A time to be............

Good Evening Dear Family of Love!


Happy #WisdomWednesday! Wednesdays are always a time for wisdom because they come in the middle of the week. Lessons learned in the days prior and to be put into practice for the remainder of the week and beyond. Today this scripture passage came to mind, let us meditate upon it with our 3 versions and the questions for you to answer and write down to ponder for the remainder of the week.

Read aloud first.
What  Word or Phrase stands out?
Ecclesiastes 3 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Everything Has Its Time

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Read aloud first.
What is the scripture passage saying to you?

Ecclesiastes 3The Message (MSG)

There’s a Right Time for Everything

3 There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Read Aloud First:
What is the scripture calling you to do?

Ecclesiastes 3 The Voice (VOICE)

3 Teacher: For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven:

2     A time to be born, a time to die;

        a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;

3     A time to kill, a time to heal;

        a time to tear down, a time to build up;

4     A time to cry, a time to laugh;

        a time to mourn, a time to dance;

5     A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;

        a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;

6     A time to search, a time to give up as lost;

        a time to keep, a time to throw out;

7     A time to tear apart, a time to bind together;

        a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;

8     A time to love, a time to hate;

        a time to go to war, a time to make peace.

Things to ponder in the quietness of our souls.

What time is it for you?

 What time is it for us? 

I believe it is a time to be :

Peacemakers

Light bearers

Kind Kindred

Hope bringers

Torch Bearers of Justice

Merciful.

Loving.

Voices that Speak Truth to Power.

Involved in helping God to set things right when things have gone awry.

Caregivers

Non-violent protesters when necessary.

Social Justice Practitioners.

Now let us make vigil, pray, and remember St. Bridget of Kildare (Bride)

Welcome to our Nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. We will lift up our prayers for those who haven't any food, clothing, or shelter. We pray this night for stable and sound government where candidates will listen to the real concerns of this nation. We continue to pray for an end to hatred, bigotry, violence and any thing else that separates us one from another.

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

 Psalm 138 Confitebor tibi

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *

before the gods I will sing your praise.

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple

and praise your Name, *

because of your love and faithfulness;

3 For you have glorified your Name *

and your word above all things.

4 When I called, you answered me; *

you increased my strength within me.

5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *

when they have heard the words of your mouth.

6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *

that great is the glory of the Lord.

7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *

he perceives the haughty from afar.

8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *

you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;

your right hand shall save me.

9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *

O Lord, your love endures for ever;

do not abandon the works of your hands.

The Song of Hannah

1 Samuel 2:1-8

My heart exults in you, O God; *

my triumph song is lifted in you.

My mouth derides my enemies, *

for I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like you, *

nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.

Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *

Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.

The bows of the mighty are broken, *

but the weak are clothed in strength.

Those once full now labor for bread, *

those who hungered now are well fed.

The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *

while the mother of many is forlorn.

God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *

gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.

God raises the poor from the dust; *

and lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with the rulers *

and inherit a place of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are God’s *

on which the whole earth is founded.

Judges 4:4-9

4 At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. 5She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgement. 6She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, “Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. 7I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.” ’ 8Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.’ 9And she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

A Song of Christ’s Humility

Philippians 2:6-11

Though in the form of God, *

Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,

But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *

and was born in human likeness.

Being found in human form, he humbled himself *

and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him *

and given him the name above every name,

That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *

to the glory of God the Father

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:* not many of you were wise by human standards,* not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one* might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in* the Lord.’

A Song of God’s Love

1 John 4:7-11

Beloved, let us love one another, *

for love is of God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, *

for God is Love.

In this the love of God was revealed among us, *

that God sent his only Son into the world,

so that we might live through Jesus Christ.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *

and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.

Beloved, since God loved us so much, *

we ought also to love one another.

For if we love one another, God abides in us, *

and God’s love will be perfected in us.

Matthew 6:25-33

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

PRAYERS (contemporary language):
O God, by whose grace your servant Brigid, kindled with the flame of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.

God help we pray that we may be continually kind to all of our family members when they are in need.

God give us kind hearts and heart homes to help us make peace in this broken world. May we practice the art of kindness to those with whom we disagree and are in division with.

God give us kind hearts to  comfort all who mourn and that we may forever have their backs.

God give us kind and supporting hearts to those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.

God give us kind and loving hands to love and serve you and all our family members each and every day.

God we pray for all who are dying and who have died that they may have a circle of kindness wrapped around them as they make their journey to You in the Thin Places.

God we pray for all who still face severe weather systems. God keep them safe from harm.

God we pray for all who travel that they may make arrive safely to their destination.

God give all the leaders of the nations and any governmental body kind hearts to know who they truly serve and why they do it. May they remember that if one is denied equality everyone is denied equality.

God let us now with kind hearts offer our own prayers and thanksgivings_____________

God of all kindness we lift our prayers to your Only Son Jesus who modeled kindness through His deeds, actions, and parables. Amen.

Or these

Prayers for our family-

Dear God we pray for our family where ever they may be tonight! Keep watch, protect, and defend them from all danger.

We pray for our elders and those who have come before us to pave the way for the life we enjoy. May we continue to learn from them.

We pray for all our young family members who are growing up in troubling and uncertain times. Wrap your blanket around them with your love.

We pray for the family of God that we may be united in love, compassion, and acceptance.

We pray for our family members who are sick, chronically ill and in pain.

We pray that all of our family members may be safe when they travel nearby and far away.

Help us to love, honor, respect and comfort all of our family members and yes even our enemies and those who hate us. We pray for an end to these harmful and divisive acts that make us estranged from one another.

We pray for the concerns of  those who are family members remembering____________________

We Give thanks for our family members and especially__________________________

We Celebrate with our family members on the occasion (s) of_______________and especially for ______________

We Remember our family members who are no longer with us especially______________________ Lord, help us to remember them with love and continue to comfort us as we continue to mourn their loss.

Lord God, we offer these prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances to you as your family whom you called us into being and in your image to shine your light and spread the Good News of Love and Salvation to our family members all over the world. Amen.

In Closing we pray:

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you *

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm *

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones *

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things *

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *

for you have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears, *

to Abraham and his children for ever

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

― Teresa of Ávila

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

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.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. 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.

The Wisdom of God

the Love of God

and the Grace of God

strengthen you

to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,

in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.

(source: Celtic)

Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always

protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow

the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.

(source: from Saint Clare)

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Learn More about the saint of the day by clicking the name of Brigid

Resources

Enriching our Worship for Anthem at Candle lighting, Canticles, Blessings,

Book of Common Prayer for Prayers and Canticles.

Lectionary page

Satucket Lectionary for Biography

Walk With Me On Our Journey: Original Prayers and vigils.

Goodreads for : St. Teresa of Avila Prayer
The format for the Bible Study : A Disciple's Prayer Book

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Good Night One and all ! I love you and may you have a blessed and peaceful rest. I give thanks to God for you this night and always.

Love and prayers,

Sara