Good Evening Dear Ones!
Here is what I posted on Facebook moments ago:
Tonight I am rattled and angry! No one in the public comment period at the City Council Meeting gets to call for an anti-LGBTQ ordinance requiring the death penalty for who we are. I know free speech but this hate speak. I was hoping the city council would have said something. Tonight I am mulling over what I'm going to say in the blog. Maybe this will be it. Tonight all LGBTQ communities need your support and love from senseless acts of violence verbal and non-verbal. Speak up and don't be afraid to stand with us. We are God's children just as you are. So dear ones remember we are called to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves. Tonight we will ponder these quotes on Pride Month.
"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people." ~ Martina Navratilova
"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." ~ Shakti Gawain
"I'm for human lib, the liberation of all people, not just black people or female people or gay people." ~ Richard Pryor
"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." ~ Harvey Fierstein
"No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love" ~ Rita Mae Brown
"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country." ~ Harvey Milk
"Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." ~ Harvey Fierstein
"So let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me." ~ Tim Cook
"Never be bullied into silence." ~ Harvey Fierstein
"Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start." ~ Jason Collins
"[Button] If Gay and Lesbian people are given civil rights, soon everyone will want them" ~ James Howe
"If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Come Let us worship.
Let us begin our worship time together with this prayer from the Arusha Call to Discipleship.
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of life in all its diversity and beauty. Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we praise you that you came to find the lost, to free the oppressed, to heal the sick, and to convert the self-centred. Holy Spirit, we rejoice that you breathe in the life of the world and are poured out into our hearts. As we live in the Spirit, may we also walk in the Spirit. Grant us faith and courage to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus: becoming pilgrims of justice and peace in our time. For the blessing of your people, the sustaining of the earth, and the glory of your name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who abuse you. Do good and lend, expecting nothing in return; for God is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
Be merciful as your father is merciful. Judge not and you will not be judged. Condemn not and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and it will be given to you; for the measure you give will be the measure you receive. From Luke 6:27-38
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 day
Tonight we light our candles and pray for strength and courage to love one another and fight injustice.
God you have commanded us to love one another and be your children, tonight as we light our candles and pray at whatever time this is read let us be one. We pray that we may use our prayer muscles to serve the least of these who haven't any voice. We pray that we may have the courage to love one another and fight the injustices that divide us and put us in harms way. We pray that we may have courage to act and say #NotOneMore, #NoMoreOrlandos , #EndGunViolenceNow. Give us we pray the courage to stand together with our brothers and sisters of the LGBTQIA, Islamic, and Latino communities and seek to learn from each other. We pray that we may rise together and stand against all forms of oppression, discrimination, and isolationism. We pray that we may seek to stand in support for mental health services and that we may be able to get help for those who need it earlier rather than later. We pray this day for each other. Help us to build each other up and not tear each other down. We pray that we may build bridges of love, peace, and understanding and that we may carry your light, your love, and your peace into this world. We pray this in the name of God who sustains,Jesus who heals, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us. Amen.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
I am the God that healeth thee.
I am the God that healeth thee.
I am the God that healeth thee.
In thee, O God, I put my trust.
In thee, O God, I put my trust.
In thee, O God, I put my trust.
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.
126 In convertendo
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
"The Lord has done great things for them."
4 The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
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.
Exodus 22:21–27
21 You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 22You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. 23If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; 24my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans.
25 If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. 26If you take your neighbour’s cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; 27for it may be your neighbour’s only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbour cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.
A Song of the Wilderness
Isaiah 35:1-7,10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, *
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, *
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, *
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *
Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *
and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool *
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away
1 John 4:16–21
16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love* because he first loved us. 20Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters,* are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister* whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters* also.
A Song of God’s Love
1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, *
for love is of God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, *
for God is Love.
In this the love of God was revealed among us, *
that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through Jesus Christ.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *
and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, *
we ought also to love one another.
For if we love one another, God abides in us, *
and God’s love will be perfected in us.
Luke 4:14–21
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
A Song of the Spirit
Revelation 22:12-17
“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.
Almighty God, whose prophets taught us righteousness in the care of your poor: By the guidance of your Holy Spirit, grant that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in your sight; through Jesus Christ, our Judge and Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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 pray.
God help us we pray to build bridges and tear down walls. Give us strength to truly to become peacemakers and your children.
God we pray for the least of these who are homeless, hungry, without sufficient clothing and we remember especially that these are our family members who need our compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy.
God we pray for compassionate immigration reform as we remember all refugees . We pray that all families may be kept together and remember the children who were born here are beloved citizens.
We pray for freedom to practice our faiths with out fear and the need to divide and profile us by the faith(s) we practice.
We pray for an end to all forms of violence, terror, bullying and abuse both in action and in words.
We pray for peace, unity, and justice, and remember as in the baptismal covenant in the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER as one of the questions " Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Help us we pray that we may lay down all weaponry of hate and division and be united in heart, mind, and spirit.
We pray for seasonable weather and a respect and conservation of God's Cathedral of Life. We pray for help reducing our carbon footprints and solutions to global warming and climate change. We pray for the care of all of our animal kingdom and all endangered species. We pray for laws banning imported ivory and all wild game hunts.
