Good Evening and Welcome !
We welcome all of you to our first online retreat weekend. Tonight w aren't going to go too deep as to wear each other out.
I would like everyone to begin tonight's retreat by welcoming God and each other in our hearts warmly with love. The best way to do this is by lighting a virtual candle.
During this retreat candles will represent light, warmth, unity,love, and knowledge.
I invite us all to pray the words of St. Francis or any prayer that is meaningful to you this night.
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.
Now quietly meditate upon Psalm 121
121 Levavi oculos
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The Lord himself watches over you; *
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and
your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.
Let us enter into "The Be Stills"
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Let us pause in silence and just be.
Close your eyes and listen.
Psalm 23- Bobby McFerrin
While you listen let us enter into the prayers I had given you earlier.
Dear ones it is time for our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil.
Tonight let us light our candles and spend time at the feet of God in the quiet of our rooms and our hearts. Let us pray that we can let go of all the things that are troubling our hearts and minds tonight.
Tonight let us light our candles and spend time at the feet of God in the quiet of our rooms and our hearts. Let us pray that we can let go of all the things that are troubling our hearts and minds tonight.
O God of our journey and daily life pilgrimage guide our footsteps where we should be going each and every day. I will follow you on the route with out fear and anxiety.
O God help us to know when we need to use our wings to take to sky, and fly with your Spirit into the future where you are calling us. May we hear and feel the Holy Spirit give us the nudge to take route and take flight.
O God we pray for those who have been rooted too much in their thoughts, deeds, and beliefs that have led them to bully,hate, and discriminate.
O God we pray that faith may take root in each of us so that we may take route and proclaim Your Good News with love, compassion, and example and with a joyful spirit.
O God may we take root this evening and rest and honor our bodies, minds, and spirits to be able to take route tomorrow and serve you in your kingdom.
Prayers, Thanksgivings, Remembrances, and Celebrations may be added here.
All this we ask in the God who has taken root in us, and set us on the route that leads to life eternal and the springs of eternal life. Amen.
Our homework for tomorrow and tonight is this : Prayerfully discern what your personal retreat theme will be. Give yourself time to place all your worries, anxieties, fears, mads and anything else that is troubling you into our Worry/Sabbath Box and let things go so that we may be free to be in God's presence.
Here is tomorrow's schedule:
Saturday if you are on FB we will have times of prayer with FB live and questions and answers. If you aren't on FB please email me your questions at walkwithmeonourjourney@gmail.com.
Throughout the day we will enter into silence and prayer. If your faith is one that prays multiple times a day please continue with this pattern
Here is our period of closing prayer:
Let us now be at prayer.
Dear God in the silence we hear your voice calling us to love, serve,and give thanks.
In the silence O God,we pray that peace will prevail upon this your fragile and broken world.
In the silence O God, help us to realize that wherever we plant our feet, take a breath, and live that is holy ground for a holy people.
In the silence we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirits.
In the silence, help us to be still and know that You are God.
In the silence, we pray for the needs of the least of these that we may come into their lives without fear but quietly, gently, and with compassion.
In the silence O God, may we listen for you walking in your Cathedral of Life at the time of the evening breeze.
In the silence O God, give us loving and joyful hearts that are enlivened and on fire for you!
In the silence O God, we give thanks for all of your goodness and mercy and offer our thanks______
In the silence O God we pray for the troubled areas of the world and for all refugees, captives, political prisoners, victims of human trafficking, and violence in its many forms.
In the silence O God, we pray for all who are mourning the losses of loved ones or any kind of loss. We pray that they may gradually accept silence as cleansing and healing and not something to run away from.
Dear God in the silence we hear your voice calling us to love, serve,and give thanks.
In the silence O God,we pray that peace will prevail upon this your fragile and broken world.
In the silence O God, help us to realize that wherever we plant our feet, take a breath, and live that is holy ground for a holy people.
In the silence we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirits.
In the silence, help us to be still and know that You are God.
In the silence, we pray for the needs of the least of these that we may come into their lives without fear but quietly, gently, and with compassion.
In the silence O God, may we listen for you walking in your Cathedral of Life at the time of the evening breeze.
In the silence O God, give us loving and joyful hearts that are enlivened and on fire for you!
In the silence O God, we give thanks for all of your goodness and mercy and offer our thanks______
In the silence O God we pray for the troubled areas of the world and for all refugees, captives, political prisoners, victims of human trafficking, and violence in its many forms.
In the silence O God, we pray for all who are mourning the losses of loved ones or any kind of loss. We pray that they may gradually accept silence as cleansing and healing and not something to run away from.
In the silence O God, help us to rely and put our trust in your love, grace, mercy, and inclusion.
In the silence O God, we add our additional prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others especially____________
In the silence O God, we lift up these our prayers to your Only Son Jesus the Christ our redeemer, healer,reconciler, brother, master, and friend, Amen.
In the silence O God, we add our additional prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others especially____________
In the silence O God, we lift up these our prayers to your Only Son Jesus the Christ our redeemer, healer,reconciler, brother, master, and friend, Amen.
Good Night dear family! Enjoy your time of silence. I hope that you will feel God's presence and my love for you across the miles. I love you and give God thanks for you always!
Love, prayers, and blessings!
Sara
Love, prayers, and blessings!
Sara
Incredibly beautiful. Thank you.
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