Good Evening Dear Family !

Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! Today's #AdventWord is #Ablaze and this one is quite difficult to do a meditation on. Let me endeavor to try! My heart is #Ablaze with love of God, Neighbor, and Self! My life and soul are #Ablaze with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to continue to write Walk With Me on Our Journey! I'm #Ablaze with joyful expectation as we await the yearly celebration of Christ's coming into the world and live as one of us and become our Savior and Redeemer of the World. I'm #Ablaze with the excitement to follow Jesus' Way of life, love, and hope!
What can you do with today's #AdventWord #Ablaze? That is your journaling assignment for tonight! Also here is your survival tip: Take a moment to breathe and go for a walk in God's Cathedral of Life. Let us begin with our mindfulness exercises and then onward to our time of pondering and prayer.

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still
Peace be.
Peace.

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

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

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

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

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

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Let us meditate and ponder on today's #AdventWord #Ablaze

"Let us keep the flame of faith alive through prayer and the sacraments: let us make sure we do not forget God." ~ Pope Francis

"Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

"O how unspeakable is this Sacrament which sets our affections ablaze with charity. ... It is the fulfillment of Christ's Mystical Body." ~ Thomas Aquinas

"Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love." ~ John of the Cross

"I want to shine like a little candle before His altar." ~ Therese of Lisieux

"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." ~ Ferdinand Foch

"I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master." ~ John Newton

"Information may inform the mind, but revelation sets a heart on fire." ~ Matt Redman

"So, our vocation is to go, not just to one parish, not just to one diocese, but all over the world; and do what? To set people's hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did. He came to set the world on fire in order to inflame it with His love." ~ Vincent de Paul

"The devil fears hearts on fire with love of God." ~ St. Catherine of Siena

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and those who are afraid are not perfected in love. We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother or sister, that person is a liar; for those who do not love their brothers and sisters whom thay have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:18-20

Let us embrace one another in agape (unconditional) love as we await the yearly celebration of Christ's birth and when we celebrate Jesus as God Incarnate, Man Divine.

Let us confess our need for God’s healing grace.

Silence

Compassionate God,

we confess our weaknesses and our need for your

strengthening touch.

We confess that some illnesses stem from our own fault,

while others are beyond our control.

We turn to you, source of life,

and ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ

for the gifts of true healing and life in you. Amen.

May the God of love visit us in our times of trial and weakness,

and raise us to newness of life, through Jesus Christ, in the

power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And so let us be at prayer and light our candles and sing the Great O Antiphons!

Our Great O Antiphon of The Day

O Clavis David

Latin:

O Clavis David

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

How wonderful it is to be surprised by God’s call, to embrace his word, and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus... Your life will become richer and more joyful each day!

Pope Francis

Come and save us, * O Lord God of hosts.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved:

O Lord God of hosts.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord:

R. And grant us your salvation.

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.

Prayer Over The Advent Candle

O God, as light comes from this candle,

May the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,

Warming our hearts and brightening our way.

May Christ our Savior

Bring life into the darkness of this world,

And to us, as we wait for his coming.

Amen.

(www.catholicnewsagency.com)

Smudging Prayer

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.

God and Creator of us all we pray and light our candles this night at a time where we are finding ourselves sorely divided one from another by a myriad of circumstances. We pray that we may start to learn from each other and place our egos and the need to be right at the door. We pray that we may use gentle speech and kind actions when we meet someone who differs from us. We pray that we may lovingly enfold them in our arms and extend to them radical hospitality and welcome. We pray that we may continually beat the weaponry of hate into ploughshares and turn the spears of division into pruning hooks and that we may grow into a peace-filled and loving world. We pray this night for all who are enduring any kind of pain that they may be comforted and that we may lovingly respond to their needs. We pray and ask this night for forgiveness of any action or word we have done or spoken this day and that we may turn away and repent of the wrongs we have done. We pray that we may spread God's light of love, peace, and learning to this world and that we may be beacons of hope, joy, love, and peace. We pray that we may follow Jesus and imitate him by being CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) and show the world that we are carried aloft by the Holy Spirit's Love Energy and that our Hearts and heart homes may be enlarged and that truly we may become one family of God and Love and brothers and sisters one to another. Amen.

33 Exultate, justi

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; *
it is good for the just to sing praises.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp; *
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3 Sing for him a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4 For the word of the Lord is right, *
and all his works are sure.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, *
by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.

7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *
and stores up the depths of the sea.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; *
he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught; *
he thwarts the designs of the peoples.

11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever, *
and the designs of his heart from age to age.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.

