Dear Family of Love,
Happy You Matter Monday and also September 12th National Moral Day of Action. We have been called to pray and speak out for the voiceless ones and there is no time like the present. We must remember that everyone matters and that use our voices to speak out for the least of these who aren't able to speak for themselves. How do we do this ? With our voices aloud, in writing, in peaceful non-violent protest, and our prayers. Yes, it is time to get on our soapboxes again! I don't know what your social justice leanings are but we all need to take a stand for the least of these. As human beings we really aren't given any choice and most especially when we are people of faith. Again how many of you have signed a petition lately,? Written your Congressperson?, Written letter to the editor? , Participated in acts of non-violent protest?, Called on behalf of certain social justice issues of the day? and the many other ways to be a voice for the voiceless? Take time to do this, it is well worth your time. Remember everyone and every living thing on the planet needs you to speak for them when they can't.
Tonight for our meditation we will use this pattern to meditate and pray with: Tonight we will focus our prayers on being connected one to another and with God's Cathedral of life. Use your mouse and enter at the bottom. Take your time and breathe. Take your time to think about how you may speak up for the voiceless ones!
As you pray and take this night's journey with this labyrinth take your time to find your way into the center and on your way out. Don't forget to take time for holy pause in the center.
Here is tonight's meditation music: Enya-The Celts or Anuna Mix
Playing For Change Mix
God you have reminded us that we are precious, help us to convey this to all the voiceless ones.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you have reminded us that we are to be a forever and eternal family and as we are this we need to lovingly respond to the need of our family members.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you teach us many things day by day. May we remember that we are each other's keeper.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you love us unconditionally through and through. May we find the way to do this and model your example. May we have courage to speak the words I love you with warm hearts and light in our eyes.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God we pray for all who are ill and seeking healing. We pray and give thanks for healing that has already taken place. May we speak up for our family members who may not know how to advocate for themselves.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially_____________
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
Jesus we come to you with our voices united in prayer for peace and lift up these our petitions and prayers in your Name. Amen.
God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially_____________
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
Jesus we come to you with our voices united in prayer for peace and lift up these our petitions and prayers in your Name. Amen.
Here are our prayers for tonight's vigil as we light our candles and make vigil and be at prayer
A Prayer for the Anniversary of 9/11
By 09-11-2012 (used by permission)
Good and gracious God,
Today we come before you with heavy hearts
as we remember the events of 9/11.
For some of us today is a mixed bag of emotions.
We hurt deeply for those who lost their lives
and those who lost their loved ones.
We mourn the nearly 3,000 who died that day.
We are humbled by the bravery of the first responders.
We continue to grieve with our neighbors
in the loss of our national innocence —
our false sense of constant safety.
As we think of the way
New York and D.C. responded,
as churches, synagogues, and temples
opened their doors to ALL people,
as strangers carried each other out of buildings,
as those who had shared with those who had lost —
as we remember the bravery of the passengers and crew
of United Airlines Flight 93
our pride wells up in us.
Yet, we struggle today,
not wanting to get caught up in the macabre celebration,
this sometimes too-prideful remembrance of loss.
We still remember how the world responded,
supporting us and even declaring us one people.
“Today We Are ALL Americans,”
the headlines read.
And we remember the immediate call to war.
And the more than 100,000 deaths from it.
Today we come before you with heavy hearts
as we remember the events of 9/11.
For some of us today is a mixed bag of emotions.
We hurt deeply for those who lost their lives
and those who lost their loved ones.
We mourn the nearly 3,000 who died that day.
We are humbled by the bravery of the first responders.
We continue to grieve with our neighbors
in the loss of our national innocence —
our false sense of constant safety.
As we think of the way
New York and D.C. responded,
as churches, synagogues, and temples
opened their doors to ALL people,
as strangers carried each other out of buildings,
as those who had shared with those who had lost —
as we remember the bravery of the passengers and crew
of United Airlines Flight 93
our pride wells up in us.
Yet, we struggle today,
not wanting to get caught up in the macabre celebration,
this sometimes too-prideful remembrance of loss.
We still remember how the world responded,
supporting us and even declaring us one people.
“Today We Are ALL Americans,”
the headlines read.
And we remember the immediate call to war.
And the more than 100,000 deaths from it.
God of all people,
teach us to be patriotic, but humbly so.
Teach us to see the frailty, beauty, and value of life
in light of this tragedy
rather than using it to elevate
trivial difference to the heights of
divisive reasons for hatred.
teach us to be patriotic, but humbly so.
