Good Evening Beloved Ones!
Happy Wisdom Wednesday! Today is another brisk day on the land of the Chumash. As this is Black History Month, today's birthday baby W. E. B. Du Bois , was just too important not to miss. He was a trailblazer in the early civil rights movement in the early 1900's. We remember his wisdom, courage, and the willingness to answer God's call and hear the "voice crying in the wilderness". Our featured lessons are from the feast of W.E.B. Du Bois.
And so beloved ones let us begin!
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
"No universal selfishness can bring social good to all." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done.
W. E. B. Du Bois
The most important thing to remember is this: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.”
― W.E.B. Du Bois
"The chief problem in any community cursed with crime is not the punishment of the criminals, but the preventing of the young from being trained to crime." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
"Whether you like it or not the millions are here, and here they will remain. If you do not lift them up, they will pull you down... Education must not simply teach work - it must teach life." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
"Disfranchisement is the deliberate theft and robbery of the only protection of poor against rich and black against white." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
"But we do not merely protest; we make renewed demand for freedom in that vast kingdom of the human spirit where freedom has ever had the right to dwell:the expressing of thought to unstuffed ears; the dreaming of dreams by untwisted souls." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
"Lord, make us mindful of the little things that grow and blossom in these days to make the world beautiful for us." - W. E. B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois: Prayer
In these first beginnings of the new life of the world, renew in us the resolution to persist in the good work we have begun. Give us strength of body and strength of mind and the unfaltering determination to carry out that which we know to be good and right. Forgive all wavering in the past service of Thy cause and make us strong to go for ward in spite of the doubts of our friends and our enemies and in spite of our own distrust in ourselves. Out of the death of winter comes ever and again the resurrection of spring: so out of evil bring good, O God, and out of doubt determination. Amen.
W.E.B DuBois: "Give Us Grace"
Give us grace, O God, to dare to do the deed which we well know
cries to be done. Let us not hesitate because of ease, or the
words of men’s mouths, or our own lives. Mighty causes are
calling us—the freeing of women, the training of children, the
putting down of hate and murder and poverty—all these and
more. But they call with voices that mean work and sacrifices
and death. Mercifully grant us, O God, the spirit of Esther, that
we say: I will go unto the King and if I perish, I perish.
W.E.B. Du Bois Thanksgiving Prayer
“Give us thankful hearts, O God, in this the season of Thy Thanksgiving. May we be thankful for health and strength, for sun and rain and peace. Let us seize the day and the opportunity and strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life not by its disappointments but by its possibilities, and let us ever remember that true gratitude and appreciation shows itself neither in independence nor satisfaction but passes the gift joyfully on in larger and better form. Such gratitude grant us, O Lord. Amen.”–W.E.B. DuBois on Psalm 100
My Country ’Tis of Thee
BY W. E. B. DU BOIS
Of course you have faced the dilemma: it is announced, they all smirk and rise. If they are ultra, they remove their hats and look ecstatic; then they look at you. What shall you do? Noblesse oblige; you cannot be boorish, or ungracious; and too, after all it is your country and you do love its ideals if not all of its realities. Now, then, I have thought of a way out: Arise, gracefully remove your hat, and tilt your head. Then sing as follows, powerfully and with deep unction. They’ll hardly note the little changes and their feelings and your conscience will thus be saved:
My country tis of thee,
Late land of slavery,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my father’s pride
Slept where my mother died,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring!
My native country thee
Land of the slave set free,
Thy fame I love.
I love thy rocks and rills
And o’er thy hate which chills,
My heart with purpose thrills,
To rise above.
Let laments swell the breeze
And wring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song.
Let laggard tongues awake,
Let all who hear partake,
Let Southern silence quake,
The sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God to thee
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing
Soon may our land be bright,
With Freedom’s happy light
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.