16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,

19 To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.

Isaiah 9:18-10:4

18 For wickedness burned like a fire,

consuming briers and thorns;

it kindled the thickets of the forest,

and they swirled upwards in a column of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts

the land was burned,

and the people became like fuel for the fire;

no one spared another.

20 They gorged on the right, but still were hungry,

and they devoured on the left, but were not satisfied;

they devoured the flesh of their own kindred;*

21 Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh,

and together they were against Judah.

For all this, his anger has not turned away;

his hand is stretched out still.

10Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees,

who write oppressive statutes,

2 to turn aside the needy from justice

and to rob the poor of my people of their right,

that widows may be your spoil,

and that you may make the orphans your prey!

3 What will you do on the day of punishment,

in the calamity that will come from far away?

To whom will you flee for help,

and where will you leave your wealth,

4 so as not to crouch among the prisoners

or fall among the slain?

For all this, his anger has not turned away;

his hand is stretched out still.

59 Eripe me de inimicis

1 Rescue me from my enemies, O God; *
protect me from those who rise up against me.

2 Rescue me from evildoers *
and save me from those who thirst for my blood.

3 See how they lie in wait for my life,
how the mighty gather together against me; *
not for any offense or fault of mine, O Lord.
4 Not because of any guilt of mine *
they run and prepare themselves for battle.

5 Rouse yourself, come to my side, and see; *
for you, Lord God of hosts, are Israel's God.

6 Awake, and punish all the ungodly; *
show no mercy to those who are faithless and evil.

7 They go to and fro in the evening; *
they snarl like dogs and run about the city.

8 Behold, they boast with their mouths,
and taunts are on their lips; *
"For who," they say, "will hear us?"

9 But you, O Lord, you laugh at them; *
you laugh all the ungodly to scorn.

10 My eyes are fixed on you, O my Strength; *
for you, O God, are my stronghold.

11 My merciful God comes to meet me; *
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

12 Slay them, O God, lest my people forget; *
send them reeling by your might and put them down, O Lord our shield.

13 For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips,
for the cursing and lies that they utter, *
let them be caught in their pride.

14 Make an end of them in your wrath; *
make an end of them, and they shall be no more.

15 Let everyone know that God rules in Jacob, *
and to the ends of the earth.

16 They go to and fro in the evening; *
they snarl like dogs and run about the city.
17 They forage for food, *
and if they are not filled, they howl.

18 For my part, I will sing of your strength; *
I will celebrate your love in the morning;

19 For you have become my stronghold, *
a refuge in the day of my trouble.

20 To you, O my Strength, will I sing; *
for you, O God, are my stronghold and my merciful God.

2 Peter 2:10-16

10—especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority.

Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,* 11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgement from the Lord.* 12These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed,* they also will be destroyed, 13suffering* the penalty for doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their dissipation* while they feast with you. 14They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor,* who loved the wages of doing wrong, 16but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

60 Deus, repulisti nos

1 O God, you have cast us off and broken us; *
you have been angry;
oh, take us back to you again.

2 You have shaken the earth and split it open; *
repair the cracks in it, for it totters.

3 You have made your people know hardship; *
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, *
to be a refuge from the power of the bow.

5 Save us by your right hand and answer us, *
that those who are dear to you may be delivered.

6 God spoke from his holy place and said: *
"I will exult and parcel out Shechem;
I will divide the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; *
Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.
8 Moab is my wash-basin,
on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it, *
and over Philistia will I shout in triumph."

9 Who will lead me into the strong city? *
who will bring me into Edom?

10 Have you not cast us off, O God? *
you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.

11 Grant us your help against the enemy, *
for vain is the help of man.

12 With God we will do valiant deeds, *
and he shall tread our enemies under foot.

Matthew 3:1-12

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’* 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 ‘I baptize you with* water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

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.

Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come

among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,

let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver

us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and

the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Loving Jesus: Protect and sustain us with your hand. Open the

door of your love that, sealed with your wisdom, we may be free

to serve you with joy. Amen.

(a prayer of St. Gertrude)

Jesus, you are the way through the wilderness: show us your truth

in which we journey, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit be in us

the life that draws us to God. Amen.

(source: F.B. McNutt, The Prayer Manual [London: Mowbray, 1961], p. 29,

adapted)

O God our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the

angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in

danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and

grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and

serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior.

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.

Christ has no Body

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks. Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. - Teresa of Avila

Let us pray the Alternative form of the Lord's Prayer as found in the New Zealand Prayer Book

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.

