Thursday, June 27, 2019

An Evening meditating on the words of Rod Serling - Wisdom from the Twilight Zone!




Good Evening Dear Ones!

I don't know about you but sometimes I feel as though we have been living in the Twilight Zone. That being said we will spend time meditating upon the wisdom of Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone. We need to hear these words along with celebrating the feast day of Cornelius Hill. We begin by making vigil and praying for all who are in detention centers, running for their lives, and who are living in squalid conditions in our communities. Let us pause and speak the names of those who are on our hearts and minds today. We remember especially Oscar and Valeria.






Let us ponder these words of wisdom from Rod Serling.

"Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man, that state is obsolete." ~ Rod Serling

"Being like everybody is the same as being nobody." ~ Rod Serling

"All the Dachaus must remain standing. The Dachaus, the Belsens, the Buchenwalds, the Auschwitzes - all of them. They must remain standing because they are a monument to a moment in time when some men decided to turn the Earth into a graveyard. Into it they shoveled all of their reason, their logic, their knowledge,,then we become the gravediggers." ~ Rod Serling

"Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking human being; he does embrace a cause, he does take a position, and can't allow it to become business as usual. Humanity is our business." ~ Rod Serling

"Somewhere between apathy and anarchy lies the thinking human being." ~ Rod Serling

"If you want to prove that God is not dead, first prove that man is alive." ~ Rod Serling

"for civilization to survive, the human race has to remain civilized." ~ Rod Serling


"All the Dachaus must remain standing." ~ Rod Serling


"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension: a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into… the Twilight Zone." ~ Rod Serling


Come let us worship.

Because by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ you have reconciled all things to yourself, not counting our sins against us and renewing our hearts to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Let us come together in this sacred circle of love and community:

Joseph Barth: A Grace

We give thanks for Being;
We give thanks for being here;
We give thanks for being here together.

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.

God of compassion, you have reconciled us in Jesus Christ who is our peace: Enable us to live as Jesus lived, breaking down walls of hostility and healing enmity. Give us grace to make peace with those from whom we are divided, that, forgiven and forgiving, we may ever be one in Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns for ever, one holy and undivided Trinity. Amen.

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.
 
Gracious God we Light our Candles and Pray in love and support for one another. We pray that we may keep an eye out for our LGBTQ, Muslim, Latino, and all our fragile brothers and sisters. We pray that we may offer a loving hand, a kind word, and selfless help to all who are in need this night.We pray for peace in our inner beings that are being rattled on a daily basis. We pray that we may learn to care for each other with CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) Give us the skills and the right words to say when we don't know what to say. Take from us we pray bitterness and hate. Help us to find solace and peace within our bodies minds, and spirits once again We pray for an end to all forms of violence. Let us be peace makers to all people and especially to those with whom we disagree Give us courage to find common and holy ground May we remember that where ever we set our feet and place our hands we know that it is a place of holiness. This night we light our candles in solidarity with those who are holding vigil in protest God we reach out our arms and prayers to you this night! The light of God in me, Recognizes the Light of God in You.  





Smudging Prayer (Metis Aboriginal Ministries)

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.





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



We pray and reflect upon these scripture passages.



90 Domine, refugium

1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.


14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.

16 Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.

17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.


Amos 5:14-15

14 Seek good and not evil,
   that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
   just as you have said. 
15 Hate evil and love good,
   and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
   will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 

A Song of Judith
Judith 16:13-16
I will sing a new song to my God, *
for you are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.
Let the whole creation serve you, *
for you spoke and all things came into being.
You sent your breath and it formed them, *
no one is able to resist your voice.
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths, *
rocks melt like wax at your presence.
But to those who fear you, *
you continue to show mercy
No sacrifice, however fragrant, can please you, *
but whoever fears the Lord shall stand in your sight for ever.


Romans 14:12-19


12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.*

Do Not Make Another Stumble

13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another.* 14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15If your brother or sister* is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. 16So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. 19Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.

A Song of Our True Nature
Julian of Norwich
Christ revealed our frailty and our falling, *
our trespasses and our humiliations.
Christ also revealed his blessed power, *
his blessed wisdom and love.
He protects us as tenderly and as sweetly when we are in greatest need; *
he raises us in spirit
and turns everything to glory and joy without ending.
God is the ground and the substance, the very essence of nature;
*
God is the true father and mother of natures.
We are all bound to God by nature, *
and we are all bound to God by grace.
And this grace is for all the world, *
because it is our precious mother, Christ.
For this fair nature was prepared by Christ
for the honor and nobility of all, *
and for the joy and bliss of salvation.


John 10:7-18
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes* it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’

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.


Everliving Lord of the universe, our loving God, you raised up your priest Cornelius Hill, last hereditary chief of the Oneida nation, to shepherd and defend his people against attempts to scatter them in the wilderness: Help us, like him, to be dedicated to truth and honor, that we may come to that blessed state you have prepared for us; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Let us continue to our nightly prayer vigil where we will light up the world with God's light.


