Sharing our Progressive Prayer Walking Framework With St. Peters'

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey,

When I asked to preach at St. Peter's awhile ago, I decided that it would be a perfect time to introduce you my parish family and share with them the progressive  prayer walk framework for the Second week of Advent. I want you to know that they have been my parish family for 54 years of my life and now you all are part of my family of Love and faith this day and always. Remember last week we had the key word of hope? This week we get to add to the framework the key word of peace. 

For those who haven't done our prayer walks we walk at what ever time is most suitable. I choose the evenings because of the peaceful qualities.

Close your eyes as we do this virtual prayer walk.

We  prepare  ourselves by hydrating with the image of Living Water coursing through our veins, tying our laces securely, wrapping our bodies with God's Warm prayer coat.

We invite God on our walk using these words or your own. God we invite you as you invite us to walk with you on our journey. Enliven our spirits, quicken our steps and open our hearts as we pray and walk.

When we  first are on the sidewalk we pray for all of our neighbors  (nearby, stranger, and enemy).  Pray for peace and those who have lost hope.

Take a look at the sidewalk  is it crooked or straight? Pray for safety as we walk and all those who travel. Take note of unsafe streets and sidewalks and report them.

When ever you see a Stop sign take time to pay attention to your breathing and heart beating. That is God with in you. Are you beginning to feel peaceful and hopeful? Those holy endorphins  will kick in soon.

Look at God's creation and give thanks! do you see new life peeking through old stumps like the shoot that came out of Jesse? I hope so! There is new life all around if you look closely.  When you see litter pray for those who litter and pray to be good stewards of God's Creation. 

Begin to notice the businesses if there are any and pray for those who work. Pray for peaceful and safe working conditions. 

Now begin your prayer list. Go slow don't hurry. Your prayers should only take the amount of time you plan. to walk. Ask God what you can do to bring peace and be a hopeful example to all. We need to be mindful of all our family members who are homeless and live on the streets of our cities. Always smile and never look down on them. They are God's Children too. No one is to be treated as invisible.

Take time to pray for our church and its leaders. They need it now more than ever. Especially this time of year. 

Finally Give thanks to God for all that God has done in your life today. Ask God to help you be a peace maker and hope bringer to a broken world. 

Dear Ones these are only suggestions. Remember to honor what your body is telling you to do. This framework can be prayed in place as well

We pray this final prayer: We thank you Lord  for letting us carry our prayers and those who have asked us for prayers in our hearts, minds, and spirits. We thank you for making our Feet Swift and Beautiful for you  and guiding our steps on this prayer walk to the manger of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. Amen.

That's all for now dear family. Remember that you are walking in the light of God and " Light of Christ In Me recognizes the light of Christ In you. Won't you Walk with me on our journey?

Love and Peace of  body, mind, and spirit this day and always.

Sara

P.S. I love you, you matter, and I give thanks to God for you this day!

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Every Valley Shall Be Exalted ! Handel

Home is where your heart is

Dear Family of Love and  Pilgrims on our Journey!


I give thanks to God for you this day and want you to know that our blog is making a difference in people's lives. We are reaching family members who we wouldn't think would be interested in what we are doing. 
I was happy to share bits and pieces of the blog with others at our Diocesan Convention. In that spirit we will share the Prayer Walking Framework for the Second Sunday of Advent  with the congregation of St. Peter's Episcopal Church tomorrow at the 8 and 11 o'clock service. It will hopefully be live published after the  11:00 a.m. service and you will have ti earlier than usual.  

I have learned that home is where your heart is and that is true on all of my journeys with you and on the road. I feel your love, prayers and connection all the time. I can be anywhere and be assured that  we are family and am at home. It is an amazing feeling. I hope someday that you can feel that too or already do.

Here is the  Prayer Cycle For the Second Sunday and Week of  Advent.

Gentle God help us to be peacemakers and give us the courage to speak the language of peace to a broken world.
May there be peace and let it begin with us.

God of  love and compassion  give us the tools to be hope givers and comfort bringers to those who are lonely, lost, ill, and feel invisible.
Give them hope!

We pray for peace between nations, neighbors, and in ourselves.
Calm our fears Lord and settle our restless spirits Lord.

We Pray for the peace of_______________________________

We offer our Prayers for the hopes and dreams of_________________________

We remember and celebrate the lives of _________________________

Lord link our lives together as family members with love that we may be hope bringers and peace makers and that we may show the extravagant love you have for us to the entire world and in our heart homes. Amen.
********
Prayer suggestions:
Please keep the Elderly, caregivers, cancer patients, travelers, mentally ill , farm workers, those who choose to be homeless. 

