An Evening Meditating on the words of Kermit the Frog's creator Jim Henson!

Good Evening Dear Family!

I'm home tonight! My body told me that I didn't need to do another meeting this week so, this is why this is early! Tonight we have a treat! We get to have words of wisdom from Jim Henson whom we celebrate on the eve of his passing. He passed away in 1990. I think he would be saddened to see what we have become as a nation and a world. We need to hear his words before we worship tonight. We will be using the prayers from the Family Prayer office from A New Zealand Prayer Book tonight to remind us that we are the Family of  God.  So let us begin and ponder these fabulous words from the creator of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, Jim Henson.

"Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and most especially your heart." ~ Jim Henson

"I really do believe that all of you are at the beginning of a wonderful journey.As you start traveling down that road of life, remember this: There are never enough comfort stops. The places you're going to are never on the map. And once you get that map out, you won't be able to re-fold it no matter how smart you are. So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can pull over and have picnic with a pig. And if you can help it never fly as cargo." ~ Jim Henson

"When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there." ~ Jim Henson

"I know it's easier to portray a world filled with cynicism and anger, where problems are solved with violence...It's an easy out. What's a whole lot tougher is to offer alternatives, to present other ways conflicts can be resolved, and to show you can have a positive impact on your world. To do that, you have to put yourself out on a limb, take chances, and run the risk of being called a do-gooder." ~ Jim Henson

"We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside...Inside." ~ Jim Henson

"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it." ~ Jim Henson

"The most sophisticated people I've ever known had just one thing in common: they were all in touch with their inner children." ~ Jim Henson

"All of a sudden you realise that you are the person who has control of your life." ~ Jim Henson

"I spend a few minutes in meditation and prayer each morning. I find that this really helps me to start the day with a good frame of reference. As part of my prayers, I thank whoever is helping me - I'm sure that somebody or something is - I express gratitude for all my blessings and try to forgive the people that I'm feeling negative toward. I try hard not to judge anyone, and I try to bless everyone who is part of my life, particularly anyone with whom I am having any problems." ~ Jim Henson

"Follow your enthusiasm. It's something I've always believed
 in. Find those parts of your life you enjoy the most. Do what
 you enjoy doing." ~ Jim Henson

"Yes, its one of the basic truths of the universe,....Things don't disappear. They just change, and change and change again." ~ Jim Henson
"[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." ~ Jim Henson

"I try hard not to judge anyone, and I try to bless everyone who is a part of my life, particularly anyone with whom I am having any problems" ~ Jim Henson


Come let us worship

God is love. Since God loves us, we should love one another.

Jesus said, ‘Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.’Matthew 7:7

 Turn for help to the Lord your strength: and constantly seek God’s presence. Remember the marvelous things the Most High has done:the wonders, and the judgments God has given.Psalm 105:4-5

Psalm 134 Ecce nunc

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

God we come before you this night to light our candles, pray, give thanks, and be still and know that you are God and that you are Good. We pray this night that we may seek to be refreshed, renewed, and reacquainted with you, each other, and ourselves. We pray that we may be freed from the need to be drawn into the snares of fear, hatred, bigotry, and all things that divide us from you and each other.
We pray this night for all the gifts of the Holy Spirit that draw us near to you and carry us out into the world to serve and love all of our family members. We pray this night and give thanks for the gift of pain and struggle that remind us of our sisters and brothers who are enduring many things beyond all of our knowledge. We pray that love, joy, hope, and peace may spread across this nation and the world like the rush of  that famous mighty wind on Pentecost and we may find ourselves wrapped in the Spirit's Comforting and Healing quilt. Draw us near to one another through Jesus' love and mercy. Let us light our candles as we take them out into the world and vanquish all darkness, hate, and division. We add our prayers and thanksgivings and offer this moment of silence in memory of all who have died in any act of violence  this day and those who are suffering at the hands of verbal and violent acts of terror and abuse. God hear our prayers and petitions and the cries of our hearts and spirits this night and always. Amen.

A COLLECT

In darkness and in light,

in trouble and in joy,

help us, heavenly Father,

to trust your love,

to serve your purpose,

and to praise your name,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR GOD’S LIGHT

Eternal God, shed your light on us who watch for you,

that our lips may praise you,

our hearts bless you,

and our lives glorify you,

through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen.

