Object lessons! Yes another item found on my walk today!

Good Evening Beloved Community!

Happy Wisdom Wednesday! As you can see I came across another item on my walk that gave me the hint for tonight's blog! Yes, dear family it is time to take the wheels off Hierarchy, patriarchy, white male privilege, white supremacy, and all forms of hatred, division, not to mention all isms and obias that keep us from being truly God's children. I don't know about you, but it is way past time to do this. God wants us to to be loving and unified. God calls us to be at the business of caring for the least of these. God calls us to be healers not haters. God keeps telling us that abuse, hatred, terror (All forms of violence) are wrong and sinful. We must get out of the mind set of not believing victims of abuse! We must be caregivers to those who have been victims. We also need to set our faces towards a new world where we practice the CALM Principles and be Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful. We must never be afraid to speak our truth, speak truth to power, and get help. Tonight we turn on our porch lights and leave them on in support of women and men who are afraid to tell their stories and let their truths heal themselves and their communities. 
This is tonight's object lesson. 

Let us begin our time together with the Peace prayer of St. Francis 


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I 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.

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.

121 Levavi oculos

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;

5 The Lord himself watches over you; *
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.

8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and
your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

A Song of Creation Benedicite, omnia opera Domini
Song of the Three, 35–65

Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
In the high vault of heaven, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.

I. The Cosmic Order
Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and summer, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
sing praise and give honor for ever.


Galatians 6:14-18

¹⁴May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^* the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For^*neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! ¹⁶As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.^* Amen.

II. The Earth and Its Creatures

Let the earth glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O mountains

and hills, and all that grows upon the earth, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *

O whales and all that move in the waters.

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *

and all you flocks and herds.

O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank^* you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^* 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

III. The People of God

Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Doxology

Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

In the high vault of heaven, glorify the Lord, *

sing praise and give honor for ever.

Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may, for love of you, delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

As for me, I can only fall on my knees and pray that the Lord Christ, who had died for me, might have His own way with me – that it might be worth His while to have done what He did and what He is doing now for me. To my Elder Brother, my Lord and my God, I give myself yet again, confidently, because He cares to have me and because my very breath is His. I will be what He wants, who knows all about it and has done everything that I might be His own – a living glory of gladness.
George MacDonald

Let us pray!

God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael may we find unity with all of our family members in love, mercy, justice and peace. 
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for all the war torn areas of the world and protection for all of our brothers and sisters.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for all who are living with mental illness. We pray that we may reach out and support with love and compassion to them and their caregivers.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for our family members who are ill that they may be healed of their illnesses.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for the least of these and all the wonderful things they bring to this world. We give thanks to God that they are reminders to all of our family members who need to be aware that not everyone is fortunate.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

Give us strength to speak truth to power and keep doing it until Justice rolls down 
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

Take away all of our fears, hate, isolationism, and replace it with trust, love, and unity.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for all who are dying and have died today and entered into the Thin Places with Joy and gladness.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray this night for all who travel that they may safely arrive at their destination.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for ourselves and on behalf of others
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for all faith communities and leaders who enrich our lives each day. 
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We give thanks this night for _______________ and that we may put on an attitude of Gratitude
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray that we will awake refreshed, renewed, and re-created to do the work and service God is calling us to do.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We pray for rain and the cleansing and healing of Your Creation.
God and maker of us All hear our prayer

We ask these our prayers in Jesus' most Holy Name. Amen.

Admonition of St Francis

Where there is charity and wisdom, 
there is neither fear nor ignorance.
Where there is patience and humility, 
there is neither anger nor disturbance.
Where there is poverty with joy, 
there is neither greed nor avarice.
Where there is rest and meditation, 
there is neither anxiety nor restlessness.
Where there is fear of the Lord to guard an entrance, 
there the enemy cannot have a place to enter.  
Where there is a heart full of mercy and discernment, 
there is neither excess nor hardness of heart.

John Rutter Mix- All things Bright and Beautiful 

Gracious and loving God of Love and the  makers of families. May we never take our families and those we love for granted.

Let us respond with : Make us channels of your peace O, God. 

We pray that we may learn what it means to Love our  Neighbor as ourselves.

We pray that we peace may prevail upon earth and among all of us who are part of the human family.

We pray  to you O God ,for the loving protection of all of our family members who are in danger.

We pray for all who are ill and are hospitalized and are afraid .We pray for their bodily healing and the banishment of all fears and anxieties.

We pray that as we become conservationists of  God's Cathedral of Life that we may also take time to provide for ourselves much needed self-care and be good stewards of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

We pray for all children who are facing many trials. 

We pray for all who mourn and grieve any loss that they may be comforted and given love and consolation.