Pray for Syria, Iran, Egypt, sound government, 
Pray for an end to Human Trafficking and Women and Children who are abused and exploited.
Pray for good jobs and those seeking employment.
Pray for safe streets and monies to fix our damaged infra-structures. May the rough places be made plain.
********
Well dear family members I must get to tomorrow's blog so that others may learn about our progressive prayer walk framework  for the Second Week and Sunday of Advent. I love you, you matter, and give thanks again to God for you!

Lore and peace of mind,

Sara

Music Sampler

All you need is love- Beatles

Imagine- John Lennon

Peace Train

People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield

We are family!

Dear Family of Love and on Our Journey!

I'm in Ontario at the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles' annual Family Reunion or Diocesan Convention as it is better known. I have come yet again to the conclusion that we are family! I haven't been in many years and felt like I haven't been away. That's God at work. Tonight I would like to use the phrase for the response to our prayers: We are family, because that is what we are.

Lord God we thank you for all those who have crossed our paths today help us to see you in them.

We are Family!

Lord we pray for all those who are in need of your extravagant love, mercy, and grace. Give us courage to see those who are suffering not as outcasts but family members!

We are Family!

Lord we pray for all those who travel Help us to share the road safely and be awake to those are around us.

We Are Family.

Lord help us to rejoice when  our family members receive good news and to to be patient when you tell us not yet!

We are Family

Lord help us to plant healthy seeds on fertile ground and in tender hearts so that we may grow and sew love to feed and care for broken and hungry world.

We are family.

Lord help us to be the uniquely connected people of faith and your creation you made  us to be!

We are family!.

Help us O Lord to continue to say yes to you when you ask us to "Walk with me on our Journey!'

We are family.

We are family made in love, knit together by love and grace, and may we show to each other and the world that We Are Family. Amen.

******

More to come tomorrow and pix too!

I love you, you matter,and you are family!

Love and peace of mind!

Sara

 

Trying to keep calm and carry on! Busy Bee time!

Dear Family of Love and on our Journey!

Today has been one of those wacky days! It's too cold to walk  and I have lots to do before I take off for Diocesan Convention in Ontario California. I go down tomorrow and will be back home on Saturday! I hope to get a walk in when I get home. On Saturday night I will fine tune my sermon for Sunday and will have the privilege of preaching at both the services and then I get to toodle down the highway again to Los Angeles and stay at the Bonaventure for my birthday and then have a meeting on Monday with the Diocesan Daughters of the King Board. Makes me want to live in LA! What is crazy is that I actually am loving this! I know I talk a lot about being human doings but here is the kicker, if you are finding and drawing energy from this then I guess it's ok. I definitely am drawing energy from this. I feel God's love, joy, and spirit enlivening me at every turn. So much so, that I can't complain only give thanks! Love is the key!

So here are a few prayers to keep us calm as we carry on! 


Dear God  we give thanks for : The life of Nelson Mandela and pray for the people of South Africa
We pray for all those who are newly grieving and those marking first anniversaries of those dear ones who have passed.
We pray for all those who are in Emergency rooms and hospitals.
We pray for all who travel and all those are in the drivers seats of Buses, Trains, Planes, Ships, and automobiles.
We pray for alertness on the road .
We pray for all those who are sick and have chronic illnesses of any kind. 
We  pray for all those who will be attending any church meeting or convention this weekend.

We pray for an increase of Hope, Peace, Joy, and love this Advent season.

We pray for___________________________________

We give thanks for _____________________________

We remember and celebrate those whom we love and see no longer__________________________

Lord God we ask for calm and the energy to carry large responsibilities with joy and love in our hearts. Help us to unwind and to rest,relax,refresh and renew our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Watch over us O Lord as we continue to walk with you on our journey.

All these petitions and thanksgivings we lift up to you  O Lord  our creator, redeemer and sanctifier. Amen.

I am a pilgrim

How Beautiful are the Feet of Them

Chariots of Fire

Vangelis Hymme

I love you, you matter, and I am so blessed, honored and privileged to have you all in my life!

Love and Peace of Mind!

Sara

Time to pray in place! We can take time to pray and give thanks anywhere!

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey,

It is too cold for me to walk outside so we will pray in place and give thanks where we are.

Dear God,

It is cold outside please protect the homeless, the small animals, the crops, and all those who have to bare the elements this evening and always.  Hear us Lord.

We thank you Lord, for homes, heat, pets, food, and the ability to stay inside and worship you wherever  we are. We give thanks to you Lord.

Watch over the elderly, the mentally ill, and all those with chronic illness and pain
Keep watch  O Lord.

