De-Cluttering and the Folks from Bethany! Mary, Martha, and Lazarus!

Good Evening Dear Ones!

Happy Retreat Weekend! I hope everyone is taking time to be at peace and practice Self and Sabbath Care! Yes dear ones we all need it. Every weekend we must dedicate ourselves to all things restful and renewing. This means sitting at the feet of Jesus anyway we can and yest even have a partial jammie day. We seem to have troubled hearts, minds, spirits, bodies, and yes live in troubled times that don't lend themselves to living in the holy and sometimes we may be cranky and speaking ill of our enemies. I must admit I get cranky and speak ill of my (our)  enemies when I'm supposed to love them. Sometimes I honestly do not know how to do that and then the not so gentle tap on the shoulder from God happens and may be the best way is to try not to let my enemy get under my skin. This is necessary and healthy de-cluttering God style. Jesus reminded Martha of Bethany that Mary chose the better portion. Loving one's enemy and the people who get under our skins and yes they may be even related to us is choosing the better portion.  Loving one's enemy doesn't allow for us to let them get away with horrendous and evil deeds. Loving them means calling them out! Loving them means not playing their games! Loving them means showing them proper and meted responses to their words and deeds. Loving them means not allowing them to get away with things that aren't in God's plan or the way Jesus has taught us. Loving them means in hashtag forms #Persisting #Resisting #PracticingNonViolence #CallingThemOut #beingmembersoftheJesusMovement and #BeingPartofSacredResistance just to name a few. This is the way to de-clutter when we are called to love our enemies. The best lessons in de-cluttering come from two sets of lessons having to do with our featured Saints of the Day: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and the Celebration of the 43th anniversary of the Ordination of Women in the Episcopal Church.  Let us begin with the lessons from the folks from Bethany, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus!

Here is their information from LESSER FEASTS AND FASTS

Mary and Martha of Bethany
July 29

Mary and Martha of Bethany, with Lazarus their brother, are described in the Gospels according to Luke and John, as close and well-loved friends of Jesus. Luke records the well-known story of their hospitality, which has made Martha a symbol of the active life and Mary of the contemplative, though some commentators would take the words of Jesus to be a defense of that which Mary does best, and a commendation of Martha for what she does best — neither vocation giving grounds for despising the other.

John’s Gospel sheds additional light on the characters of Mary and Martha. When Lazarus is dying, Jesus delays his visit to the family and arrives after Lazarus’ death. Martha comes to meet him, still trusting in his power to heal and restore. The exchange between them evokes Martha’s deep faith and acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah (John 11:21-27).

John also records the supper at Bethany at which Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with fragrant ointment and wiped them with her hair. This tender gesture of love evoked criticism from the disciples. Jesus interpreted the gift as a preparation for his death and burial.

The devotion and friendship of Mary and Martha have been an example of fidelity and service to the Lord. Their hospitality and kindness, and Jesus’ enjoyment of their company, show us the beauty of human friendship and love at its best.
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We need to begin to put our anxieties, worries, and anything else that is troubling us into our Worry/ Sabbath Jar and begin to wind down and prepare for our Self-Care and Sabbath Rest retreat time.

Let us be still and listen to your hearts beating and as you breathe realize and give thanks to God that God put that spirit and breath of life into your body, mind, and spirit.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Close your eyes and go to your happy place. Breathe Deeply, Exhale Gently, Repeat the mindfulness phrase.

Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening.

 Make your Church bright with your radiance.

We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, calling upon

your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1

You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together

with the saints and members of the household of God.

Ephesians 2:19

God is Spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and

in truth. John 4:2

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

God we light our candles and pray for rest, relaxation, and the renewing of our bodies, minds, and spirits. We pray for all those who work and cannot rest that they may be afforded rest time while they are at home. We pray for peace in our hearts, lives, world, nation, and the world. Let peace begin with us. Let us pray for the courage to be mindful of others as we remember and pray for the least of these. We pray for all those things that cause us to be unsettled that we may learn to breathe and take things one at a time and day by day. We pray for all of our family members who are in need of the basic necessities of life and that they may have food, clothing, shelter, and employment. We pray that as we begin this weekend that we may remember and pray for the many faith communities that are preparing for worship and prayer. We pray that we we may be united with them in bonds of love, peace, and greater understanding and acceptance. We pray and light these our candles in loving memory of all who have died and all the family members who mourn their loss. Let us light our candles in loving solidarity together to be truly family and shine our lights to those whose hearts are angered, broken, and in need of holy healing and light. We pray these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

"The light of Christ in Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in You!"

Tonight let's take time for reflection with the timer or musical selection. In the quiet let us reflect upon this past year's pilgrimage and look forward to the year to come. Here is tonight's selection: We Are Called - David Haas 

The collect for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany:

O God, heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest
and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of
Bethany: Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to
hear you, and strengthen our hands to serve you in others
for his sake; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Collect for the celebration of the Philadelphia Eleven to be ordained and the Ordination of Women.

O God, you poured your Spirit from on high to bless and summon these women, who heard the strength of your call: Equip, guide, and inspire us with wisdom, boldness, and faith to trust you in all circumstances, hear you preach new life to your church, and stretch out our hands to serve you, as you created us and redeemed us in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God everlasting. Amen.



36 Dixit injustus

5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, *
and your faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep; *
you save both man and beast, O Lord.