Søren Kierkegaard: For Inward Peace

Calm the waves of this heart, O God; calm its tempests.

Calm yourself, O my soul, so that God is able to rest in you, so that God’s peace may cover you.

Yes, You can give us peace, O God, peace that the whole world can never take away.

As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.2 Corinthians 6:4-1

THE SACRAMENT OF SILENCE Herbert F. Vetter

In the silence, O God, You constantly surround our growing life.

We know You in the silence of the healing wound, the muteness of tenderness, the quiet growth within the sleeping child, the unspoken bonds uniting friend and friend, the still intensity of meditation, the soundless splendor of our changing seasons.

We know You in the sacred silence of our bodies: the secret movement of the hidden cells, the noiseless restoration of the tissues’ balance, the unheard ebb and flow within each artery and vein.

We know You in the magic silence of our minds: the mystery of memory, retaining after-images of childhood, youth, and later years; the miracle of imagination, whereby we behold our visions of the city unattained; the marvel of attention, when the mind is focused to absorption on some needful task.

We know You in the hidden silence of our hearts: the never uttered depths of love between a man and a woman, a teacher and a student, a parent and a child; the art of being altogether for another; the faith restoring faith that someone else is utterly for you.

We know You in the fateful silences of faith. We know You in the sacrament of silence.

Christ our Passover     Pascha nostrum

1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Alleluia. 

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; * 

    therefore let us keep the feast, 

Not with old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, * 

    but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; * 

    death no longer has dominion over him. 

The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; * 

    but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * 

    and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead, * 

    the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

For since by a man came death, * 

    by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 

For as in Adam all die, * 

    so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Wisdom 4:16-5:8

The Triumph of the Righteous

16 The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living,

and youth that is quickly perfected* will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous. 

17 For they will see the end of the wise,

and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them,

and for what he kept them safe. 

18 The unrighteous* will see, and will have contempt for them,

but the Lord will laugh them to scorn.

After this they will become dishonoured corpses,

and an outrage among the dead for ever; 

19 because he will dash them speechless to the ground,

and shake them from the foundations;

they will be left utterly dry and barren,

and they will suffer anguish,

and the memory of them will perish. 

The Final Judgement

20 They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up,

and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

5Then the righteous will stand with great confidence

in the presence of those who have oppressed them

and those who make light of their labours. 

2 When the unrighteous* see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear,

and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous. 

3 They will speak to one another in repentance,

and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, 

4 ‘These are persons whom we once held in derision

and made a byword of reproach—fools that we were!

We thought that their lives were madness

and that their end was without honour. 

5 Why have they been numbered among the children of God?

And why is their lot among the saints? 

6 So it was we who strayed from the way of truth,

and the light of righteousness did not shine on us,

and the sun did not rise upon us. 

7 We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction,

and we journeyed through trackless deserts,

but the way of the Lord we have not known. 

8 What has our arrogance profited us?

And what good has our boasted wealth brought us? 

John Holmes: O God of Stars and Sunlight

O God of stars and sunlight,

Whose wind lifts up a bird,

In marching wave and leaf fall,

We hear Your patient word.

The color of the seasons

Goes gold across the land.

By green upon the tree tops,

We know Your moving hand.

O God of cloud and mountain,

Whose rain on rock is art,

Your plan and care and meaning

Renew the head and heart.

Your word and color spoken,

Your summer noons and showers —

By these and by Your sunshine,

We know Your world is ours.

O God of root and shading

Of boughs above our head,

We breathe in Your long breathing

Our spirit spirited.

We walk beneath Your blessing

Your seasons and Your way,

O God of stars and sunlight,

O God of this year’s day.

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.

Colossians 1:24-2:7

Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

2For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,* 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Fullness of Life in Christ

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives* in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 

Alcuin: Eternal One

Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;

Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil;

Eternal Power, be our support;

Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance:

That we may seek Your face

With all our heart and mind and soul and strength.

A Song of Our Adoption

Ephesians 1:3-10

Blessed are you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *

for you have blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Before the world was made, you chose us to be yours in Christ, *

that we should be holy and blameless before you.

You destined us for adoption as your children through Jesus Christ,

*

according to the good pleasure of your will,

To the praise of your glorious grace, *

that you have freely given us in the Beloved.

In you, we have redemption through the blood of Christ,

the forgiveness of our sins,

According to the riches of your grace *

which you have lavished upon us.

