Good Evening Dear Family of God, Love, and Hope!
We are one week away from Good Friday! That means on this calendar, we are beginning to relive Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Last week we saw Jesus in Bethany raising his dear friend Lazarus from the dead but more importantly we got to see Jesus weeping at the grave of Lazarus. This was a good thing because we got to see Jesus show emotion. Now we know God shows emotion and when God created us he put in our SOE (Standard Operating Equipment) emotions. When was the last time you cried, got angry, felt joy, and loved deeply? Let us pause and ponder this for a space. I want everyone to know that it is okay to show and feel emotions. Especially during these trying times in which we are living. Give yourselves permission. Give yourselves permission to rest and have spiritual respite. That is what I'm suggesting we do this weekend. Have spiritual respite and go deeper and get ready for the most amazing journey next week as we follow Jesus through Jerusalem, the Upper Room, The Cross and you know all the rest.Tonight we are going to have a time of respite and prayer.
Here is tonight's holy time of prayer and meditation :
Let us begin by placing our fears, anxieties, mads, concerns and what ever else is troubling us into the Worry/Sabbath Box. Write them down and pray them away using "The Be Stills"
Write_______________________
Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know.
Be Still.
Be.
Release the sticky note into the Worry/Sabbath Jar or box. Do this until you are finished.
Let us light our candles and be at prayer! Let us lay down our worries, burdens, fears, and anxieties as we come to you O God in prayer.
Let us pray that we may use our prayers as a linking chain of prayers to help end violence, discrimination terror bullying and abuse. Let us be linked together as one and help build bridges of unity, compassion, acceptance, love and mercy. God help us to use our voices and prayers as a form of peaceful protest and seek from you and each other the ways to create and make peace in this fragile and broken world. Give us courage to use our prayers as a means to prepare and consider how to affect change and that we may be lead by your not so gentle tap on the shoulder and Go and serve and strive for a just and human society. We pray this night for the least of these who are made to feel invisible and unloved. We pray that we may serve all of our family members in need wherever they may be. We pray that we may ready ourselves for our weekend retreat of Self-Care and Sabbath Rest so that we may listen to you God at the heart and soul level. The light of Christ in Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you! Amen.
Psalm 134
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; *
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Holy God, holy and mighty, who has called us together into one communion and fellowship: Open our eyes, we pray, as you opened the eyes of your servant Tikhon, that we may see the faithfulness of others as we strive to be steadfast in the faith delivered to us, that the world may see and know you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be glory and praise to the ages of ages. Amen.
Click on our featured Saint of the Day's name to the right for more information: Tikhon
Blessed Lord we pray for all of our family members who have been in our thoughts and hearts throughout the day. Bring them to mind so that we may pray for them.
Blessed Lord make each day we live one of thoughtfulness and thanksgiving
Let us never forget that You made us and never to take that for granted.
Blessed Lord unburden our minds so that we may enjoy the joy and light you bring into our lives.
Help us to let go and let you be our guardian and guide.
Blessed Lord may we all ways be mindful of the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the lost, the unemployed and all those who may be forgotten but known only to you.
Help us to remember they are our family members too and may we come to their aid.
Blessed Lord we pray for all those discerning vocations and calls to the ordained ministry and new life paths.
Blessed Lord we pray for all those who minister in all your congregations and religious communities in what ever faith is practiced.
Blessed Lord be with those who travel in bad weather. We pray for an end to all the bad weather back East and for rain to heal the drought parched lands of the West.
Blessed Lord take all our fears and turn them into faithfulness rooted in you and your love for us.Help us to have faith when we are unsure and unsteady on our feet.
Blessed Lord help us to heal your broken world with our words, deeds, and by loving all of your creation with a spirit of grace, stewardship, and equity.
Blessed Lord help us to speak truth to power daily and lead others to see you in our family members where there is hate and indifference. Help us to ring the bells, and speak truth to power all in the Key of Jesus.
Watch over all the places in the world that are in trouble and war torn. Help us always to pray for peace and be peacemakers. Grant wisdom to our leaders that they may help aid those nations who are in trouble peaceful and non-warlike solutions for the good of all your people.
Blessed Lord be with all your children who feel alienated, discriminated against, hated, and bullied. Help us to say no to these actions and bring them into your circle of abiding love and light.
Blessed Lord we pray for those who have asked us to carry prayers for in our hearts while we walk with you, remembering especially ________________________
Blessed Lord. we give thanks for all our blessings especially___________________________
Blessed Lord we celebrate _______________________As we celebrate everyday our life with you O God.
Blessed Lord we remember our family members who now reside with you in those amazing Thin Places where there is no pain but eternal joy and light and we remember them now_______________
Blessed Lord wrap your arms around those who grieve losses of any kind. Help us to be responsive to our family members needs.
Gracious God we lay these our prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances in your arms and know that you are taking them and answering them according to your will and in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Let us listen to John Rutter : I will sing with the Spirit and take time once again to bring to mind all those things that we have to be thankful for and these prayers have brought to our minds and our hearts.
Jeremiah 31:10–14
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.”
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.
14 A Song of Penitence Kyrie Pantokrator
Prayer of Manasseh, 1-2, 4, 6-7, 11-15
Especially suitable in Lent, and on other penitential occasions
O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, *
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of all their righteous offspring:
You made the heavens and the earth, *
with all their vast array.
All things quake with fear at your presence; *
they tremble because of your power.
But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord, you are full of compassion, *
long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.
You hold back your hand; *
you do not punish as we deserve.
In your great goodness, Lord,
you have promised forgiveness to sinners, *
that they may repent of their sin and be saved.
And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, *
and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, *
and I know my wickedness only too well.
Therefore I make this prayer to you: *
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.
Do not let me perish in my sin, *
nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, *
and in me you will show forth your goodness.
Unworthy as I am, you will save me,
in accordance with your great mercy, *
and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.
For all the powers of heaven sing your praises
and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 72:1–8
Deus, judicium
1 Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King's Son;
2 That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice;
3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.
7 In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
8 He shall rule from sea to sea, *
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
2 Peter 1:3–11
Jesus Christ's divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
18 A Song to the Lamb Dignus es
Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10, 13
Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for evermore.
Matthew 5:3–16
Jesus said,
“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.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
15 The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
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 Song of Praise Benedictus es, Domine
Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34
Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.
Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.
Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
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.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you and give thanks to God for you always! Now rest and pray! Rest gentle in God's arms this night and let your bodies, minds, and spirits rest in Jesus.
With love and hope!
Sara
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