Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Remembering Sandy Hook at 9 - A call to remembrance on the Feast of St. John of the Cross!

 




Good Evening Beloved Ones

Today is the Feast of St. John of the Cross and we remember the 9th anniversary of Sandy Hook and numerous acts of violence and sorrow. We are called on nights and days like this to keep vigil and pray. That is what we are going to do. I could talk about St. John of the Cross and "The Dark Night of the Soul" but that would only add to the headiness. So let us enter into a time of silence.

Spend up to 30 minutes doing this and then let us move on to our time of pondering and prayer.


Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

Pause.


Peace be still

Peace be.

Peace.


Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.


Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

Pause.


Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.


Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.


Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

Pause.


Peace be still.

Peace be.

Peace.


Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.


Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

Pause.


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Here are our quotes to ponder.

"In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds." ~ John of the Cross


"In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved." ~ John of the Cross


"In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God." ~ John of the Cross


"Silence is God's first language." ~ John of the Cross


"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent." ~ John of the Cross


"Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing." ~ John of the Cross


"Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him." ~ John of the Cross


"God leads every soul by a separate path." ~ John of the Cross


"At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity." ~ John of the Cross


"The eternal tide flows hid in Living Bread. That with its Heavenly Life too be fed." ~ John of the Cross


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Today's #AdventWord is #exult. Let us meditate on this word.




From The Contemplative Cottage - Celtic Advent Calendar 2021.

Calendar Work for today! 

December 14 Listen to some favourite music that makes you smile. The Magi move closer

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

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Come let us worship.

Joseph Barth: A Grace

We give thanks for Being;

We give thanks for being here;

We give thanks for being here together.


Call to remembrance, O Lord, your tender care

and the unfailing love

which you have shown from of old.

  Do not remember the sins and offences of my youth:

but according to your mercy

remember me, Lord, in your goodness.

  You O Lord are upright and good

therefore you show the path to those who go astray.

  You guide the humble to do what is right,

and those who are gentle you teach your way.

  All your ways are loving and sure

to those who keep your covenant

and your commandments.Psalm 25:5–9



Because in every age you have called brave souls to proclaim righteousness for the transformation of the world, that all may welcome the coming of your holy reign.

 Come let us light this 30 candle of Celtic Advent in Unity and come together in a sacred circle of love.

Come let us hold sacred and loving space for one another.
Come let us be together in Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love during this holy season of Advent.



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

Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God.Isaiah 61:1–2

Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. For the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.Luke 3:4; Isaiah 40:5a

Last  Year's blog!
[Tonight we light our candles and speak and remember the names of these our brothers and sisters who were killed by gun violence at Sandy Hook, around the corner from where I live in Santa Maria and a special remembrance of the young girl who died of thirst at the border at the hands of the Border Patrol.We remember in our hearts the 300,000 souls who lost their lives from Covid-19.]

We speak the names of these precious ones so that we may remember them forever:

"IF YOU SPEAK MY NAME, I WILL LIVE FOREVER."
Those killed at Sandy Hook, Santa Maria, and in Detention at the Border:

We speak the names of Charlotte Bacon,Daniel Barden, 
Olivia Engel,
These beloved children of God will live forever.



We speak the names of Josephine Gay,Dylan Hockley,  Madeleine Hsu
These beloved children of God will live forever.




 We speak the names of  Catherine Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, 
These beloved children of God will live forever.



We speak the names of Ana Márquez-Greene, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell 
These beloved children of God will live forever.



We speak the names of Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto,  Noah Pozner
These beloved children of God will live forever.




We speak the names of Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman 
These beloved children of God will live forever.




We speak the names of Benjamin Wheeler,  Allison Wyatt, 
These beloved child of God will live forever.




We speak the names of Rachel D'Avino, Dawn Hochsprung, Anne Marie Murphy,
These beloved children of God will live forever.



We speak the names of Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Leigh Soto,
These beloved children of God will live forever.


We speak and remember  the names of those killed in gun violence in the Stowell Manor Neighborhood in Santa Maria, California
We speak the names of Adrian Alvarez, Ulises Garcia, Adrian Velazquez
These beloved children of God will live forever


We Speak the name(s) of any child who has died in detention at the hands of border agents. 
We speak the name of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin
This beloved child of God will live forever.


We pray the unknown names of all those who have lost their lives in acts of gun violence, wildfire, and tragedies too numerous to number.





We light one final candle in love, memory, and unity as we enter into a time of prayer and scriptural readings.

Let us spend time in silent reflection and in the presence of God.


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

Silence

Compassionate God,
we confess our weaknesses and our need for your
strengthening touch.
We confess that some illnesses stem from our own fault,
while others are beyond our control.
We turn to you, source of life,
and ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ
for the gifts of true healing and life in you. Amen.