7 How priceless is your love, O God! *
your people take refuge under the
shadow of your wings.

8 They feast upon the abundance of your house; *
you give them drink from the river of your delights.

9 For with you is the well of life, *
and in your light we see light.

10 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *
and your favor to those who are true of heart.

11 Let not the foot of the proud come near me, *
nor the hand of the wicked push me aside.

12 See how they are fallen, those who work wickedness! *

they are cast down and shall not be able to rise.

A Song of True Motherhood
Julian of Norwich

God chose to be our mother in all things *
and so made the foundation of his work,
most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin’s womb.
God, the perfect wisdom of all, *
arrayed himself in this humble place.
Christ came in our poor flesh *
to share a mother’s care.
Our mothers bear us for pain and for death; *
our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
Christ carried us within him in love and travail, *
until the full time of his passion.
And when all was completed and he had carried us so for joy, *
still all this could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.
All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God, *
for the love of Christ works in us;

Christ is the one whom we love.

Ruth 2:5-12

⁵Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’ ⁶The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. ⁷She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.” So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’^*

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. ⁹Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ ¹⁰Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’ ¹¹But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. ¹²May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’

A Song of Pilgrimage Priusquam errarem

Ecclesiasticus 51:13-16,20b-22

Before I ventured forth,

even while I was very young, *

I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

In the forecourts of the temple I asked for her, *

and I will seek her to the end.

From first blossom to early fruit, *

she has been the delight of my heart.

My foot has kept firmly to the true path, *

diligently from my youth have I pursued her.

I inclined my ear a little and received her; *

I found for myself much wisdom and became adept in her.

To the one who gives me wisdom will I give glory, *

for I have resolved to live according to her way.

From the beginning I gained courage from her, *

therefore I will not be forsaken.

In my inmost being I have been stirred to seek her, *

therefore have I gained a good possession.

As my reward the Almighty has given me the gift of language,*

and with it will I offer praise to God.

Romans 12:9-13

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.^* 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

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 11:1-44New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The entire passage is used.

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e]away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Jesus Weeps

28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

A Song of Christ’s Humility

Philippians 2:6-11

Though in the form of God, *

Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,

But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *

and was born in human likeness.

Being found in human form, he humbled himself *

and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him *

and given him the name above every name,

That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *

to the glory of God the Father.

33 Exultate, justi

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; *

it is good for the just to sing praises.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp; *

play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3 Sing for him a new song; *

sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4 For the word of the Lord is right, *

and all his works are sure.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; *

the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.

(Omitted verses are in bold)

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, *

by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.

7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *

and stores up the depths of the sea.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; *

let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; *

he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught; *

he thwarts the designs of the peoples.

11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever, *

and the designs of his heart from age to age.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *

happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *

and beholds all the people in the world.

14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *

on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them *

and understands all their works.

16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *

a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *

for all its strength it cannot save.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *

on those who wait upon his love,

19 To pluck their lives from death, *

and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *

he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *

for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *

as we have put our trust in you.

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.

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;⁴²there is need of only one thing.^* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

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.

Dear Jesus, we lift all of our prayers at your feet and loving arms this night.

We pray for an end to every armed conflict in the world and that peace may prevail.
Come Lord Jesus and heal God's broken world.

We pray for all who mourn the loss of any loved ones and bring comfort to those who grieve.
Jesus, Help us to know that it is ok to grieve and weep as you wept at the tomb of your friend Lazarus.

Help us to be more loving, compassionate, accepting of all our family members,giving, less critical, more humane, more kind, more merciful, and to let our egos go and let you in.

We pray for those receiving treatments for cancer and other illnesses.
Come Lord Jesus, Heal us and make us whole.

We pray for your friends Martha and Mary of Bethany, help us to strive for balance and choose what you'd like us to do.
Jesus, help us to listen and choose.

We pray for our most vulnerable family members remembering the homeless, hungry, lost, brokenhearted, elderly, children, refugees, victims and survivors of domestic violence and child abuse, the lonely, and anyone who is brought to our hearts.

Jesus, help us to respond to and care for the Least of these.

We pray for all awaiting surgery and diagnoses of any kind.
Jesus, help to to learn to wait, watch , and pray.

We give thanks for Walk With Me On Our Journey may we continue to pray, walk, and respond to what you are having us do.
Jesus, may we continue to pray and walk the King's Highway.

We pray for all who travel and are on pilgrimage anywhere. We remember especially those who are on pilgrimage in the holy places of the Holy Land.
Jesus, be with them and protect them on every side.

We give thanks for the Philadelphia 11 who were the first women ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church 43 years ago.
Jesus, may we who are discerning vocations and any ministry have listening hearts and the courage to say yes to your call to serve God in the
Church and the world.

Jesus we add our prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations here before you______________

We offer these and all our prayers in Jesus' most holy Name. 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.




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 Lord bless you and keep us. Amen.

The Lord make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious to us. Amen.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon us
and give us peace. Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

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For more information on today's feast days please click on the links below;

FIRST ORDINATION OF WOMEN TO THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH


MARY, MARTHA AND LAZARUS OF BETHANY



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Good Night Dear Ones! Have a blessed and restful night! I love you and give thanks to God for you  this day and always! Always be listening to and for God's call by de-cluttering your lives just like Mary of Bethany did. Let's choose the better portion. 

With love and blessings,

Sara


Resources: 
Enriching Our Worship 1997
Book of Common Prayer
Lesser Feasts and Fasts
Satucket lectionary 
YouTube
Walk With Me On Our Journey