Good Evening Dear Ones,
Today is the first anniversary of the Orlando Massacre a day most of us will never forget. Last year this event sent me into a world I would never had known existed and the need to become a new person God was calling me to be. I have become involved in social justice like never before and being connected to various groups and organizations where there is common ground. We are part of the resistance movement seeking to serve the least of these and all who are in need of support and voices that are sometimes silenced. Tonight I heard the world Ubuntu again at a meeting and it rings true.
When God calls us into action and service we must respond by saying not just individually but corporately "Here We(I) are (am) send us. We must do this by virtue of our baptismal vows and not only that by being decent and loving human beings looking out for one another. Orlando taught us that we must fight violence without guns, we must live authentically, see people as people, religion in the name of violence is not religion. We are called by God to pay attention in the words of Matthew 25 and Psalm 118.
Tonight we begin our worship with Psalm 118 and Matthew 25 and then follow with the lessons for the feast of St. Barnabas.
Psalm 118
118 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
3 Let the house of Aaron say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
4 Let those who honor the Lord say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
5 In tight circumstances, I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me with wide-open spaces.
6 The Lord is for me[a]—I won’t be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
7 The Lord is for me—as my helper.
I look in victory on those who hate me.
8 It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust any human.
9 It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust any human leader.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but I cut them down[b] in the Lord’s name.
11 Yes, they surrounded me on every single side,
but I cut them down in the Lord’s name.
12 They surrounded me like bees,
but they were extinguished like burning thorns.
I cut them down in the Lord’s name!
13 I was pushed so hard[c] I nearly died,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord was my strength and protection;
he was my saving help!
15 The sounds of joyful songs and deliverance
are heard in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!
16 The Lord’s strong hand is ready to strike!
The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!”
17 I won’t die—no, I will live
and declare what the Lord has done.
18 Yes, the Lord definitely disciplined me,
but he didn’t hand me over to death.
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me
so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
those who are righteous enter through it.
21 I thank you because you answered me,
because you were my saving help.
22 The stone rejected by the builders
is now the main foundation stone!
23 This has happened because of the Lord;
it is astounding in our sight!
24 This is the day the Lord acted;
we will rejoice and celebrate in it!
25 Lord, please save us!
Lord, please let us succeed!
26 The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed;
we bless all of you from the Lord’s house.
27 The Lord is God!
He has shined a light on us!
So lead the festival offering with ropes
all the way to the horns of the altar.[d]
28 You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
You are my God—I will lift you up high!
29 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
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.
Matthew 25: 31-46
Judgment of the nations
31 “Now when the Human One[b] comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.
34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ 45 Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.”
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.
Collect for the Feast day of St. Barnabas the Apostle.
Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the wellbeing of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Isaiah 42:5-12
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth!
Let the sea roar and all that fills it,
the coastlands and their inhabitants.
Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice,
the villages that Kedar inhabits;
let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy,
let them shout from the tops of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare his praise in the coastlands.
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.
Psalm 112
Beatus vir
1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
5 It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.
6 For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.
9 They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be angry;
they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *
the desires of the wicked will perish.
Acts 11:19-30;13:1-3
Those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Matthew 10:7-16
Jesus said to the twelve, “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
A Song of the Heavenly City
Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4
I saw no temple in the city, *
for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *
for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light the nations shall walk, *
and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.
Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; *
into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.
I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, *
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, *
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations.
All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands,
and all servants give worship there; *
there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.
Let us continue on with prayer and by making vigil.
Gracious God we light our candles this night as we pray that we may learn from each other and choose our words reverently and in the spirit of Your compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy. May our words provide comfort and guidance when needed. We pray that as we speak we may earnestly listen to what we are saying and how we say it. We pray that we may drop the use of negative labels that serve only incite fear, violence, and hate. We pray that the words we say may speak truth to power . We pray that the words we say may unite and not divide and lead us to a peaceful and healed world. We pray that we may walk the walk and talk the talk as members of one family and act to benefit of all people. We pray for our LGBTQI, Muslim, and Latino family members and wrap our loving prayers and words around them with grace, love, and care. We pray that we may seek to love one another and yes that means our enemies and those who hate us. Let us this night listen to what our world is saying and with listening ears and open hearts pray for solutions and guidance so that we may act accordingly with God's help and change the world for the better. We pray that we may in the words of St. Francis " Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." We lift up these our prayers and remember these words" The Light of Christ in Me recognizes the light of Christ in you!" Amen.
