Sunday, July 16, 2017

De-Cluttering - What does a day of Sabbath Rest Look Like?





Good Evening Family!

Happy Sunday and day of Sabbath Rest. I have been pondering today what  does a day of Sabbath Rest Look like as part of de-cluttering? For me it means trusting in myself to rest after I get home from church and give my permission to stop the glorification of busy. If resting on the Sabbath is good enough for God it certainly is good enough for us (me). I have enforced my own set of blue laws and am finding it most enjoyable. Tonight I am going of the the grid and read, rest, and renew. Give it a try. Don't forget to make room for prayer and meditation too. Let us now enter a time of prayer and additional Sabbath rest. We are going to use the Eucharistic Lectionary for today with both tracks of lessons for meditation. Take time to read the lessons and meditate upon them. We will then enter a time of mindfulness and prayer.


Genesis 25:19-34

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other, 
the elder shall serve the younger.”
When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright


Psalm 119:105-112

Lucerna pedibus meis

105 Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.
106 I have sworn and am determined *
to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am deeply troubled; *
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, *
and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is always in my hand, *
yet I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me, *
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111 Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
for ever and to the end.


Isaiah 55:10-13

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.


Psalm 65: (1-8), 9-14

Te decet hymnus
[1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
because of their transgressions.
3 Our sins are stronger than we are, *
but you will blot them out.
4 Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.
5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
O God of our salvation, *
O Hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the seas that are far away.
6 You make fast the mountains by your power; *
they are girded about with might.
7 You still the roaring of the seas, *
the roaring of their waves,
and the clamor of the peoples.
8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; *
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.]
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
the river of God is full of water.
10 You prepare the grain, *
for so you provide for the earth.
11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12 You crown the year with your goodness, *
and your paths overflow with plenty.
13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
and the hills be clothed with joy.
14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
let them shout for joy and sing.

Romans 8:1-11

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.


Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”


Welcome to this online place of sanctuary and safety. 
Let us do this guided meditation before we pray.

Let us begin once again with our mindfulness time:
5- 10 minute sit.
Use a timer, mindfulness app, or musical selection. 
Today's mindfulness musical selection are these:
Byzantine Chants
Chants de Taize

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

Inhale Slowly
Hold
Exhale Gently
Pause
Repeat

Or this set

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

Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.

De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.

Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.

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

Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.

De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.

Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.

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

Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.

De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.

Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.

Jesus said: “If any of you would come after me, deny yourself and
take up your cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

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 

"Let all guests who arrive, be received as Christ." Benedict of Nursia
Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
 Thanks be to God.

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




A Smudging Prayer

        Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.


For whom and what shall we pray?

God we pray that we may de-clutter all the junk that is hindering 
our relationship with you and our families.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

God we pray for an end to all the junk that divides us and fails to unite us.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray that we might find our reliance upon you
 and not things and earthly possessions. 

God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray for an end to all forms of violence that there may be peace on the the Earth.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of bodies, minds,
 and spirits remembering especially _______________
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray for an end to _________________

God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray for the conservation of God's Cathedral of Life.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray and give thanks for __________________
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we pray that the leaders of the nations and especially here at home
 may realize their duty is to lead and care for the least of these no matter who they are.
 We pray that they may truly practice and live by the words "Liberty and Justice for all!".

God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


God we lift up these our prayers to you O God.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer


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.

For Sleep
O heavenly Father, you give your children sleep for the
refreshing of soul and body: Grant me this gift, I pray; keep
me in that perfect peace which you have promised to those
whose minds are fixed on you; and give me such a sense of
your presence, that in the hours of silence I may enjoy the
blessed assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our
Savior. 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



May the blessing of the God of Abraham and Sarah, and of Jesus
Christ born of our sister Mary, and of the Holy Spirit, who broods
over the world as a mother over her children, be upon you and
remain with you always. Amen.


God’s Blessing be with you,
Christ’s peace be with you,
the Spirit’s outpouring be with you,
now and always. Amen.
(source: Celtic)

Prayers from previous blogs on July 16

From 3 years ago!

Tonight we will reflect on what is happening in our lives, the nation, and the world and asking ourselves how we can with God's and Jesus' help to help heal and bring peace to a broken world and for the reconciliation of the Family of God in love. Put on your favorite music or set the timer for 10 minutes and begin reflecting, resting, and center yourself in prayer. 

Let us be at prayer

Jesus help us to go over to the other side and rest and pray with you. 

We ask you Lord Jesus to come and tenderize our hearts and enliven our spirits to be the loving brothers and sisters to you and follow where you lead us.

Jesus show us the pathway to peace in our world. Help us to lay down our anger, suspicion, fears, and resentment of our family members whom we don't know very well. 

Jesus we ask you to heal the many people on our prayer walking prayer list who are ill and have been newly diagnosed with cancer or any other disease. We remember them in our hearts and by name__________________

Jesus we pray for peace in the Middle East and all the holy places where you preached, healed, walked, and  made a difference in people's lives with your loving and accepting touch. 

