices, our voices, are needed to speak out in tones where we need to promote Love, Mercy, Justice, Peace, and Speaking Truth to Power. Yes, I know it is hard but if we don't we will find ourselves being drawn into being a doormat and a yes-person. God wants us to have courage and grace when we do this. It won't be easy but the time is now. So, my brothers and sisters where does that lead us? That leads us to use our inside voices in prayer, our outside voices as we write and speak out and "Let Justice roll down! as in the Prophet Amos.
Let us remember that our courage comes from God not only loudly but quietly. We need to seek God in the stillness and the "Be Stills'
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
God,light our hearts with love and justice this night as we pray for an end to hatred and division. God light our pathways to a world where we seek to know and make peace a reality not only in our hearts but in our bodies, minds, spirits, and world. We pray for that we may speak truth to power and let our leaders know that we expect them to be truthful in speech and in action. We pray that we may truly know the history of our land, our world, and yes even how we as people of faith got from point A to point B. We pray that as we light our candles and pray this night we may listen to what you are calling us to do and to be and that we may step out in faith with courage. We pray for all those who are in need of our prayers remembering_______________. We light special candles for those who are in any ICU. We pray and give thanks this day for_____________________. We light our candles and show the world that we are one shining the Light of Christ to each other in Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy and that we may have courage to call out, speak up, stand up, and lift up ourselves from fear to trust, hate to love, injustice to justice, and that we may continue to Walk With God On The Daily Journey we call life. Amen.
Let us stand together as we pray for a more loving and just world.
God, we pray that we may stand together as one family seeking for a solution to all the violence, hatred, division, and indifference.
Hear the cries of your children O God
God we pray that we may speak truth to power when it is necessary to call people out when our brothers and sisters are slandered, verbally abused, and made fun of by senseless and harmful bullying.
Hear the cries of your children O God.
God we pray that we may serve the least of these our family members and see your face in their eyes daily may we seek to come to know you in them.
Hear the cries of your children O God.
God we pray that we may console one another when we are in grief or struggle.
Hear the cries of your children O God.
God we pray that we may stand up with courage when we are needed to say something and not sit idly by when we are made to feel like doormats.
Hear the cries of your children O God.
God we pray for_____________________________
Hear the cries of your children O God.
God we pray that we may help you make this fragile and broken world a more loving and just place in which to live, move, and just be.
Hear the cries of your children O God.
We pray and remember this day Mary the Mother of our Lord Jesus with this prayer :
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
God accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
If you are interested in the lessons for St. Mary's Feast day here they are.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
God accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
If you are interested in the lessons for St. Mary's Feast day here they are.
ISAIAH 61:10-11
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
GALATIANS 4:4-7
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our* hearts, crying, ‘Abba!* Father!’ 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.*
LUKE 1:46-55
46 And Mary* said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Good Night Dear Ones, I wish you all a blessed night ! I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always. Remember we all matter and that tomorrow is Take Care Tuesday!
With peace, love, prayers, and blessings,
Sara
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