Tuesday, March 3, 2020

A time of pilgrimage and prayer!



Good Evening Beloved Ones!

Happy first Tuesday in Lent! Today we ponder on these two words, prayer and pilgrimage! They are both intertwined. Instead of doing a solid word analysis on these words let us meditate on the quotes below and settle in for an evening of meditation and prayer.  So let us begin by engaging in "The Peace Be Stills!"

Peace be to this online sanctuary of inclusion, family, love, healing and worship, this night and always.


Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Quotes on Prayer and Pilgrimage

"Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts." ~ Mother Teresa

"[A] journey becomes a pilgrimage as we discover, day by day, that the distance traveled is less important than the experience gained." ~ Ernest Kurtz


"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." ~ Saint Augustine

"The geographical pilgrimage is the symbolic acting out an inner journey. The inner journey is the interpolation of the meanings and signs of the outer pilgrimage. One can have one without the other. It is best to have both." ~ Thomas Merton

"It matters little what form of prayer we adopt or how many words we use. What matters is the faith which lays hold on God, knowing that He knows our needs before we even ask Him. That is what gives Christian prayer its boundless confidence and its joyous certainty." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Faith is not the clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart." ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel


"Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night." ~ George Herbert

"The object of pilgrimage is not rest and recreation – to get away from it all. To set out on a pilgrimage is to throw down a challenge to everyday life." ~ Huston Smith

"The secret of praying is praying in secret." ~ Leonard Ravenhill

"Religion points to that area of human experience where in one way or another man comes upon mystery as a summons to pilgrimage." ~ Frederick Buechner

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." ~ Meister Eckhart

"Each and every one of us has one obligation, during the bewildered days of our pilgrimage here: the saving of his own soul, and secondarily and incidentally thereby affecting for good such other souls as come under our influence." ~ Kathleen Norris

"The life of faith isn't meant for tourists. It's meant for pilgrims." ~ Eugene H. Peterson

"Why is it important that you are with God and God alone on the mountain top? It's important because it's the place in which you can listen to the voice of the One who calls you the beloved. To pray is to listen to the One who calls you 'my beloved daughter,' 'my beloved son,' 'my beloved child.' To pray is to let that voice speak to the center of your being, to your guts, and let that voice resound in your whole being." ~ Henri Nouwen

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." ~ William Cowper

"No prayer is complete without presence." ~ Rumi

"A pilgrim is a wanderer with purpose." ~ Peace Pilgrim

"Let us not forget: we are a pilgrim church, subject to misunderstanding, to persecution, but a church that walks serene, because it bears the force of love." ~ Oscar Romero


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Joseph Barth: A Grace

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

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"I, a pilgrim of eternity, stand before Thee, O eternal One. Let me not seek to deaden or destroy the desire for Thee that disturbs my heart. Let me rather yield myself to its constraint and go where it leads me. Make me wise to see all things today under the form of eternity, and make me brave to face all the changes in my life which such a vision may entail: through the grace of Christ my Saviour. Amen" ~ John Baillie

"Blessed is the pilgrim, who in every place, and at all times of this his banishment in the body, calling upon the holy name of Jesus, calleth to mind his native heavenly land, where his blessed Master, the King of saints and angels, waiteth to receive him. Blessed is the pilgrim who seeketh not an abiding place unto himself in this world; but longeth to be dissolved, and be with Christ in heaven." ~ Thomas a Kempis
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Jesus said: “If any of you would come after me, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

"Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that." - Proverbs 16:13-14 (The Message) 

To the people Joshua gave this command: “You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” - Joshua 6:10

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.


We pray for all who serve you Lord Jesus, study you as the Word and in scripture and listen to the sage wisdom in your parables. We pray that we may find in our hearts to be the Beloved Community in your Kindom and know that we are loved. Help us not to fear when the storms of life create times of dis-ease and that we may lean on you and fear not and in the words of the "Be Stills"

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

We offer our loving prayers and thanksgivings to you O God of mercy, peace, and justice.


