How to be kind and gracious in a social justice world.

Good Evening Dear Family of God and Love!

Happy Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting! I haven't any worries here at the moment but then again you just never know when that will change do you? Last evening I promised to give you a how to on being kind and gracious in a social justice world. Remember as family members we are called to be kind and gracious and yes CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful). Remember that being a family member means being inclusive not exclusive regardless of what you believe, look like, political views, and the whole nine yards! God keeps teaching us to love without fear and exclusion. We are not let off the hook by any means! When we are standing up for justice, equality, the rights of all beings (human and animal) we must be kind and courageous, merciful and not violent in tone or deed. The Prophet Micah says it plainly "What does the Lord require? To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" The best prayer besides the Prayer of St. Francis is on of the prayers by St. Teresa of Avila and it really hits the nail on the head: 


“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

Tonight we are going to spend time in prayer using classic prayers and making vigil as we usually do. Don't forget that we continue our weekend retreat cycles and spend times in silence and being intentional about going off the grid with our electronic devices. Let us begin by cleansing all the worries, mads, sads, anger, anxieties, fears and what ever else is going on by placing them in our Worry/Sabbath Jar or Box. For those of you who are new weekends are a time here at Walk With Me On Our Journey where we go on retreat, practice self-care and Sabbath rest, and take a Sabbath against Worry, etc. 


Let us light our candles and pray!

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.

God of  mercy and peace we pray and light our candles this night for all of our family members who have traveled down the road into fear, hatred, bullying, bigotry, and violence. We pray that we may fight not to be led into a new chronic illness "The Fear of the Other" Help us to follow in your footsteps and grace filled mercy and learn about and from our family members who differ from us.  God we ask for strength to be able to talk about our faith when we are challenged. Give us the toolkit that will lead us into CALM(Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) Cast away from all of our family members the addicting habits of being afraid, hate-filled, bigoted, and all negative thoughts and actions that cause us to be divided. This night let us in the words of the prophet Micah " He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? and from the Prophet Isaiah " 3And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples;And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. 5Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.… 

Let us remember this each night "The Light of Christ in Me, recognizes the light of Christ in You! Amen.

A Song of Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36:24-28

I will take you from among all nations; *

and gather you from all lands to bring you home.

I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *

and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.

A new heart I will give you *

and a new spirit put within you.

I will take the stone heart from your chest *

and give you a heart of flesh.

I will help you walk in my laws *

and cherish my commandments and do them.

You shall be my people, *

and I will be your God.

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.

A Song of Christ’s Goodness

Anselm of Canterbury

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you; *
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride, *
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds, *
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life; *
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; *
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead, *
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us; *
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness, *
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.



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.



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.






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

Let us pray and meditate upon the Beatitudes. 

Matthew 5:1-12 The Voice (VOICE)

People talk about this Jesus, this Preacher and Healer. Word spreads of His charisma and wisdom and power and love. People who are too sick to walk persuade their friends and relatives to carry them to Jesus. These cripples and demonized and ill and paralytics come to Jesus, and He heals them, and they follow Him.

5 Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him.

There on the mountain Jesus teaches them all. And as He is teaching, crowds gather around and overhear His teachings, listen in, and are captivated. This, the Sermon on the Mount, is the first of the five Mosaic-like sermons in Matthew.

2 And He began to teach them.

3 Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4     Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.

5     Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.

6     Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.

7     Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.

8     Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.

9     Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.

10     Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. 12 But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.

Prayers from the 3 blogs written on this day in a three year cycle. 

God of love and compassion help us to be truly loving and that we may protect all those who are being bullied, abused, and hated.

God of love and compassion, encircle this broken and fragile with you love, justice, mercy and light so that there may be peace on the earth.

God of love and compassion, drive away all things that divide us ! May we be one with you O God and stand and live united as one family under the shadow of your wings!

God of love and compassion, give us tender hearts to give comfort and help all those who are in any need or trouble.

God  of Love and compassion, heal all of our family members who are ill in body, mind , or spirit. Give us courage to help them and reach out to them when  our fears and anxieties hold us  back.

God of Love and compassion, we pray for all of our family members who are pre-grieving their loved ones who are transitioning into the Thin Places.

God of  Love and compassion, we pray for all those who live in places of  violence, especially The Middle East, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo,Central America, The United States,, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan , Africa. We pray particularly for the many refugees who have been displaced from their homes and workplaces.

God of Love and Compassion We pray for all who are dying and those who have died today that they had a peaceful and warm journey into the Thin Places. 

God of Love and compassion, We pray that we may become the voices of our voiceless and vulnerable family members.

God of Love and compassion, please shower  upon us the gift of rain to heal and cleanse all drought parched areas of the world and in our country.

God of Love and compassion, we pray for all the leaders of the nations that they may learn to  lead with compassion, justice, and mercy. and that their citizenry may be afforded human and equal rights and that they may respect the dignity of  every human being.

God of Love and Compassion, we add our prayers for ourselves and those who have asked to pray on behalf of others ______________.

God of Love and Compassion we offer these prayers in the name of his only Son Jesus, Amen.

or These

Gracious God help us have courage and strength to go extra miles for you and others.

Gracious God help our feet be made sure and our footing be on stable ground.

Gracious God we pray and give thanks for your Cathedral of Life that we may practice loving conservation of the natural resources you provide for us.

Gracious God we pray for all who are ill that they may be healed and have strength and patience in their illnesses.

Gracious God we pray for peace, justice, equality, and mercy in this fragile and broken world.

Gracious God we pray that love will be the key to end all division and hatred.

Gracious God we pray that we may lovingly accept and include our brothers and sisters.

Gracious God we pray for all who mourn the losses of jobs and loved ones.

Gracious God we continue to pray for all cities, towns, and nations and peoples affected by any kind of violence and terror this week. May we stand with them and be there for them in peace and promote the dignity and respect for every person. 

Gracious God we pray for rain and and end to the drought conditions in all places of the world.

Gracious God we pray for________________

Gracious God we give thanks for_______________________________

Gracious God we lay these our prayers and those said on behalf of others in the Name of Jesus your Son. Amen.

or these.

Let us pray this night for our family members who reside outdoors remembering Joe and Perla, John, Brownie, Dwayne, and all those who are homeless, hungry, living on the margins of society. Let us remember to speak their names so that they will live forever in our hearts and minds.

Challenge our hearts O God.

We pray for all peace in the world and especially where there is violence, injustice, cruelty and indifference. 

Challenge our hearts O God to be peacemakers.

We pray for all family members who are caregivers of every stripe. Challenge our hearts and all  persons  to step up and offer loving help without begrudging.

We pray for all of our Family members who are ill, aging, and disabled. Challenge our hearts to pray, help, and not pass by on the side of the road.

We pray this night especially for ___________________________ Challenge our hearts to pray and reach out and have courage to help.

We give thanks to you O God for_________________________ Challenge our hearts to be always grateful and have attitudes of gratitude.

We Remember all those who are dying and have died today  especially ________________ May we be challenged to live life more fully in your service and follow the good example of ________________.

We Celebrate this day especially _________________________Challenge our hearts O God to find healthy balance in our lives and celebrate each day to the fullest.

God we lift these our prayers to you and may we always be challenged to do what is right in your gracious and loving God who makes every nano-second new. Amen.

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.

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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you my dearest and precious family members. I give thanks to you this night and always. When we resist and stand on the side of justice we must remember that we are called to love our enemies and practice loving acts of kindness in words and in deeds towards all. 

With love and blessings,

Sara

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Resources: 

The Book of Common Prayer

Enriching our Worship.