De-Cluttering: A new awareness! Let us meet Albert John Luthuli

Good Evening Dear Family of Love and God!


Happy Retreat Weekend! Yesterday and today I entered into the world of retail stores again after a great while and found out that I am no longer attached to things. I was in J.C. Penney and checking out a few items for my home makeover those were fine. When I got to the costume jewelry and clothing departments, I wasn't interested in anything and guess what ? I have all that I need and am no longer a magnet for things. Hallelujah! God is Good. Living in holy poverty is a good thing and I never thought I would feel this happy and connected to God and His family. I challenge each of us to take time away from being possessed by our possessions. See how you do. Tonight we begin our retreat time. Don't forget to do our weekly de-cluttering of mind and spirit with the Worry/Sabbath box,jar, or journal. We need to do this probably daily especially with all that is happening in our world and in our lives. Tonight we are going to use the lessons for the  Feast Day of Albert John Luthuli.  We will add prayers and a vigil too.


Let us meet Albert John Luthuli

To remain neutral, in a situation where the laws of the land virtually criticized God for having created men of color, was the sort of thing I could not, as a Christian, tolerate.
Albert John Luthuli 

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 4:24

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


Inhale God's love
Exhale Love of God, Neighbor, and ourselves.

Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind, in the waves, and in our hearts
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind,in  the waves.
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind.
Be still and hear the whisper of God.
Be still and hear the whisper.
Be still and hear.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale God's love
Exhale Love of God, Neighbor, and ourselves.

We begin our prayer vigil and time with God and each other as we light 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 world

God of peace, who called your servant Albert Luthuli to be a leader in the struggle against apartheid: Strengthen your Church, that in union with his example and prayers, we might resist injustice in all its forms; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for all time. Amen.

122 Lætatus sum

1 I was glad when they said to me, *
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."

2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;

4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the Lord.

5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
"May they prosper who love you.

7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.

8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good."

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.

Numbers 20:9-11

9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. ¹⁰Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ ¹¹Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.

Ephesians 2:12-17

12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body* through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.* 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;

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.

John 16:25-33

25 ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. ²⁶On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ²⁷for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.^* 28I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’

29 His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! ³⁰Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’³¹Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? ³²The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

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.

We pray this night for peace in our cities, towns, nations, and our souls so that we may know what it is like to live in your peaceable kingdom O, God.

We pray for unity and charity among all peoples.

We pray for universal human rights and that everyone will be treated with dignity and as the beautiful children of God they are.

We pray for the most vulnerable family members throughout our nation and the world.

We pray for all victims of bullying, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and plain old meanness by people who lack the sensitivity and love for their brothers and sisters. 

We pray and remember all those who in the past 24 hours have been victims of violence and terror.

We pray and remember all of our family members who have been led to take their own lives at the hands of  law enforcement officers remembering especially:Javier Garcia Gaona of Santa Maria. 

We pray for the poor, the marginalized, the least of these who we are commanded to pray and take care of.

We pray for the victims of human trafficking and slavery at home and abroad.

We pray for our Abrahamic brothers and sisters who are in need of our daily prayers, loving concern, and understanding. We pray for all faith communities as they prepare for worship in the days ahead. We stand and pray in solidarity with our Jewish and Islamic brothers and sisters as they pray on Friday and prepare for Sabbath.  

We pray for all of us whose nerves are frayed that we may find solace and soulace. We pray that we may be a soft place in which to fall as the presence of God in each other's lives.

We pray for all leaders of  hamlets, villages, towns, cities, counties,states, parishes, nations, the United Nations that they will do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with You O God and that Justice will flow into the hearts and minds of those who lead and to all people who seek to be on an equal footing and be afforded the rights all people should be enjoying. 

We pray that we may be Compassionate, Accepting, Loving and Merciful to all our brothers and sisters and that we may stop the hate, violence, suspicion, and fear. We pray that we may have unity in our diversity. 

We take time to pray whatever prayers and thanksgivings are in our hearts and minds and that we take time in silence now as we pray____________________

Additional Prayers from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator

of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary,

renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing

upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have

protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the

coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every

fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of

our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen

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.

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.

In Times of Conflict

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,

in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront

one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work

together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the

enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in

peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless us and keep us. Amen.

The Light of Christ In Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in You! Amen.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts so that we may strive to be your peacemakers to your fragile and broken world.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts so that we may help heal the tender hearts of the least of these and those who are lost, lonely, and alone.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts so that we may lovingly accept all of your beloved children whom you have made.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts that we may with you heal and comfort our family members with our prayers and compassionate touch and words.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts that we may comfort those who are in grief's long journey.

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts  so that we may speak truth to power and be a voice to the voiceless. 

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts as we pray and give thanks for_______________

God of Love, you taught us to love, now teach us to see love not only with our eyes but with our hearts as we lift these our prayers to your beloved Son Jesus. Amen. 

Concluding Sentence

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 3:20,2


The Wisdom of God

the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)

Good Night Beloved ones! I love you! May you find rest for your bodies, minds, and spirits this night. I give God thanks for you this night.

With a heart and eyes filled with love to look upon you all dear family of Love/God,

Sara

Resources:
Enriching our Worship 1997
Book of Common Prayer
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Satucket Lectionary Page