Tonight we light our candles and pray for an end to hatred an fear that keep us from being reconciled to each other and ourselves.  We light these candles for all of our family members who live in fear because they are afraid to be who they are. We pray and light candles for reconciliation between all family members who have sought to be divided and not united. We pray and light our candles in memory of all indigenous peoples of the world and that we may respect their history, their persons, and their gifts to the world. We pray and light our candles this night so that we may light up the world with God's light as a message of Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy to all who have been affected by hatred, bigotry, racism, phobias, discrimination, violence, abuse, and terror. We pray that we may shine the light of God by authentically showing to others our true selves that God has made in God's image and likeness. We light our candles and celebrate each other's diversity and the gifts we bring to this beautiful world that God created. We lift up our prayers each day for the Orlando 49 and all who have been victimized by terror. We pray for_____________________. The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the light of Christ in you!

Additional prayers and closings!






Tonight we are going to use the phrase "Be Still and Know... " in a few different ways to help us journey to the center of our inner being as we journey to our heart homes.

Be Still and  Know that I am God
Be Still and know.
Be Still
Be

Be Still and know that I am God's Child
Be Still and know that I am God's
Be Still and know
Be Still
Be

Be Still and Know that I am God's Neighbor
Be Still and Know
Be Still 
Be

Be Still and know that my neighbor loves me
Be Still and know that my neighbor loves
Be Still and know
Be

Be still and know that I am a member of the Family of God
Be still and know that I am a member of the Family
Be still and know that I am a member
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know 
Be still
Be

Be still and know that I love God, My Neighbor, Myself
Be still and know that I love Myself
Be still and know that I love My Neighbor
Be still and know that I love God
Be still and know that I love
Be still and know
Be still
Be

Be still and know that we live in God's Cathedral of life
Be still and know that we live in God
Be still and know that we live
Be still and know 
Be still
Be

Now let us listen to Be thou my Vision

Be still and know that I carry the Light of Christ into the world.
Be still and know that I carry the Light of Christ
Be still and know that I carry the Light
Be still and know 
Be still
Be

Be God's child
Be Jesus' friend
Be Holy Spirit's empowered Servant
Be the Sister and Brother to everyone
Be a good Neighbor
Be a Good Friend
Be a Good Family member
Be you
Be

Be yourself whose heart beats with love energy for a fragile and broken world
Be yourself whose heart beats with compassion for a fragile and broken world.
Be yourself whose heart beats with justice for a world that is crying out for peace
Be yourself whose heart beats with mercy, love, and kindness.

Be yourself whose heart beats with CALM (Compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy)

+++++

Here we pray for God, ourselves, our community with hearts that are open to all with love and mercy.


We pray this night to end the need to hide our true selves from the world. 

We pray this night for all of our family members who are struggling to come to terms who they are.

We pray for loving and supportive families who won't be judgmental and who will offer a soft place in which to fall.

We pray this night for the heartbroken and those who are in need of loving care.

We pray this night for all caregivers who are being drained and need respite.

We pray this night for all who are longing for love and companionship.

We pray this night for all the least of these that we may be able to help them in anyway we can.

We pray for all of our faith communities that we may learn from them with hearts and minds open to seek common ground.

We pray this night for all who have died that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.

We pray this night especially for______________________________

We pray that we may practice good conservation in the preservation of God's Cathedral of life.

We pray that we all may find soft places to fall and that they may be places of human and physical sanctuary.

We pray, We pray, We pray and we pray some more for any tender concern that is on our hearts this night ________________

We pray these our prayers this night for all refugees, migrants, victims of human trafficking and any and all forms of violence.


Close your eyes and repeat the word peace until you feel relaxed and ready for prayer.


God, we come to you this night as tired, rattled, and emotionally fraught children in need of  a place of sanctuary. Help us we pray to light our candles and find our lives with you and resting peaceably in your arms as we offer these our prayers to you. We pray that all of us may take time to find sanctuary wherever we can. We pray for all of your children who are seeking a place of sanctuary after the events in any city where there is violence We pray that all places of sanctuary may be safe, peaceful, and away from the hustle and bustle of all things. We pray that in these places we may be able if we aren't able to, to live and be authentically who you have made us to be. We pray that We pray for sanctuaries for our family members who are refugees, on the margins, We pray that our countries and all nations may be a place of sanctuary for their residents and the aliens in their midst. We pray that this night all of those touched by violence remembering especially this night _________ that  they may find sanctuary. We pray for an end to all forms of violence, bullying, and verbal discord  We continue to pray for all of our chronically ill people who are in need of sanctuary  so that they may accept your healing O,God.  God let us light our candles and quiet our minds, hearts, and spirits so that we may enter into this time of sanctuary. God keep reminding us that even Jesus went across the lake to pray. We lift up these our prayers and lighten our hearts and may we find sanctuary within you O, God. Amen.




