Good Evening Dear Family!
Happy Friday! Today I didn't make it on to the prayer walk trail as the light began to fade fast and I have a new rule not to walk in the dark. But every day I walk in the light of God 24/7/365. These past few days we have been talking about putting down heart roots at home and around our neighborhoods. Today we need to use our heart roots and inner beings to connect to the larger world not just humanity, but all of God's creation or as we call it God's Cathedral of Life. God's kingdoms/ and kindoms are under attack. What kingdoms are those?
Plant Kingdom
Mineral Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
Every day we see in the news stories about animal species going extinct and being endangered, plants being corrupted by pesticides, minerals being leached from the earth. Not to mention oil spills, Animal trophy killing, and a dependence upon fossil fuels and greater increased in our carbon footprints What is this Sara is talking about the environment? Yes! I am! Our voices cannot be silent on these matters because what ever harms each of these kindoms or kingdoms harms us at all levels of ourselves (Body, Mind, and Spirit). We need to reclaim God's Creation and make it healthy for the present and in the future which is only a breath away. Today, I decided that I needed to re-schedule my eye appointment to an earlier time so that I wouldn't have to go from the pool to home and back to the eye doctor which was in the same area as the pool. I was able to get in a half an hour early and could leave the car at the eye doctor's and go to Trader Joe's and get lunch I all worked out fabulously What I am trying to say is that we must be intentional about reducing our carbon footprints Here is what I'm asking each of us to consider: Until the end of the year let us begin to ask ourselves how we can avoid getting in the car multiple times a day Let us consolidate our times we go to a certain area of town Let's keep a diary of how often we jump into the car just to be jumping in the car and doing mindless driving. Can we walk to get where we are going? Take public transportation? Carpool? Can we go without that one item that we really don't need? Let's use our heart roots to guide us through these next few weeks of the year. Also it is time to be more mindful because of the holiday hype that causes much distraction. This is a no brainer people we must set examples for our family to follow. When we reduce our dependence upon cars, things, we master the one thing our heart roots do not like attachment. Our heart roots like simplicity and the more simpler the better Storing up treasure and abusing God's Creation hurts our heart homes, heart roots, and make our relationship with God harder. So let us use our heart roots for the betterment of the world.
This weekend let us make out our life simplification plan for the end of the year. What are the differences between needs and wants? It's also a good time to do our Fall de-cluttering! Now let us work on our Worry Free Sabbath work! Get out your jar, box, or journal and you know the rest.
After you complete this please return for our evening liturgy
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know
Be still.
Be
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Our special quotes for today come from Margaret Atwood. Take time to meditate upon these quotes along with the opening sentences.
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 think calling it climate change is rather limiting. I would rather call it the everything change.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the
Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
God gave unto the Animals A wisdom past our power to see: Each knows innately how to live, Which we must learn laboriously.
Margaret Atwood
Worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness; let the whole earth
tremble before him. Psalm 96:9
God is not the voice in the whirlwind, God is the whirlwind.
Margaret Atwood
Yours is the day, O God, yours also the night; you established
the moon and the sun. You fixed all the boundaries of the
earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalm 74:15,16
Nature is to zoos as God is to churches.
Margaret Atwood
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
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
Margaret Atwood
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.
Let us open tonight's healing circle of love with this hymn:
1 We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand:
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes, and the sunshine,
and soft, refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.
2 He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the winds and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread. [Refrain
]3 We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all thy love imparts,
and, what thou most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts. [Refrain]
Hail, gladdening Light, of God’s pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.
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.
With undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone!
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
Click on the link for the music.
Hail Gladdening Light
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.
IN LAK’ECH
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
Luis Valdez
Psalm 61
Exaudi, Deus
1 Hear my cry, O God, *
and listen to my prayer.
2 I call upon you from the ends of the earth
with heaviness in my heart; *
set me upon the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge, *
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 I will dwell in your house for ever; *
I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; *
you have granted me the heritage of those who fear your Name.
6 Add length of days to the king's life; *
let his years extend over many generations.
7 Let him sit enthroned before God for ever; *
bid love and faithfulness watch over him.
8 So will I always sing the praise of your Name, *
and day by day I will fulfill my vows.
Click on the link for the music.
All things bright and beautiful
Micah 4:1–4
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
A Song of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:24-28
I will take you from among all nations; *
and gather you from all lands to bring you home.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *
and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.
A new heart I will give you *
and a new spirit put within you.
I will take the stone heart from your chest *
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will help you walk in my laws *
and cherish my commandments and do them.
You shall be my people, *
and I will be your God.
Titus 2:7–8,11–14
Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
A Song of Christ’s Goodness
Anselm of Canterbury
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you; *
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride, *
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds, *
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life; *
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; *
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead, *
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us; *
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness, *
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.
Luke 12:35–44
Jesus said, “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions."
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.
++++
A reminder from yesterday's Gospel.
Luke 4:16–22a
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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“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,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And 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. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
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.
Holy God, our greatest treasure, you blessed Hugh and Robert, Bishops of Lincoln, with wise and cheerful boldness for the proclamation of your Word to rich and poor alike: Grant that all who minister in your Name may serve with diligence, discipline and humility, fearing nothing but the loss of you and drawing all to you through Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you in the communion of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[A note on the prayer below, when I mean being brought low it means being humbled and not take anything for granted. Putting heart roots down means that we need to become humble and open to God. It means leaving our egos at the door and letting God in more fully.]
God we pray that in this time of fear we may be brought low so that we may never take any of the abundance you have given us for granted.
God we pray that in this time of violence and oppression we may be brought low to help you find solutions to help our family members in their time of need and that love may be the key to turn off the violence switch.
God we pray that in this time of cold weather we may be brought low to help clothe, feet, and give shelter to our family members who need it.
God we pray that in this time of family gatherings we may be brought low to be able to love and find ways to give our family members who are lost, lonely, alone, or estranged from their families a new family during these holidays.
God we pray that in this time of division we may be brought low to be able to become peacemakers and your Children.
God we pray that in this time where we find ourselves haughty and overfull of one up man ship. we may be brought low to be given a holy reality check.
God we pray that in this time of stress and anxiety for all caregivers we may be brought low to be given the necessary tools to extend our hands, feet, and arms to give respite to those suffering caregiver fatigue.
God we pray that in this time we may be brought low so that you might lift us up and give us courage to be the Family of Love you are calling us to be.
God we pray that in this time we may be brought low when we see refugees, victims of violence, and any other media that seems to make our hearts numb. Help our hearts to be engaged and infused with Love Energy and our Heart Homes widened and tenderized.
God we pray that in this time of silence we may listen for your voice in the stillness and that as we have been brought low we may see with clarity the lighted pathway of peace, mercy, justice, and love and that we may be made CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful).
God we lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Resources:
Enriching our Worship
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
Luis Valdez- In Lak 'Ech
Book of Common Prayer - BCPONLINE.org
Quote Sites for: Margaret Atwood, St Teresa of Avila
Satucket Lectionary Page for Lessons and Saints of the Day Robert Grossteste Bishop of of Lincoln
Hugh Bishop of Lincoln
YouTube
Hymnary
No comments:
Post a Comment