We light our candles for the least of these who will not have any food, clothing, or shelter tonight. Help us to take action and seek and serve all who are in need. We light our candles to help us as the Beloved Community to find solutions and soulutions to our world's needs and the unity of all.











William Scarlett: For Democracy

Maker of the stars and Master of the nations of the earth, we pray for the future of all countries engaged in the audacious, ever changing, ever challenging experiment of democracy.. May we never grow weary of out task because of its difficulties. Grant us faith in humanity and confidence that truth will triumph in free and open encounter. We seek flexibility of mind and a willingness to try new experiments, so that we may create the conditions which make us free and equal, enhance human dignity and self-resect, and establish a fair measure of economic security for our people. Bind upon each of us a sense of our individual accountability to You, that we may do what is just, rising above prejudice to make the good of all our aim. So shall we take our place with those who labor that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth, but will express the living common faith of the human family.

Stephen Vincent Benét: A Common Faith

God of the free, our Earth is small in the great universe. Grant us the wisdom and the vision to comprehend the great ness of the human spirit that suffers and endures hugely for a goal beyond our own brief span.

We are all children of the Earth. Grant us that simple knowl edge. If others are oppressed, then we are oppressed. If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure. Grant us a common faith that we shall know bread and peace, freedom and security, an equal opportunity to do our best, not only in our own lands, but throughout the world. In that faith, let us march toward the clean world our hands can make.


From The Resistance Prays

God whose voice speaks to us in ways soft and loud, help us to find our own voices and raise them for righteousness. Help us also to hear the voices of those our democracy dismisses, casts aside, and does not hear. Protect everyone voting tomorrow and guide them to wisdom. In the name of your Son who spoke fearlessly to the powerful and the powerless, we pray - Amen.

God, as much of the nation votes today, open hearts and minds to the importance of voting.  As we vote, bless us with wisdom and insight. Impress upon our leaders the need for accurate information to confront this crisis. Amen. 


Psalm 34:15–22

Benedicam Dominum

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, *
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.
20 He will keep safe all his bones; *
not one of them shall be broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.


A Song of Pilgrimage Priusquam errarem
Ecclesiasticus 51:13-16,20b-22
Before I ventured forth,
even while I was very young, *
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
In the forecourts of the temple I asked for her, *
and I will seek her to the end.
From first blossom to early fruit, *
she has been the delight of my heart.
My foot has kept firmly to the true path, *
diligently from my youth have I pursued her.
I inclined my ear a little and received her; *
I found for myself much wisdom and became adept in her.
To the one who gives me wisdom will I give glory, *
for I have resolved to live according to her way.
From the beginning I gained courage from her, *
therefore I will not be forsaken.
In my inmost being I have been stirred to seek her, *
therefore have I gained a good possession.
As my reward the Almighty has given me the gift of language,*
and with it will I offer praise to God.

Isaiah 55:6–11

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

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

Matthew 6:7–15

Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

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.

The Lord’s Prayer or the alternative is said. From 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

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.


Grant to your people, Lord, grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only true God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.




Services of Religion: Free Nation and Free World

God, who has made us one nation out of many peoples, amid our diversities of race and tradition, unite us in a common love of freedom and in a high ambition for our national life.

Continue in us the pioneering spirit which led our fathers across the estranging sea and up held them in the wilderness.

Deepen in the people of this land a devotion to the common commonweal, so that we may open new doors of hope to the neglected and oppressed; cleanse our hearts from the greed which preys upon others; and deliver our politics from corruption.

Help us to establish this land in righteousness.

Endue with the spirit of wisdom those entrusted with authority, that there may be peace within our borders, and that we may stand among the nations of the earth an example of justice and a power of good will.

Let Your peace, O God, rule in all our hearts.

