Good Evening Beloved Community!
Happy Wednesday! What have you done today to #simplify your lives? I simplified my life by not attending one event and got much needed rest. We aren't meant to be Energizer Bunnies or Human Gyros! We must stop the glorification of busy and simplify our lives. I don't know what that means for you but I know that means to me that I must structure my live in such away to be able to serve God in God's kindom by wise ministerial choices every day. Remember our De-Cluttering blogs? They might be a way to start. I think it is time to look at our daily #AdventWord definition #Simplify
sim·pli·fy
[ˈsimpləˌfī]
VERB
simplifies (third person present) · simplified (past tense) · simplified (past participle) · simplifying (present participle)
make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand:
"an overhaul of court procedure to simplify litigation"
synonyms: make simple/simpler · make easy/easier to understand · make plainer · clarify · make more comprehensible/intelligible · paraphrase
antonyms: complicate
ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French simplifier, from medieval Latin simplificare, from Latin simplus (see simple)
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life O God.
Create in me a clean heart and way of life.
Create in me a clean heart and way.
Create in me a clean heart.
Create in me a clean.
Create in me
Create in.
Create.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind and spirit O God.
De- clutter my home, heart, body, mind, and spirit.
De-clutter my home, heart, body, mind.
De- clutter my home, heart, body.
De- clutter my home, heart,
De- clutter my home,
De- clutter.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause.
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.
Today is St. Nicholas Day and we will be using the lessons for his feast day! To begin our time together here is a quote from Anne Frank on St. Nicholas' Day:
1 John 4:7-14
God Is Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world.
A Song of Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:6-11
Though in the form of God, *
Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *
and was born in human likeness.
Being found in human form, he humbled himself *
and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him *
and given him the name above every name,
That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *
to the glory of God the Father.
Mark 10:13-16
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ 16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Let us pray using our #AdventWord #Simplify as we pray this night!
God help us to simplify our lives so that we may find ourselves living lives with more intention.
God give us strength to stop the glorification of busy and keep things simple.
God instill in us thoughtful simplicity so that we may practice conservation of your Cathedral of Life.
God may will live simple lives without attachment to things so that we may follow in your footsteps and travel lightly.
God help us to speak more plainly when we need to speak truth to power.
God help us to learn how to make ourselves easily understood without becoming defensive.
God help us to simply love simply live, and simply be.
God help us to serve you simply with hope, joy, love, and peace as compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful members of the Beloved Community.
God help us to simplify our lives during this season so that we may remind ourselves the true meaning of the season as we travel to the sacred birthplace where Jesus was born.
God help us to sing your praises in the song "Simple Gifts"
For whom and what shall we pray?
God we pray that we may de-clutter all the junk that is hindering our relationship with you and our families?
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray for an end to all the junk that divides us and fails to unite us.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray that we might find our reliance upon you and not things and earthly possessions.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray for an end to all forms of violence that there may be peace on the the Earth.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of bodies, minds, and spirits remembering especially _______________
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray for an end to _________________
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray for the conservation of God's Cathedral of Life.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray and give thanks for __________________
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we pray that the leaders of the nations and especially here at home may realize their duty is to lead and care for the least of these no matter who they are. We pray that they may truly practice and live by the words "Liberty and Justice for all!".
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God we lift up these our prayers to you O God.
God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
Matthew 5:1-12The Message (MSG)
You’re Blessed
5 1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Almighty God, who in your love gave to your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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.
Lord God we thank you for all those who have crossed our paths today help us to see you in them.
We are Family!
Lord we pray for all those who are in need of your extravagant love, mercy, and grace. Give us courage to see those who are suffering not as outcasts but family members!
We are Family!
Lord we pray for all those who travel Help us to share the road safely and be awake to those are around us.
We Are Family.
Lord help us to rejoice when our family members receive good news and to to be patient when you tell us not yet!
We are Family
Lord help us to plant healthy seeds on fertile ground and in tender hearts so that we may grow and sew love to feed and care for broken and hungry world.
We are family.
Lord help us to be the uniquely connected people of faith and your creation you made us to be!
We are family!.
Help us O Lord to continue to say yes to you when you ask us to "Walk with me on our Journey!'
We are family.
We are family made in love, knit together by love and grace, and may we show to each other and the world that We Are Family. 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.
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 our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the
angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in
danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and
grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and
serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Holy Wisdom, in your loving kindness you created and restored
us when we were lost: inspire us with your truth, that we may
love you with our whole minds and run to you with open hearts,
through Christ our Savior. Amen.
(source: Alcuin of York, Mass of Wisdom
Beloved God, as we approach your Presence, guide and stir us
with your Holy Spirit, that we may become one body, one spirit in
Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Loving Jesus: Protect and sustain us with your hand. Open the
door of your love that, sealed with your wisdom, we may be free
to serve you with joy. Amen.
(a prayer of St. Gertrude)
Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.
St. Teresa of Avila
The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people 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.
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people 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.
The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
+++++
Here is the guide for our #AdventWords2017
Good Night Beloved Family! I love you Have a blessed rest. May we live more simply so that we may simply live. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.
With Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy!
Sara
Resources:
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching Our Worship
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Quote Sites for Prayers and Quotes
Satucket Lectionary Page for Lessons and our Saint of the Day: St. Nicholas of Myra
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
YouTube
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