Good Evening Dear Ones!
Let us sing praise to God for the day that God has given us. This is the birthday of Mahalia Jackson one of my heroes of the faith and social justice. We all must take time to appreciate our brothers and sisters who are engaged in the arts, writing, and music. Each one of these things puts us in touch with God and each other in a special way. Mahalia Jackson did just that. I look to the arts as one of the avenues of healing. So dear ones tonight who is the artist or artists in writing, painting, sculpture, music, and theatre that connects you to the holy? Spend some time in silence and ponder these things.
Following our time of pondering let us meditate upon Sirach 44:
Hymn in Honor of Our Ancestors[a]
44 Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
our ancestors in their generations.
2 The Lord apportioned to them[b] great glory,
his majesty from the beginning.
3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
and made a name for themselves by their valor;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
4 those who led the people by their counsels
and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
they were wise in their words of instruction;
5 those who composed musical tunes,
or put verses in writing;
6 rich men endowed with resources,
living peacefully in their homes—
7 all these were honored in their generations,
and were the pride of their times.
8 Some of them have left behind a name,
so that others declare their praise.
9 But of others there is no memory;
they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
they and their children after them.
10 But these also were godly men,
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11 their wealth will remain with their descendants,
and their inheritance with their children’s children.[c]
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
their children also, for their sake.
13 Their offspring will continue forever,
and their glory will never be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
but their name lives on generation after generation.
15 The assembly declares[d] their wisdom,
and the congregation proclaims their praise.
our ancestors in their generations.
2 The Lord apportioned to them[b] great glory,
his majesty from the beginning.
3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
and made a name for themselves by their valor;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
4 those who led the people by their counsels
and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
they were wise in their words of instruction;
5 those who composed musical tunes,
or put verses in writing;
6 rich men endowed with resources,
living peacefully in their homes—
7 all these were honored in their generations,
and were the pride of their times.
8 Some of them have left behind a name,
so that others declare their praise.
9 But of others there is no memory;
they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
they and their children after them.
10 But these also were godly men,
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11 their wealth will remain with their descendants,
and their inheritance with their children’s children.[c]
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
their children also, for their sake.
13 Their offspring will continue forever,
and their glory will never be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
but their name lives on generation after generation.
15 The assembly declares[d] their wisdom,
and the congregation proclaims their praise.
Enoch
16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up,
an example of repentance to all generations.
an example of repentance to all generations.
Noah
17 Noah was found perfect and righteous;
in the time of wrath he kept the race alive;[e]
therefore a remnant was left on the earth
when the flood came.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him
that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood.
in the time of wrath he kept the race alive;[e]
therefore a remnant was left on the earth
when the flood came.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him
that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood.
Abraham
19 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,
and no one has been found like him in glory.
20 He kept the law of the Most High,
and entered into a covenant with him;
he certified the covenant in his flesh,
and when he was tested he proved faithful.
21 Therefore the Lord[f] assured him with an oath
that the nations would be blessed through his offspring;
that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth,
and exalt his offspring like the stars,
and give them an inheritance from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates[g] to the ends of the earth.
and no one has been found like him in glory.
20 He kept the law of the Most High,
and entered into a covenant with him;
he certified the covenant in his flesh,
and when he was tested he proved faithful.
21 Therefore the Lord[f] assured him with an oath
that the nations would be blessed through his offspring;
that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth,
and exalt his offspring like the stars,
and give them an inheritance from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates[g] to the ends of the earth.
Isaac and Jacob
22 To Isaac also he gave the same assurance
for the sake of his father Abraham.
The blessing of all people and the covenant
23 he made to rest on the head of Jacob;
he acknowledged him with his blessings,
and gave him his inheritance;
he divided his portions,
and distributed them among twelve tribes.
for the sake of his father Abraham.
The blessing of all people and the covenant
23 he made to rest on the head of Jacob;
he acknowledged him with his blessings,
and gave him his inheritance;
he divided his portions,
and distributed them among twelve tribes.
Moses
From his descendants the Lord[h] brought forth a godly man,
who found favor in the sight of all
who found favor in the sight of all
Tonight we are going to use Mahalia Jackson quotes interspersed and 3 sets of intercessory prayers laced throughout.
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.
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.
God let us light our candles to pray that we may love radically with open hearts, open souls, open spirits, and open minds. Let our love be seen not only in words but deeds. Let our lives show the love that you have given us daily without fear. God let our love be the measuring stick from which we may guide ourselves to do better when we fall short in loving all of our family members. God help us to love with words that have deep and abiding meaning that will build up and not tear down. Give us the courage to support our family members who desire to love and live openly as beloved children of God. God help us to know that Love truly is Love without condition and needs to be celebrated daily in many and exciting ways. God help us to love radically in the service of others and with enough Love Energy to set the world ablaze with enlivened and joyful hearts. We pray these our prayers in the name of God and in the name of Love who is God. Amen.