We pray for all victims of hate, bullying, abuse, human trafficking, and all who have died because of their sexual orientation and gender.
We pray and give thanks this day for_________________________________
We lift up these our prayers in the name of (Place your own deity of choice here) Amen.
or these
Let us pray!Dear God we sometimes cannot explain the unexplainable but that is when we must and need to have faith in you. As we continue to walk with you on our journey may we have faith to put our feet on your holy ground and walk with love and purpose and be your hands, feet, love, voice, arms and bodies in your world. Amen.
In Perfect Harmony a Prayer in the Key of Jesus- The Key of Jesus is love!
Help us to walk, pray, think and love in the key of Jesus.
Help us to bring hope, make peace, give joy, and show love in the key of Jesus.
Lord help us to shine the light of Christ's love to the world in the key of Jesus.
Help us to be your grace and spirit filled ministers and tender and loving caregivers in the key of Jesus.
Help us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you and in the key Jesus.
Help us to have compassion, be a comfort to those who are lonely, ill, hungry, and homeless in the key of Jesus.
Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus and your Cathedral of Life in which we live. Amen!
Settings of the Lord's Prayer as found in A New Zealand Prayer Book
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
or the alternative form.
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.
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind, in the waves, and in our hearts
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind,in the waves.
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind.
Be still and hear the whisper of God.
Be still and hear the whisper.
Be still and hear.
Be still.
Be.
God is Love and where true love is,God himself is there!
God is Love and where true love is God himself is.
God is Love and where true love is God
God is Love and where true love is.
God is Love
Prayers and a rant in heartache. From the blog A voice was heard,,,,,,,,
How long must we be faced with the deaths of our innocents? How long must our family members endure torture at the hands of governments, tyrants, and extremists ? How long must we see and hear these stories of murder, abuse, terror, hate and injustice on a daily basis? How long will it take for so-called Christian people to wake up and see what they are saying and preaching is against the Lord and Savior they are supposedly following? How long O, God ? How Long? How long O, Jesus? How long O, Holy Spirit? How Long?
Let us with God's help:
Stand with the people of Orlando, San Bernardino, Paris, Lebanon, Beirut, Baghdad Ferguson, Staten Island, Sandy Hook, Sydney, Peshwar and all places where violence is occurring on a daily basis.
( You may add additional cities and family members who were and are affected each day by acts of violence and terror)
Not be complacent but actively engaged in fighting injustice everywhere.
Stand up for what is right, just, and merciful.
Stand up against violence, terror, torture, and abuse of any kind.
Stand up and practice peace and be God's peace makers.
Stand with refugees, captives, victims of violence and abuse, victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, our undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ sisters and brothers. We all our family !
Love God, Family members, and ourselves.
Stand up and be light bearers to your fragile and broken world.
Stand up for universal human rights for all God's Children.
Stand with each other and not against each other.
Stand up against extremism in all its forms.
Stand with the least of these
Stand with the voiceless ones and those who are crying out and seeking to be heard.
Stand with the vulnerable.
Stand with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as bringers of love, peace, joy, and hope.
The light of Christ in me recognizes the light of Christ in you!
The God in me Loves me Loves the God in you!
The Holy Spirit who comforts me Comforts you this day when things we can't explain and gives us heavy heart.
Will you Stand with me? Will you love one another? Will you love your enemies and do good to those who hate you? Will you continue to walk with me on our journey?
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Here are additional prayers based on the above.
Let us with God's help stand together in prayer responding Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we, Not be complacent but actively engaged in fighting injustice everywhere.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we,Stand up against violence, terror, torture, and abuse of any kind.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we,Stand with each other and not against each other.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we, Stand up against extremism in all its forms
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Stand with the least of these
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Stand with the least of these
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we, Stand with the voiceless ones and those who are crying out and seeking to be heard.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we, Stand with the vulnerable.
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
Lord God may we,Stand with you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as bringers of love, peace, joy, and hope.
The light of Christ in me recognizes the light of Christ in you!
The God in me Loves me Loves the God in you!
The Holy Spirit who comforts me Comforts you this day when things we can't explain and gives us heavy heart.
Lord God we add our own prayers and those of our family members who have requested our prayers especially_____________
Come Lord Jesus and Help us!
To You, O Lord, our God.
Will we Stand together ? Will we continue to love one another? Will we continue to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us? Will we continue to serve and support all of us who are brothers and sisters in the Family of Love who are friends, allies, of those who are in the LGBTQ community and those who practice Islam?
Will we stand together as children of God and as peace makers and those who speak truth to power? Ponder these things.
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.
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind, in the waves, and in our hearts
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind,in the waves.
Be still and hear the whisper of God in the Wind.
Be still and hear the whisper of God.
Be still and hear the whisper.
Be still and hear.
Be still.
Be.
God is Love and where true love is,God himself is there!
God is Love and where true love is God himself is.
God is Love and where true love is God
God is Love and where true love is.
God is Love
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)
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Good Night Dear Ones, I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always. May we practice love, random acts of kindness, and radical hospitality.
With love prayers, blessings and with a little less rattled heart ,
Sara
Resources
Book of Common Prayer
Satucket Lectionary
Oremus Bible Browser
Walk With Me On Our Journey
A New Zealand Prayer Book
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