Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Mothers, Mourning, and an emotional vigil all on a Shrove Tuesday Evening !



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Good Evening Beloved Community!

I hope everyone has had their fill of pancakes, King Cake, and all the leaven you could ask for this Shrove Tuesday/ Mardi Gras.This wasn't my usual Shrove Tuesday because I had the privilege of attending yet another vigil for one of our youth lost by tragic means. I will not go into the details here as I am protecting his (our ) family. I am continually being heartbroken by the tragic loss of life in our community that keeps affecting our youth, community, and Nuestra Familia. Every time I see a mother grieving the loss of their child or children I keep hearing the words of the Prophet Jeremiah 
"A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
 I kept wondering about Rachel, Elizabeth ( John the Baptist's Mother), and Mary the Mother of our Lord how they coped with the loss of their children. It doesn't matter that Jesus was gone for 3 days, Jesus was gone and Mary was a grieving mother like all the mothers before, at the present time, and in the future. Mothers who grieve will always have my heart as with anyone experiencing a loss. This wasn't what I thought God would have me write this day but I guess God has called me to let you know that grieving is ok, pre-Lenten grieving helps us set the tone for tomorrow and that our hearts must be broken wide open to allow for change, allow for love, and allow for us to heal. So dear ones take time to weep and wail it is ok. This is a sacred circle of love and healing and you are most welcome to lay your heads on our shoulders and know that you are in a safe place of sanctuary.  We continue tonight on our pilgrimage through the Gospels of Luke and John and maybe another piece of scripture.

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.


Take time to meditate, reflect upon these passages from Johh.


God is Love
1 John 4: 16

So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

1 John 4:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 3:16 

1 John 4: 9,10

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In 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.

 
Let us light our candles and give ourselves permission to open our hearts wide open to feel, heal, and love our neighbors and even those who have harmed us or wish us harm.



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.

Today we are adding lessons from the Feast of Absalom Jones

Psalm 137


1 By the rivers of Babylon—
   there we sat down and there we wept
   when we remembered Zion. 
2 On the willows* there
   we hung up our harps. 
3 For there our captors
   asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
   ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ 


4 How could we sing the Lord’s song
   in a foreign land? 
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
   let my right hand wither! 
6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
   if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
   above my highest joy. 


Isaiah 11:1-5

11A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
   and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
   the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
   the spirit of counsel and might,
   the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord


He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
   or decide by what his ears hear; 
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
   and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
   and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 


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. 



A reminder we are reading the entire Gospel of Luke and Acts . 

Luke 2:1-21

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


 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. 

John 15:12-15

12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants* any longer, because the servant* does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

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. 


   Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear: that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servants Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  
  

A holy rant made into prayers from two blogs from years ago.

Holy God we thank you that you give us permission to cry out, mourn, heal, and open wide our hearts to help heal our community and be reconciled and made whole.

How long must we be faced with the deaths of our innocents? How long must our family members endure torture at the hands of governments, tyrants, and extremists ? How long must we see and hear these stories of murder, abuse, terror, hate and injustice on a daily basis? How long will it take tor so-called Christian people to wake up and see what they are saying and preaching is against the Lord and Savior they are supposedly following? How long O, God ? How Long? How long  O, Jesus? How long O, Holy Spirit? How Long? 

Let us with God's help:

Stand with the people of Ferguson, Staten Island, Sandy Hook, Sydney, Peshwar and all places where violence is occurring on a daily basis.

Not be complacent but actively engaged in fighting injustice everywhere.

Stand up for what is right, just, and merciful.

Stand up against violence, terror, torture, and abuse of any kind.

Stand up and practice peace and be God's peace makers.

Stand with refugees, captives, victims of violence and abuse, victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, our undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ sisters and brothers. We all our family !

Love God, Family members, and ourselves.

Stand up and be light bearers to your fragile and broken world.

Stand up for universal human rights for all God's Children.

Stand with each other and not against each other.

Stand up against extremism in all its forms.

Stand with the least of these

Stand with the voiceless ones and those who are crying out and seeking to be heard.

Stand with the vulnerable.

Stand with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as bringers of love, peace, joy, and hope.

The light of Christ in me recognizes the light of Christ in you!

The God in me Loves me Loves the God in you!

The Holy Spirit who comforts me Comforts you this day when things we can't explain and gives us heavy heart.

Will you Stand with me?  Will you love one another?  Will you love your enemies and do good to those who hate you?  Will you continue to walk with me on our journey?

Part Two: Our Prayerful Response
After today's special blog, I started pondering about how we can stand together during these times of  heartache and violence and all things that are causing us dis-ease. How do we do this? Are we strong enough? Where is God in all of this? Here are the  answers to the above questions:

How do we do this? 
With God's help.

With love in our hearts.
With God's help

As the united people of God.
With God's help

With bonds of familial relationship.
With God's help

With courage.
With God's help

Without fear and anxiety.
With God's help

With peace in our hearts and souls. To make peace we mus have peace in our hearts and souls.
With God's help

Without judgement.
With God's help

With calmness of spirit.
With God's help

Relying on each other with the common good always being upper most in our minds.
With God's help

Carrying the light of Christ with love to those who still live in the dark places of their hearts and minds
With God's help.

Practicing peace every day that we live, move, and just be.
With God's help

Are we strong enough? 

Yes!
With God's help'
No doubt about it.
God is there!
I've heard it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed.
God only needs a little bit of faith from us 
With God's help and ours we are stronger.

Where is God in all of this? 
Right beside us all the time!
Listen for God in the stillness!
Feel God's gentle tap on your shoulder?
Feel God's indwelling presence!
See God in everyone's eyes.

Here are the prayers from the special blog earlier today Adapted for this evening!

Let us with God's help stand together in prayer responding  Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand with the people of Ferguson, Staten Island, Sandy Hook, Sydney, Peshwar and all places where violence is occurring on a daily basis.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Not be complacent but actively engaged in fighting injustice everywhere.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we ,Stand up for what is right, just, and merciful.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand up against violence, terror, torture, and abuse of any kind.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand up and practice peace and be God's peace makers.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Stand with refugees, captives, victims of violence and abuse, victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, our undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ sisters and brothers. We all our family !
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Love God, our Family members, and ourselves.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand up and be light bearers to your fragile and broken world.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Stand up for universal human rights for all God's Children.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand with each other and not against each other
.Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Stand up against extremism in all its forms 
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
.
Stand with the least of these
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Stand with the voiceless ones and those who are crying out and seeking to be heard.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we, Stand with the vulnerable.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!

Lord God may we,Stand with you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as bringers of love, peace, joy, and hope.

The light of Christ in me recognizes the light of Christ in you!

The God in me Loves me Loves the God in you!



The Holy Spirit who comforts me Comforts  you this day when things we can't explain and gives us heavy heart.

Lord God we add our own prayers and those of our family members who have requested our prayers especially_____________

Come Lord Jesus and Help us !
To You, O Lord, our God.

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






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 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.

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 Ones! Let us take time to take care before our Lenten discipline begins. Let us know that it is ok to cry, have tender hearts, and yes even not to know what we are going to lay down, give up, or take on just yet. Lent is time of growth and renewal. The seeds may already have been sown and are planted deep in our heart homes putting down heart roots. So be not afraid God and al of us are with you and each other from this day onward and always. I love you and give thanks to God for you this day. 

With love and blessings and a soft place here where you can find sanctuary and a place of gentle welcome and rest,

Sara


Resources:
Enriching Our Worship 1997
Book of Common Prayer
In Lak' Ech - Luis Valdez
The Good Book Club
Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John
Satucket Lectionary







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