De-Cluttering our ideas about how we celebrate holidays feast, family, and federal.

Good Evening Dear Family!

De-Cluttering continues in more ways than one. Yesterday I decided that I needed to de-clutter the way I celebrated the 4th of July. This year I didn't view fireworks and get wrapped up in all things star spangled. I felt that this was a time of introspection and meditating upon what the day meant to me as a citizen and human being. As in years past I would watch the concerts on TV, view the fireworks etc. With one exception, I don't do parties or BBQs. I never have. This year it was more about prayerful centering and asking God to help us return to the basics of how we celebrate any holiday whether they be Holy Feast Days, Family Holidays, and Federal Holidays. We need to find our way back out of the hype and bring these days back to what's important and why we celebrate. Our country at present is in need of a time of reverent renewal where we seek to go back and learn what Independence Day is all about. It was a time where a group of men and a few women risked it all to bring a new nation into being for the good of  some people not all the people (Remember women and slaves were property) in the 13 colonies. We weren't the United States yet. We had miles to go before that happened. It wasn't until after the Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. We need to be reminded of our history and herstory and how things came to be. It is a necessary reviewing of history. That is why I decided that this year I would take time for holy silence and go back to sacred basics. That is why I decided to de-clutter our ideas about how we celebrate holidays: Feast, Family, and Federal. I don't hate America, I love this country and all the people who dwell in it. I just thought it was time for less sparklers and happy clappy and more meditating on what we and I could do for our country. God is calling us to prayer at such a time as this and the need to love our neighbors by serving and standing up and caring for the least of these. That is what we are called to do! Be the voice, be the feet, be the change, be the hands that serve and write and take action. Now let us be at prayer. 

Let us light our candles and be at prayer!

God we are privileged to come into your sanctuary each night to pray and give thanks and share community with one another. We are here to light candles to provide a pathway out of the darkness in our lives and those of others. We pray and give thanks for all the blessings you bestow upon us each and every day. We pray for our families who give us strength and emotional support. We pray this night that we may open our hearts with love to all the fragile ones and yes God we know that our enemies and those who hate us are fragile in a different way. We pray that they may turn away from violence and hate and that they may learn to love, listen, and seek to come together in unity. We know that fear triggers hate and violent action. We pray that everyone receives a good education where they live not only in school but in their faith communities so they may learn what is truly taught and not made up to incite violence, disunity, and hatred. We pray this night and remember Orlando, Istanbul, Dhaka, Baghdad, and Saudi Arabia, and all who have become the victims of terror last year and at present. . We pray that violence of this kind may cease and that the only radicalization that takes place is that of Compassion, Acceptance, Love, Mercy and Hospitality where unity is fostered and brought into being. We pray this night for the least of these and that we may continue to seek your face in all of our family members. We pray these our prayers as we lift up our candles in a mirror and say "The Light of Christ in Me, recognizes the Light of Christ in you!' Let us be the light to your fragile and broken world and in the warmth of the light may it represent love in all of its hues and actions. May we feel its love energy radiating in all, through all, and to all. Amen.

God is Spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and
in truth. John 4:24


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


128 Beati omnes

1 Happy are they all who fear the Lord, *
and who follow in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
happiness and prosperity shall be yours.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
your children like olive shoots round about your table.

4 The man who fears the Lord *
shall thus indeed be blessed.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion, *
and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days
of your life.

6 May you live to see your children's children; *
may peace be upon Israel.

1 Samuel 12:1-6,16-25

12 Samuel said to all Israel, ‘I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. 2 See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and grey, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me* and I will restore it to you.’ 4 They said, ‘You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone.’ 5 He said to them, ‘The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.’ And they said, ‘He is witness.’

6 Samuel said to the people, ‘The Lord is witness, who* appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. 16 Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that the wickedness that you have done in the sight of the Lord is great in demanding a king for yourselves.’ 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 All the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves.’ 20 And Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; 21 and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. 22 For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.’

The Song of Hannah
1 Samuel 2:1-8
My heart exults in you, O God; *
my triumph song is lifted in you.
My mouth derides my enemies, *
for I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like you, *
nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.
Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *
Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.
The bows of the mighty are broken, *
but the weak are clothed in strength.
Those once full now labor for bread, *
those who hungered now are well fed.
The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *
while the mother of many is forlorn.
God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *
gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.
God raises the poor from the dust; *
and lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with the rulers *
and inherit a place of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are God’s *
on which the whole earth is founded




129 Sœpe expugnaverunt

1 "Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth," *
let Israel now say;

2 "Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth, *
but they have not prevailed against me."

3 The plowmen plowed upon my back *
and made their furrows long.

4 The Lord, the Righteous One, *
has cut the cords of the wicked.

5 Let them be put to shame and thrown back, *
all those who are enemies of Zion.

6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, *
which withers before it can be plucked;

7 Which does not fill the hand of the reaper, *
nor the bosom of him who binds the sheaves;

8 So that those who go by say not so much as,
"The Lord prosper you. *
We wish you well in the Name of the Lord."

Acts 8:14-25

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16(for as yet the Spirit had not come* upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John* laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20 But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ 24 Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you* have said may happen to me.’

25 Now after Peter and John* had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.

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.

130 De profundis

1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice; *
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

2 If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *
O Lord, who could stand?

3 For there is forgiveness with you; *
therefore you shall be feared.

4 I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *
in his word is my hope.

5 My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning, *
more than watchmen for the morning.

6 O Israel, wait for the Lord, *
for with the Lord there is mercy;

7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins

 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.


Luke 23:1-12

23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus* before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’* 3 Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ 5 But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus* gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.


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.



God we pray this night for all who are in pain in body, mind, and spirit that they may feel you healing and loving presence. 

We pray for peace on Earth and that we may become the Family of God that you have called us to be. May we break down the walls and borders that divide us.

We remember this day all of our Family Members who are returning from the long weekend and for traveling mercies.

We pray this night for all who have had to spend the weekend in the hospital or any care facility.

We pray for all those who are seeking healthy employment and workplace conditions. 

We pray that we may learn to love with our hearts, minds, and spirits to build up and not to destroy.

We pray that we all may learn to stop the glorification of busy and learn to rest and be at peace

We pray this night for all children and for their safety during the Summer months.

We pray for all those who have addiction, mental illness, and memory disorders.

We pray that we may be able to be better listeners at heart and soul level.

We pray for all of our Family Members who keep us safe from harm.

We pray that we may be learn to take care of Your Cathedral of Life and that we may stop being wasteful. 

We pray for all of our Family Members not just the ones we are related to by blood but through our common humanity. May we learn to love them more each and every day that we, live, move and be.

Jesus help us to etch these words in our bodies, minds, and spirits "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

We ask these our prayers in Your Name Lord Jesus. 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.

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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Good Night All! Have a blessed an peaceful night! I love you and give thanks to God for you this day and always. 

De-clutter task: When was the last time you cleaned out your freezer and refrigerator and garage? Think upon these things. 

With love, joy, and peace,

Sara

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