We are called to be of one family, one heart, and a beloved community set on fire with love energy for the whole world!

Good Evening Beloved Community! 

I have excellent news! I am now sling free and that means I'm ready to return to some activities but not all of them. I'm still in a little bit of pain and was told by Dr. Spoo not to over do the NSAIDS and I'm sure going to try. Tonight we are most definitely going to keep it brief. I found this post from two years ago and I believe it is a good encapsulation of what we have been doing the last few days.


 Dear ones ! I keep seeing attempts to try to take all of us back in time a dangerous time where violence, injustice, inequality, hatred, and discrimination are the order of the day. The party of Lincoln used to be my political party it stopped being so many years ago when God was and is calling me into an unusual ministry with you folks in cyberspace and other places. We cannot sit idly by and watch our country take a back slide into a place where God's children are being threatened and abused by people who don't see Jesus and God in every face. It just isn't right. I sometimes go back and read the blogs I have written for almost 3 years and we haven't made any progress. In some places but not all. Brothers and sisters we don't have a choice in these matters. God is calling us to love and serve the least of these, love our enemies, do good to those who hate you (Guess what in yesterday's Gospel Lesson, the Good Samaritan did just that to the person who was on the side of the road) We need to step up and do the same if we don't we will be the ones losing our grip. I remember how my dearly departed sister Margaret reacted to the events at Kent State and every subsequent act of violence. Violence needs to stop! Racism needs to be confronted on a daily and hour by hour, nano-second by nano-second at all levels. Fear has got to be replaced by love and understanding. In 2000 years since Jesus ascended to God we haven't learned anything! We haven't learned to love God, our neighbors, ourselves, violence is not the answer, caring for and loving the least of these are our priority, that God 
made us to be one with each other and not divided. That diversity is good and it is from God too. God and Jesus keep reminding us to stop the hate and fear! God and Jesus want us to see them in each of our faces and yes dear family that includes everyone ! No need to list unless you need me to spell it out? Okay, I will spell it out : LGBTQ, Muslims, African Americans, Latinos, immigrants, refugees, the poor, the lonely, the homeless, any member of any faith and ethnic group you do not belong to. Everyone deserves universal human rights, dignity, respect, love, justice, mercy, equity, and equality. When you hurt and harm, take rights away from anyone you take them away from you. As the former and recently departed Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Edmund Lee Browning taught and said "This church of ours is open to all, there will be No Outcasts!" Maybe we should say the same about our brothers and sisters everywhere in our neighborhoods, cities, towns, states, nations, the world, and in our own lives. This world that God has made for us to live in let us be one and on the same footing and never have to see anyone as an outcast, other, or inferior. After all we were made in the image and likeness of God. Weren't we? 

So dear ones let us begin.

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

Please repeat and breathe.

This night we light our candles and pray for peace, love, acceptance, compassion, and equality. PLACE as we come together in oneness as truly the family of God.

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.


God we call upon you tonight to help us begin healing and journeying on towards reconciliation. Help us to join in this time of healing by first praying this prayer.

A Smudging Prayer From - (Smudging as a Christian Aboriginal Ceremony)

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

Let us pray the words of the Morning Prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

MORNING PRAYER

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.

Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

and ponder this:

"I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.” 

Respond to these petitions with: May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort be with us this night as we pray for peace in this world and that we may live into our baptismal covenant with you and each other.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God  of all comfort may we seek as one family with you to find solutions that will stem the tide of all violence and terror.

May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort may we seek with you to find our true calling and life path.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort give us strength to speak out firmly and lovingly for those who haven't any voice.

May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort give us all a return to common sense. Take away from us all temptation to fall into a mob and hate mentality.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of their bodies, minds, and spirits.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort may we be sources of comfort  one to another and listen to you with our heart homes for those who are in need of help and may not be able to name their needs.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!


God of all comfort may we ever be mindful of our family members who are grieving losses and pre- grieving. 

May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!
God of all comfort we pray for all who have been senselessly murdered for who they are. Grant to them eternal rest.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!
God of all comfort may all of us who struggle to live authentically without fear be able to speak and live our truth valiantly and with courage.

 May we all be one and comfort one another with love, kindness and gentleness God hear our prayers!

God of all comfort we pray and give thanks for_________________________

Psalm 133 Ecce, quam bonum!

1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!

2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
that runs down upon the beard,

3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.

4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.

5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: *
life for evermore.

Healing Prayer

Grandfather,

Sacred one,

Teach us love, compassion,

and honor.

That we may heal the earth

And heal each other.

 - Ojibway Praye

2 Kings 22:2-13

²He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, ⁴‘Go up to the high priest Hilkiah, and have him count the entire sum of the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people; ⁵let it be given into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the Lord; let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house, ⁶that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house. ⁷But no account shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.’

8 The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.’ When Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, he read it. ⁹Then Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, ‘Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers who have oversight of the house of the Lord.’ ¹⁰Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.’ Shaphan then read it aloud to the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. ¹²Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah, saying, ¹³‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.’

A Song of Judith

Judith 16:13-16

I will sing a new song to my God, *

for you are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.

Let the whole creation serve you, *

for you spoke and all things came into being.

You sent your breath and it formed them, *

no one is able to resist your voice.

Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths, *

rocks melt like wax at your presence.

But to those who fear you, *

you continue to show mercy.

No sacrifice, however fragrant, can please you, *

but whoever fears the Lord shall stand in your sight for ever.

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Divisions in the Church

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,* by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.* 12What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’ 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God* that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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.

John 13:31-35

The New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him,* God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

A Song of Our True Nature

Julian of Norwich

Christ revealed our frailty and our falling, *

our trespasses and our humiliations.

Christ also revealed his blessed power, *

his blessed wisdom and love.

He protects us as tenderly and as sweetly when we are in greatest need; *

he raises us in spirit

and turns everything to glory and joy without ending.

God is the ground and the substance, the very essence of nature;

*

God is the true father and mother of natures.

We are all bound to God by nature, *

and we are all bound to God by grace.

And this grace is for all the world, *

because it is our precious mother, Christ.

For this fair nature was prepared by Christ

for the honor and nobility of all, *

and for the joy and bliss of salvation

Almighty God, we bless your Name for the life and work of Nathan Söderblom,
Archbishop of Uppsala, who helped to inspire the modern liturgical revival and worked tirelessly for cooperation among Christians. Inspire us by his example, that we may ever strive for the renewal of your Church in life and worship, for the glory of your Name; who with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for quiet confidence

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we

shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength:

By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence,

where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen

Earth Teach Me to Remember 

Earth teach me stillness 

as the grasses are stilled with light. 

Earth teach me suffering 

as old stones suffer with memory. 

Earth teach me humility 

as blossoms are humble with beginning. 

Earth Teach me caring 

as the mother who secures her young. 

Earth teach me courage 

as the tree which stands alone. 

Earth teach me limitation 

as the ant which crawls on the ground. 

Earth teach me freedom 

as the eagle which soars in the sky. 

Earth teach me resignation 

as the leaves which die in the fall. 

Earth teach me regeneration 

as the seed which rises in the spring. 

Earth teach me to forget myself 

as melted snow forgets its life. 

Earth teach me to remember kindness

as dry fields weep in the rain. 

Ute, North American

Let us be at prayer: 

 
We pray this night for all family members who have been made by God and are brothers and sisters of God and Abraham. We pray and seek to be loving and united as one. 

 
We pray this night and in the daylight hours for peace in our hearts, lives country and the world.

 
May we live justly, be merciful, and walk with God with gentle and loving steps in humility and grace. 

 
We pray for our family members who are ill that they may be healed comforted, and relieved of pain and suffering.

 
We pray for the banishment of hate, fear, indifference and cruelty. 

 
We pray for all who are traveling and we remember especially those who are alone and afraid waiting in all transit areas. 

 
We pray for all who mourn that they may be relieved and comforted.

 
We pray for all who are pre-grieving that they may find solace in you and their family members.

 
We pray for all who are dying and have made that sacred journey into the Thin Places where they may find joy, light and wholeness.

 
We offer our prayers for ourselves and on behalf  of others.





We give thanks and praise for all that you have done for us God.

 
 We offer our thanks to you this night with love , joy, and with grateful hearts.

 
We lay our bodies minds, and spirits and take our rest that we may greet the day with joy, love. and a willingness to serve you in your kingdom.

 
 We lift up our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer for Healing

We join with the earth and with each other
To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air
We join with the earth and with each other
To renew the forests
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures
We join with the earth and with each other
To celebrate the seas
To rejoice the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars
We join with the earth and with each other
To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To remember our children
We join with the earth and with each other
We join together as many and diverse expressions
Of one loving mystery, for the healing of earth and the renewal of all life
- National Institute of Open Schooling, India 4


Let us pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi 

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.

As we close let us meditate on the words unity and love. Take your time and find your way into the center and stay there. Be in conversation and listen to  

what God is saying.

 

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to help us promote healthy bodies, minds, and spirits not only in our lives but as as good citizens.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God  to seek peace in everything we do.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God, to love and care for the least of these.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O  God, to strive for justice, peace, and equality throughout all nations of the world and in our own country.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, that we may learn to love and care for the refugee, victim of violence, and human trafficking.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God that we may care for all who  are in mourning and those who have died.

Open our eyes, ears hearts and souls O God to help us fight injustice and oppression.

Open our eyes, ears, hearts,and souls O God to come to you when we are in need of help and comfort.

Open our eyes, ears,hearts and souls O God to Pray for all those who are ill and in need of your healing. remembering_________________________

Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls that we may lift up our prayers and thanksgivings to you O Lord . Amen.

Grandfather Great Spirit

All over the world the faces of living ones are alike.

With tenderness they have come up out of the ground

Look upon your children that they may face the winds

And walk the good road to the Day of Quiet.

Grandfather Great Spririt

Fill us with the Light.

Give us the strength to understand, and the eyes to see.

Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live.

 - Sioux Prayer

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

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)

++++

Good Night Beloved Community! BTW Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! I love you and give God thanks for you always. May we all seek to be like this:

With love in unity,

Sara

Resources

Enriching Our Worship

Book of Common Prayer on Line

Metis Aboriginal Ministries

In Lak 'Ech- Luis Valdez

Walk With Me On Our Journey

Other Resources as Noted

Oremus Bible Browser