Or this vigil

God we are privileged to come into your sanctuary each night to pray and give thanks and share community with one another. We are here to light candles to provide a pathway out of the darkness in our lives and those of others. We pray and give thanks for all the blessings you bestow upon us each and every day. We pray for our families who give us strength and emotional support. We pray this night that we may open our hearts with love to all the fragile ones and yes God we know that our enemies and those who hate us are fragile in a different way. We pray that they may turn away from violence and hate and that they may learn to love, listen, and seek to come together in unity. We know that fear triggers hate and violent action. We pray that everyone receives a good education where they live not only in school but in their faith communities so they may learn what is truly taught and not made up to incite violence, disunity, and hatred.. We pray that violence of any kind may cease and that the only radicalization that takes place is that of Compassion, Acceptance, Love, Mercy and Hospitality where unity is fostered and brought into being. We pray this night for the least of these and that we may continue to seek your face in all of our family members. We pray these our prayers as we lift up our candles in a mirror and say "The Light of Christ in Me, recognizes the Light of Christ in you!' Let us be the light to your fragile and broken world and in the warmth of the light may it represent love in all of its hues and actions. May we feel its love energy radiating in all, through all, and to all. Amen.






Let us spend time in silence and prepare ourselves to be God's voice in a broken world. 
silent. 


God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.

God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.

God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.

God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.

God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.

God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be 
silent. 

God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.

God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.

God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Life.

God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.

God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always! 

God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.

We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. 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.

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.(BCP)

The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In your presence O God, we come together as one family of love. Give us courage to lay down the weaponry of hate and find common ground.

In your presence O God, take all the gunk in our lives that prevent us from truly serving you and the least of these.

In your presence O God, give us courage to discern where you are sending us and help us to respond accordingly with "Here I am send me"!

In your presence  O God, make us truly the Beloved Community intent upon serving you and our family members with CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) 

In your presence O God, help us to stand fast and ready to speak truth to power and seek out ways to be the change you want to see in the world.

In your presence O God, may we feel and know your love for us so that we may serve others. 

In your presence O God, we offer these our prayers________________________________

In your presence O God we lift up these our prayers to you in the name of your only begotten Son Jesus. Amen.


We close our vigil with these prayers:

The Woke Prayers of St. Francis
Help us O God to be woke!
Woke as your peacemakers, change makers, heart changers, and love energy bringers!
Woke to the hatred so that we may sow seeds of love.
Woke to the injury so that we may heal the hurt and cease the harm.
Woke to the divisiveness that we may be eager to heal and unite as one neighborhood and family.
Woke to uncertainty that will lead us to be renewed in faith.
Woke to the despair of all our neighbors so that we may sow seeds of radical hope, love, hospitality, and inclusion.
Woke to the knowledge that we are God's beloved children. Help us to be woke to sing the words of  "Light One Candle"
LIGHT ONE CANDLE
Peter Yarrow
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
With thanks that their light didn't die
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
But light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand

chorus:
Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
Pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
That anger not tear us apart
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our hearts

(chorus)

What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
That we cry out they've not died in vain?
We have come this far always believing
That justice would somehow prevail
This is the burden, this is the promise
This is why we will not fail!

(chorus)

Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!

Help us to be woke enough not to think of ourselves being the comforted, help us be the comforters and wounded healers.

Help not to be know it alls and be woke to understand what is plaguing our inner beings, neighbors, neighborhoods, the least of these, our family members.

God wake us up to be Woke to your agape love so that we may love everything that you have made. Wake us to be Woke to Radical Love, Hospitality, and inclusion.

Help us to know that being truly woke means being open to radical and random acts of kindness and giving. Where the giver is given and receives much by acts of giving.

Help us to be woke enough to forgive and then find ourselves being actually forgiven 
God Wake us Up to Be Woke to know that death isn't the end but only the beginning of a new birth in your heavenly Kindom. Amen and let it be so!


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.

Here we pray for God, ourselves, our community with hearts that are open to all with love and mercy.

We pray this night to end the need to hide our true selves from the world. 

We pray this night for all of our family members who are struggling to come to terms who they are.

We pray for loving and supportive families who won't be judgmental and who will offer a soft place in which to fall.

We pray this night for the heartbroken and those who are in need of loving care.

We pray this night for all caregivers who are being drained and need respite.

We pray this night for all who are longing for love and companionship.

We pray this night for all the least of these that we may be able to help them in anyway we can.

We pray for all of our faith communities that we may learn from them with hearts and minds open to seek common ground.

We pray this night for all who have died that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.

We pray this night especially for______________________________

We pray that we may practice good conservation in the preservation of God's Cathedral of life.

We pray that we all may find soft places to fall and that they may be places of human and physical sanctuary.

We pray, We pray, We pray and we pray some more for any tender concern that is on our hearts this night ________________

We pray these our prayers this night for all refugees, migrants, victims of human trafficking and any and all forms of violence.


We offer these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.

Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

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.



+++++

Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! Keep up the good work!

With Love and Blessings,

Sara


Resources
A to Z QuotesEnriching Our Worship
Book of Common Prayer on Line
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
In Lak 'Ech- Luis Valdez
Walk With Me On Our Journey
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Other Resources as Noted
Oremus Bible Browser

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