Good Evening Dear Ones!
It has been two weeks since I had my fractured elbow and fall. Today I accomplished much! I was able to put my hair in a ponytail, tie my shoes, and use a zipper! These have been major feats that one always takes for granted. Having faith is like that too! We all need to have spiritual starch that can help us map out our mission in life and help us search our hearts as to where God is calling us. Each of these things need prayer, meditation, and being in community. So where does that lead us this week? I'm glad that you asked that. We are going to start out by searching our hearts by praying and reflecting upon the following lessons and have intercessory prayers with the theme Search Our Hearts O God! So let us begin!
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God is spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Alleluia! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give God the glory. Revelation 19:6,7
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe. Psalm 96:9
Through Jesus let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge God’s name. Hebrews 13:15
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (adapted)
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
When anyone is united to Christ, there is a new world; the old order has gone, and a new order has already begun. 2 Corinthians 5:17
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
James M. Barrie
God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
"Make your feet your friend." - James M. Barrie
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." - James M. Barrie
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God. Not in doing what you like but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness." - James M. Barrie
It is time for our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil!
Let's light our candles and be at prayer. This night let us pray that we may put God's commandments to love God, one another, ourselves, and our enemies into action. We pray for the needs of this fragile and broken world. We pray for conservation of God's Cathedral of Life that sustains all living things. We pray that we may endeavor to be and bring the light and love to this troubled nation and world and continue to to pray and wisely consider the words of the prophet Micah:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
O Gracious Light Phos hilaron
O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
N 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
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 Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.
5 Domine, quis habitabit?
1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
who may abide upon your holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.
3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
but he honors those who fear the Lord.
5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
and does not take back his word.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does these things *
shall never be overthrown.
Exodus 19:3-8
3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’
7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’ Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
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.
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near;* therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
A Song of God’s Love
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.
Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
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.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together
with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19
Searching our hearts through prayer
God you have called us to serve you in this fragile and broken world give us courage to follow the map you have laid before us.
May we search our hearts and listen to you in the silence of our inner being.
God help us to be the voice of the voiceless and speak truth to power boldly with love and resolve.
May we search our hearts and find the voice you have given us.
God help us to heal our wounded souls and become wounded healers to your children.
May we search our souls and selves and release ourselves from the pain that hurts to use the pain to heal.
God we pray this day for all families who have been separated.
May we search out ways with your help O God to bring this dis-ease to an end and reunite families in the bonds of peace, mercy, and justice.
God we pray for________________________
Search our hearts O God for other prayer requests that we haven't named before you.
God search our hearts and make us wholly yours so that we may be the servants of others by taking up our crosses daily and following you in the ways of Love. Amen.
Prayers from 4 years ago when I was having chemo:
Lord God we ask your prayers this night for all of our family members who are dealing with complex situations and ask that you will be with them to provide them with comfort and insight.
We pray for all of our family members who are struggling with addiction and staying in recovery.
We pray for peace in this world and especially in all the war torn areas of your planet.
We pray for safety for those who live in the places where there is flooding and and natural disasters.
We pray this night for good communication between doctors and patients.
For all refugees, prisoners, and those held captive. For compassionate immigration and prison reform.
For all pilgrims around the world that they may feel the presence of God as they walk and pray in sacred places.
For the least of these that they may be loved, protected, and may find shelter to lay their heads. We pray for a variety of shelters and services that will meet their needs and we recognize that one size does not fit all.
We pray for all artists, musicians, dancers, actors, and writers who make the world a more beautiful place in which to live, move, and be.
We pray for human rights for all and the knowledge that all means all and not some.
We pray for an end to animal cruelty.
We pray for all those who mourn and we pray for those who are dying and have entered the Thin Places today.
We pray for all of our family members who are seeking employment and have had interviews.
We pray for all those who are discerning vocations and calls to ordained ministry and we remember the newly ordained.
We pray for all those who are ill and especially those who live alone while battling illness.
We pray for all caregivers.
We pray especially for____________________
We ask lift up these our prayers in Jesus most Holy Name. Amen.
Prayers from 3 years ago
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for the people of Charleston, South Carolina and members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as they grieve and the precious lives who lost their lives.
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for a good night's sleep so that we may awaken refreshed.
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for peace in the world and in our hearts and minds.
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for an end to all the places affected by violence.
God of Loving Kindness, be with all of the young people who are out of school this Summer.
God of Loving Kindness , be with all those who grieve any loss no matter how big or small.
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for all who are ill that they may be healed according to your will.
God of Loving Kindness, we pray for all who are the least of these that we may truly be their family and show them loving care.
God of Loving Kindness take away from us all worries and anxieties and any thing that separates us from you O, God.
God of Loving Kindness we pray for_________________________
God of Loving Kindness, we give thanks for___________________
Accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayers from 2 years ago
God of many names heal this fragile and broken world that you created.
Forgive all of our deeds that led us to destroy and harm your world O God.
God of many names, take away all bitterness and division that have led us away from you.
Lead us to become the loving and united family you created us to be.
God of many names, we pray for the healing of all our family members who are ill remembering especially___________
Heal our bodies, minds, and spirits also.
God of many names, we pray for all who are dying and who have died. May they have a peaceful transition into the Thin Places.
Help us O God to see death as only the shedding of our mortal bodies into souls of everlasting life.
God of many names, be with all of our faith leaders and communities as they prepare for worship and devotion to you.
