Digital Detox as a means to reconnect with God and our families!

Good Evening Dear Family of Love and God.


Happy Being Thankful and Thoughtful Thursday. Let us begin to take daily pilgrimages without our digital devices as part of a digital detox. Make time to not have your phones, tablets, laptops with you. We do not need to be chained to these items. Now more than ever I believe it is time to put them away and chill. When we are praying and doing meditation, God wants our full attention and we need to attend to his responses. Our families and communities need our full attention so that we may be active listeners so that we can know what's up with them. When you are at church, dinner, meetings, classes, working out, etc., this is a time when silence and if you are in a group is necessary. Today's Saints of the Day are Aiden of Lindisfarne  and Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. monks and brothers from a different mother. Monasticism can be practiced at home and that is why I'm proposing that our homes become places of monastic contemplation by doing daily digital detoxes. At this time  turn off the TV, Cell Phone, Radio, Gaming Station, and anything that might disturb our reconnecting  to God and each other. 


God help us to be silent and listen to you this night.

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting
up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches
me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. Psalm 16:7, 8

O God, make speed to save us.
 O Lord, make haste to help us.


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 worlds.

Dear Ones It is time for our Virtual Candlelight Vigil that will be devoted to spending tine with God and praying for peace, justice, and to become the beautiful and CALM (compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful) children of God. We pray for our family members who are struggling in any way. For those who are traveling. For those who are being affected by severe weather. Let us Light our Candles and be at prayer.

Let us hear and meditate upon the words of the lessons for today's Saints of the Day: Aiden and Cuthbert.

Psalm 104: 32-35

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.


Isaiah 55:6-12


6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near; 
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 


10 For 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, 
11 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. 


12 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.



The Third Song of Isaiah Surge, illuminare
Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19

Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise, *
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations Will stream to your light, *
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.
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.

Romans 12:6-13


6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching;8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

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

20 Glory to God Gloria in excelsis

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

John 10:25-30



25 Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.* 30 The Father and I are one.’

The Song of Mary Magnificat

Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and those who are afraid are not perfected in love. We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother or sister, that person is a liar; for those who do not love their brothers and sisters whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.

1 John 4:18-20

Hymn 

4

Before the ending of the day, 
Creator of the world we pray, 
that you, with love and lasting light,
would guard us through the hours of night.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes, 
from nightly fears and fantasies; 
redeem through us our evil foe, 
that we no lasting harm may know.

O wisest Guide, grant all we ask,
fulfil in us your holy task, 
surround us with your love and care, 
and lead us on, your life to share.

All praise to God, sustaining us, 
redeeming and transforming us, 
thanksgiving in eternity, 
all praise, belovèd Trinity.

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and
goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins
and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole
world,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat
of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in
the communion of Aiden  and Cuthbert and all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

Everliving God, you called your servants Aidan and Cuthbert to proclaim the Gospel in northern England and gave them loving hearts and gentle spirits: Grant us grace to live as they did, in simplicity, humility and love for the poor; through Jesus Christ, who came among us as one who serves, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking, 
and guard us while sleeping, 
that awake we may watch with Christ, 
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Song of SimeonNunc Dimittis

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes 
the salvation you have prepared for all nations - 
a light to the world in its darkness, 
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying, 
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. 
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer or the alternative is said.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.    Amen.

Or

Eternal Spirit, 
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, 
Source of all that is and that shall be, 
Father and Mother of us all, 
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! 
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world! 
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! 
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom 
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us. 
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. 
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. 
From trials too great to endure, spare us. 
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, 
now and for ever. Amen.

Be present, Spirit of God, 
within us, your dwelling place and home, 
that this house may be one where 
all darkness is penetrated by your light, 
all troubles calmed by your peace, 
all evil redeemed by your love, 
all pain transformed in your suffering, 
and all dying glorified in your risen life. Amen.