Jesus may we continually be at prayer for all of the 51 million + refugees who do not have a place to call home. Help us always to remember that you , Joseph, and Mary were refugees and went into the land of Egypt until the death of Herod.

Jesus we pray for all of your servants who are preparing for worship on Sunday. May they find the words to  amplify and enlighten the words of  Your Gospel Message. 

Jesus we give thanks to you this day for_____________________
Jesus may we remember this day__________________________
Jesus may we celebrate with you this day these events in our lives and the lives of others especially____________
Jesus we give thanks to you this day for_________________________

Jesus we ask for forgiveness of our sins and help us lovingly forgive those who have harmed us and let go of the past and move forward.

Jesus give us loving and accepting hearts for all those who differ from us and may we see each person in God's world as reflection of You. May we always remember this 'The light of Christ in me recognizes the Light of Christ in you!' May we all be the light of the world and especially to this broken and violent world in which we live. May we sew seeds of peace and love wherever we go and live by your example.


Jesus may we with you comfort those who mourn the loss of loved ones and wrap our arms around them with prayer, love, compassion, and comfort.

Jesus we pray for all those who have died and are dying today remembering especially_____________may they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Jesus  we pray for the least of these may we never look down on them but see you reflected in them. May we come to their aide and serve them.

Jesus may we never find ourselves too busy to help those in any need or want. May we and our faith families provide sanctuary for the least of these and never deprive any one of food, clothing, or shelter.

Jesus we lift up these our prayers to you in Your most Holy Name. Amen.

Two years ago

Start out by thanking God for this day and all the blessings God has given you.

Slowly move your mouse and stop from time to time giving thanks to God.

Let's do our breathing exercises: 

Breathe in the Holy Spirit,
Exhale love.

After you finish the virtual labyrinth let us take time to center ourselves by listening to this music:Andreas Vollenweider -Down to the Moon


God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may our steps be taken in love, joy, and peace.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may we be on the look out for the least of these.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may we be at one with you O God.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may we remember all those of  our family members who are struggling today.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may our eyes  be opened to the  beauty of nature you are showing us in your  Cathedral of  life.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze may we pray for peace and harmony in this fragile and broken world.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze we pray for all of our family members as we lift up their concerns to you remembering____________________

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze give our hearts joy, love, hope, and peace to be able to serve and seek all of our family members who need us.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze we pray for all who are mourning.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze we pray for all who have died and who are transitioning into the Thin Places.

God  as we walk with you at the time of the evening breeze  that we may always remember Jesus' days of  miracle and healing graces. We lift up our prayers to you O Christ with open arms and loving hearts. Amen.

Last year!  Prayers and Vigil


We continue to pray and remember to pray for our neighbors:

 Our Neighbors are The Family of God  who are in the following prayers and I invite you pray for them daily: 
Jesus help us to remember who our neighbor is by praying for our family members below.


Women
Men
Children
Enemies
Refugees, immigrants of any kind
Caregivers
Those who don't share your political or religious beliefs
LGBTQ family members 
Elderly
Family members with whom we are estranged
Everyone
The sick and the suffering
The mentally ill and memory challenged
Those living with H.I. V./ A.I.D.S
Everyone
Those who have caused you harm or abused you
Those who hate you or you hate ( Not acceptable)
Those who have forgiven you and those whom you have forgiven
Everyone
Those who do not share the same ethnicity or race as you
Political prisoners
Prisoners of war
Those who cause terror, violence, bullying, and do unspeakable things. 
Everyone
Jews
Christians
Muslims
Buddhists
Hindus
All faith communities 
Everyone
Indigenous peoples
Victims of Human Trafficking
Everyone
Cancer patients, 
Chronically ill
The disabled 
The poor
The homeless
The hungry
 The lonely,
The lost,
The unemployed
The farm worker
Everyone
The misunderstood
The learning disabled
The marginalized
The invisible ones
The least of these
Everyone
The family of nations and all the peoples in and of God's world
Don't forget God's Cathedral of Life and all God's Creatures who dwell within it!

Jesus we pray for all of our family members nearby,stranger, and enemy and in particular those mentioned about that we may love one another as you have loved us . May we strive to be better at loving, accepting, and including everyone. We know that in  Your world all means all and not some. May we continue to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you to the end of our days and beyond. Amen.


+++++++

Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! Have a blessed Sabbath Rest. Thank you for being here.  We celebrated 295,167 page views all time history. God is Good! All the Time. All the time. God is Good. We will return to evening prayer format tomorrow.

With love and blessings,

Sara

Resources:
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Book of Common Prayer
Lectionary Page
YouTube
Enriching our Worship
Metis Aboriginal Ministries


No comments:

Post a Comment