May we also prepare our souls and hearts to worship you wherever we may be this Sabbath weekend.
God of many names, we pray for the least of these who are our family members and, who are refugees, victims of human trafficking, abuse, terror, bullying, ---phobias, religious persecution, violence of any kind, and all those who are separated from their family members, nations and cultures by war or economic hardship.
May we see you in them at all times and in all places
God of many names, may we sew seeds of hope, joy, love, and peace and may we be truly united as your family of love.
Let us love one another and be untied as one!
God of many names, we offer our additional prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances to you on behalf ourselves and others especially________________________
God of many names, we offer these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus, our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother, and friend. Amen.
++++++
Now let us pray for peace and unity among all people and nations!
God who made us and makes us one we pray for unity among all people and nations
May we be one and love one another.
God who made us and makes us one lead us to put away all hindrances that divide us
May we be one and love one another
God who made us and makes us one give us the courage to see you in the eyes of all who are our enemies and wish us harm.
May we be one and love one another.
God who made us and makes us one we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. Heal them and make them whole and may we lovingly respond to their needs.
May we be one and love one another.
God who made us and makes us one we pray for the protection of those who are protesting using peaceful non-violence.
May we be one and love one another.
God who made us and makes us one we pray for the protection of all our most vulnerable family members. Help us to see ourselves and you in their eyes and love them as you have taught us and to serve them as you have taught us to serve.
May we be one and love one another.
God who made us and makes us one. we give thanks for all those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this day.
God who made us and makes us one may we be with those who are pre-grieving and mourning any loss.
God who made us and makes us one we pray for all who are dying and have died may they find loving, joy, and oneness with you in the Thin Places.
God who made us and makes us one we offer these our prayers and thanksgivings in the most Holy Name of your Son Jesus. May we be one and love one another. Amen.
Or these:
Prayers for Healing
Tonight we are going to spend our time together with a Time of prayer for the healing of lives, world, nations, and the Earth
Gracious and loving God, we pray for all of our family members this night who are in our hearts and on our minds especially_________________.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all lives who are touched by abuse and violence.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all those whose hearts are hardened and feel the need to act violently.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all family members of the animal kingdom that are facing being endangered and extinct.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all of our personal wounds that have kept us from moving on and living lives well lived.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all of those who are mourning losses of family members and pets. We remember especially those who have lost children.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all children who are suffering from any untimely disease that keeps them from enjoying childhood.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all of our family members with whom we might be estranged. May we lovingly be united once again with them.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of your Cathedral of Life and that we might be good stewards of the Earth you made.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all hearts and heart homes who are facing any family holiday alone!
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all divisions that we may be one.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all who have had surgery that they may receive healing and recover fully.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all who are homeless, hungry, and ill-clad that they may find warm shelter, nourishing food, and warm and comfortable clothing.
Gracious and loving God,we pray for the healing of all nations where there are warring factions and terror that peace may prevail upon earth.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all faith communities that they may find common ground rooted in love.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all the hate and rancor in this world.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all those who are feeling isolated and outcast that they may feel accepted and loved as the beautiful people whom you created that they may see as you see them.
Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of anything that is being brought to mind this night remembering especially__________________________
Gracious and loving God we pray in the name of Jesus,Your Son. Amen.
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As we continue to pray let us pray the words of peace of St. Francis of Assisi
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.
We close our vigil with these prayers:
The Woke Prayers of St. Francis
Help us O God to be woke!
Woke as your peacemakers, change makers, heart changers, and love energy bringers!
Woke to the hatred so that we may sow seeds of love.
Woke to the injury so that we may heal the hurt and cease the harm.
Woke to the divisiveness that we may be eager to heal and unite as one neighborhood and family.
Woke to uncertainty that will lead us to be renewed in faith.
Woke to the despair of all our neighbors so that we may sow seeds of radical hope, love, hospitality, and inclusion.
Woke to the knowledge that we are God's beloved children. Help us to be woke enough to know that God has made us in God's image and we are all in God's hands
Let us be woke and sing He's Got the Whole World In His Hands!
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got you and he's got me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
Help us to be woke enough not to think of ourselves being the comforted, help us be the comforters and wounded healers.
Help not to be know it alls and be woke to understand what is plaguing our inner beings, neighbors, neighborhoods, the least of these, our family members.
God wake us up to be Woke to your agape love so that we may love everything that you have made. Wake us to be Woke to Radical Love, Hospitality, and inclusion.
Help us to know that being truly woke means being open to radical and random acts of kindness and giving. Where the giver is given and receives much by acts of giving.
Help us to be woke enough to forgive and then find ourselves being actually forgiven
God Wake us Up to Be Woke to know that death isn't the end but only the beginning of a new birth in your heavenly Kindom. Amen and let it be so!
The settings of the Lord's Prayer from A New Zealand Prayer Book.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
or the alternative form.
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.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator
of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary,
renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing
upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have
protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the
coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every
fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength
of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
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.
All repeat the Antiphon
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you. Amen.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace. Amen.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! Rest gentle in God's arms this night and always! Tomorrow we will have our Summer Solstice Prayer Walking Framework up and walking.
Peace, love, prayers, and God's blessings!
Sara
Resources
Enriching Our Worship
Book of Common Prayer on Line
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
Prayers for Children
In Lak 'Ech- Luis Valdez
Walk With Me On Our Journey
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Other Resources as Noted
Oremus Bible Browser
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