May the God of love visit us in our times of trial and weakness,
and raise us to newness of life, through Jesus Christ, in the
power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



Now let us Light Additional Candles and be at prayer.A Prayer When Lighting A Candle

O Blessed Lord, accept this burning candle as a sign of my faith and love for you.
Like this candle, I am ready to be used in your service, without asking why and to what purpose.Even as this candle, I wish to stand in your presence to be consumed in the light and warmth of your love.Please hear my prayer and, if it be your will, grant my petition.Above all, make me loyal and faithful to you in all circumstances of my life.
Amen.

(www.stanthonysparish.com)


The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" 
I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditation.

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.

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.

Psalm 141:1-3,8ab Domine, clamavi

O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
My eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
in you I take refuge.
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Prayer Over The Advent Candle

O God, as light comes from this candle,
May the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,
Warming our hearts and brightening our way.
May Christ our Savior
Bring life into the darkness of this world,
And to us, as we wait for his coming.
Amen.

(www.catholicnewsagency.com)







 Smudging Prayer

 Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.




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


Image result for vigil candles


121 Levavi oculos

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;

5 The Lord himself watches over you; *
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.

8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and
your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.


A Song of Lamentation

Lamentations 1:12,16; 3:19,22-24,26


Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? *
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

Which was brought upon me, *
inflicted by God’s fierce anger.

For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears, *
for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage.

Remember my affliction and my bitterness, *
wormwood and gall!

The steadfast love of God never ceases, *
God’s mercies never end.

They are new every morning; *
great is your faithfulness.

“God is my portion,” says my soul, *
“therefore will I hope in God.”

It is good that we should wait quietly *
for the coming of God’s salvation.


1 Kings 19:1-9

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

19Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ 3Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.


4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ 5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’


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.


John 16:12-22

12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

16 ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.’ 17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”; and “Because I am going to the Father”?’ 18 They said, ‘What does he mean by this “a little while”? We do not know what he is talking about.’ 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, ‘Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”? 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22 So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.


We Praise You, O God Te Deum laudamus

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

all creation worships you,

the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free

you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.


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.

A Litany for the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath written by the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Episcopal Bishop of Maine

Giver of Life and Love, you created all people as one family and called us to live together in harmony and peace. Surround us with your love as we face the challenges and tragedies of gun violence.

For our dear ones, for our neighbors, for strangers and aliens, and those known to you alone, Loving God

Make us instruments of your peace.

God of Righteousness, you have given our leaders, especially, Joseph our President, and ______,our Governor, the members of Congress, the judges of our courts and members of our legislatures, power and responsibility to protect us and to uphold our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For all who bear such responsibility, for all who struggle to discern what is right in the face of powerful political forces, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.

God of Compassion, we give you thanks for first responders, for police officers, firefighters and
EMTs, and all those whose duties bring them to the streets, the lobbies, the malls and the homes where the carnage of gun violence takes place day after day. Give them courage and sound judgment in the heat of the moment and grant them compassion for the victims.
For our brothers and sisters who risk their lives and their serenity as they rush to our aid, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.

Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and
disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day. Bless them with your presence and help them find hope.

For all whose lives are forever marked by the scourge of gun violence, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.

God Who Remembers, may we not forget those who have died, more than 30,000 this year, in the gun violence that we have allowed to become routine. Receive them into your heart and comfort us with your promise of eternal love and care.

For all who have died, those who die today, and those who will die tomorrow, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.

God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence. Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change.

For your dream of love and harmony, Loving God
Make us instruments of your peace.
All this we pray in the name of the One who offered his life so that we might live, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Litany for Those Who Aren't Ready for Healing
By Rev. Dr. Yolanda Pierce

(Thanks to Natalie Devine for making us aware of this litany)

Let us not rush to the language of healing, before understanding the fullness of the injury and the depth of the wound.

Let us not rush to offer a band-aid, when the gaping wound requires surgery and complete reconstruction.

Let us not offer false equivalencies, thereby diminishing the particular pain being felt in a particular circumstance in a particular historical moment.

Let us not speak of reconciliation without speaking of reparations and restoration, or how we can repair the breach and how we can restore the loss.

Let us not rush past the loss of this mother’s child, this father’s child…someone’s beloved son.

Let us not value property over people; let us not protect material objects while human lives hang in the balance.

Let us not value a false peace over a righteous justice.

Let us not be afraid to sit with the ugliness, the messiness, and the pain that is life in community together.

Let us not offer clichés to the grieving, those whose hearts are being torn asunder.

Instead…

Let us mourn black and brown men and women, those killed extrajudicially every 28 hours.

Let us lament the loss of a man, dead at the hands of a police officer who described him as a demon.

Let us weep at a criminal justice system, which is neither blind nor just.

