Living out our baptismal vows during delicate, violent, and trying times!

Good Evening Dear Family of Love!

Today is Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting! I don't think any of us are feeling very fearless. That's okay! For the past few days I have been thinking about how we must dig down deep and live out our baptismal vows now more than ever. It has struck me deeply how many of God's children have forgotten what it means truly to be Christian.  In the Episcopal church we have many opportunities to do this. We re-affirm our baptismal vows at baptisms, confirmations, the Easter Vigil, Easter, Pentecost, and at other times. This week I have been reminded of these promises and how they are interwoven into every fabric my being. These vows help me and us to grow into Christ and Christ into us. They are the compass that directs our speech, deeds, and how we maneuver around delicate, violent, and trying times For those of you who have never been to a baptism in The Episcopal Church, here is a sample of the baptismal vows we make and live into each day that we live, move, and just be.

The Baptismal Covenant ( From the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER)

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers ?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.

These powerful words guide us each day into right behavior and how we are to be with each other.
We must endeavor each day to love our neighbor and fight injustice and work towards universal equality and human rights. We must speak truth to power even if we lose friends and family members. Our faces must be set as in the words of the Prophet Isaiah 'Like flint" Our deeds must always be directed towards serving the least of these and hearing the cries of God's children wherever they may be. We must be the walking and living Bible to all sharing the Good News that Jesus keeps trying to tell us. We must listen to each other. We must stand up for all God's children ! We must be diligent n protecting every living being, the waters, the air that we breathe,  the skies, the sacred lands, and God's Cathedral of life. We mustn't shrink back into complacency and fear, We must remember the words in the following meme Justin Holcomb posted far and wide today on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter today. 

So my dear family of love what is your no, our response to the above? Please take time to meditate upon this with an open heart home tonight. No need to respond in comment or reply to it n the comments on Facebook. Our response is between  and God and God alone. Let us listen in the words of St. Benedict with 'The ears of the heart" in the silence. 


First let us engage in the "Be Stills"


Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know that I am 
Be Still and Know
Be Still
Be


Repeat the above for 3 times. 

Now let us sit and just be for a period of 10 minutes or time period of your choice in silence.  Close your eyes, sit, and just be. Don't forget to begin to unwind your mind and empty all the junk in them and place them in the recycle bin. 

Now it's time to go deeper and journey to the center of our inner being and spend a time of listening and conversation in with God and in God's presence. 

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, 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, 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 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.

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Prayers from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER and Lessons from the Lectionarypage.net. 
Let us hear the words of today's scripture readings as we close out tonight's prayer time. Let us light lamps to help us be illumined, enlightened, and empowered. 

Lord God of hosts, you clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For the Nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the
earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace:
Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the
strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in
accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen

For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served
but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give
themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom,
patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the
suffering, the friendless, and the needy- for the love of him
who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus
Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


For Social Justice
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 58:6–12

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.

Psalm 15

Domine, quis habitabit?

1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
who may abide upon your holy hill?

2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.

3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.

4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
but he honors those who fear the Lord.

5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
and does not take back his word.

6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

7 Whoever does these things *
shall never be overthrown.

Galatians 6:1–2

      My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The Gospel

Luke 18:18–30

A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”


Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”


Psalm 134 Ecce nunc

1 Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; *
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

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Good night dear family of Love! Have a blessed night. Don't forget we are on weekend retreat mode and please place all of your worries, anxieties, fears, mads and anything else in your Worry/Sabbath box,jar, or journal for the weekend. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always.

Blessings, love, and prayers and the gift of presence,

Sara