W. E. B. Du Bois, “My Country ’Tis of Thee” from Creative Writings by W. E. B Du Bois (KrausThomson Organization Limited, 1985)
"Lord of the springtime, Father of flower, field and fruit, smile on us in these earnest days when the work is heavy and the toil wearisome; lift up our hearts, O God, to the things worthwhile-sunshine and night, the dripping rain, the song of the birds, books and music, and the voices of our friends. Lift up our hearts to these this night and grant us Thy peace. Amen." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
Watch at all times, praying for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the world shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Prepare the way of the Lord, make the paths straight, and all the world shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:4, 6
Restore us again O God: show us the light of your face and we shall be saved.
Psalm 80:3
You Lord are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name. Leave us not.Jeremiah 14:9
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.
God as we prepare our lamps and fill them with oil may we remember that this oil tonight is a holy oil, a holy balm, made to light the way out of darkness and into healing. We light our candles as a symbol of unity, peace, and as your loving family. We pray for the healing of your Cathedral of Life and that we may help you become good conservationists of the abundant gifts you have given us. We pray for the healing of all nations and people that unity and a spirit of familyhood may grow. We pray for the healing of our bodies minds and spirits that we may be made whole so that we may serve you and all our family members nearby and in distant places. We pray for the healing of relationships where violent words and actions have occurred We pray this night that wherever there is division there may be healing and grace. We pray for the healing where injustice, inequality, and human rights are being challenged and in our land and in the other lands where people aren't being treated fairly because of who they are and how God has made them to be.
Or this vigil prayer!
God we pray that we may be wholly yours and that we may hallow this time of vigil by the lighting of a single candle in unity with you, each other, ourselves, and the world that you lovingly created.
God we pray that we may get back to the basics and love you and each other as you have commanded us to do. God help us we pray to return to being the holy family you breathed in us to be. Help us this day to learn what it means to speak words, sentences, and phrases sensitively without hatred or slander. God turn our anger into loving words and deeds in service to your children who are our family members. Light up our hearts and spirits with empowering love energy that we may go forth and spread the good news of the Gospel that Jesus keeps telling us to do and follow. Help us we pray that as we follow Jesus we may not lie fallow, that the words and deeds we hallow may not ring hollow, and that we my be holy not holey. Transform us this day into your Soular* powered people and that we may bring to this world loving and comforting solace and Soulace*!The Love of God in me see the Love of God in you! Amen.
*Soulace is my created word for calming of our souls.
*Soular is my created word meaning that our souls are empowered by the spirit and love energy called Soular power!
If there is anybody in this land who thoroughly believes that the meek shall inherit the earth they have not often let their presence be known. W. E. B. Du Bois
From The Resistance Prays
"Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one." - Matthew 5:37
"Most important, my brothers and sisters, never make a solemn pledge—neither by heaven nor earth, nor by anything else. Instead, speak with a simple “Yes” or “No,” or else you may fall under judgment." - James 5:12
++
Merciful God, you promised us that you will love us no matter what. When we are in the depths of despair, you are there to comfort us. When we make mistakes, you offer grace and forgiveness. When we are lost, you offer guidance. So often, this love comes through other people. May we be your people in the world, offering concrete love in our actions and following through on the promises we make in your name. Amen.
++
|
|
The Song of Mary Magnificat113 Laudate, pueri
1 Hallelujah!
Give praise, you servants of the Lord; *
praise the Name of the Lord.
2 Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, *
from this time forth for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the Name of the Lord be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, *
and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high, *
but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?
6 He takes up the weak out of the dust *
and lifts up the poor from the ashes.
7 He sets them with the princes, *
with the princes of his people.
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.
Jeremiah 34:8-18
Treacherous Treatment of Slaves
8 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them— 9that all should set free their Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should hold another Judean in slavery. 10And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that all would set free their slaves, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again; they obeyed and set them free. 11But afterwards they turned about and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them again into subjection as slaves. 12The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 13Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, 14‘Every seventh year each of you must set free any Hebrews who have been sold to you and have served you for six years; you must set them free from your service.’ But your ancestors did not listen to me or incline their ears to me. 15You yourselves recently repented and did what was right in my sight by proclaiming liberty to one another, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name; 16but then you turned about and profaned my name when each of you took back your male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them again into subjection to be your slaves. 17Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me by granting a release to your neighbours and friends; I am going to grant a release to you, says the Lord—a release to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18And those who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make like* the calf when they cut it in two and passed between its parts:
The Song of Hannah
1 Samuel 2:1-8
My heart exults in you, O God; *
my triumph song is lifted in you.
