Sharing our Gifts along the Way with The Beloved Community

Good  Evening Beloved Community!

Everyone has a gift to share with our Family of God a.k.a. The Beloved Community. Santa Barbara County has yet again been stricken by another disaster due to heavy rains and mudslides. Watching rescuers and emergency personnel gives me cause for pause. I don't think I could do that but that's where people with other gifts come in. I have many gifts that I share along the Way with The Beloved Community. God calls us to do this and not hide them under bushels or be afraid to use them.  So do you! Tonight let's do a gift appraisal. What are the things you bring to this fragile and broken world?  Where do you use them? Are you afraid to use them? Have you been attentive to God's call and God's not so gentle tap on the shoulder? Those are our questions  for pondering this night and for the remainder of the week.   Take time to share your gifts with the Beloved Community this night in prayer and contemplation. The first gift you give is the gift of your presence.Tonight we get to celebrate the Feast Day of Julia Chester Emery and her gifts to the world. And so Beloved Community let us begin!

Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening. 
Make your Church bright with your radiance. 

Let us come together and hold sacred and holy space as we make this a healing circle of love, mindfulness and know that we are encircled in a prayer quilt of safety and peace. 

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know
Be still
Be 

Inhale God's love
Exhale Love of God, Neighbor, and ourselves.

Repeat three times. 

Peace be still.

or this

Peace be.

Peace.

Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.

Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.

You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together

with the saints and members of the household of God.

Ephesians 2:19

God is Spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and

in truth. John 4:24

God’s love has been poured into our hearts 

through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

You are in the midst of us, O Lord;

and we are called by your name.

Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. 

Psalm 141:2

Let us light our candles and be at prayer as we  pray for our all of our family members in every corner of the world this night. Let us remember that every person on the planet is our brother and sister and even those we don't understand, those who hate us, and those we do not like. Remember we are to love all and be CALM (Compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful) family members. God isn't letting us off the hook.

or this
God let us light our candles to pray that we may love radically with open hearts, open souls, open spirits, and open minds. Let our love be seen not only in words but deeds. Let our lives show the love that you have given us daily without fear. God let our love be the measuring stick from which we may guide ourselves to do better when we fall short in loving all of our family members. God help us to love with words that have deep and abiding meaning that will build up and not tear down. Give us the courage to support our family members who desire to love and live openly as beloved children of God. God help us to know that Love truly is Love without condition and needs to be celebrated daily in many and exciting ways. God help us to love radically in the service of others and with enough Love Energy to set the world ablaze with enlivened and joyful hearts. We pray these our prayers in the name of God and in the name of Love who is God. Amen.

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.

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 Jesusso that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen. 

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

67 Deus misereatur

1 May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
show us the light of his countenance and come to us.

2 Let your ways be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide all the nations upon earth.

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

6 The earth has brought forth her increase; *
may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

7 May God give us his blessing, *
and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

Isaiah 61:1-3

61The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
   because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
   to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and release to the prisoners; 
² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
   and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn; 
³ to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

A Song of the Wilderness

Isaiah 35:1-7,10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *

the desert shall rejoice and blossom;

It shall blossom abundantly, *

and rejoice with joy and singing.

They shall see the glory of the Lord, *

the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weary hands, *

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *

Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *

and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.

Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *

and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *

and streams in the desert;

The burning sand shall become a pool *

and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *

with everlasting joy upon their heads.

Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away

Romans 12:6-13

⁶We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching;⁸the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.^* 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

A Song of the Spirit

Revelation 22:12-17

“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,

“and bringing my reward with me, *

to give to everyone according to their deeds.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *

the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,

that they may have the right to the tree of life, *

and may enter the city through the gates.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *

with this testimony for all the churches.

“I am the root and the offspring of David, *

I am the bright morning star.”

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *

“Come!” let each hearer reply!

Come forward, you who are thirsty, *

let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.

Mark 10:42-45

⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

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.

God may we seek you and find you as we pray

God may we seek you  and find you in times of rest and renewal.

God may we  seek you and find you in times when we feel down and discouraged. May we feel your loving and abiding presence.

God may we seek you and find you in the eyes of all  of our family members . God let us sew seeds of love, hope, joy, and peace.

God may we seek you and find you in our heart homes and be warmed by your love. May we shine the light of  your love with the love that comes from our heart homes.

God may we seek you and find you in all your living creatures and in your Cathedral of Love and Life.

God may we seek you and find you in  your still small voice of calm.

God may we seek you and find you in the faces of all of our most vulnerable and fragile family members who are crying out for help and  seeking universal human rights, justice, equality, and acceptance.

God may we seek you and find you in all those who practice medicine and the arts of healing. We pray for those who are ill and in need of healing of their bodies, minds, and spirits.