Dear God we pray this night that we feel your presence in everywhere that we live, move, and just be.
God may we see you in the arts and recognize that you are the Master Musician, Artist, Writer, and Choreographer in our lives, creation, and throughout the world and universe.
God we earnestly pray for rain and and end to all the drought parched areas of the world and in our country.
God help us to sing your praises daily and that our songs may rise to the heavens!
God we pray for all who are in need of healing now and ongoing. We pray and give thanks to you for your being the Master Healer of us all.
God we pray for peace in this world may we sit at your feet and learn to become better at peace making and that we may become truly your children.
God give us times of rest, refreshment, and renewal so that we may serve you with strength renewed.
God help us all to cast off our feelings of invisibility and put on courageous visibility and that we may speak truth to power and empower the voiceless to speak.
God we pray for all who are grieving and pre-grieving the loss of loved ones this time of year.
God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of those who have asked us for our prayers. We now pray_________
God we lift up these our prayers in the name of your only son Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 90:14-17
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.
1 Chronicles 29:14-19New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple[a] for which I have made provision.”
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
3Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our* hearts, to be known and read by all; 3and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
John 21:15-17,24-25
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 17He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.
24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. 25But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
God of all people may we ever remember that everyone and everything is precious in your sight and you love and protect all with equality and with impartiality. May we remember that we are all chosen people of God because he made us.
God of all Creation may we hold everything that you made with reverence and that everything is holy.
God who made all animals, minerals, and vegetables. May we protect and stop misusing and abusing all that you have made. Help us to realize that when one thing is taken away or made extinct that we ourselves are on step closer to being and endangered species.
God who made us a family may we seek to be families and be united in love and in one heart and spirit.
God we pray this night for an end to all violence, terror, abuse, bullying, inequality, and all things that separate us one from another.
God we remember this day:
The least of these our family members.
Our family members in need of healing and comfort.
Our family members who are in mourning and in need of comfort and compassion.
Our family members who are transitioning from this life into the Thin Places and those who are already residing there.
Our family members who live in times of uncertainty. May we offer them help with gentle hands and hearts.
Our family members who protect and serve us daily.
Our family members who feel lonely and isolated. May we see them and love them and speak lovingly toward them.
Our family members who are facing struggles this week.
Our family members who are in danger and especially those who live in Syria, Iraq, and_______. We remember all refugees, captives, those who are victims of human trafficking.
All our family members wherever they may be. We pray that they may be loved and given courage and shown mercy.
All this we ask in Jesus the Christ, The Anointed One who heals, saves, loves, and sees everyone as a friend and includes all. Amen.
Eternal God, light of the world and Creator of all that is good and lovely: We bless your name for inspiring Mahalia Jackson all those who with images and words have filled us with desire and love for you; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
From THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER;
For Church Musicians and Artists (I think this applies to all artists too)
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in
heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through
art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on
earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty,
and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for
evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dear Jesus may we become transformed and transfigured to do your will and that we may walk as children of the light.
Jesus, may we always be able to feel your presence wherever we are and may we always recognize Your gentle tap on our shoulder or butterfly in the stomach or a joy-filled heart.
Jesus, feed us each day with the Bread of Heaven and may we drink from the Waters of Eternal life that continually hydrates us.
Jesus, may we continually have our eyes fixed on you and follow the path that you have set for us in our daily life.
Jesus, may we see you in all of our family members who may not be the ones we have met yet. We pray for all refugees, strangers, captives. political prisoners, those who seek to divide, those who hate, those who are not able to see or move past the phobias, and isms.
Jesus, we pray for peace in the world where there seems to be a lack of it. We pray for peace in Your homeland and wherever there is a lack of peace.
Jesus, may we ever be grateful for all the blessings of this life an give thanks with an overflowing heart.
Jesus, we pray for________________
Jesus, help us to have each other's backs and love more fully each and every breath\ that we take.
Jesus, help us to be your hands, feet, voices, in the world to serve and help heal the least of these.
May we always remember those who have lost loved ones and that we may come to their aid with love, compassion, and comfort.
We lay these our prayers at the feet of Jesus the Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Let us hear the wonderful Mahalia Jackson by clicking Mahalia Jackson mix
Good Night Dear Family! Have a blessed and restful night! I love you! I give God thanks for you this night and always.May your heart homes be filled with love, joy, hope, and peace and radiate God's love and light to the world.
Love, blessings, prayers, and a heart full of song!
Sara
Resources:
Book of Common Prayer
Quote Sites for Mahalia Jackson
Satucket Lectionary: Common of Artists and Writers
Walk With Me On Our Journey
YouTube
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