Or this vigil and these prayers
God we come to you in the silence with heavy hearts to light our candles in memory of those who lost their lives in Orlando and to pray for the courage to act to stop the scourge of gun violence and terror in our nation and the world..Give us courage to speak truth to power with action words and I messages. Help us to think before we speak and to use words and actions to bring peace and heal.
Help us O God to learn to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Help us to begin a listening dialogue to unite and not divide but to find common ground. Give us God this time of togetherness to see you in each other. This night we pray for our LGBTQIA, Muslim, Hispanic Family members and all who are in danger at the margins of society. We pray for protection of all people and that we ourselves must be vigilant and keep watch and report if necessary. Help us O God not to be fearful but to be fearless with your help and light. We pray for all of our family member who are alone and do not know how to reach out for help. We pray with heavy hearts in need of healing and solace and soulace. We pray and encircle and wrap each other in a prayer quilt of Compassion, Love, Acceptance, and Mercy. Amen.
We remember the words of St. Francis:
Help us O God to learn to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Help us to begin a listening dialogue to unite and not divide but to find common ground. Give us God this time of togetherness to see you in each other. This night we pray for our LGBTQIA, Muslim, Hispanic Family members and all who are in danger at the margins of society. We pray for protection of all people and that we ourselves must be vigilant and keep watch and report if necessary. Help us O God not to be fearful but to be fearless with your help and light. We pray for all of our family member who are alone and do not know how to reach out for help. We pray with heavy hearts in need of healing and solace and soulace. We pray and encircle and wrap each other in a prayer quilt of Compassion, Love, Acceptance, and Mercy. Amen.
We remember the words of St. Francis:
The Peace Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I 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.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I 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.
We pray for the victims by Name:
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
A Word about Self- care before we continue our prayer time!
This is a week where we all need to pay it forward as part of healing and showing the world that we carry God's light in to the dark places. But first before we do this I would like us to take part of the days to come to be in prayer. Our hearts need to be healed by prayer and time away in the presence of God. Taking this time will give us the strength to go forward to do what God is calling and challenging us to do today and everyday. Part of self-care involves prayer, refreshment, and renewal. Let us begin with our breathing exercises with an old favorite at Walk With Me On Our Journey:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know
Be still
Be
Imagine you are breathing in either sage, rosemary, or lavender to calm our tender hearts and spirits.
Don't forget to do some relaxation exercises to get your bodies in prayer mode.
God we pray this day for all of us who are in grief over the loss of life in the terrorist attacks in Orlando and elsewhere. We pray for all our family members throughout the world who are constantly being victims of terror and violence. We pray for an end to violence and terror.
God we pray this day that we my use our tender hearts as the driving force to affect change in the world.
God we pray that the loving hearts you instilled in our souls at our birth may continually be used to find purpose and be reawakened into the Love Energy you give us each day.
God we pray for all our enemies that they may come to know that violence, terror, extremism and hatred are not the answer but love, listening and compassion are.
God we pray for an end to religious extremism of any kind and that a spirit of love and understanding may grow flourish with in each of all faith communities.
God we pray for all refugees,captives, victims of human trafficking. We pray this day that we may never forget about all of our family members who are being held by terrorist organizations.
God we pray for all families who are beginning to grieve the loss of loved ones and we remember all of our family members who are pre-grieving as they sit vigil at the bedside of the dying.
God we pray for and end to environmental terrorism and that we may become good conservationists of your Cathedral of Life.