We pray for the safety of  our Law Enforcement officers including Our Troops, Peacekeepers, and  all those who are involved in the transition in Afghanistan. We pray for all of their families too.
Keep them safe O, Lord.

Give us courage to speak truth to power and to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you O Lord. 
Let Justice Roll Down O, Lord.

Make us mindful of all the needs of our family members. Help us to realize there are no others just family members that you created and we are connected through you.
Keep us mindful and aware of those who are in need.

We pray for safety on our roads, seas, skies, and rails. Be with those who travel O, Lord.
Watch over all of  us as we travel from place to place O, Lord.

Show us O, Lord how to be beacons of hope and practitioners of peace to your world that is broken.
Light our pathways and enliven our hearts to be lights to a broken world.

Heal all those who are sick either in body, mind, or spirit.
Heal them O God of Grace.

Help us to let go of all anxieties, worries, grudges, and anything that keeps us from loving you fully and serving you in this world and the next.
Help us to Let Go and Let God.

Be with our LGBTQ family members as they seek and are the beautiful people you created  in your image and likeness. Give courage to those who are struggling to be who they really are and not what society tells them to be. Give them courage and patience to come out when they are ready emotionally and spiritually.
Loving Lord Give them Strength.

Continue to help us respond to those who are lonely, grieving, and feeling outcast.
Lord enliven our responsiveness.

We pray for all those who are lost and lonely in social media. Help us to be vigilant when we don't see our friends or follow us. 
Help us to keep watch and check in  with those who are in distress  O Lord and show them love and concern.

Take away all hatred, bullying, and abuse of any kind. 
May we all live in peace and harmony with you O, Lord.

We Pray for_________________________________-

We Give thanks for___________________________

We continue to celebrate the lives of those whom love but no longer see__________________________

This week help us to practice random acts of kindness rooted in hope, peace, joy and Love.

We pray for an increase of love throughout the world and help us to ever remember 
"The Light of Christ in Me recognizes the light Christ in You" As we see each other and look into one another's eyes. (Maybe adapted for your religious community if you aren't Christian)

May we continue respond to your call to "Walk with me on our journey" this day and forever more.
Amen.

Ubi Caritas

Prayer of Saint Francis -Sarah MacLachlan

Dance of Creation - John Michael Talbot

The Hymn of the Great Jubilee -Andrea Bocelli

Taking time to live, love, and laugh!

Dear Family of  Love and on our Journey!

Don't forget to live, love, and laugh every minute of the day especially during this season. We all are under stress of some kind and we need to re- learn how to live, how to love, and how to laugh.

Living means that we need to get out of the ruts we may find ourselves in. I love walking in the evening when the Christmas lights are up and the houses and businesses are gussied up.  I will be getting in the car sometime soon to take a driving journey around town where I cant't walk and take pix. Seeing Christmas lights was Steve's favorite thing to do. I'm following his lead. As part of living, we need to take time to add fun and adventure. This can be done anywhere you are! Traveling does this but taking walks can open your eyes, hearts, and minds. 

Take time to love and show love. That's as simple as that! Being a loving person can go along way and make lives sweeter and more complete. I don't need one person to make my life complete. My life is complete by loving all of our family members unconditionally without judging. God is  the completer and places all of our family members in our lives. Many of them are unexpected delights, treasures, and are total surprises. I know I have many, and you all are just that. I'm amazed every day by you and your love and acceptance of me. I hope you know that I love and accept you as you are. You are all such gifts to me. Who needs Tiffany Blue boxes!

Take time to laugh! Remember the blog earlier today? Pull that one out when you need it . Having a sense of humor is vitally important and it is good for your body, mind, and spirit. So keep laughing all the way home! That doesn't mean laughing when you need to be serious. It means having balance and  not being totally serious! Take time to watch funny movies, read funnies, and listen to funny videos on YouTube. The list is endless.

So Take time to live, love, and laugh every day of your life and especially this time of year! And don't for get to pray and won't you continue to Walk With Me On Our Journey?

I love you!

Love and peace of mind!

Sara

From the Vault! A little bit of a blast from the past!

This is that Time of Year

Santa Baby -Eartha Kitt

C'est si bon- Eartha Kitt

The Night they invented Champagne

Thank Heaven Little Girls -Gigi

Don't forget to Live, Love, Laugh! Right now! Right this very minute

Dear Ones!

I'm taking this opportunity to tell you I love you and that you all mean so much to me! I want us to take time to live, love, laugh! Right Now, Right this very minute!

A few things for your enjoyment!

Alan, Alan, Alan

Raccoon Steals Glove

River Otters playing the piano

Klepto-Kitty 

The Pet Department 

Bill Cosby Noah   

Bill Cosby -Genesis

Until we walk! I love you!

Sara