Let us call for the mourning men and the wailing women, those willing to rend their garments of privilege and ease, and sit in the ashes of this nation’s original sin.

Let us be silent when we don’t know what to say.

Let us be humble and listen to the pain, rage, and grief pouring from the lips of our neighbors and friends.

Let us decrease, so that our brothers and sisters who live on the underside of history may increase.

Let us pray with our eyes open and our feet firmly planted on the ground

Let us listen to the shattering glass and let us smell the purifying fires, for it is the language of the unheard.

God, in your mercy…

Show me my own complicity in injustice.

Convict me for my indifference.

Forgive me when I have remained silent.

Equip me with a zeal for righteousness.

Never let me grow accustomed or acclimated to unrighteousness.

Originally posted on Kinetics Live, November 28, 2014.


From A New Zealand Prayer Book-

Lord, 
it is night.

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

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

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

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

In your name we pray.
Amen. 

Judge eternal, throned in splendor, who gave John of the Cross strength of purpose and faith that sustained him even through the dark night of the soul: Shed your light on all who love you, in unity with Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For Monastic Orders and Vocations

O Lord Jesus Christ, you became poor for our sake, that we
might be made rich through your poverty: Guide and sanctify,
we pray, those whom you call to follow you under the vows
of poverty, chastity, and obedience, that by their prayer and
service they may enrich your Church, and by their life and
worship may glorify your Name; for you reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.


Almighty God,
you sent your servant John the Baptist
to prepare the way for the coming of your Son;
grant that those who proclaim your word
may so guide our feet into the way of peace,
that we may stand with confidence before him
when he comes in his glorious kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer.
Amen.(ANZPB)

God we pray that we may find our way back to having a childlike trust in you.

God we pray for all children young and old in all cities remembering our brothers and sisters who were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown 9 years ago today, that they may be safe to night and that everywhere in this your fragile and broken world that all lives matter.

God we pray for all of our family members who are struggling and feeling overwhelmed.

God we pray for all who travel that they may be alert and safe whatever mode of transportation they take.

God we pray for ourselves and those who are coping with seasonal illnesses and all other illnesses of  body, mind, and spirit.

God we pray for all children who are being abused, bullied, marginalized, and made to feel invisible because of any kind of disability.

God we pray for all those who grieve losses and those who are pre-grieving. May we be sources of compassion, comfort, and love.

God we pray for peace in this fragile and broken world.  May wars, terror, and all division cease.

God we pray this night for all caregivers and especially our troops who protect our country both here and around the world. We pray also for all those who work for the Department of State.

God we pray for  all those who are living with mental and memory related illnesses and those who care for them.

God we pray for the least of these who are our family members too. We pray that they may find shelter, clothing, and food. May we always see You  in their eyes.

God we pray for all who are engaging in peaceful non-violent protests. May they be safe and may they know that this is what they are called to do.

God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of all our family members of love who  have come to us asking for prayer____________________

We lift up these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

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


God of joy, lighten our hearts this night and may we  wake up joyfully  and enlivened to do  what you are calling us to do and to be.

God of joy, help us to be bringers of hope, peace, love, and joy to your broken and fragile world.

God of joy, take our hands and join them with one another in a prayer and circle of unity. May we hold these hands lovingly and with purpose.

God of joy, help us to give of ourselves without fear but with a joyful and light heart.

God of joy, help us not to take ourselves so seriously that we lose sight of all that is good and joyful in the world and sparkling in your Cathedral of Life.

God of joy, help us to be loving to the least of these our family members and may we always see you in them.

God of Joy, heal all those who have any kind of  illness. God we pray for the continued healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

God of joy and love, wrap all of us your children who are grieving the loss of loved ones and special people in our lives.

God of Joy, we pray for all those who are dying and who have died today. Let your perpetual light shine upon them and show them your gentle and loving light and to those who are transitioning into the Thin Places.

God of joy, we pray for those who have requested our prayers and those who are afraid to ask us for prayers.  We remember especially ____________________

God of joy, we pray for all the faith communities, leaders, and members who are preparing for worship this night and as they worship tomorrow.

God of Joy, we lift up these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus the Christ who by His birth brought joy, healing, and salvation to the world. Amen.


[Here is additional material from another blog! -This is meant for all of us not just the little ones!]

Dear fellow children of God-

 Today and for the past few days I have  been thinking about many things and not  as in ALICE IN  WONDERLAND," 
To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--" that we should be teaching our children and we ourselves need to be reminded of.  Here is my list and maybe you have your own list.

We all need to instill in our children empathy and sympathy and teach them compassion. This starts early.

We must teach them how to be compassionate, learn to forgive, learn how to say they are sorry with sincerity. 

We must teach them not to fear others who are different than themselves.

We all need to teach our children attitudes of gratitude and not be given to a sense of entitlement.