Everything Has Its Time

From Ecclesiastes 33 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Let us pray the #AdventWord -#Dazzle

God help us not to be #dazzled by the lights of this season but to be #dazzled by the light and love of Christ.

Light of Christ illumine our hearts with love energy so that we may serve you in your kindom daily.

God we pray for all who have become attached and bedazzled by the materialism of this world an have forgotten what matters most.

Light of Christ may we seek to be unattached to things but attached to you and where you lead us. May we find ourselves walking with you and covering ourselves in your dust.

God we pray for all who are lonely this time of year and all the dazzling sights and sounds become hurtful not helpful to them.

Light of Christ may we lovingly respond to our family members who are lost, lonely, alone, neglected and who may feel invisible. Give us courage to seek out the lost and bring them back into your fold and our family with loving acceptance.

God we pray for all refugees, immigrants, victims of abuse, terror, disaster, human trafficking and discrimination.

Light of Christ help us to shine the light on injustice and do in the words of the Prophet Micah "To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" and let justice roll down. May this light shine everywhere and into the hearts of tyrannical leaders who do not know or want to learn how to serve and govern the peoples whom they serve.

God be-stir our hearts once again on Christmas so that we may carry your message of love and the God News to everyone who need it or may need to hear it again.

Light of Christ may we shine your love light and Love News to the world with voices loud and clear and without fear.

God we pray for_________________

God we remember_________________

God we give thanks for_______________

God we Celebrate_________________

Christ the light of our hearts receive these our prayers and thanksgivings in your Holy Name. Amen.

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3–12

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

#AdventWord prayers for #Light

God empower us to be your beacons of light and hope in this fragile and broken world.

God help us to shine your peace, love, justice, and mercy in those places where darkness is the order of the day and may your healing light be shed upon them.

God we pray for all who are in need of light therapy as Winter approaches. Help us to keep watch over our loved ones who need our loving light and presence as they cope with depression.

God open wide our heart homes, nourish our heart roots with the necessary light, and radiate our inner beings with your presence from the inside out.

God help us to remember that your "yoke is easy and your burden is light!"

God make our lives lighter as we take time to live more simply.

God shed light upon all forms of violence, extremism, abuse, bigotry and hatred that we we may speak truth to power and stand for universal human rights.

Give us courage to shine the light of truth to places where falsehood and danger are present.

Give us courage to stand with the vulnerable as we enfold them with compassion, acceptance, love and mercy. May we seek to work in our communities where injustice and apathy need the necessary light to make changes wherever and whenever necessary.

Let us remember That the Light of Christ in Me Reflects the Light of Christ in You.

May we shine the light of the Gospel to all who are in need of hearing and being shown the light of your love, the light of your mercy, and the light of your justice as we follow you O God. Amen.

Or these

God help us to shine your light to the world. Open our hearts wide so that our family members whom we know and don't know may see your light shine through us.

God help us to be the light to others and especially our family members who are in dark places at the moment. Help us to remember to pray for the least of these and be lights to them as they are to us.

God give us courage to shine the light of justice to a world that is in need of equality, acceptance, universal human rights and liberty.

God help us to be able to shine lights in areas of the world that are plagued by injustice, oppression, terror, and war.

God help us to be sources of comfort to those who are ill or in grief.

God we pray for those whom we name now and that our hearts may be illumined to pray for the urgent concerns you have laid upon our hearts.

God we give thanks to you for bringing Jesus the light of the world to us and all people.

Let us pray these words to each other:

The light of Christ In me recognizes the light of Christ in you.

For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us

through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole

human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which

infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;

unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and

confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in

your good time, all nations and races may serve you in

harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

Let us Sow Seeds of:

C= Compassion

A= Acceptance

L= Love

M = Mercy

Let us speak in words that are:

C= Comforting

A= Appreciative

L= Living and Loving

M= Mindful and Matter

Let our deeds be:

C= Caring and Compassionate

A= Admirable

L= Life giving

M= Mannerly

Let us choose to live a life of Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy. Let choose to speak in words that are courageous, amiable, enLightening, Mannered, and Make sense and don't harm or divide. Let our deeds be all these things.

We pray these #HashtagsWithMeaning our #AdventWords2018!

God we give thanks for our yearly #journey to seek Jesus in the manger and celebrate His birth.

God help us to keep #Watch over our family members who need us the most and take the Matthew 25 Pledge daily: I pledge to protect and defend vulnerable people in the name of Jesus.

God, help us to #Focus on what matters most during this season of watchful waiting and joyful expectation.

God, we pray for all of our family members who are homeless, hungry and ill-clad during the cold winter #nights. May we remember that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were in similar situations.

