Good Evening Dear Family!
Let's start the week off right by being in prayer and meditating upon the scriptures for today! I believe if we do this daily it will help us to be centered and more focused upon all the right things and not the dark negative things. We all know that we are on a daily roller coaster ride emotionally when we face the daily news cycle. I believe that God wants us to spend time in loving and serving all of our family members, with actions that come from our enlivened spirits and heart homes. It all begins with prayer and meditation and more time checking in with the holy and each other.
Tonight let us begin with our collects of the day:
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given your Church
the great joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Give us also
the greater joy of the kingdom of your elect, when the flock
of your Son will share in the final victory of its Shepherd,
Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, whose Son, the risen Christ, sent forth your apostles Andronicus and Junia to proclaim the Gospel and extend your reign: send us forth in your Holy Spirit, that women and men may minister as one in faithful witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect unity, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Psalm 134 Ecce nunc
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.
God we come before you this night to light our candles, pray, give thanks, and be still and know that you are God and that you are Good. We pray this night that we may seek to be refreshed, renewed, and reacquainted with you, each other, and ourselves. We pray that we may be freed from the need to be drawn into the snares of fear, hatred, bigotry, and all things that divide us from you and each other.
We pray this night for all the gifts of the Holy Spirit that draw us near to you and carry us out into the world to serve and love all of our family members. We pray this night and give thanks for the gift of pain and struggle that remind us of our sisters and brothers who are enduring many things beyond all of our knowledge. We pray that love, joy, hope, and peace may spread across this nation and the world like the rush of that famous mighty wind on Pentecost and we may find ourselves wrapped in the Spirit's Comforting and Healing quilt. Draw us near to one another through Jesus' love and mercy. Let us light our candles as we take them out into the world and vanquish all darkness, hate, and division. We add our prayers and thanksgivings and offer this moment of silence in memory of all who have died in any act of violence this day and those who are suffering at the hands of verbal and violent acts of terror and abuse. God hear our prayers and petitions and the cries of our hearts and spirits this night and always. Amen.
68 Exsurgat Deus
7 O God, when you went forth before your people, *
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
10 Your people found their home in it; *
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
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.
Isaiah 61:1-4
61
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
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.
Canticle
Easter Week 5 - Monday
Psalm 115:1-13
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your Name give glory; *
because of your love and because of your faithfulness.
2 Why should the heathen say, *
“Where then is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven; *
whatever he wills to do he does.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, *
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; *
eyes have they, but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; *
noses, but they cannot smell;
7 They have hands, but they cannot feel;
feet, but they cannot walk; *
they make no sound with their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them, *
and so are all who put their trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us, and he will bless us; *
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, *
both small and great together
Acts 14:5-18
5 And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, 6the apostles* learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; 7 and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
8 In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man* sprang up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city,* brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. 14 When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15‘Friends,* why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; 17 yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
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.
John 14:21-26
21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23 Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,* the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
A Song of Our True Nature
Julian of Norwich
Christ revealed our frailty and our falling, *
our trespasses and our humiliations.
Christ also revealed his blessed power, *
his blessed wisdom and love.
He protects us as tenderly and as sweetly when we are in greatest need; *
he raises us in spirit
and turns everything to glory and joy without ending.
God is the ground and the substance, the very essence of nature; *
God is the true father and mother of natures.
We are all bound to God by nature, *
and we are all bound to God by grace.
And this grace is for all the world, *
because it is our precious mother, Christ.
For this fair nature was prepared by Christ
for the honor and nobility of all, *
and for the joy and bliss of salvation.
Now let us take time for a bit of personal meditation that is of your very own making. Remember to create your meditation environment, breathe, and go deep into the center. Decide on your time, your pace, and how you'd like to do it.
If you need the "Be Stills" here they are:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Don't forget to breathe!
God we pray this night for all who are in fragile and tender situations. We remember all of your children who are refugees, captives, victims of any kind of violence and abuse, the mentally ill and memory challenged. We remember all of our family members who see to harm that they may be led out of the need to do so.
Gather us in O God ,as your beloved children.
God we pray this night for all who travel that they may be protected. Help us to be mindful as we drive and bike. Make us mindful of all who walk and carry heavy loads.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we pray for peace, justice, mercy, equality, and inclusion in our cities, states, country, and nations of the world.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we pray for all who are grieving losses of any kind and that we may lovingly respond to their needs.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we pray for all who are transitioning into life eternal and those who have made the journey today. Give us courage to lovingly honor their passing and celebrate their lives in the way we live, move and just be.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially__________________
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we lift up with thanksgiving our many blessings that you have lovingly bestowed upon us remembering______________
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.
God we lift up our prayers in the name of Jesus . Amen.
(Alternative form of the Lord's Prayer as found in the New Zealand Prayer Book.)
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.
Matthew 5:1–10
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.”
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 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.
The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen us
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Romans 15:13
Good Night Dear Ones ! I love you! May you be blessed and have your hearts warmed by God's holy and life giving presence this day and always.
With peace, love, and prayers,
Sara
Information on our saints of the day:
Resources:
Lesser Feasts and Fasts (rclnrsv)
Enriching our Worship
Satucket Lectionary Page
Book of Common Prayer
New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey (prayer selections and vigils from other blogs)
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