To every council where nations bring their hopes and fears, grant wisdom and mutual understanding, that distrust and hatred may be diminished, and a common law of justice be established.

Let peace, O God, prevail throughout the earth.

Let us pray in the words of St. Francis and Teresa of Avila.
62. 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.

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
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.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.


We offer our loving prayers and thanksgivings to you O God of mercy, peace, and justice.







We pray and remember the Water Protectors of Standing Rock as we conclude our time together with these prayers:

We pray for the Water Protectors at Standing Rock.
For the musical chants click on the bold links.
Song for the Sacred Elements 
Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

Native American Prayer

Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect and to be kind to one another that we may grow with peace in mind.
 - Native American Prayer


We pray and remember that all living things are sacred precious to God and that we must be good stewards of God's Cathedral of life.

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

One With This World

My words are tied in one with the great mountains, with the great rocks, with the great trees, in one with my body and heart.
 All of you see me, one with this world.
 - Yokuts Prayer


God we pray that we my be truly one family in peace and harmony.

Prayer For Peace

Oh Great Spirit who dwells in the sky,
lead us to the path of peace and understanding,
let all of us live together as brothers and sisters.
Our lives are so short here, walking upon Mother Earth's surface,
let our eyes be opened to all the blessings you have given us.
Please hear our prayers, Oh Great Spirit.
 - Native American Prayer

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

God we pray that everyday we may remember that wherever we plant our feet we are on holy ground as we travel through life.


The Journey

When the earth is sick and dying,
There will come a tribe of people
From all races…
Who will put their faith in deeds,
Not words, and make the planet
Green again…
 - Cree Prophecy

God we pray that we may seek to remember that we are one family throughout the world and wherever there is trouble we stand in solidarity with CALM  (Compassionate, accepting, loving, and Merciful ) Hearts, hands, feet, words, and deeds.

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe
Great Spirit

O Great Spirit, help me always to speak the truth quietly, to listen with an open mind when others speak and to remember the peace that may be found in silence.
 - Cherokee Prayer

God we pray for the  Earth and that we may stand in solidarity with those seeking to heal the environment and save all animals from becoming endangered or extinct species.

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

Earth Prayer

Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep with rain.
 - Ute Prayer


God we pray for the healing of all our family members. We pray for the healing of hurts, hatreds, bodies, minds, spirits, and hearts.

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

Healing Prayer

Grandfather,
Sacred one,
Teach us love, compassion,
and honor.
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other.
 - Ojibway Prayer


God help us to be one family throughout the world. May we be your children and peacemakers seeking to love and serve the least of these.

Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

Sioux Prayer

Grandfather Great Spirit
All over the world the faces of living ones are alike.
With tenderness they have come up out of the ground
Look upon your children that they may face the winds
And walk the good road to the Day of Quiet.
Grandfather Great Spririt
Fill us with the Light.
Give us the strength to understand, and the eyes to see.
Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live.
 - Sioux Prayer

From Fr. Thomas Beasley- Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy." For the poor and the oppressed, for the oppressed Native Peoples at Standing Rock, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy

.Water Song

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe


A Native American Prayer for Peace

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you.
To your messengers the four winds,
and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect,
and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

 - U.N. Day of Prayer for World Peace 2

Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe

The Water Song

Song for the Sacred Elements


IN LAK’ECH

TĂº 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 offer our loving prayers and thanksgivings to you O God of mercy, peace, and justice.

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.
God’s Blessing be with you, Christ’s peace be with you, the Spirit’s outpouring be with you, now and always. Amen. (source: Celtic)

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)

Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always.
Amen. 
(source: from Saint Clare) 

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Good Night Dear Ones! It is time to take care of ourselves during this  time of silent reflection. I love you!

Blessings and peace,

Sara

Resources.

A to Z Quotes
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Enriching Our Worship 1
Lectionary Page
Prayers of Power
The Resistance Prays
Walk With Me On Our Journey

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