Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey,
I'm amazed that this Saturday evening our town is very calm and peaceful. I hope it continues until Christmas Eve and Day. Tonight I walked through the Carriage District again and found more jewels in the Christmas lighting arena. That is one calm and peaceful neighborhood. I wish everyone could experience it. Tonight I am going to provide you with this week's cycle of prayer for Advent 3 with the keyword of joy interspersed in with the prayers.
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Lord we pray for all those whose lives have been touched by violence may come to know joy again. Bring them comfort and Joy.
Lord, we pray for all of our family members who live in cold, stormy, and snowy climates and that they may have warmth and power. Bring them comfort and Joy.
Lord we pray for our family members who travel to be with family members who are ill and are awaiting surgery. Bring them comfort and joy and traveling mercies.
Lord we pray for those of us who continue to grieve this time of year may we have an easier time with the upcoming holidays. Bring us comfort and joy.
Lord help us to us the gifts that you have given us in the service of your kingdom and to your glory. Illumine our paths with joy and light.
Lord help all children and all children's charities this time of year.
Lord continue to give them the gift of Joy and wonder in all your works.
Lord help us to be Hope givers , peace makers, and joy bringers to a broken and world in need of healing Jesus help us to be like you the Joy of loving hearts.
Lord we pray for _________________________
Lord we give thanks for the Joy you bring____________________
Lord we pray for all of our loved ones______________________ Who now live with You in Your Joyful and peaceful presence.
All this we ask as we continue to travel to the Manger of hope, peace, joy, and love and walk with you on our journey together. Amen.
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Prayer suggestions for the week:
Those affected by violence of any kind ( Remember Sandy Hook and Colorado)
The family of Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa
Those in bitterly cold weather all over the world and especially the North East in our country.
Family members awaiting surgery and those who wait with them. Those awaiting results of tests.
Healing for_______________________
Safety for those who travel and especially those who party this time of year.
For those with mental illness and addiction.
For students on break.
For all women and children who are in any need or want.
An end to human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.
Those with chronic illnesses and pain.
Our church leaders: Lay and Ordained. Those discerning calls to ministry in any faith community and the courage to say "Yes!" with joy in their hearts.
Our nation, state, and city.
Police, law enforcement, troops, and peacekeepers.
First Responders.
Those who work on their feet all day.
Those in the medical and research profession.
Healers of bodies, minds, and spirits!
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Well dear family that is all for tonight. The Progressive prayer walk with the keyword of joy will be on its way tomorrow. I love you, You Matter, and I am blessed by your presence in my life. God and you help to make my life hopeful, peaceful and filled with abundant joy. I hope that I do as well. I give thanks to God for you this day and always!
Love and peace of mind!
Sara
Yo Yo Ma and Friends - Here comes the Sun
Dona Nobis Pacem - Yo Yo Ma
Yo Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin -Bach Air on a "G' String
Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey!
Tonight I decided to mix up the route a bit and take a trip into the historic Carriage District and down McClelland. This is one of the original areas in our town. It looks like it could be a traditional neighborhood in a movie, so much so I think the folks from Leave it To Beaver and Father Knows Best would feel right at home. The Christmas lights are gleaming and sparkling! One has to keep visiting because you never know what has been added. There is a home on McClelland that has a wide array or better yet Plethora of Plush Toys in the yard. Teddy Bears Galore should be its name! Our castle like home Casa Encantada only had 3 lighted figures. Once we left the Carriage District we were on to McClelland or as it is sometimes known as All American City Boulevard. This is where you'll find the Abel Maldonado Youth and Community Center, Freedom Plaza, and Paul Nelson Aquatics Center and a many of municipal offices and the Lewellen Justice Center not to mention our wonderful Public Library that makes Barnes and Noble look like a barn! Two notes of interest, Abel Maldonado our former Lieutenant Governor grew up in Santa Maria and attended Santa Maria High School and at the Lewellen Justice Center it had the dubious distinction of being the place where the Michael Jackson Trial was tried. Yes, the same street where I was heckled a few months ago was where the famous dance on top of the limo happened.That street is called Miller. That was tonight's travel log! I walked to George Winston's December and Pink Martini!
Pink Martini does an awesome job with "Santa Baby".
