Friday, October 27, 2017

A big announcement! Please read! I think it has to do with feet and prayers!


Good Evening Dear Pilgrims! 
I have an exciting announcement and it has been a long time coming!
Please take a look at what I did last evening! I began my return towards prayer walking! We are hoping to be back on the trail on Monday if not Tuesday! Please remember to send in your prayer requests in the comment section! God is Good! Just a reminder of what our prayer walking frame work looked like in the past.


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Here is my prayer walking framework for those of you who walk. If you do not walk, get a map of your city and circle the landmarks. As the old Yellow Pages Ad told us "Let your fingers do the walking!" I even found on Wednesday evening that you can even modify it to work while driving. Please be careful when praying and driving!

Begin by offering your walk and prayers to the glory of God.
This is done outside your front door. (If you walk during the evening- turn on the porch light)
 As I turn the corner I often times will see lots of litter and I pray that we may all become better stewards of God's creation.
Pray for your nearby neighbors and those who live in your neighborhood. (Y/our neighborhood is the world)
Often times I will look back and take a picture of the big Sun and that reminds me to center my prayers with the help of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Take a picture of the Big Sun to remind you of God the Creator and give thanks.
At the first Stop light or where ever you cross the street pray for all those who are driving, walking, biking, and all forms of transport. Pray for safety.
As you walk notice the businesses and pray for the employers and employees. 
If you hear a siren of any kind pray. Pray for the first responders, the person they are going to help. 
Begin your prayer list or prayer requests you have been given. If you are on Twitter or Facebook do not be afraid to make prayer requests. I welcome you and I welcome them.

We have a gentlemen's club called the Spearmint Rhino on our route: I pray for women, children, and an end to human trafficking and pray for our family members (that is anyone to me) who have depression and self-esteem issues.

Flower beds, weedy areas, and shrubbery can be a good way to remember all the unsaid prayers or requests that haven't been offered to us or have been forgotten. 

We pass the Public Library and pray for those who teach and those who learn. 

If you should see a church on your path. Pray for the Church and its leaders both clergy and lay.

We pray for our leaders when we pass city hall. We pray for our family members who are homeless and hungry who make the City Hall Plaza their home for the evening.

The Police Station is on our route. Pray for law enforcement personnel ,our troops and peacekeepers.

The list is endless. I think you begin to get the basics. Always take time to enjoy God's creation. Please remember it is your walk and your individual journey that you take with God.  Always take time to give thanks and praise to God the Creator. Be creative and make sure it suits your needs and time.

Won’t you walk with me on our journey?

Tonight please take a look at the prayer walking framework and then engage in the following virtual prayer walk

Here is the new prayer walk frame work ! hope you enjoy and are refreshed by it.

Here are two musical selections suitable for tonight's prayer walk :




Begin by offering your walk and prayers to the glory of God.

We begin by consecrating our walk to God. We pray this prayer: God we consecrate this walk to you. Enliven our spirits, quicken our steps, and hydrate us with The Waters of Live that courses through our veins. May we be present to all those who have requested our prayers for healing and all those who are in need as we walk in God’s Cathedral of Life.  Amen.

Take a few deep breaths to breathe in the Holy Spirit.

We start our walk with the intention of praying and walking for those who are in need of healing.

Set your pace to the music that you are walking and praying to. 

As we walk we take a look at the pavement is it crooked or smooth? We pray to God to make this a smooth walk and that we may watch our steps not only while we walk but in our lives.

As we approach the first corner we pray for peace and healing of God’s world.

As we approach the first STOP sign we Stop, Look, and Listen to all living things and for God’s still small voice. What is God saying to us?

As we prepare to cross the street we pray for the safety of all who walk, drive and are on the road and cross unsafe streets. We also take time to remember the Good Samaritan. Are there any people who are in need on our route? Pray for them.

As we make our way from our homes we pray for all those who are in need, homeless, hungry, alone, and made to feel invisible.

We begin our prayer list and start praying slowly, deliberately, and reverently.

As we go along we begin to look around for opportunities to pray for all living things and many concerns that God brings us to mind.

As we continue to walk we begin to offer our thanksgivings for all God has given us and God’s Cathedral of Life. 

As we begin to conclude our walk we take time to be silent and listen to nature.
We now take time to pray for ourselves and ask for God’s healing of anything that is giving our bodies, minds, and spirits trouble.

We pray that as we prayer walk we may bring Good News to all whom we meet with a greeting and a smile and that as we look them in their eyes and see God. We remember these words :
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salv
ation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 

We conclude our walk today with the words of St. Teresa of Avila:
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ's compassion to the world
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about
doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.” Amen.


