Let us pray and make vigil with psalms and prayers. Quiet our minds as we wait patiently on the Lord.

Good Evening Dear Family of God and Love!

Happy Take Care Tuesday! I hope everyone is well and happy! We had some more rain and that really made me happy. It was hard to see everyone who came to the window for shelf stable lunches today when it was rainy and cold. I guess it's time for new ponchos!

We are going straight into our vigil, readings and prayer time tonight because I believe we need to quiet the mind and tenderize the heart now more than ever.

Let us be at peace and light our candles and make vigil and pray!

Let us begin by meditating on  the words in Mendelssohn's O' Rest In the Lord from Elijah as we begin our prayer time together.

O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him,
And He shall give thee thy heart’s desires.
Oh, rest in the Lord,
Wait patiently for Him,
& He shall give thee thy heart’s desires;
& He shall give thee thy heart’s desires.
Commit thy way unto Him, and trust in Him,
Commit thy way unto Him, and trust in Him,
And fret not thyself because of evil doers.
O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him.
Wait patiently for Him.
Oh rest in the Lord,
wait patiently for Him.
& He shall give thee thy heart’s desires.
He shall give thee thy heart’s desires;
& He shall give thee thy heart’s desires.
Oh rest in the Lord.
Oh rest in the Lord.
& wait, wait, patiently for Him.

by Felix Mendelssohn (Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy) (1809-1847), 1846
from Psalm 37

Click on the link below and listen.

O Rest in the Lord- Elijah Mendelssohn

Taking a cue from the song 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.

Let us Light Our Candles and be at prayer. Tonight let us pray the Beatitudes and continue to pray for peace in the world and an end to hate in all its forms.

The Beatitudes - Matthew

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

Let us rest and pray.

Let us continue to pray and sow seeds of love, mercy, justice, compassion, peace, kindness, and acceptance of all our family members.

Tonight let us take time to rest, relax, refresh, and renew our bodies, minds, and spirits while we pray in place.

God of all creation and the creator of times of rest, relaxation, refreshment, and renewal help us to give ourselves permission to lay down our busy-ness and enjoy a time of Sabbath Rest  with you.

Help us to place all of our worries in the Sabbath/ Worry box and leave them there until tomorrow and rest gentle with you . May our hearts and minds be made calm and peaceful with the indwelling of You and Your Love.

Give us times to be focused on our health and wellness so that we can serve you better in Your Kingdom and Kindom. We pray for wellness of all of our family members who serve you as a caregiver and servant in your world.

We pray for all of those who are facing new challenges and changes in their lives. We pray for their comfort and consolation and may we step up to help when we are asked.

We pray for all those who have health challenges especially those who must combine being caregivers/patients. We pray that they may have the courage to ask for help and be able to rest, heal, and listen to their bodies, minds, and spirits.

God we pray for all those who are facing severe weather yet again. We pray also for much needed rain in our drought affected ares of our country.

We pray especially for those who were killed in any act of violence and terror today and for the comfort and solace of those who mourn their deaths. We pray for an end to violence and terror of any kind and that those who are driven to commit these acts may be given a change of heart and mind and learn that love, justice, respect, and treating everyone with dignity is the key to living in God's World and being a part of God's Family.

We pray for all of our Family Members and those who have requested prayers especially____________

We Give thanks for times of rest, relaxation,renewal, and refreshment and we Give thanks to You O God especially______________________

We celebrate this day for our family members who have birthdays, anniversaries, and especially for our daily celebration of living, loving, and times of laughter and joy.

We hold in remembrance those who are dying and those who have died and entered the thin places and those who mourn their loss and any loss.

All this we ask in Jesus' most Holy Name. Amen.

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 25:3–10

Ad te, Domine, levavi

3 Show me your ways, O Lord, *
and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right *
and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10 For your Name’s sake, O Lord, * 

forgive my sin, for it is great.