My mouth derides my enemies, *
for I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like you, *
nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.
Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *
Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.
The bows of the mighty are broken, *
but the weak are clothed in strength.
Those once full now labor for bread, *
those who hungered now are well fed.
The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *
while the mother of many is forlorn.
God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *
gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.
God raises the poor from the dust; *
and lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with the rulers *
and inherit a place of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are God’s *
on which the whole earth is founded.
Galatians 2:15-20
Jews and Gentiles Are Saved by Faith
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is justified* not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.* And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ,* and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,* who loved me and gave himself for me.
A Song of Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:6-11
Though in the form of God, *
Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *
and was born in human likeness.
Being found in human form, he humbled himself *
and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him *
and given him the name above every name,
That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *
to the glory of God the Father
Mark 3:23-29
23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
28 ‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’—
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.
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 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.
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.
now and for ever. Amen.
Gracious God, kindle in your Church a zeal for justice and the dignity of all, that we, following the example of your servant William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, may have the grace to defend all the oppressed and maintain the cause of those who have been silenced; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
In these first beginnings of the new life of the world, Renew in us the resolution to persist
In the good work we have begun.
Give us strength of body and strength of mind
And the unfaltering determination to carry out
That which we know to be good and right.
Forgive all wavering in the past service of Thy cause And make us strong to go forward
In spite of the doubts of our friends and our enemies And in spite of our own distrust in ourselves.
Out of the death of winter comes ever
And again the resurrection of spring:
So out of evil bring good, O God,
And out of doubt determination. Amen.
(Freethinker/Agnostic)
Additional prayers if you should need them.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are crying out for help and love.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are in need of families and friends.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are living in dangerous and violent parts of this fragile and broken world.
We pray this night for peace within ourselves and peace in the world. We pray for peace among all of our family members.
We pray this night for all of our littlest family members as they grow up in a dangerous and unfeeling world. We pray for their safety as they return to school We pray that all children may grow up in warm and loving families.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are animals and especially endangered species.
We pray this night that we may practice conservation of the Earth's natural resources in God's Cathedral of Life.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are on grief's long journey.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are discerning vocations and new life paths.
We pray this night for safety in our cities and towns.
We pray this night for______________________________
We pray this night for our family members who are practitioners of other faiths and belong to different faith communities that we may lovingly support them with our prayers and listening ears.
We pray this night that all of our family members my be free to live authentically as the beautiful people God made them to be.
We pray this night that all these our prayers may be accepted in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long to live in a world where we can lovingly enfold all of your children and yes even our enemies and those who wish to do us harm.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long to feel your love, yet we know that you are loving us even when we don't feel it.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long for you to take away the pain and feel your consoling grace that some of us feel while we grieve and mourn any loss.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long to have you erase every worry we may have so that we may feel free of un-ease.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long for peace in our minds and this broken and fragile world.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long to live in a united world with love, mercy , and understanding.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long for an end to homelessness, hunger, and family members who do not have adequate clothing.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long for an end to all violence, abuse, injustice, terror, and human trafficking.
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we long for cures of the many illnesses that plague us and we pray especially for those who are ill remembering especially_______________________
We pray this with love in our hearts and quiet minds.
God we pray these prayers in the longing of our hearts in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
++++
Good Night Beloved Ones! I love you and give thanks to God for you always!
Resources:
A to Z Quotes
Enriching our Worship
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
Quote Sites for W.E.B. Du Bois quotes, poems, and prayers.
Walk With Me On our Journey
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Book of Common Prayer
Optional Readings and quotes for the Feast of Polycarp of Smyrna
"Let us, therefore, foresake the vanity of the crowd and their false teachings, and turn back to the word delivered to us from the beginning." ~ PolycarpReadings:
Psalm121
Revelation 2:8–11
Matthew 20:20-28
No comments:
Post a Comment