Good Evening Beloved Community !
I hope all of you are having a wonderful Monday! Don't forget that we are Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John and joining the Good Book Club this year for our daily devotions. Here at Walk With Me On Our Journey we are going to have weekly values that coincide with the various themes in the God News. This week's value is Love! I found this amazing quote this afternoon and it really speaks to us all:
“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”
- Cornel West, Author, Professor, Philosopher, Activist
Our prayers will be from The Book of Common Prayer, Enriching Our Worship 1997, Teresa of Avila, and Walk With Me On Our Journey. Please check out set II of the prayers.
Here was last evening's blog for our introduction to our Lenten pilgrimage and beyond!
Our opening sentences come from Meeting Jesus In the Gospel of John. Let us pause, pray and reflect on these passages.
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
Before we delve into today's scripture reading and prayer vigil let us do our virtual labyrinth walk with our mouse, stylus, or finger and meditate upon "God is Love"
Our vigil canticle for this evening:
1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, *
for love is of God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, *
for God is Love.
In this the love of God was revealed among us, *
that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through Jesus Christ.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *
and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, *
we ought also to love one another.
For if we love one another, God abides in us, *
and God’s love will be perfected in us.
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.
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Luke 1:57-80
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty saviour for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.’
‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty saviour for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.’
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
Canticle A
A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21
Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors * a holy people and a blameless race.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, * withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.
To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, * and led them by a marvelous way;
She was their shelter by day * and a blaze of stars by night.
She brought them across the Red Sea, * she led them through mighty waters;
But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *
and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.
And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, * and praised with one voice your protecting hand;
For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *
and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.
A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21
Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors * a holy people and a blameless race.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, * withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.
To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, * and led them by a marvelous way;
She was their shelter by day * and a blaze of stars by night.
She brought them across the Red Sea, * she led them through mighty waters;
But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *
and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.
And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, * and praised with one voice your protecting hand;
For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *
and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.
Canticle 16
The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus
Luke 1:68-79
Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel, *
you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Savior, *
born of the house of your servant David.
Through your holy prophets you promised of old
to save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us,
To show mercy to our forebears, *
and to remember your holy covenant.
This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship you without fear, *
holy and righteous before you,
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
To give God’s people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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Collect of the day
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tonight we set our hearts on Love! That is all !
Gracious God inflame our hearts with love for all of our family members and even our enemies.
Gracious God inspire us to use love as the healing balm that helps and doesn't hurt.
Gracious God help us to start loving ourselves and stop taking ourselves and our family members for granted.
Gracious God give is strength to love even in the face of adversity.
Gracious God we pray that love will be the force to drive away all hate from all those who choose to bully, abuse, and hate.
Gracious God send loving warmth and comfort to those who are grieving and pre- grieving.
Gracious God we pray that love and peace may prevail upon earth.
Gracious God be our light out of darkness so that we may shine with your brightness.
Gracious God set our hearts on Love! That is all!
In the name of God who is Love, Jesus who is our redeemer, and The Holy Spirit the Holy Comforter. Amen.
Gracious God set our hearts on Fire with Love! That is all!
Or these
God, we come to you this night and at all times as we mark sacred space and time that we may continue to be knit together as your beloved children and family members. Help us to embrace the holy in prayer and remember how we do this.
Set II
How do I/We embrace the holy?
I/We embrace the holy by acknowledging that everything that God created is holy.I/We embrace the holy by showing my love for all of my family members.I/We embrace the holy by speaking out for the voiceless and invisible.I/We embrace the holy by loving my enemies and those who hate.
I/We embrace the holy by acknowledging that everything that God created is holy.I/We embrace the holy by showing my love for all of my family members.I/We embrace the holy by speaking out for the voiceless and invisible.I/We embrace the holy by loving my enemies and those who hate.
I/We embrace the holy by practicing peaceful non-violence.I/We embrace the holy by accepting and including everyone into our family of love.I/We embrace the holy by being an ally for all those who are seeking universal human rights.I/We embrace the holy by being a good steward of God's Cathedral of Life.I/We embrace the holy by accepting God's call.I/We embrace the holy by following Jesus and being his sister, friend and walking the walk and talking the talk as He Does everyday in our lives.I/We embrace the holy by remembering to pray daily.
I/We embrace the holy by walking with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit on life's path and journey.
We embrace the holy this night in prayer and in the stillness , in the longing, and seeking to be in your loving presence O God.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for your holy creation and the beauty of your Cathedral of Life.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for your gift of peace. May peace prevail upon earth and within ourselves.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for our family of love. Lovingly enfold your arms around them this night if they are having any worries, anxieties, or fears.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for our voices that we may speak truth to power and be the voice of the voiceless.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for your healing power that you are doing in the lives of those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. We pray especially for ____________
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for everything you have given us so abundantly.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for ears and hearts to hear your still small voice.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for the least of these as a reminder that we may never become hard, cold, or complacent.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for the lives of those who now reside in the Thin Places.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
We pray for all who mourn and may we step up and lovingly respond with comfort and compassion.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy Jesus we lift up these our prayers in love, peace, joy , and hope in your most holy Name. Amen.
We embrace the holy this night in prayer and in the stillness , in the longing, and seeking to be in your loving presence O God.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Holy God we give thanks for your holy creation and the beauty of your Cathedral of Life.
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
Calm our hearts O God, and let us be at one with you .
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.”
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)
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Good Night Beloved Community! I love you and give thanks to God for you always!
Love and blessings!
Sara
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