Song of the Three Young Men 2–4,11–20a

Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud:
“Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and worthy of praise;
and glorious is your name for ever!
For you are just in all you have done;
all your works are true and your ways right,
and all your judgements are true.
For your name’s sake do not give us up for ever,
and do not annul your covenant.
Do not withdraw your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham your beloved
and for the sake of your servant Isaac
and Israel your holy one,
to whom you promised
to multiply their descendants like the stars of heaven
and like the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any other nation,
and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
In our day we have no ruler, or prophet, or leader,
no burnt-offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted,
as though it were with burnt-offerings of rams and bulls,
or with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
such may our sacrifice be in your sight today,
and may we unreservedly follow you,
for no shame will come to those who trust in you.
And now with all our heart we follow you;
we fear you and seek your presence.
Do not put us to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your abundant mercy.
Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works.”

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.

Psalm 119:73–80

Yodh Manus tuae fecerunt me

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *
give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *
because I trust in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right *
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *
as you have promised to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; *
but I will meditate on your commandments.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, *
and also those who know your decrees.
80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *
that I may not be put to shame.

1 Kings 8:54–62
Now when Solomon finished offering all this prayer and this plea to the Lord, he arose from facing the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven; he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice: “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke through his servant Moses. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he not leave us or abandon us, but incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our ancestors. Let these words of mine, with which I pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires; so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Therefore devote yourselves completely to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”

Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord.

40 Days of Psalmody

Twenty-first Day: Morning Prayer

105

Part I Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *

make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *

and speak of all his marvelous works.

3 Glory in his holy Name; *

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *

continually seek his face.

5 Remember the marvels he has done, *

his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *

O children of Jacob his chosen.

7 He is the Lord our God; *

his judgments prevail in all the world.

8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, *

the promise he made for a thousand generations:

9 The covenant he made with Abraham, *

the oath that he swore to Isaac,

10 Which he established as a statute for Jacob, *

an everlasting covenant for Israel,

11 Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan *

to be your allotted inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number, *

of little account, and sojourners in the land,

13 Wandering from nation to nation *

and from one kingdom to another,

14 He let no one oppress them *

and rebuked kings for their sake,

15 Saying, “Do not touch my anointed *

and do my prophets no harm.”

16 Then he called for a famine in the land *

and destroyed the supply of bread.

17 He sent a man before them, *

Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 They bruised his feet in fetters; *

his neck they put in an iron collar.

19 Until his prediction came to pass, *

the word of the Lord tested him.

20 The king sent and released him; *

the ruler of the peoples set him free.

21 He set him as a master over his household,

as a ruler over all his possessions,

22 To instruct his princes according to his will

and to teach his elders wisdom.

Psalm 105: Part II Et intravit Israel

23 Israel came into Egypt, *

and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.

24 The Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; *

he made them stronger than their enemies;

25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, *

and dealt unjustly with his servants.

26 He sent Moses his servant, *

and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27 They worked his signs among them, *

and portents in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness, and it grew dark; *

but the Egyptians rebelled against his words.

29 He turned their waters into blood *

and caused their fish to die.

30 Their land was overrun by frogs, *

in the very chambers of their kings.

31 He spoke, and there came swarms of insects *

and gnats within all their borders.

32 He gave them hailstones instead of rain, *

and flames of fire throughout their land.

33 He blasted their vines and their fig trees *

and shattered every tree in their country.

34 He spoke, and the locust came, *

and young locusts without number,

35 Which ate up all the green plants in their land *

and devoured the fruit of their soil.

36 He struck down the firstborn of their land, *

the first fruits of all their strength.

37 He led out his people with silver and gold; *

in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad of their going, *

because they were afraid of them.

39 He spread out a cloud for a covering *

and a fire to give light in the night season.

40 They asked, and quails appeared, *

and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.

41 He opened the rock, and water flowed, *

so the river ran in the dry places.

42 For God remembered his holy word *

and Abraham his servant.

43 So he led forth his people with gladness, *

his chosen with shouts of joy.

44 He gave his people the lands of the nations, *

and they took the fruit of others’ toil,

45 That they might keep his statutes *

and observe his laws.

Hallelujah!