We all need to teach and show our children how to care and be gentle to all of God's living creatures.

We must teach our children to be helpers and compassionate and caring givers.

We all need to teach our children how to look on the least of the these as family members.

We need to teach them how to be kind and gentle.

We need to give them courage to have curiosity.

We need to teach them and show them to appreciate God's Cathedral of Life and play outdoors.

We need to show them that they don't need to rely solely on technology and to think for themselves and give  them as in the Episcopal Baptismal Rite in one of the prayers found on page 308 of the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER " Give them
an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to
persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy
and wonder in all your works. Amen."

We all must care for every child as if they are our own and protect them from harm for we were children too.

We all must recapture imagination and dreaming and yes find our way back into childhood. 

We must teach our children and ourselves to see and treat everyone with dignity, respect, inclusion, and acceptance. No Need to Teach and instill fear, hate, mistrust, and  prejudice.

We all must  give into whimsy, play, and fun. Live, Love, Laugh!

We all must practice being thankful and giving thankfully. Give from the heart !

We all  must respect each  other  from a place of where we are, and who we are, and  that we are the beautiful children God created us to be.

We must take time to re-unite and re-connect with our loved ones who have fallen through the cracks.

We all must not be self-focused and teach our children the same by speaking not I but We and We not they.

We must teach ourselves and our children to learn how to ask for help, companionship, and  courage to speak up for themselves and others.

If we are in a faith community we need to tell our young ones about how our faith sustains us and live  by example. 
We must show our children and all our family members how to love, receive love, and love themselves as we love them with a heart that is joyful, loving, hopeful, peaceful, generous, and most of all compassionate and accepting. 

What is on your "Teach the Children Well" List? Here is a reminder from the musical "South Pacific"
Mandy Patinkin- You've got to be carefully taught]

Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila

Lord,
Thou knowest better than I myself
that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking
I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to
straighten out everybody’s affairs.
Make me thoughtful but not moody;
helpful but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom,
it seems a pity not to use it all;
but Thou knowest, Lord,
that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips on my aches and pains;
they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them
is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness
when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person
is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places
and talents in unexpected people;
and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen.
– – – prayer by St. Teresa of Avila

When Jesus[a] 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.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


 For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.



 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.

For the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


For those who Influence Public Opinion
Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many
voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where
many listen and write what many read; that they may do their
part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and
its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For the Care of Children
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the
joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient
wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love
whatever is just and true and good, following the example of
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 For Young Persons
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an
unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways
give more life than the ways of the world, and that following
you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to
take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance
for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you,
and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.



“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through 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 on earth but yours.”

― Teresa of Ávila
 

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.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

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
The blessing of God, the eternal goodwill of God, the shalom of God, the wildness and the warmth of God, be among us and between us, now and always.

Good Night Family of Love!. May our heart, spirits, and souls join together in love, peace, hope, joy, and harmony. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always.

Love, blessings, hope, peace, and joy be always yours!

Sara


Resources

Satucket Lectionary Page - Juan de la Cruz ( John of the Cross)
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship 1 and 2
Quote sites for prayers
Northumbria Community
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Contemplative Cottage
From The Northumbria Community!

John of the Cross (1542-1591) December 14th

A tiny man, but a giant in the Spirit, John of the Cross was the greatest of the Spanish mystics. A Carmelite friar, he was persuaded by Teresa of Avila to join a reform movement within the order, called the Discalceds, because they went without shoes. He was seized and thrown into prison by repressive calced Carmelites, but finally escaped. The Discalceds finally won their independence, but towards the end of his life John was to suffer further persecution, this time from the vicar-general of his own Discalced order. He was stripped of rank and responsibility and banished to a remote area, where he died. His most famous work was ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’, a poem with a prose spiritual commentary. The ‘night’ which seems unwelcome becomes sweeter than the dawn, and unites the Divine Lover and His beloved until each is transformed into the other. Eventually the senses depart:
 I lay quite still, all memory lost,
 I reclined on my Loved One’s breast;
 I knew no more, in my abandonment
 I threw away my care,
 and left it all forgotten among the lilies fair.
In 1951, the artist, Salvador Dali, painted the work ‘Christ of St. John of the Cross’, inspired by John’s life and a drawing John had done showing Christ on the cross shielding the world. It is on display in Glasgow and is a source of comfort and inspiration to many.

The suggested prayer for today is based on John of the Cross’s own words:

This life I live in vital strength is loss of life unless I win You, O God, and thus I shall continue to die until in You I live at length, for, my God, my life is in You. Teach me to find You in my suffering and deprivation as much as in consolation, spiritual visions and meditation; and teach me to count all people precious in Your sight, whatever virtue they may possess. Amen.

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