Sunday, January 28, 2018

Keeping Christ's secret identity?



Good Evening Beloved Community!

Happy Sunday! I was reading the Gospel lesson for evening prayer and Jesus continues to want his disciples to keep his identity secret after Peter's acknowledgement. Jesus does this many times in the Gospels! The story of the Transfiguration, the time when he was at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee when his mother asked him to turn water into wine. Do you ever wonder why he did that? I do! Maybe he wanted to have the people he came into contact with do a self discovery and not have to be told. Jesus was a big on not wanting to pressure people in to believing who he was or believing in him right away. We all have to come by faith naturally and without coercion. We will see these stories repeatedly in the coming weeks and then after the Resurrection on the road to Emmaus. In the coming weeks I would like us to meditate and see if we feel our hearts burning when Jesus is steadfastly in our lives. I would also like us to see if we see Jesus' secret identity when we meet all of God's children every day. Remember we were and are made in the image and likeness of God. Can you see Jesus in your family members and yes even those who rub you the wrong way?  So let us begin and start our day with "The Be Stills"!

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.

God is love and where true love is,God himself is there!

Let us love one another as God Loves Us.
Let us love one another as God Loves.
Let us love one another
Let us Love one.
Let us Love

Be the loving change you want to see in the world. 

Let us light our candles and show God's love and light to the world.


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 light our candles so that the flame of Christ may burn within us and that we may say to each other "The Light of Christ in me, recognizes the Light of Christ in You!

Dear Ones it is time once again for our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil and light our candles and pray for an end to hatred and fear. We pray this night for clean air, water, and soil so that God's Cathedral of Life may be revived and protected. We pray for all of our family members who are on the margins and who feel lost, lonely, alone, and invisible. We pray for peace and  safety in all cities, states, and nations of the world. Tonight we pray especially for our family members who were killed and injured in Kabul, Afghanistan. Let us pray for an end to all forms of terror in our midst.



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.


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!



84 Quam dilecta!

1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.

3 Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
they will always be praising you.

4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.

5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.

6 They will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.

7 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.

8 Behold our defender, O God; *
and look upon the face of your Anointed.

9 For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God 
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

10 For the Lord God is both sun and shield; *
he will give grace and glory;

11 No good thing will the Lord withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.

12 O Lord of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust in you!

Genesis 18:16-33

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked towards Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17The Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?* 19No, for I have chosen* him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of theLord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.’ 20Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!21I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’

22 So the men turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.* 23Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ 26And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ 27Abraham answered, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ 29Again he spoke to him, ‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of forty I will not do it.’ 30Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not do it, if I find thirty there.’ 31He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.’ 32Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’ 33And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

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. 

Galatians 5:13-25

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;* only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,* but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy,* drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

A Song of Hosea

Hosea 6:1-3

Come, let us return to our God, * who has torn us and will heal us.

God has struck us and will bind up our wounds, * after two days revive us,

On the third day restore us, *
that in God’s presence we may live.

Let us humble ourselves, let us strive to know the Lord, * whose justice dawns like morning light,
its dawning as sure as the sunrise.

God’s justice will come to us like a shower, * like spring rains that water the earth. 

Mark 8:22-30

Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people* brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ 24And the man* looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ 25Then Jesus* laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’* 

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’28And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’* 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

 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. 

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


A Collect for Sundays
Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over
the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new
Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for
his resurrection, may praise you in that City of which he is the
light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. 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.

The Emmaus Prayers

Let us pray !

God we thank you for welcoming us into your family.
May we welcome all of our family members and be lovingly welcoming.

Risen Lord be known to us.



God we thank you that we feel your loving presence each day.
May we give all of our family members the gift of our presence.



Risen Lord be known to us.

God we thank you that you for the joy you give us as we welcome new family members with love.
May we give all of our new family members a welcome filled with joy and love.



Risen Lord be known to us.

God we thank you that you are always on the journey with us.
May we hold hands together as we journey on as true family members united in peace, joy, justice, and equality.

Risen Lord be known to us.


God we thank you that you give us sensitive hearts, empowering spirits, and minds to think.
May we have empathy, sympathy, zest, and intelligence to be the beautiful people of God that you created.

Risen Lord be known to us.


God we thank you for opportunities to serve and care for the least of these.

Risen Lord be known to us.


God we thank you for opportunities to care for the caregiver.

Risen Lord be known to us.


God we thank you  for courage to be a voice for the voiceless, to speak truth to power, and to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you .

Risen Lord be known to us.

God we thank you for the tenderness to  care for our family members who are ill and lovingly with compassion shepherd those who are mourning who are going through their grieving process.

Risen Lord be known to us.

God we thank you and pray for___________________

Risen Lord be known to us.

Accept these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.  

These prayers may be added

God of..........

God of Love we give thanks today for all of our family members all over the world may they be sustained by your loving grace.

God of Joy remind us everyday to celebrate life in its fullness and seek to find joy in all  things.

God of  Kindness, we pray that we may be kind to one another and never take anyone for granted and may we always remember to show kindness and a loving and gentle touch to the least of these.

God of Generosity,  may we seek to give cheerfully from our hearts and may we always be ready to give of ourselves.

God of all Gentleness may we always remember to treat our family members who are ill with a gentle touch and a kind word.

God of all Patience and Self Control ,may we seek to wait upon you and rein in our actions that we may find ourselves running headlong into without thought or discernment.

God of all  Faithfulness, May we ever be faithful in word and deed and that we may follow you wherever you are leading us. May we never lose sight that  our faith is a beacon of the Light of Christ to all of our family members.

God of Peace may we pray for peace in this Your broken and fragile world . Help us to become peace makers. 

God of all Goodness, we pray that we may learn what it means to be good  and carry that goodness into the world and to  others.

God of healing mercy and grace we lift up these our petitions to you especially for___________________

May we continue to expand our hearts, enliven our spirits, quicken our steps, and may the Waters of Life continue to course through our veins as your response to Love, care, welcome all in your Name. Amen.

A Song of Faith
1 Peter 1:3-4,18-21
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *
by divine mercy we have a new birth into a living hope;
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, *
we have an inheritance that is imperishable in heaven.
The ransom that was paid to free us *
was not paid in silver or gold,
But in the precious blood of Christ, *
the Lamb without spot or stain.
God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him glory *
so that we might have faith and hope in God.


Matthew 5 The 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.


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.

++++++


Good Night Beloved Community! I hope everyone is able to see God/ Jesus in everyone this week. Behold, see, and love everyone! and serve the least of these who are our family of Love! I love you, you matter, and I give thanks to God for you this day.

Love and blessings!

Sara

Resources:

Satucket Lectionary Page

Enriching our Worship

Walk With Me On Our Journey

The Message.

Book of Common Prayer Online.










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