We pray for all those who are receiving palliative and hospice care and all those who minister unto them.

We pray for all faith leaders who are in preparation for all the services in which they are called to lead and provide pastoral preaching  and care.

We pray for all the least of these and that we may lovingly respond to their needs. 

God we pray for the least of these and that we may lovingly respond to their needs. 

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for the poor who are struggling to survive and are in search of better lives.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for widows and orphans that as they mourn they may grieve without fear and accept new normals with courage.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for the homeless, hungry, and ill clad that they may be protected from harm and find safe shelter tonight.

God hear our prayer

God we pray for those who are living below the poverty line and lack basic services for living.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for our family members who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for our family members who have chronic illnesses that they may learn to manage their illnesses with courage and grace.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for our family members who are suffering with memory disorders and those who care for them.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for an end to the violence in our land and in our cities.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray for and end to terror and extremism that peace may prevail upon earth and that love, forgiveness, and mercy may reign.

God hear our prayer,

God we pray that justice may roll down and speak truth to power and that we may be voices for the voiceless.

God hear our prayer.

God we pray and give thanks for________________________

God hear our prayer.

God we pray that we may be able to live authentically and live our truths without fear.

God hear our prayer.

God we lift up these our prayers and thanksgivings to your only son Jesus. Amen.

Or these

Tonight let us pray for the least of these and our family members who are feeling lost and alone.

Jesus, we come to you this night asking you to lift up the lonely, lost, and those who feel unloved and outcast. Help us to draw them into  your circle of love and fellowship where they will find peace and a loving family waiting for them.

Jesus, we pray for peace in the holy places where you walked, preached, healed, were there for those who  were outcast, blind, and not welcome in any town. We pray for peace in all of the Holy Land  and a return to holiness and we pray for the leaders of  Israel, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq that they may remember that they are all family members under Abraham and the awesome responsibility that comes with that.

Jesus, help us to be there for our family members even when it seems difficult to do so.

Jesus, heal all  of our family members who are ill and we name them now before you with love________________

Jesus, help us to grow in the Fruits of the Spirit and reap abundantly the harvest that you have planted.

Jesus, help us to sow seeds of faith, hope, and love and that we may may show these throughout our lives and  in our daily living.
Jesus, help us to be good stewards of God's Cathedral of Life.

Jesus, we pray for all refugees, strangers, immigrants of any kind and especially the unaccompanied children who have been set on a dangerous road to freedom.

Jesus, help us to be lights to this broken world and to each other.

Jesus, be with those who mourn  and we pray that we may follow your example of compassion, love, and yes even weep as you wept at the tomb of Lazarus.

Jesus, may we rest gentle in your arms this night and always .

We lift up these our prayers to in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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

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

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)

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)

Franciscan blessings

May God bless you with a restless discomfort

about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,

so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger

at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears

to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you really can make a difference in this world,

so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

Here is a slightly different version of the blessing . . .

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

“He has told you, O man, 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?”  Micah 6:8 (From : A Franciscan Blessing) 

++++

Good Night All! I love you! Let us rest gentle in God's arms tonight. I give God thanks for you this day and always.

Love and blessings!

Sara

Resources:

Book of Common Prayer

Other Sources as Noted

Northumbria Community

Enriching our Worship

Walk With Me On Our Journey

Quote Sites for St. Francis' Prayers

Book of Common Prayer

Satucket : Saint of the Day : St. Francis of Assisi

Bonus Scripture Passages

Psalm 85:10–11 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

Exodus 24:16–18 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Matthew 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Wednesday – The Felgild Compline (Northumbria Community) 


Felgild lived in the late seventh century. After Cuthbert died, Ethilwald took his place as hermit on the Inner Farne. Twelve years later, having never left the island, he also died. Felgild was the next hermit to come there, but the rigours of his life in the cell aggravated a swelling on his face. The condition was suddenly healed, allowing him to continue the life of a solitary.
This Compline is dedicated to him because he represents so many whose names we never hear who faithfully follow the example of good men and women of old, continuing their battle against the powers of evil and in their devotion to prayer.



+ (silently)

Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease.
Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.

* Father, bless the work that is done,
and the work that is to be.

* Father, bless the servant that I am,
and the servant that I will be.

Thou Lord and God of power,
shield and sustain me this night.

I will lie down this night with God,
and God will lie down with me;
I will lie down this night with Christ,
and Christ will lie down with me;
I will lie down this night with the Spirit,
and the Spirit will lie down with me;
God and Christ and the Spirit,
be lying down with me.

* The peace of God
be over me to shelter me,

* under me to uphold me,

* about me to protect me,

* behind me to direct me,

* ever with me to save me.

The peace of all peace
be mine this night
+ in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.