God, we pray that we may become your #Light shiners to this fragile and broken world. May we carry your #light with love, joy, hope, peace, and be the change you want us to be in the world.

God,we pray that we may lead lives rooted in the fruits of the spirit and may#Sprout healthy branches that will be able to foster goodness and love and serve all of your family members throughout the world.

God, we pray that we may be #Alert to your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.

God, we pray and give thanks for times of going into the #wild just to be with you and in your time come out refreshed, renewed, and empowered to do your will and work for you and with you.

God, we #Cry out in prayer and as voices for all who are in need or in trouble. We remember all refugees, homeless, persecuted, racially profiled, bullied and abused and we remember especially those who are seeking asylum. We add our own petitions here_______________.

God, we pray that we may #Go out in to the world and serve you and #Grow in the way of Jesus.

God, we pray and give thanks for #Rough times when we need to acknowledge our dependence upon you and each other.

God, we pray for ways in which to #smooth things over with our family members when situations become #Rough and rocky especially during this time of year.

God, help us we pray to #prune all of the dead gunk in our heart homes so that we may make room for Jesus in our hearts this season and year to come.

God we lift up these our prayers as we #prepare to worship you on the morrow, in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.

God help us to learn how to #Rejoice during times of dis-ease. God give us strength to see and feel joy in times of sorrow.

God we #Sing praises to you and give thanks for all that you are doing in the lives of your children.

God we give thanks for our #Ancestors who are our role models and have walked life's #journey before us. May we do the same for generations to come.

God #Wash our hearts and minds from all malicious thoughts and actions, that we may be ever fixed on You and loving and serving our neighbors who are made in your image and likeness.

God help us to have our hearts set #Ablaze with love and in service to you!

From A New Zealand Prayer Book-

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.

O God, who opens the eyes of the blind and sets the captives free; Open our eyes that we may ever discern your way and guide our feet that we may walk in it, to your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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 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.

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)

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in

believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Romans 15:13

Christ be within us to keep us,
beside us to guard,
before us to lead,
behind us to protect,
beneath us to support,
above us to bless.

This Rite of Compline From the Northumbria Community may be added.

Thursday – The Ebba Compline

Ebba was the sister of Oswald and Oswy, who were both kings of Northumbria. She was consecrated a nun by Aidan and founded the ‘double’ (i.e. there were both men and women there) monastery at Coldingham, situated on St Abbs’s Head (which was subsequently named after her). Ebba died in the year 683. Bede described her as a ‘pious woman and a handmaid of Christ.’

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)

* Find rest, O my soul, in God alone:
my hope comes from Him.

Come I this night to the Father,
come I this night to the Son,
come I to the Holy Spirit powerful:
come I this night to God.
Come I this night with Christ,
come I with the Spirit of kindness.
Come I to Thee, Jesus.
Jesus, shelter me.

* I will lie down and sleep.
I wake again,
because the Lord sustains me.

* By day the Lord directs His love;
at night His song is with me –
a prayer to the God of my life.

* Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.

* This dwelling, O God, by Thee be blest;
and each one who here this night does rest.

* May God be in my sleep;
may Christ be in my dreams.
May the Spirit be in my repose,
in my thoughts, in my heart.
In my soul always
may the Sacred Three dwell.

May the Father of heaven
have care of my soul,
His loving arm about my body,
through each slumber
and sleep of my life.

The Son of God be shielding me from harm,
the Son of God be shielding me from ill,
the Son of God be shielding me with power.
The Son of God be shielding me this night.

* Sleep, O sleep in the calm of each calm.
Sleep, O sleep in the guidance of all guidance.
Sleep, O sleep in the love of all loves.
Sleep, O beloved, in the Lord of life.
Sleep, O beloved, in the God of life.

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.

Today’s Meditation

Listen to your life.

See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.

In the boredom and pain of it

no less than in the excitement and gladness:

touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it

because in the last analysis all moments are key moments,

and life itself is grace.

Frederick Buechner

Bonus prayers!

God we pray the words of the Ancient Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel! May Emmanuel come soon.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain

God we pray these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

We light this final candle for our peace, hope, love, and joy in the world and within ourselves:

God of Love help us to be loving to all of our family of love. We pray that we may lovingly respond to each other's needs and concerns.

O Come Emmanuel, Come Soon and enliven our spirits with your compassion, acceptance, love and mercy! May we always show love, bring joy, give hope, and make peace to all of our family members and living things.

God of Love we pray for all who are traveling the next few days to visit loved ones. We pray for all of our loved ones whom we haven't seen for awhile.