Good Evening Dear Family of Love,
Happy You Matter Monday ! I hope everyone had a good day no, I hope everyone had a God day!
We all are facing the holiday season yet again and this year it won't be easy for us because of the past year and the election cycle we just went through. Being together in 3-D was easier for me when I went to our early Thanksgiving time this year. This new tradition is a keeper and it de-stresses us like having dessert. Being together on social media is an altogether different thing because we really don't know each other and if we do comments and replies may send us into a rage because of the posts, memes, fake news, etc. Lots of things that have trigger devices. I'm sure we all have friends who may like to become attack dogs and bullies because of something we post. After we post we sometimes can go for days and then find ourselves bullied and attacked for no reason just because we posted something on our page. If these triggers keep on happening and you feel uncomfortable I'm going to suggest that you un-friend or block them for your peace of mind, body, and spirit. Sometimes un-friending is the Christian thing to do to bring health to relationships outside of social media and to ourselves. Remember we are called to Love God,Neighbor, and Self. Loving self, means self care and and it is very important to do. I wrote a piece on FB today having to do with this topic. Please see below.
Yesterday I decided prayerfully and with a heavy heart to un-friend 3 people on Facebook not as actual friends. Sometimes it is necessary for all of us to take a break for our spiritual and mental health reasons from friendships. We as people of faith for the past year and including the past two weeks we have been finding ourselves bullied, trigger mechanisms both ways for a variety of reasons. Tough love is often necessary for us as part of self-care and as a way to remove from us the daily barrage of attacks on things we post. Being a Christian requires us to Love God, Our Neighbors, ourselves, and our enemies.We often forget that loving ourselves may mean removing ourselves from toxic people and situations from our lives. Loving our self is important and also when we do this we also give situations and people time to cool off while we pray and care for them at a healthy distance. Social media is not always the most healthy place to be for people who may be the cause of triggers or the triggerer. I caution everyone one that if you are being bullied to remove yourself after you have given enough time to see if triggers and bullying continue. You don't have to take the abuse. Lots of love from me to you!
Tonight for our vigil I would like us to pray and light candles for our friends in social media. We need to pray for those who have become triggers and triggerers. Let us smudge and cleanse all of our walls, timelines, and desktops.
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, we enter into this silence as we pray for our friends and family in social media and wherever they may be.
God, we pray for friends and acquaintances who we have met through this digital age for their families, friends, and neighbors.
God we pray that we may use social media in the right way for the benefit of all and especially with prayerful thought and great care as we post.
God, we pray that when and if it becomes necessary to take the steps to un-friend or block we may do so prayerfully without haste and without guilt.
God, we pray that we may foster good communication and dialogue between each other even when we disagree.
God we pray that we may evaluate what we read, mark, learn and inwardly digest so that truth may be made know and make us free.
God we pray for innovative ways in which to use social media for the good of all.
God we pray for our Facebook and Twitter friends who are struggling especially__________May the find the comfort and healing they need.
God we lift ups these our prayers regarding social media to you O God. Amen.
Prayers for diversity!
God we give you thanks this day for the gift of diversity. Thank you for all that diversity brings into our lives.
God we pray for all of the rich cultures found throughout the world. We pray that we may see you in each and every face and reflect the love you give us back into their eyes.
God we pray for peace in the world that wars and hatred may cease and that we may know only how to be compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful.
God we pray that we my be loving conservationists and help preserve the diverse landscape or your Cathedral of Life.
God we pray for all our loved ones who are facing yet another night in the cold weather. We pray for warm shelters, nourishing meals, and warm clothing to be made available.
God we pray for all who are dying and transitioning from this life into the next.
God we pray for all of us who are mourning the losses of loved ones during holiday time.
God we pray for all of the rich cultures found throughout the world. We pray that we may see you in each and every face and reflect the love you give us back into their eyes.
God we pray for peace in the world that wars and hatred may cease and that we may know only how to be compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful.
God we pray that we my be loving conservationists and help preserve the diverse landscape or your Cathedral of Life.
God we pray for all our loved ones who are facing yet another night in the cold weather. We pray for warm shelters, nourishing meals, and warm clothing to be made available.
God we pray for all who are dying and transitioning from this life into the next.
God we pray for all of us who are mourning the losses of loved ones during holiday time.
God we pray for refugees, victims of human trafficking, abuse, bullying, hatred, and the family members of terrorists who are mourning the loss of their children who have made a journey into the darker more harmful aspects of life.
God we pray for ___________________________________
God we give thanks for______________________________
God we lift up all our faith communities this time of year that we may come to learn, respect, and love them and that we may come to their aid when hatred is lodged against them. May we sow seeds of love, hope, and generosity of spirit.
God we lift up these our prayers and each other this night to your son Jesus for Love, healing, and refuge. Amen.
God we pray for ___________________________________
God we give thanks for______________________________
God we lift up all our faith communities this time of year that we may come to learn, respect, and love them and that we may come to their aid when hatred is lodged against them. May we sow seeds of love, hope, and generosity of spirit.
God we lift up these our prayers and each other this night to your son Jesus for Love, healing, and refuge. Amen.
Tonight's extra prayers from THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
Psalm 121 Levavi oculos
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; *
from whence cometh my help?
My help cometh even from the Lord, *
who hath made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, *
and he that keepeth the e will not sleep.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord himself is thy keeper; *
the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, *
neither the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; *
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.
For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth;
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
A vigil for right speech and words!
God we come to you this night to light our candles and use words and thoughts that heal and are loving in acts of prayer and comfort. We pray this night for our family members who have chosen to use words that hurt and bully. We pray that they may be led to right speech and turn away from hate words and bigotry and be transformed by words of love and light. We pray that we ourselves may be conscious of what we say, post, and write. We pray that we may be on our loving and best behavior towards our family members in social media and off. We pray that we may respect the dignity of all humankind and that we ma seek to know and love each other more fully and without fear. We pray that we may instill in our family members throughout the world by our words and actions a sense of CALM (compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy). We pray that our words may light up the world in loving speech, justice, for the benefit of family members who differ from us, and as beacons that will promote equality and equity for all. We light our candles tonight as a symbol of speaking truth to power and as a means to carry the light of Christ into the world' where there is darkness. Let us remember these words" The light of Christ in me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" Let us be lights to this fragile and broken world with our loving words, actions, and hearts. Amen.
Let us us this time tonight to be at prayer and pray for courage to be the Light, be a Voice, be a Peacemaker, Be a Child of God, Be the one who speaks up when someone won't.
Let us spend time in silence and prepare ourselves to be God's voice in a broken world.
God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.
God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.
God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.
God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.
God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.
God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be silent.
God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.
God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.
God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Live.
God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.
God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always!
God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.
We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. Amen.
++++++++++
Let us spend time in silence and prepare ourselves to be God's voice in a broken world.
God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.
God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.
God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.
God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.
God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.
God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be silent.
God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.
God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.
God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Live.
God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.
God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always!
God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.
We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. Amen.
++++++++++
Prayer to St. Isidore of Seville the Patron St. of the Internet! (Catholic prayers)
Almighty and eternal God who has created us in thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thy only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee that through the intercession of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor, during our jounreys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Father we ask you this, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Today's selections from the BCP.
For the Diversity of Races and Cultures
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you
for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
For the Diversity of Races and Cultures
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you
for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
Good Night Dear Ones. I love you! I give God thanks to God for you this night and always. Let our words and deeds match so that we may be God's light bearers to the world. Have a blessed and restful night. Rest gentle in God's arms.
With love and peace,
Sara
Here is a wonderful meme about how to be on the internet.
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