Now let us turn to our time of Evening prayer!

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me
will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12

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.



124 Nisi quia Dominus

1 If the Lord had not been on our side, *
let Israel now say;

2 If the Lord had not been on our side, *
when enemies rose up against us;

3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
in their fierce anger toward us;

4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
and the torrent gone over us;

5 Then would the raging waters *
have gone right over us.

6 Blessed be the Lord! *
he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.


Job 23:10-17


10 But he knows the way that I take;
   when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold. 
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
   I have kept his way and have not turned aside. 
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
   I have treasured in* my bosom the words of his mouth. 
13 But he stands alone and who can dissuade him?
   What he desires, that he does. 
14 For he will complete what he appoints for me;
   and many such things are in his mind. 
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
   when I consider, I am in dread of him. 
16 God has made my heart faint;
   the Almighty* has terrified me; 
17 If only I could vanish in darkness,
   and thick darkness would cover my face!*

The First Song of Isaiah    Ecce, Deus
         Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
    I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
    and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
    from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
    Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
    see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
    and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
    for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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.

1 Peter 3:14-18,22

14But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,* and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and reverence.* Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered* for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you* to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

A Song of Praise    Benedictus es, Domine
          Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34
Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
    you are worthy of praise; glory to you.
Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *
    we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
    on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.
Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
    we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
    in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
    we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Matthew 10:16-22

16 ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved

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. 



This night O God we come to you in the silence of our beings seeking refreshment and renewal and peace in our bodies, minds, and spirits. We come to you and acknowledge our failings and if we have done anything against you  or any of our family members to ask for forgiveness and to set on a path of changing our minds, hearts and life's direction. We come to you and pray that we may cleanse and purify ourselves and living quarters:
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.



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

We pray this night for all of our family members who find themselves outside in the cold. We pray for protective shelter. We pray continually for the least of these that we may always remember that they are family members to us all.

We pray this night that we may all learn how to pay it forward with love and kindness.

We pray for peace, unity, and universal human rights in this fragile and broken world.

We pray for an end to violence and any act that harms God's family and Creation.

We pray for seasonable weather and especially rain in all drought parched areas of the world.

We pray for all of our family members who mourn the loss of loved ones.  We pray that all of us who continue to grieve may find and feel your comfort and solace. 

We pray for all or our family members who are face bullying and abuse on a daily basis that they may be protected and removed from harmful situations.

We pray for all refugees, immigrants, captives , and victims of human trafficking. 

We pray for all who are ill and living with chronic illness. We pray for all of us who are learning to live in limbo awaiting diagnosis and treatment.

We pray for sound government and that all citizens of the world may be afforded equality, justice, and courage to use their voices for the voiceless.

We pray for____________________________

We give thanks for________________________

We pray these our prayers and thanksgivings in the name of  Jesus our brother, savior, and model in the way we should live our lives. Amen.

Or these!

God of all goodness, come into our heart this night and stay with us when the night is dark and the day is ending. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, help us to Lovingly Respond to the needs all of us your Children who are the least of these.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, may give the gift or presence to all who are mourning any loss.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray that we may lovingly care for your Cathedral of Life and each other.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray for all who are dying and have died today may they enter or have entered the Thin Places with joy and peace. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other while we are living and when are in the Thin Places and reflect your loving image to one another.


God of all goodness, take away all fears, hate, and dis-ease that keeps us from being united as your family of love.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, give us courage to speak truth to power and the strength to fight injustice anywhere and be a voice for the voiceless.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we offer our additional prayers remembering especially_______________
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness we lift up our prayers in the name of your only son Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, brother, and friend. Amen.


Today's wish: Be who you are and let the world see you shine with the secret sauce God has given you! The secret sauce is Love!


Good night fellow prayer pilgrims. I hope you are as excited as I am!  Our other familiar prayers will be back tomorrow too. Don't forget that we are in weekend retreat mode and today we do our Worry Free Sabbath journaling, sticky note work into our boxes and jars. We need to be doing this often. I love you and give God thanks for you in gratitude. Get out and walk this weekend. 

With love and blessings!

Sara


Resources:
Satucket Lectionary Page
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
Book of Common Prayer
Quote Sites for prayers!
YouTube

1 comment:

  1. Please add a prayer for my sister, Dee, who is dying from liver cancer. She has been given about 3 months, by her doctors. SHe is also an atheist, so has no hope in anything beyond this life.

    ReplyDelete