Monday, April 17, 2017

Easter Monday 2017: Good News from The Empty Tomb and Beyond: Where is Jesus today and what are people saying?




Good Evening Family of God!

Happy Easter Monday! I hope everyone is continuing to have a blessed Easter. This week we will travel with Jesus as he meets the 11 in the secure and undisclosed location, the road to Emmaus, and everywhere in between. Get ready to see Jesus shape shift, reappear, and disappear and fry fish at the seashore! So let us return to the lessons and make prayers and vigil as we see Jesus and the many more people we will meet along the way.



Tonight I would like us try to do this breathing exercise  along with the "Be Stills"  Click on the link below and follow the instructions.

De-Stress Monday 

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


Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Tonight let us pray the Beatitudes and Prayer of St.Francis. Before we do this let us pray for peace in the world and an end to violence and terror. Let us remember the people throughout the world who in the last week have been victimized by terror all over the world.  We pray for an end to gun violence and for sensible laws to protect God's children. Let us remember that if we lay down all our weaponry of hate and that includes our voices we will be on the way to safety and learning to love our neighbors who are our family members too. 


The  Beatitudes 
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

The Prayer of 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



Image result for candles for vigils


O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.


Psalm 16:8-11

Conserva me, Domine

8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
or

Psalm 118:19-24

Confitemini Domino

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The Song of Moses Cantemus Domino
Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18
Especially suitable for use in Easter Season
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my Savior.
This is my God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
Yahweh is his Name.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
the finest of those who bear armor have been
drowned in the Red Sea.
The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
who is like you, glorious in holiness,
awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.
With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
with your might you brought them in safety to
your holy dwelling.
You will bring them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,
The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
for ever and 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.

Acts 2:14,22b-32

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the multitude, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know-- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

`I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying ,

`He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

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.


Matthew 28:9-15

Jesus met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.


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.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Here is tonight's meditation music.John Rutter Mix 

Jesus banish our doubts so that we may believe and know that you not only rose from the dead but entered into our forgiven hearts with love. May our hearts and heart homes be ever widened to include the ability to love more and more fully.

Jesus take away our fears that bind us so that we may be ever drawn more closely to you.

Jesus, give us the strength and courage to speak for the voiceless and invisible.

Jesus, we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing. We pray especially for_____

Jesus, we pray for those who are facing many struggles this week that they may find peace, joy, hope,love, and a spirit of calm. 

Jesus, we pray for our family members who are in need of prayer  especially for ____________

Jesus, keep our hearts open to new possibilities and new lives and new loves.

Jesus, banish all those who have hardness of heart and who do not know how to love family members who differ from themselves.

Jesus help us when we need to be focused and not distracted this week. Give us energy and banish fatigue. 

Jesus we pray for all those who have chronic illnesses of body, mind, and spirit.

Jesus we lift up these our prayers to you in your most holy name. Amen.



A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit

Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21

Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors *
a holy people and a blameless race.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, *
withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.
To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, *
and led them by a marvelous way;
She was their shelter by day *
and a blaze of stars by night.
She brought them across the Red Sea, *
she led them through mighty waters;
But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *
and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.
And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, *
and praised with one voice your protecting hand;
For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *

and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people

God our creator help us to find the necessary endurance in our lives to live,love,  move, and just be.

God we pray for all of your children who are ill that they may find the courage to stay the course and be patient patients.  May they find strength in their weakness.

God we pray for all of our family members who are in need of courage to leave abusive and dangerous situations.

God we pray that our faith in you may never falter and that our faith may blossom from that tiny mustard seed.

God we pray that we may become resilient in all aspects of our lives. 

God we pray for our family members who live in war torn ,violence prone and areas affected by natural disasters  in the world that there may be peace and healing.

God we pray for all who mourn that they may have the endurance to grieve, Courage to take each day one at a time, faith to know that things will get better, and resiliency to bounce back slowly from sadness and adversity.

God we pray for all of our family members who are involved in athletic events that they may have the physical and mental endurance to participate.

God we pray this night for the least of these, give them endurance to survive, courage to find services, faith in you, and resiliency with you to find  a new life path and safe living conditions.

God we pray that there may be an end to hate, fear, doubt , and injustice. 

God we thank you for giving us endurance, courage, faith, and resiliency. May we all learn how to have each of these in our own lives.

God we lift up our own prayers and thanksgivings in the name of Jesus your Son who had endurance, courage, faith, and resiliency. Amen. 


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.



God of Love and Abundance ,we pray this night for our family members who have little and who have more than enough that we may share from our abundance lovingly with great mercy and kindness.

God of Love and Abundance, we pray this night for our family members who have not learned  your message of  Love and inclusion.

God of Love and Abundance ,we pray this night for our family members who are feeling lost and alone without any support. May we rise up and go to them and show and give them love abundantly to the brim and overflowing.

God of Love and Abundance, we pray for peace in this your fragile world that love and peace may encircle those places where violence, war, hate, and division pervade the lives of our family members who find themselves defenseless.

God of Love and Abundance, we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing and grace. May we with you lovingly help them with love and from our heart-home's abundance. 

God of Love and Abundance, we pray for all of our family members who mourn and those who have entered into the Thin Places. 

God of Love and Abundance, we add our prayers and thanksgivings with love from the depths of our heart homes and pray on behalf of all those who have asked us for our prayers remembering _____________


God of Love and Abundance, we lift these our prayers in the Name of Your Son Jesus. Amen. 



Eternal Spirit, 
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, 
Source of all that is and that shall be, 
Father and Mother of us all, 
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! 
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world! 
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! 
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom 
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us. 
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. 
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. 
From trials too great to endure, spare us. 
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, 

now and 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.

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


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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Good Night Dear Ones! It's time to rest on the other side of the lake or at your nearest oasis! I love you! I give thanks to God for you always!
Stay tuned for the next installment of  Good News from the Empty Tomb and Beyond! 

Love and blessings!

Sara














Resources.
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship
New Zealand Prayer Book

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