God may we seek you and find you in the light of all children's eyes and that they may be protected and loved.

God may we seek you and find you in times of peace and quiet.

God may we seek you and find you in places of memories  and family history.

God may we seek you and find you in all of our loved ones who now reside in the Thin Places as we  remember them and hold them in our heart homes.

God may we seek you and find your presence in our heart homes as we grieve any kind of loss.

God may we seek you and find you as we pray for ourselves and  our family members who have requested prayers on our behalf remembering especially____________________

God may we seek you and find you in the daily celebration of our lives and in celebration of____________

God we pray these our prayers and may we seek you and find you answering them in the Name of your only Son Jesus the Christ who knocks at the doors of our heart homes. Amen.

Today we honor Julia Chester Emery. Her biography is here: 
Julia Chester Emery

O Almighty God, who have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Julia, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

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:

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.

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.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen

God as the week rushes by may we stop, look, listen, and be at prayer with you this night and always.

God we pray for an end to fear, hatred, bullying, abuse, and all forms of terror and even the terror of words designed to harm. 

God help us we pray to stop, look, and listen to our family members who are struggling to live, move, and just be.

God help us we pray to serve the least of these with loving, tender, and pure hearts not seeking to be self-serving and ego focused.

God help us we pray to see you in everyone we meet and shine your light to them. 

God we pray for all who are ill that they may be healed and comforted.

God we pray for all who are grieving losses of any kind.

God we pray for all who are in surgery at this moment that there may be a positive outcome.

God help us to rest comfortably this night and that we may lay our burdens down.

God we pray for all of our family members who have asked us to pray and especially the concerns and loved ones who are on their hearts____________________________

God we pray for all who have died that they may enjoy the joy and peace only Eternal Life can bring.

God we most especially pray for peace in this fragile and broken world.

God we pray for an end to violence and abuse of any kind. We pray for the victims of violence, abuse, and human trafficking.

God we add our own additional prayers and thanksgivings that are on our hearts this night and lay them in Jesus' gentle arms. Amen.

Or these!

These were the prayers I wrote 3 years ago.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr as his Feast day approaches let us take time to pray!

Lord God we lift up all war torn nations that are deprived of civil and human rights:

Let Freedom Ring!

Lord We lift up all who labor in the courts of justice in this country that every one will be granted due process and equal protection under the law.

Let Freedom Ring

Lord we pray that every family member will respect everyone's dignity and personhood.

Let us sow seeds of compassion.

Lord we pray that we may continue to give thanks for all that unites us and pray for those differences that separate us and that we may all come to know that we are one family in Christ and humankind.

May we live united as the family of God.

We pray for justice, love and mercy as we walk with God on our journey.

We pray for all those who are deprived of liberty, justice, education, and human rights in all parts of the world.

We pray for safe working conditions.

We pray for all laborers in the fields and in all places.

We pray for an end of violence, injustice, indifference, and hate

We pray for equality and acceptance of all God's Children.

We pray for rain to heal the areas affect by drought.

We pray for those in prison and captivity.

We pray for all those who have mental illness.

We pray for peace and to be peacemakers.

We pray especially for the causes and social justice issues that are on our hearts____________________

We give our thoughtful thanks for_______________

We celebrate________________ and especially all those who are new citizens of our country.

We remember Martin Luther King Junior, Fabian, Rosa Parks, Ruby Sales, Recy Taylor,  the Little Rock Nine, Nelson Mandela, Steven Biko, and all valiant seekers after justice and the rights of the oppressed.

All this we ask in Jesus' name who is the example for us to be beacons of Justice, Hope, Equality, and Peace. Amen.

God we pray these classic words:

The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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.

“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. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

― Teresa of Ávila

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.

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) 

Jesus, you are the way through the wilderness: show us your truth in which we journey, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit be in us the life that draws us to God. Amen. (source: F.B. McNutt, The Prayer Manual [London: Mowbray, 1961], p. 29, adapted)

Song of Simeon
Nunc Dimittis


Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.

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.

Glory be God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying, 

as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. 

Amen.

May the God of peace sanctify us wholly, 

and may our spirit, soul and body 

be kept sound and blameless 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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)

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Good Night Beloved Community. Please keep all who are struggling with loss of property, livelihoods, and most especially loved ones who have been affected by any disaster. We remember before us those we name now before we rest. I name the community of Montecito and the people who are reeling yet from another disaster after the terrible wildfires. I love and give thanks for you this night and always.

With Love and blessings!

Sara

Resources

Book of Common Prayer

Enriching our Worship

A New Zealand Prayer Book 

In Lak 'Ech - Luis Valdez 

The Satucket Lectionary

Indian Metis Christian Fellowship

Smudging Prayer

Walk With Me On Our Journey

Bonus Prayer

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.