God we pray that we may use the gifts you have given us in Social Media to foster love and respect and that what we post or tweet may be loving and with lips that are mindful of all of our family members.
God as we take time to sit and be with you in your loving and abiding presence may we seek to come to know you in the many ways you show us each and every day. We pray that we may come to know you as Jesus as the risen Christ who was made known to the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus. We pray that we may find you in our kinship the bread made broken and the prayers offered and in the works of love you are calling us to do. May we come to know you more deeply and find out that you are more than what's in scripture and more than our minds can fathom.
God may we offer our own prayers and thanksgivings and lift them up unto you this day in the name of your Son Jesus who heals, reconciles, and brings and makes us truly family. Amen.
++++++
Have a blessed night Dear Ones. I love you! I give thanks to God for you this day and always. Remember we are all family and that God has made us in God's image and likeness and that we all matter and are precious. Let us love and take care of ourselves so that we may love and take care of others who are also our family members.
Love, prayers, and blessings your sister, on our life's pilgrimage together,
Sara
Musical Selections:
Andrew Lloyd Webber- Requiem
Rutter -Requiem
Bobby McFerrin- Psalm 23
Resources:
This is a week where we all need to pay it forward as part of healing and showing the world that we carry God's light in to the dark places. But first before we do this I would like us to take part of the days to come to be in prayer. Our hearts need to be healed by prayer and time away in the presence of God. Taking this time will give us the strength to go forward to do what God is calling and challenging us to do today and everyday. Part of self-care involves prayer, refreshment, and renewal. Let us begin with our breathing exercises with an old favorite at Walk With Me On Our Journey:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know
Be still
Be
Imagine you are breathing in either sage, rosemary, or lavender to calm our tender hearts and spirits.
Don't forget to do some relaxation exercises to get your bodies in prayer mode.
God we pray this day for all of us who are in grief over the loss of life in the terrorist attacks in Orlando and elsewhere. We pray for all our family members throughout the world who are constantly being victims of terror and violence. We pray for an end to violence and terror.
God we pray this day that we my use our tender hearts as the driving force to affect change in the world.
God we pray that the loving hearts you instilled in our souls at our birth may continually be used to find purpose and be reawakened into the Love Energy you give us each day.
God we pray for all our enemies that they may come to know that violence, terror, extremism and hatred are not the answer but love, listening and compassion are.
God we pray for an end to religious extremism of any kind and that a spirit of love and understanding may grow flourish with in each of all faith communities.
God we pray for all refugees,captives, victims of human trafficking. We pray this day that we may never forget about all of our family members who are being held by terrorist organizations.
God we pray for all families who are beginning to grieve the loss of loved ones and we remember all of our family members who are pre-grieving as they sit vigil at the bedside of the dying.
God we pray for and end to environmental terrorism and that we may become good conservationists of your Cathedral of Life.
God we pray that we may use the gifts you have given us in Social Media to foster love and respect and that what we post or tweet may be loving and with lips that are mindful of all of our family members.
God as we take time to sit and be with you in your loving and abiding presence may we seek to come to know you in the many ways you show us each and every day. We pray that we may come to know you as Jesus as the risen Christ who was made known to the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus. We pray that we may find you in our kinship the bread made broken and the prayers offered and in the works of love you are calling us to do. May we come to know you more deeply and find out that you are more than what's in scripture and more than our minds can fathom.
God may we offer our own prayers and thanksgivings and lift them up unto you this day in the name of your Son Jesus who heals, reconciles, and brings and makes us truly family. Amen.
++++++
Have a blessed night Dear Ones. I love you! I give thanks to God for you this day and always. Remember we are all family and that God has made us in God's image and likeness and that we all matter and are precious. Let us love and take care of ourselves so that we may love and take care of others who are also our family members.
Love, prayers, and blessings your sister, on our life's pilgrimage together,
Sara
Musical Selections:
Andrew Lloyd Webber- Requiem
Rutter -Requiem
Bobby McFerrin- Psalm 23
Resources:
Enriching our Worship.
No comments:
Post a Comment