Good Evening Dear Ones!
Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! Today was one of my jammie days but that didn't prevent me from taking an afternoon prayer walk outdoors. The weather was overcast and not at all sunny. When we are presented with days like this prayer walking can lead us to much introspection and connecting with our heart homes a.k.a. inner beings. Sunny days can be a distraction. What did we pray for today. We remembered many things along the way that will be included in tonight's prayers. This weather also matched the weather in Scotland and our saint of the day is Margaret of Scotland. What kind of weather leads you to times of introspection and connecting with your inner beings? Take time to ponder this compound question. And ready yourselves to continue to put down heart roots. We planted the seeds on Day 1, Nourished them on Day 2, Today we carefully wait with patience as our heart roots grow and gain strength. Here is a quote from that fits this perfectly:
Patience is also a form of action.
Auguste Rodin
So let us engage in our "Peace be stills"
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Amazing Quotes from amazing women to open our liturgy.
A simple grateful thought turned heavenwards is the most perfect prayer.
Doris Lessing
What is a hero without love for mankind.
Doris Lessing
Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone; who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy.
Audre Lorde
I invite us all to come to this healing circle of love and hold sacred space and sanctuary for one another. Let us light our candles and see God's loving light reflected in each one of us
Hail, gladdening Light, of God’s pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest,
The lights of evening round us shine,
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung,
With undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone!
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
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.
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.
112 Beatus vir
1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
5 It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.
6 For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.
9 They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
7 If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. 8You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. 9Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near’, and therefore view your needy neighbour with hostility and give nothing; your neighbour might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. 10Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.’
8 Domine, Dominus noster
1 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.
3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.
4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
5 What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
6 You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
10 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2 John 1-9
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us for ever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from*Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! 8 Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we*have worked for, but may receive a full reward. 9 Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *
stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;
all you of Jacob's line, give glory.
23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;
neither does he hide his face from them; *
but when they cry to him he hears them.
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who
worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
"May your heart live for ever!"
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to
the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.
Luke 4:16-22
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!
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 offer our prayers as we look at today's prayer walking pictures.
God we give thanks for cloudy days so that our minds and hearts may be ever fixed on you.
God we give thanks for the beauty of your Cathedral of Life in all of its wondrous forms..
God we pray for all who are in need of shelter and safe places to lay their heads tonight and in the coming months in the cold weather.
God we thank you for steady feet to walk with you on your journey and as you walk with us on ours.
God we pray that our prayers for this fragile and broken world may soar to the heavens and around the world just as these dandelion seeds will do when the wind like the Holy Spirit will do.
God we pray for all those who are walking, biking, driving and taking any form of transportation. We pray for their safety.
God we pray for the hungry who are lacking food and healthy meals.
God we pray that those who find it necessary to deface property may find other ways in which to express themselves.
God we pray for clean water and pesticide free crops that will nourish us and hydrate us.
God we pray that we may continue to put down heart roots and that they may grow deeply into relationship with you O God.
God give us courage to follow you on the path you have set for our lives . Help us to be courageous in answering your call with a loud "Here I am God, Send Me"
God we lift up our prayers to you and remember before you now__________________/
God help us to spend time in silence before you and listen for your still small voice and may we nourish and with patience put down heart roots into our heart homes. May our inner beings be empowered, enlivened. and expanded to welcome you and find CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) Amen.
O God, who called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave her zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Let us continue to pray!
God help us to be calm and instill our hearts and heart homes with compassion, acceptance, love and mercy and may we have the necessary Love Energy to accomplish the many things you are calling us to do.
God help us to calm down and be more mindful as we go through all the hustle and bustle of this season and beyond.
God help us to be more reverent in our devotion and worship to you at church, home, out and about and in your Cathedral of Life.
God help us to take time to care for ourselves and others, being mindful of our needs and our family members.
God help us to be attentive to all of our family members who are ill. Help us to be co-healers with you and that they may know that they are loved and cared for. May we be mindful of all of their struggles in body, mind, and spirit.
God give us courage to examine all the facts in the daily news cycle and speak truth to power.
God give us the mind of your Son Jesus Christ that we may model our lives after Him.
God give us the courage to lovingly respond and care for your children who are the least of these.
God make us to be the peacemakers that you need us to be to help love,heal, and care for your world and may we lovingly respond to the needs of all of our family members who are victims of war, violence, terror, and human trafficking.
God give us an awareness of those things that cause us to be a divided world and may we learn what it means to be truly your family and love one another.
God we pray for all faith leaders who need the courage to learn how to be united in love, peace, and harmony and accept belief systems that may differ from their own.
God we pray for all who are seeking employment and discerning new life paths.
God we offer our prayers and thanksgivings to you for ourselves and on behalf of those who have asked us to pray and those who haven't the courage to ask for prayers.
God we lift up these our prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances in the Name of your Son Jesus our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother and friend. Amen.
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Thanksgiving Prayer
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with
water.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure
of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their
light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a
beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all
goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.
Iroquois Prayer, adapted
(Sisters of St. Joseph of 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.
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.
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.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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. Amen.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
Christ Has No Body. by Teresa of Avila.
Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks. Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Christ be within us to keep us,
beside us to guard,
before us to lead,
behind us to protect,
beneath us to support,
above us to bless.
The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.
++++++
Good Night Dear Family ! I love you and give thanks to God for you always. May we continue to grow and put down heart roots that will enable us to spread the God News to this fragile and broken world. May we serve God and each other with the Fruits of the Spirit so that God's creation may be renewed and become a place of peace, unity and one family of God in humanity.
With love, joy, peace, and hope,
Sara
Resources:
Quote sites for Prayers, Audre Lorde, Doris Lessing, St. Teresa of Avila
A New Zealand Prayer Book.
Satucket Lectionary for Lessons and the Saint of the Day: Margaret of Scotland
Metis Aboriginal Ministries.
Walk With Me On Our Journey.
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