Lessons learned from the 10 lepers. Prayers for the healing of our family and nation

Good Evening Dear Family of God!

Yesterday I attended a funeral and a town hall meeting on the candidates for our next Bishop Coadjutor in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Lots to take in and I was emotionally spent so no blog. I also needed to rest and rejuvenate.  Today we had a baptism at church and I was the lector  The Gospel was on the lepers and the Samaritan Leper,who was healed and came back to Jesus to thank him for being healed. 

Let us recall the good news in that passage. 

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Let us spend time meditating on the Gospel and inwardly and seek out the lessons that are being conveyed here. Samaritans seem to be featured quite a bit in a good way. We need to look to their behavior and adopt it as ours. 

Tonight we pray for the healing and cleansing of our nation so that we may be a nation fit to be beacons of hope to a fragile and broken world. Let us not just be one who returns and gives thanks and gratitude for being healed. Let us return to the feet of Jesus and give thanks not just for healing but for the love, the forgiveness, and making us family this day and always. 

Opening at the Candle Lighting 

1 (From the BOS- BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES)

You, O Lord, are my lamp; *

my God, you make my darkness bright.

You, O Lord, are my lamp;

my God, you make my darkness bright.

You have been my helper:

My God, you make my darkness bright.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

You, O Lord, are my lamp;

my God, you make my darkness bright.

V. Let my prayer be set forth, O Lord:

R. As incense in your sight.

God as we prepare our lamps and fill them with oil may we remember that this oil tonight is a holy oil, a holy balm, made to light the way out of darkness and into healing. We light our candles as a symbol of unity, peace, and as your loving family. We pray for healing and comfort this day for the people of Syria and especially Aleppo and Palm Springs. We pray for the healing of your Cathedral of Life and that we may help you become good conservationists of the abundant gifts you have given us. We pray for the healing of all nations and people that unity and a spirit of familyhood may grow. We pray for the healing of our bodies minds and spirits that we may be made whole so that we may serve you and all our family members nearby and in distant places. We pray for the healing of relationships where violent words and actions have occurred  We pray this night that wherever there is division there may be healing and grace. We pray for the healing where injustice, inequality, and human rights are being challenged and in our land and in the other lands where people aren't being treated fairly because of who they are and how God has made them to be. We pray in the words of St. Francis and St. Dominic as we go into silence and continue this vigil.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
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.

May God the Father, who made us, bless us. May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst. 
May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us. 

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world. 

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all. 
May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God's grace to the eternal Kingdom. 

- Prayer of St. Dominic


We continue our prayer vigil with this piece of music from  John Michael Talbot

Healer of My Soul- John Michael Talbot


God we pray for our tender hearts,bodies, minds, and spirits that are in need of healing this night.
Heal us loving and merciful God and make us whole .

God we pray for the healing of all our family members who are victims of bullying, terror, and abuse.
Heal them loving and merciful God and make them whole.

God we pray for the healing of our land and nation, that our environment may be restored from climate change and misuse.
Heal this your planet O loving and merciful God and make it whole as you created to be.

God we pray for the healing of division that we may be made one and that we may in the words of the the Prophet Micah 'Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with you O God.
Heal us from all hatred, bigotry, and discrimination and make us wholly one O God of love and mercy.

God we pray for healing of our jangled nerves as we confront life's struggles daily.
Heal our anxieties and may we always remember to "Not be anxious and to Consider the Lilies!"

God we pray for the healing of these precious ones we name before you now____________
Heal them God and make them whole.

God we pray for the healing of those who are grieving the loss of many dearly loved ones. We remember them now and speak their names tenderly and in their honor____________
Heal the grieving and give them peace and comfort loving and merciful God.

God we pray for the healing of all places where there has been violence and terror recently and today we remember Palm Springs.

We pray for healing of all peoples and nations who are divided and at war. 

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God and seek the cleansing and healing of our nation from all of its division, hatred, and enmity.
 Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to help us promote healthy bodies, minds, and spirits not only in our lives but as as good citizens.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God  to seek peace in everything we do.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God, to love and care for the least of these.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O  God, to strive for justice, peace, and equality throughout all nations of the world and in our own country.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, that we may learn to love and care for the refugee, victim of violence, and human trafficking.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God that we may care for all who  are in mourning and those who have died.

Open our eyes, ears hearts and souls O God to help us fight injustice and oppression.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts,and souls O God to come to you when we are in need of help and comfort.

Open our eyes, ears,hearts and souls O God to Pray for all those who are ill and in need of your healing. remembering_________________________

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls that we may lift up our prayers and thanksgivings to you O Lord . Amen.

 Let us Pray for elections at the national, state, and local level 

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Ones ! Let us return to Jesus's feet every day and give thanks ! I love you! I give thanks to God for you this day and always.

If you are seeking prayers for 30 days prior to the election here is a series from Forward Movement:

A Season of Prayer for an Election

With love and heartfelt blessings,

Sara