Good Evening Dear Family of Love!
Happy Day of Sabbath Rest! Well here we are at the mid point of our vigil and retreat cycle. Today around the country and in our own neighborhoods there have been marches, vigils, and meetings in solidarity with our family members who are on the margins and currently victims, of misogyny, xenophobia, racism, LGBTQ, Islamaphobia, Violence towards indigenous peoples, anti-Semitism ,etc. When you look at the list that practically makes up our entire country, not counting the least of these and we should include them too. Today we also remember the Transgender community who mourns the losses of dear ones who have been killed for being who they are. Tonight's vigil stays true to our usual format but with time set aside for silence and reflection.
Let us light our candles and make vigil!
God of many names we light our candles in love and solidarity with one another. Keep us strong so that we may speak truth to power and be the voice for the voiceless.
God of love we pray this night that we may be united in prayer with you and each other.
Pause and reflect upon what the word Solidarity means. Google the definition and look at the etymology.
God of many names we gather to pray and be peacemakers. Give us courage to take the steps necessary to help you in making peace prevail upon earth.
We pray this night that peace may prevail upon earth and that swords may be beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and that wars may cease and love and charity may take its place.
Let us pause and remember the words of the Prophet Isaiah:
2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
3 Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
God of Many Names we remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in Standing Rock as we pray.
We pray for the Water Protectors at Standing Rock.
For the musical chants click on the bold links.
Song for the Sacred Elements
Water Song
Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe
Native American Prayer
For the musical chants click on the bold links.
Song for the Sacred Elements
Water Song
Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe
Native American Prayer
Words That Speak
The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of
forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape,
for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man
for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild
sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged....
Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an
intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a
Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity,
and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.
You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle,
and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles,
and everything tries to be round..... The Sky is round, and I have
heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars.
The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in
circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours....
Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always
come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle
from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power
moves.
-Black Elk (Oglala) 1863-1950
A Smudging Prayer
Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.
God of Many Names we come to you seeking an end to injustice, cruelty, and human rights and dignity.
We pray for all of our family members who know only hate and disunity that they may have their hearts tenderized and come to know that love is truly answer to being one with each other on life's journey.
We pause and pray for the courage to evaluate where we fall short and begin to make reparations and repent of the wrongs we have done.
God of Many Names we pray for the least of these who are experiencing severe weather this evening. May we rise up to help them.
We pray for all aid agencies who are helping our family members who do not have places to call home especially the homeless, hungry and ill clad in our midst.
We pause and reflect upon how we can be of help and service to all of our brothers and sisters in need.
God of many Names we pray for the victims of violence and oppression.
We pray this night for all the least of these that they may be protected and that no one will ever be seen as invisible.
We pause and reflect in silence.
God of many names we pray for the LGBTQ community and remember Transgender family members who have lost their lives by violent means.
"IF YOU SPEAK MY NAME, I WILL LIVE FOREVER." African Proverb
We pray that we may learn to accept all of our brothers and sisters with compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy as the beautiful and authentically made children of God made in God's image and likeness.
Pause and reflect upon what it is like to be made in the image and likeness of God.
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.
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.
God of many names help us to learn about other faith communities and seek to love one another without fear and mistrust.
We pray and give thanks for all our diverse ethnic and faith communities.
Pause and reflect upon and plan to find out about interfaith organizations in your community.
God of many names watch over all of the refugees and those that care for them.
We pray for all the refugees that are in need of homes and understanding. Enfold them all with your loving presence and that they may be patient as they await resettlement.
God of many names give us courage in the days and weeks ahead to speak lovingly with strong voices and prophetic witness when situations call for them.
We pray that we may be the voice of the voiceless, speak truth to power, and let justice roll down like an overflowing stream and that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O. God.
Or these from a year ago
Dear God in the silence and your light we hear your voice calling us to love, serve,and give thanks.
In the silence and your light 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 and your light O God, we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirits.
In the silence and your light O God, help us to be still and know that You are God.
In the silence and your light O God, , 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 and your light O God, listen for you walking in your Cathedral of Life at the time of the evening breeze.
In the silence and your light O God, give us loving and joyful hearts that are enlivened and on fire for you!
In the silence and your light O God, we give thanks for all of your goodness and mercy and offer our thanks______
In the silence and your light 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 and your light 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 and your light O God, help us to rely and put our trust in your love, grace, mercy, and inclusion.
In the silence and your light ,O God, help us at this time of year to tune out all the unnecessary hype and consumerism this holiday season brings. May we celebrate these holidays well and give us courage to put the true meanings of these holy and special days back into practice.
In the silence and your light O God, we add our additional prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others especially____________
In the silence and your light O God, we lift up these our prayers to your Only Son Jesus the Christ our redeemer, healer,reconciler, brother, master, and friend, Amen.
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In the silence and your light 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 and your light O God, we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirits.
In the silence and your light O God, help us to be still and know that You are God.
In the silence and your light O God, , 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 and your light O God, listen for you walking in your Cathedral of Life at the time of the evening breeze.
In the silence and your light O God, give us loving and joyful hearts that are enlivened and on fire for you!
In the silence and your light O God, we give thanks for all of your goodness and mercy and offer our thanks______
In the silence and your light 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 and your light 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 and your light O God, help us to rely and put our trust in your love, grace, mercy, and inclusion.
In the silence and your light ,O God, help us at this time of year to tune out all the unnecessary hype and consumerism this holiday season brings. May we celebrate these holidays well and give us courage to put the true meanings of these holy and special days back into practice.
In the silence and your light O God, we add our additional prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others especially____________
In the silence and your light O God, we lift up these our prayers to your Only Son Jesus the Christ our redeemer, healer,reconciler, brother, master, and friend, Amen.
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Good Night Dear Ones. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always!
With love and blessings!
Sara
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