Entering into a time of midweek Sabbath

Good Evening Beloved Community,

It is time to enter into a midweek holy pause, so that we can catch our breath and center ourselves in God's holy presence. This is the part of the week where I suggest taking a mini- Sabbath. That is what we are going to do tonight! Fewer prayers and greater pauses. So let us begin with our "Peace be Stills".

Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.

Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.

Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.

God dwells in you.

And also with you.

Let us light a candle and be centered in this holy circle of healing and love.

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

Let us pause and make our own personal intention as we make vigil and pray. 

God we light our candles tonight as we pray and give thanks for our family members where there is much division, hatred, and fear. We pray that as we pray this list of  our family members we may come up with our own list of family members with whom we find ourselves divided and whom we should work towards inclusion, universal human rights, equality, equity, and equal protection under the law for all God's Children. We pray this night that we may  become the Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful family members to all and including the following:
LGBTQIA
Religious communities
The least of these
The mentally ill
African Americans
Muslims
Asian Americans
Native Americans
Hispanics
Immigrants both undocumented and documented.
Refugees
Disabled
Women
Children
May we seek to widen our tables, hearts, heart homes and community to accept them fully and that may we honor them as they honor us by their presence each day. We light our candles and say to each group on the list and our own "The Light of Christ in me Recognizes and Accepts the Light of Christ in you my brothers and sisters of _______________ We welcome you fully into the family of God and ask your forgiveness for any wrongs we have done to you and  in the name of Jesus. May we pray and strive to seek to know the Christ/ God in you as you seek to know the Christ/ God in us. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, 

    you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
    the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Psalm 116 Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of
my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever
I called upon him.

2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.

Jeremiah 17:14-18

¹⁴ Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
   save me, and I shall be saved;
   for you are my praise. 
¹⁵ See how they say to me,
   ‘Where is the word of the Lord?
   Let it come!’ 
¹⁶ But I have not run away from being a shepherd^* in your service,
   nor have I desired the fatal day.
You know what came from my lips;
   it was before your face. 
¹⁷ Do not become a terror to me;
   you are my refuge on the day of disaster; 
¹⁸ Let my persecutors be shamed,
   but do not let me be shamed;
let them be dismayed,
   but do not let me be dismayed;
bring on them the day of disaster;
   destroy them with double destruction! 

Galatians 3:23-28

23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. ²⁷As many of
you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is no longer 

Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Luke 10:1-9

10After this the Lord appointed seventy^* others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. ³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. ⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” ⁶And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.⁸Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; ⁹cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”^*

 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.

Let us pause and reflect upon the God News in the above passages from the God News!

Gracious God, we thank you for calling Florence Li Tim-Oi, much-beloved daughter, to be the first woman to exercise the office of a priest in our Communion; By the grace of your Spirit inspire us to follow her example, serving your people with patience and happiness all our days, and witnessing in every circumstance to our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

  You are welcome to add these prayers as well.

Let us pray for all God's Children this night an always. Remember as we pray for All God's Children that means all of us.

We pray for all of our family members this night and always.

We pray for all children that they may be loved and gently cared for and treated with dignity and respect.

We pray for all caregivers that they may be afforded love, respect, and respite care.

We pray for our enemies that we may learn to love and find ways to become united/

We pray for our animal kingdom family members and especially those who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

We pray for all refugees, political prisoners, victims of violence, abuse, and terror.

We pray for all of our family members who are vulnerable and feel invisible.

We pray for all of our LGBTQ family members who are continuing to seek for inclusion and loving acceptance. We pray that we who are in the process of coming out may find it a safe place and a place of springs. We pray that we may be afforded love and dignified treatment.

We pray for all of our family members who practice other religions not our own may be given the same love, respect, dignity, and  freedom to practice their and our faiths without fear or retribution.

We pray for all of our family members who have different political leanings as ours that we may come to a mutual understanding of dignity and respect and find common ground.

We pray for all of our family members who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter that we may rise and lovingly respond to their needs.

We pray for all our family members who are grieving, lonely, lost, and afraid. We pray that we may lovingly respond and be compassionate with empathetic and sympathetic hearts.

We pray for _______________

We give thanks for_______________

We remember___________________

We celebrate_________________

We lift up these our prayers to our Brother, Redeemer, Friend, Jesus who teaches us daily how to be one with each other in love.  Amen.


The Beatitudes  Matthew 5:3–12


Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)


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.

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)
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always
protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow
the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
(source: from Saint Clare)


Good Night Dear Family Members ! You are loved and appreciated this day and always.
Tomorrow we will make vigil and pray for God's Cathedral of Life.


With Love and Blessings,

Sara


Resources :
Book Of Common Prayer Canticles.
Walk With Me On Our Journey - Meditations, original prayers, and vigils
Lectionary Page: Lessons and Collect of the Day.