You have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight, *

the mystery of your will,

According to your good pleasure which you set forth in Christ, *

as a plan for the fullness of time,

To gather together all things in Christ, *

things in heaven and things on earth.

Luke 6:27-38

27 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.* Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

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 Song of the Women T. S. Eliot

We praise thee, O God, for thy glory displayed in all the

creatures of the earth,

In the snow, in the rain, in the wind, in the storm; in all of

thy creatures, both the hunters and the hunted.

For all things exist only as seen by thee, only as known by

thee, all things exist

Only in thy light, and thy glory is declared even in that

which denies thee; the darkness declares the glory of light.

Those who deny thee could not deny, if thou didst not

exist; and their denial is never complete, for if it were so,

they would not exist.

They affirm thee in living; all things affirm thee in living;

the bird in the air, both the hawk and the finch; the beast

on the earth, both the wolf and the lamb.

Therefore we, whom thou hast made to be conscious of

thee, must consciously praise thee, in thought and in

word and in deed.

The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh: A Litany for Peace

As we are together praying for Peace, let us be truly with each other.

Silence

Let us pay attention to our breathing.

Silence

Let us be relaxed in our bodies and our minds.

Silence

Let us return to ourselves and become wholly ourselves.

Silence

Let us be aware of the Source of Being common to us all and to all that is.

Silence

Evoking the presence of the Great Companion, let us fill our hearts with our own compassion—towards ourselves and toward all living beings.

Silence

Let us pray that all living beings realize that they are all nourished from the same Source of Life.

Silence

Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be the cause of needless suffering.

Silence

Let us pray that we may live in a way which will not needlessly deprive other living beings of air, water, food, shelter, or the chance to live in health.

Silence

With reverence for Life and with awareness of the sufferings that are going on around us, let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on earth.

A PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY

Lord Jesus, at Nazareth you shared in the life of your family. Help us to live together in our family with love and respect for each other. Make our home a place of blessing, peace and joy for everyone, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, for the day you have given us, and for all the pleasure we have had. Guard us while we sleep, and bless all those we love, this night and for ever.

Amen.

Dear God, thank you for today.

We are sorry if we have been unkind to anyone.

Help us to forgive each other.

Thank you for our family and for our friends.

Please be with us tonight.

Amen.

Else Niemoeller: For the World’s Children

Lover of humanity, who cares for even one sparrow’s fall, we thank You that Your infinite eye is upon all the children of the world. Whatever the circumstances, we pray that we may help to release them from the forces that scar: hunger, homelessness, hatred, and lies. Give to each of us some sense of responsibility that all children everywhere may come into their full human heritage.

Now let us take time for a bit of personal meditation that is of your very own making. Remember to create your meditation environment, breathe, and go deep into the center. Decide on your time, your pace, and how you'd like to do it.

If you need the "Be Stills" here they are:

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

Don't forget to breathe!

God we pray this night for all who are in fragile and tender situations. We remember all of your children who are refugees, captives, victims of any kind of violence and abuse, the mentally ill and memory challenged. We remember all of our family members who see to harm that they may be led out of the need to do so.
Gather us in O God ,as your beloved children.

God we pray this night for all who travel that they may be protected. Help us to be mindful as we drive and bike. Make us mindful of all who walk and carry heavy loads.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we pray for peace, justice, mercy, equality, and inclusion in our cities, states, country, and nations of the world.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we pray for all who are grieving losses of any kind and that we may lovingly respond to their needs.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we pray for all who are transitioning into life eternal and those who have made the journey today. Give us courage to lovingly honor their passing and celebrate their lives in the way we live, move and just be.
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially__________________
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we lift up with thanksgiving our many blessings that you have lovingly bestowed upon us remembering______________
Gather us in O God, as your beloved children.

God we lift up our prayers in the name of Jesus . Amen.


(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.

Matthew 5:1–10

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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.

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.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen us
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

Good Night Dear Ones ! I love you! May you be blessed and have your hearts warmed by God's holy and life giving presence this day and always.

With peace, love, and prayers,
Sara

Resources:

A to Z quotes

Prayers of Power

Enriching our Worship 1

Satucket Lectionary Page

Book of Common Prayer

New Zealand Prayer Book

Walk With Me On Our Journey (prayer selections and vigils from other blogs)