Teach us to see the frailty, beauty, and value of life
in light of this tragedy
rather than using it to elevate
trivial difference to the heights of
divisive reasons for hatred.
Remind us of the response of the American people
and not the response of the government
and its war machine.
Remind us of
the way the true heart of this nation's people was revealed
in open doors, open arms, and open hearts.
May we never forget that on that day
we did not focus on nationality, wealth, education, sex, or sexuality.
We focused on need.
On humanity.
On love.
Call us back to that place in our hearts.
Instill in us the deepest sense of call
to be that people once again.
and not the response of the government
and its war machine.
Remind us of
the way the true heart of this nation's people was revealed
in open doors, open arms, and open hearts.
May we never forget that on that day
we did not focus on nationality, wealth, education, sex, or sexuality.
We focused on need.
On humanity.
On love.
Call us back to that place in our hearts.
Instill in us the deepest sense of call
to be that people once again.
We lift up to you all those who, even today,
[14] years later, suffer from the loss.
From N.Y.C. to Iraq, the tragedy
has deeply and profoundly affected millions.
May we continue to heal
and help each other
just as we did
that
day.
Amen.
[14] years later, suffer from the loss.
From N.Y.C. to Iraq, the tragedy
has deeply and profoundly affected millions.
May we continue to heal
and help each other
just as we did
that
day.
Amen.
September
12th National Moral Day of Action
Leader:
We have heard the prophet's call to repair the breach and we know our
Constitution's goal of a more perfect union.
People: We reach back to our
sacred texts that affirm life, love, and justice. “This is what the Lord says:
Do what is just and right. Rescue from
the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the
fatherless, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood.” (Jeremiah 22:3)
Leader:
We affirm the prophets and proclaim, “Doom to you who legislate evil, who make
laws that make misery for the poor, that rob my destitute people of dignity,
exploiting defenseless widows, taking advantage of homeless children.” (Isaiah 10:1-2)
People: We hear the cries of
the people from the New Testament, “All the workers you’ve exploited and
cheated cry out for judgment. The groans
of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of God.” (James 5:4)
Leader:
We uphold dignity and respect for all from the Qu’ran, “The believers, both men
and women, are responsible for one another: all enjoin the doing of what is
right, and forbid the doing of what is wrong” (Qu’ran 9:71)
People: And we will not rest
in our quest for freedom until it comes as is affirmed in the Bhagavad Gita,
“For the protection of the virtuous, for the extirpation of the evil-doers, and
for establishing Dharma, righteousness, on a firm footing, I am born from age
to age.” (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4: 7-8)
Leader:
We believe this to be true: All people have inherent rights, and no one can
take them away.
People: We have the right to
life, to liberty and to the pursuit of happiness.
Leader:
We believe that the power of our governments derives from us, the people
People: For the purpose of
providing for the general welfare and protecting our human rights.
Leader:
We believe in the values of democracy we were taught, so we cannot accept our
democracy’s feeble state.
People: We cannot accept voter
suppression and intimidation that target people of color and the poor.
Leader:
We cannot accept demagoguery and fear-mongering that demonize and divide.
People: we cannot accept that
45 million are poor in the richest country in history, or that 1 in 5 children
are food insecure.
Leader:
We cannot accept wages that don’t provide for a decent life, or the suppression
of workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.
People: We cannot accept
segregation and inequality in our public schools, or the attempts to privatize
and profit-ize them.
Leader:
We cannot accept that 29 million Americans don’t have health insurance,
including more than 4 million denied Medicaid expansion by their state.
People: We cannot accept
inaction in the face of climate change and its disproportionate impact on impoverished
communities.
Leader:
We cannot accept that 1 in 3 Black men born today can expect to spend time in
prison, nor that our country holds one quarter of the world’s prisoners but
only 1/20 its population.
People: We cannot accept
endless war, which spends lives and resources only to destroy lives and
resources.
Leader: We cannot accept attacks on our neighbors:
immigrants, religious minorities, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual,
trans and queer folks, the disabled, or the poor.
People: We cannot accept the way things are because
we have been given a moral vision of how things ought to be.
Leader:
We are here to summon the better angels of our nature and press together toward
higher ground.
All:
Forward together, not one step back!
++++++
Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! You matter! You are a gift from God! Remember your soul and your heart home shine brightly with love every day!
With love and my heart home filled with warmth for each of you my dear family,
Sara
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