Good Evening Dear Family!
Happy Wisdom Wednesday! As we spend time this season of action and reflection let us remember that we must pray and work towards transformation. This transformation must come from within ourselves so that we might become the change makers in the world that God has created. Transformation starts where we are. It takes time to become new creations but it is well worth it. God is always working within us as we become perfected, cleansed, healed, and whole. We need to give ourselves permission to allow God and ourselves in to do the hard work. We did the hard work in circle tonight. Let us continue to do the hard work so that we can se the world being made fresh and new. Let us help heal God's world every day by falling in love with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, our neighbors/family members, our enemies, and ultimately ourselves. When we do this the world will know peace, mercy, and justice and live out our days in CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy). So let us begin!
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Our quotes for pondering come from Margaret Mead:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead
"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." ~ Margaret Mead
"For the human species to evolve, the conversation must deepen." ~ Margaret Mead
"...recognize and respect Earth's beautiful systems of balance, between the presence of animals on land, the fish in the sea, birds in the air, mankind, water, air, and land. Most importantly there must always be awareness of the actions by people that can disturb this precious balance." ~ Margaret Mead
"WE MUST DEVISE A SYSTEM IN WHICH PEACE IS MORE REWARDING THAN WAR." ~ Margaret Mead
Hail, gladdening Light
Hail, gladdening Light, of God’s pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest,
The lights of evening round us shine,
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung,
With undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone!
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
We need to conscientiously and intentionally give ourselves over to being lovers not haters, people who include and not exclude, we need to strive to be at one! This is what being a holy child and person of God is all about. We are called to live out our lives in a holy manner. Every day when our feet hit the floor we are walking on holy ground. Wherever we walk it is holy ground. Every day is holy. Every living thing is holy. Every person is holy! Let us strive today by finding common and holy ground. Let's start by pledging to God, Our family members, Our enemies, and ourselves that we will love, lovingly include, and warmly welcome everyone into our hearts and heart homes.
Let us pray and commit ourselves to the tasks at hand! Before we do let us light a candle in solidarity to be people of sanctuary and safety.
Psalm 91: 9-16
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *
and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
Titus 3:1-7
3Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, 5he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water* of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.
The Song of Hannah
1 Samuel 2:1-8
My heart exults in you, O God; *
my triumph song is lifted in you.
My mouth derides my enemies, *
for I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like you, *
nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.
Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *
Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.
The bows of the mighty are broken, *
but the weak are clothed in strength.
Those once full now labor for bread, *
those who hungered now are well fed.
The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *
while the mother of many is forlorn.
God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *
gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.
God raises the poor from the dust; *
and lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with the rulers *
and inherit a place of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are God’s *
on which the whole earth is founded.
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus* was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers* approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ 14When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’* feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
that you, with love and lasting light,
would guard us through the hours of night.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
redeem through us our evil foe,
that we no lasting harm may know.
O wisest Guide, grant all we ask,
fulfil in us your holy task,
surround us with your love and care,
and lead us on, your life to share.
All praise to God, sustaining us,
redeeming and transforming us,
thanksgiving in eternity,
all praise, belovèd Trinity.
A Song of Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:6-11
Though in the form of God, *
Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *
and was born in human likeness.
Being found in human form, he humbled himself *
and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him *
and given him the name above every name,
That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *
to the glory of God the Father.
The Lord's Prayer
God help us to commit to each other every day to be mindful that everyone matters.| Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
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.
|
God help us we pray to commit our lives to the care of all of our family members nearby and far away.
God help us we pray to commit to the equality and well being of all and that we will speak truth to power in solidarity with the marginalized as we remember especially_________.
God help us we pray to commit our Love Energy and Heart Homes to making peace on our streets and through out the world.
God help us we pray to commit our care muscles in the care of all our family members and especially the least of these and our many family members who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.
God help us we pray to commit our compassion muscles in lovingly supporting our family members who are grieving and having life struggles.
God help us we pray to commit our energy to be good conservationists of your Cathedral of Life.
God help us we pray to commit ourselves to the fight of injustice, being a voice for the voiceless, and speaking truth to power and letting justice roll down.
God help us we pray to commit ourselves to the inclusion of all human beings into our lives and be fully accepting of them as our brothers and sisters.
God help us we pray to commit our energies in the service of all our family members who are in trouble, danger, escaping tyranny and unsafe nations.
God help us we pray to commit ourselves to protecting all who labor in factory, farm, and everywhere.
God we commit ourselves to you,
God we commit to being Loving towards you, our family members, and ourselves.
God we commit to walk the walk and talk the talk without fear and reservation,
God we commit to speak lovingly towards each other with dignity and respect.
God we commit to get to know our family members from other faith communities as our brothers and sisters.
God we commit to the affirmation that All Lives Matter and All means All and not Some.
God we commit to enter into daily silence and go deeper to the center to be in communion, conversation, and listening with you and hear with our heart homes and with the necessary Love Energy you Give us.
God we add our additional prayers and thanksgivings now remembering especially__________
Accept these our prayers in name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
or these!
Dear Jesus, we pray that we may feel the warmth of your love and mercy.
May we be the light and show love and mercy to others and may they feel the warmth that we are giving.
Jesus, help us to learn to be more like you day by day.
May always remember these words:
Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits thou hast given me,
for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day.
Amen.
Jesus, we pray that we may be empowered to love, serve, and help the least of these.
Give us courage Jesus, we do not know where to plant our feet and know what to do.
Jesus, help us to be peacemakers so that we may become and be the Children of God.
Jesus, heal and sooth our infirmities that we may rise and serve You and all our family members, as Peter's mother-in-law did.
Give us the right amount of daily energy to do this.
Jesus, give us grace to see you in the eyes of our enemies, strangers, refugees, immigrants, the least of these and all those with whom there is division. May we sew seeds of love, compassion, mercy.
Jesus, we pray for all the warring areas in Your Father's world especially in the places where you proclaimed Good News and told us not to be afraid.
Take away all the fear, terror, hate, and mistrust of all of our family members who live in Your homeland and all of the prophets, apostles, martyrs, Matriarchs, Patriarchs, Remembering our Abrahamic family members.
Lord Jesus we name before you all those who have requested prayers and we also lay before you all our worries at your feet remembering especially___________
Jesus, may we rise to the challenge of being loving and writing positive, loving, and reassuring posts in social media. We pray that our words may heal not harm. We also pray and pledge that we will speak truth to power and use words that will empower our family members to fight on behalf of the least of these and all those who are recipients of injustice and oppression.
Jesus, we pray for all who mourn this night and we pray especially for those who have died and are dying remembering especially_____________
Jesus we offer all our prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations to you and in your Name we pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
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.
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.
May the blessing of the God of Abraham and Sarah, and of Jesus
Christ born of our sister Mary, and of the Holy Spirit, who broods
over the world as a mother over her children, be upon you and
remain with you always. Amen
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
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)
O God,
strengthen your servants with your heavenly grace,
that we may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more,
until we come to your everlasting kingdom
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.
The Rite of Compline from the Northumbria Community may be added:
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.
If this Compline is being used in a group setting the * notation indicates a change of reader; words in bold are said all together; words in bold italic are said by each person in turn; and + indicates where you might make the sign of the cross.
+ (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.
++++
Good Night All! I love you! May we with God's help be transformed to do God's work in the world around us for the good of all.
With love and baskets full of blessings,
Sara
Resources:
Book of Common Prayer
Satucket Lectionary
A New Zealand Prayer Book
A to Z Quotes
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Northumbria Community
Enriching Our Worship
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