Twenty-first Day: Evening Prayer

106

Part I Confitemini Domino

1 Hallelujah!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *

for his mercy endures for ever.

2 Who can declare the mighty acts of the Lord *

or show forth all his praise?

3 Happy are those who act with justice *

and always do what is right!

4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor you have

for your people, *

and visit me with your saving help;

5 That I may see the prosperity of your elect

and be glad with the gladness of your people, *

that I may glory with your inheritance.

6 We have sinned as our forebears did; *

we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.

7 In Egypt they did not consider your marvelous works,

nor remember the abundance of your love; *

they defied the Most High at the Red Sea.

8 But he saved them for his Name’s sake, *

to make his power known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up, *

and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

10 He saved them from the hand of those who hated them *

and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 The waters covered their oppressors; *

not one of them was left.

12 Then they believed his words *

and sang him songs of praise.

13 But they soon forgot his deeds *

and did not wait for his counsel.

14 A craving seized them in the wilderness, *

and they put God to the test in the desert.

15 He gave them what they asked, *

but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses in the camp, *

and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.

17 The earth opened and swallowed Dathan *

and covered the company of Abiram.

18 Fire blazed up against their company, *

and flames devoured the wicked.

Psalm 106: Part II Et fecerunt vitulum

19 Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *

and worshiped a molten image;

20 And so they exchanged their Glory *

for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.

21 They forgot God their Savior, *

who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *

and fearful things at the Red Sea.

23 So he would have destroyed them,

had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, *

to turn away his wrath from consuming them.

24 They refused the pleasant land *

and would not believe his promise.

25 They grumbled in their tents *

and would not listen to the voice of the Lord.

26 So he lifted his hand against them, *

to overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 To cast out their seed among the nations, *

and to scatter them throughout the lands.

28 They joined themselves to Baal-Peor *

and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

29 They provoked him to anger with their actions, *

and a plague broke out among them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, *

and the plague came to an end.

31 This was reckoned to him as righteousness *

throughout all generations for ever.

32 Again they provoked his anger at the waters of Meribah, *

so that he punished Moses because of them;

33 For they so embittered his spirit *

that he spoke rash words with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples *

as the Lord had commanded them.

35 They intermingled with the heathen *

and learned their pagan ways,

36 So that they worshiped their idols, *

which became a snare to them.

37 They sacrificed their sons *

and their daughters to evil spirits.

38 They shed innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and daughters, *

which they offered to the idols of Canaan,

and the land was defiled with blood.

39 Thus they were polluted by their actions *

and went whoring in their evil deeds.

40 Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against

his people *

and he abhorred his inheritance.

41 He gave them over to the hand of the heathen, *

and those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them, *

and they were humbled under their hand.

43 Many a time did he deliver them,

but they rebelled through their own devices, *

and were brought down in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless, he saw their distress, *

when he heard their lamentation.

45 He remembered his covenant with them *

and relented in accordance with his great mercy.

46 He caused them to be pitied *

by those who held them captive.

47 Save us, O Lord our God,

and gather us from among the nations, *

that we may give thanks to your holy Name

and glory in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting and to everlasting; *

and let all the people say, “Amen!”

Hallelujah!

Let us close and pray again these intercessions.

God of love we pray this night that we may be united in prayer with you and each other.

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.

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. 

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 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 pray for all who are ill especially _________________may they find solace as they await your healing power O, God.

We pray and give thanks for this day _______________________

We lift up our tender hearts, hands, and feet to you O God that you may use us and respond to your call with a humble but resounding "Yes".

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 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.

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.

Stay here for awhile and pray for all our family members who have unspoken prayers and remember to pray for all the families of those who seek to do evil that they may find solace and help in time of need. Remember that everyone is not excluded from our prayers even our enemies and those who wish us harm. 

Listen to this and quiet your minds:
Taize Mix

Good Night Dear Family. Let us pray and make vigil with psalms and prayers throughout the week. Quiet our minds as we wait patiently on the Lord Let us give thanks to God for each other for God is good and God's mercy endures forever. I love you to the brimful and over flowing. 


Love, prayers, and blessings!

Sara