God our Creator, our centre, our friend,

we thank you for our good life, 
for those who are dear to us, 
for our dead, and for all who have helped and influenced us. We thank you for the measure of freedom we have, 
and the extent to which we control our lives; 
and most of all we thank you for the faith that is in us, 
for our awareness of you and our hope in you.
Keep us, we pray you, thankful and hopeful 
and useful until our lives shall end.

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.

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord help us to spend Sabbath time so that we may connect with you our Creator and be your creation.
Beside the still waters we take our rest.

Lord as we rest beside your still waters may we feel the Holy Spirit renewing our spirits and remind us that we are human beings not human doings. 

As we connect with you Lord may we reconnect with our family members all over the world and keep them in our hearts as we pray. Lord beside the still waters may we find each of us resting in your arms and finding peace with each other. 

Lord God be with us as we become more intentional in making right choices when we have our times of Sabbath.

Lord God we pray for all those who cannot find times of Sabbath and rest. We pray for all those who work on  Your Day of Rest. May we always be sensitive to those who cannot enjoy days off for rest, relaxation, and renewal for the refreshment of bodies, minds, and spirits.

We pray this night for the flooding in The Gulf Coast, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and all the weather that has gone haywire throughout the world. We pray for all people who are affected and in danger due to severe and strange weather. We pray for rain here in your drought parched land. 

We pray for sensitivity, empathy, and acceptance of all our family members who may not feel that sense of belonging only you can give through the loving actions of others.

We pray for all those who are ill and may need further examinations to find out what is wrong.

We pray for all who travel and for their safe return.

We pray for all parents and children who are being stressed out by unnecessary demands made on them by a get ahead society. We pray that they may find rest and reconnections as families and spouses.

We pray that we may find rest and renewal and may begin to come down from our mountain top or retreat experience with renewed intention and purpose to rest and take Sabbath time.

We pray for this night_________________________

We thank you Lord for all your many blessings remembering _____________________

We celebrate life, love, and times with all our family members and special times remembering________________

We offer special remembrances of family members who have entered to the place of heavenly joy and rest remembering_____________________

We pray that we may rest tonight in your loving arms and feel the Light of Christ Burning brightly in our spirits. All this we ask in Jesus most holy name. Amen.



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Good Night Dearly Loved Ones. Enjoy your time of silence and digital detox.  I love you and Give thanks to God for our time together. 

With love and blessings,

Sara


Resources: 
New Zealand Prayer Book
Book of Common Prayer
Satucket - lessons

F.Y.I. More info on today's Saints of the Day
Aiden of Lindisfarne

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne

Walk With Me On Our Journey


Optional prayers

God we pray that as we take time to go deeper into the silence may we find ourselves one with you.

God we pray that in the silence we may be still and know.

God we pray for peace in the world and that we may be peacemakers in our acts of silent prayers and quiet deeds.

God we pray for all who are ill that they may be healed according to your will.

God we pray for all our loved ones who are dying and especially those who have entered the Thin Places.

God we pray for all those who are living on the margins may we by your guidance O God serve them and see you reflected in their eyes.

God we add our own prayers and thanksgivings especially ___________________________

God we pray this day for an end to violence of any kind.

God we pray for all those who were single, widowed, divorced on Valentine's day that they may find peace in their hearts and in your time find love and meaningful relationships again.

We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus your Son, Amen. 

or these

God you fixed the night and the day may we find energy during the day and rest at night.

God make us mindful of the needs of others and all those who we are having on our hearts at this very moment .

God thank you for calling all your creation into being and may we never take it for granted.

God we pray for all who are ill that they may be healed in body, mind, and spirit.

God take away all bitterness of hate and division so that we all may be one with you .

God give to us peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace of soul so that we may be better equipped to serve you and all our family members.

God make us ready to comfort and console those who are mourning and pre-grieving.

God help us know that love is the key to peace in this world and that we must learn to show, give, and be love to all of our family members even those who wish us harm.

God we add our own prayers and thanksgivings now________________.

God we lift up these our prayers in the name of  Jesus your Son. Amen.

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Today's wish is that you have a wonderful and peaceful day with warmth and love in your hearts!