Honoring St. Mary Magdalene as we approach the blog's 4 year anniversary a week from today.

Good Evening Dear  Family of Love!

Today we are on the road to the 4th anniversary of the blog on July 29, 2017. Lots of things to celebrate and give thanks to God for. Yes friends we are going to be celebrating 4 years of almost daily blogging and togetherness or as I call it Compassionate Accepting Loving and Merciful Familyhood. I give thanks to God for allowing me to write this blog and have you as my dearly beloved family. This is probably how Mary Magdalene felt when she became a follower of Jesus and was part of his family and motley group of followers who were as diverse as  the United Nations. No one was the same, but at the same time were made in the image and likeness of God. Our spirits all look alike albeit our  outsides do not! That is God's gift to us. As we continue our time of retreat let us spend time meditating on Mary Magdalene whose feast day is today. How are we like her and how are we different. How has being a person of faith changed you? Have you de-cluttered enough of your spirit and mind to see the wonderful new creation God is fashioning? 

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.

Breathing Music


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


Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening.
Make your Church bright with your radiance.

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 tonight as we pray and give thanks for our family members where there is much division, hatred, and fear. We pray that as we pray this list of these our family members we may come up with our own list of family members with whom we find ourselves divided and whom we should work towards inclusion, universal human rights, equality, equity, and equal protection under the law for all God's Children. We pray this night that we may  become the Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful family members to all and including the following: 
LGBTQIA
Religious communities
The least of these
The mentally ill
African Americans
Muslims
Asian Americans
Native Americans
Hispanics 
Immigrants both undocumented and documented.
Refugees
Disabled
Women
Children 
May we seek to widen our tables, hearts, heart homes and community to accept them fully and that may we honor them as they honor us by their presence each day. We light our candles and say to each group on the list and our own "The Light of Christ in me Recognizes and Accepts the Light of Christ in you my brothers and sisters of _______________ We welcome you fully into the family of God and ask your forgiveness for any wrongs we have done to you and  in the name of Jesus. May we pray and strive to seek to know the Christ/ God in you as you seek to know the Christ/ God in us. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 42:1-7

Quemadmodum

1 As the deer longs for the water-brooks, * 
so longs my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; * 
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, * 
while all day long they say to me, 
"Where now is your God?"
4 I pour out my soul when I think on these things: * 
how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,
5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, * 
among those who keep holy-day.
6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? * 
and why are you so disquieted within me?
7 Put your trust in God; * 
for I will yet give thanks to him, 
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

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.


Judith 9:1,11-14

Judith prostrated herself, put ashes on her head, and uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing. At the very time when the evening incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, “Your strength does not depend on numbers, nor your might on the powerful. But you are the God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forsaken, savior of those without hope. Please, please, God of my father, God of the heritage of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all your creation, hear my prayer! Make my deceitful words bring wound and bruise on those who have planned cruel things against your covenant, and against your sacred house, and against Mount Zion, and against the house your children possess. Let your whole nation and every tribe know and understand that you are God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but you alone!”

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.

2 Corinthians 5:14-18

The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

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 20:11-18

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Collect for St. Mary Magdalene

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Kyrie for the Magdelene

Orthodox Hymns in honor of Mary Magdalene.
Troparion (Tone 1)

In keeping His commandments and laws, O holy Mary Magdalene,
You followed Christ, who for our sake was born of a virgin,
And in celebrating your most holy memory today,
We receive forgiveness of sins by your prayers!
Kontakion (Tone 4)

When God, who is transcendent in essence,
Came with flesh into the world, O Myrrhbearer,
He received you as a true disciple, for you turned all your love toward Him;
Henceforth you would yourself work many healings.
Now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!
Kontakion (Tone 3)

Standing before the Cross of the Savior,
Suffering with the Mother of the Lord,
The most glorious Mary Magdalene offered praise with tears.
She cried out: What is this strange wonder?
He who holds the whole creation in His hand chooses to suffer:
Glory, O Lord to Your power!


We pray this night for all of our family members who are crying out for help and love.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are in need of  families and friends.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are living in dangerous and violent parts of this fragile and broken world.

We pray this night for peace within ourselves and peace in the world.  We pray for peace among all of our family members.

We pray this night for all of our littlest family members  as they grow up in a dangerous and unfeeling world. We pray for their safety as they return to school  We pray that all children may grow up in warm and loving families.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are animals and especially endangered species.

We pray this night that we may practice conservation of the Earth's natural resources in God's Cathedral of Life.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are on grief's long journey.

We pray this night for all of our family members who  are  discerning vocations and new life paths.

We pray this night for safety in our cities and towns.

We pray this night for______________________________

We pray this night for our family members who are practitioners of other faiths and belong to different faith communities that we may lovingly support them with our prayers and  listening ears.

We pray this night that all of our family members my be  free to live authentically as the beautiful people God made them to be.

We pray this night that all these our prayers may be accepted in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.


++++++

Or these

Let us take time to breathe and renew our spirits before we pray.

Breathe in the Holy Spirit.
Exhale Love.

Breathe in the Holy Spirit.
Exhale Love.

Breathe in the Holy Spirit.
Exhale Love.

Now let us close our eyes and listen to this; Einaudi -Top 10 piano songs or Einaudi- Relaxing Piano

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for this day. May we be refreshed, renewed, and re-created as we rest this eve.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. May they be kept safe from harm and know that they are loved.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for the gift of healing that you give us when we are ill in body, mind, and spirit.  We offer our prayers for all of our family members who are ill remembering this night_______________

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for all that you have made and for your Cathedral of Life that gives us the oxygen we breath and all the natural resources. May we be good stewards of your creation.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for making us in your image and likeness. We pray that we may be able to live authentically with truth, honesty, and graciousness.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for our loved ones. We pray for all our loved ones who have entered the Thin Places. We remember them by name.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for the peacemakers making peace through out our land in the nations of the world with our enemies. May we strive to be peace makers.

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for the may aid agencies that serve the least of these our family members.  We remember especially___________________________________

We thank you loving and merciful Creator for our many blessings that we name now before you_____________.

We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus. 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.

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


St. Mary Magdalene Communion Hymn (Byzantine Chant)
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 Loved ones and Family members!  I love you and may God bless you this night and always! Remember tonight we continue our Sabbath and Self- Care weekend Retreat. 

Love, joy, peace, and blessings be always yours!

Sara

P.S. Don't forget to do your Worry/ Sabbath Box, Jar, or Journal work! And the above questions for pondering!

Resources:

Enriching our Worship

Walk With Me On Our Journey

YouTube for music

Orthodox Wiki for hymns for St. Mary Magdalene

Satucket Lectionary for information on today's Saint of the Day: St. Mary Magdalene

Lectionary Page for Lessons