I did take time to pray at Freedom Plaza for all of those who have lost there lives in the service of our country. They have a Veteran's Memorial wall with the various wars listed and our local service men and women's names. If anyone is looking for an outdoor place to pray in the evening this is the place. I find solace there. There is a fountain, that reminds me yet again of the Water of Life and the Living Water that should be coursing through our veins!
I believe that wherever our hearts are and we are praying that is holy ground! Our entire planet is holy ground because God created it. Let's always remember that. We need to find sanctuary in our hearts. Tonight I combined having fun and praying! You know what? It works too! It helped me find hope, peace, and our new keyword for Sunday Joy! Joy is something that is beyond happiness. It is deeply spiritual and when you have it in your life it feels like an eternal flame that is lit deep within even when you grieve. It takes the edge off of things. No booze needed! Joy is important because it helps to enliven our spirits, and quicken our steps, and tenderize our hearts and expand them for an ever growing love.
A word about the pictures! Some of the Moon shots look like the Greek letter "Chi"! Very awesome and made me tear up. Well dear family of love that is all for tonight! I love you, you matter, and I give thanks to God for being the gifts that you are to me and to the world.
Let us continue to respond enthusiastically to God when He asks us to "Walk with me on our Journey"! Remember wherever we walk we are on holy ground.
Love and peace of mind,
Sara
December- George Winston
Dear Family of Love and pilgrims on our Journey!
Tonight was a crisp nippy night on the prayer trail! Thursdays seem to be one of the quieter nights and unusual for this time of year. I have started to notice that we are having many new family members who are homeless and hungry along with their pets on our route who are situating themselves by shopping centers! Please pray for them. It is way too cold for anyone to be asking for help during the winter weather albeit it is milder here than across the country.
Today I had the privilege of viewing the National Vigil for the Victims of Gun Violence on the web live-streaming from Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C. This was an emotionally power packed hour and 15 minute service. What made me cry and take notice was the fact that 32,000 persons have died by acts of gun violence since Sandy Hook a year ago. These precious lives were lost senselessly. Please pray that there is an end to violence of any kind. This is a call to be mindful and remember or as the Twitter hash tag has it : #HonorWithAction.As I am writing this I have come up with a few one line prayers that seem appropriate for tonight. Please add or adapt as you see fit.
Lord help us to be more loving to all of our family members especially those who are mentally ill.
We pray for better medications and treatments for mental illness.
We pray for better mental health services in our communities.
We pray for those who are on the streets tonight and haven't any place to call home.
Give us wisdom and compassion as we see our family members out and about.
We pray for and end to violence, hatred. any -Phobia, and disinterest.
May we never be silent and may we always remember those who have died and those who have survived.
May we continue to do justice, love mercy and continually walk with you O God!
Help us never to become cold, isolated, detached with our family members and neighbors.
We pray for all animals out in the cold.
Help us to find better ways to serve our homeless, hungry and outcast family members.
Help us not to be afraid to smile or say "hello"
Watch over every family member this night O Lord and guide them to shelter if they are outside. Make us continually to be mindful of each other and all those whom you send across our pathways.
Lord help us to love one another and continue to honor the promises we made a baptism and may we continue respect the dignity of every human being.
Help us to be beacons of hope, peace, love, and joy to a broken world as we approach the Manger once again that is hope, peace, love, and joy.
May we continue to hear your voice telling us to be still and know that you are God and your voice asking us to "Walk with me on our journey!" Amen.
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Dear Family that is all for tonight! Don't forget to use the self-care check up each day to see how you are doing body, mind, and spirit-wise.
Remember- I love you, you matter, and each one of you is a precious gift from God made in God's image! I also give thanks to God for each of you dear family members this day and always.
Love and peace of mind!
Sara
The most memorable song at the Vigil Service today was from Carole King
In the Name of Love
Blowin' in the Wind- Chad Mitchell Trio
Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on Our Journey,
Here are a few suggested prayers to pray before bed time the remainder of this season of Advent.
Let us take time before we rest to lay down our burdens and rest gentle in God's arms.
Unburden our bodies, minds, and spirits so that we may rest gentle in your arms O, Lord.
Calm our fears and help us to "Be Still and know that you are God."
We entrust all our family members to you Lord knowing that you are taking care of them while we rest.
We pray for all those who work while we sleep. We pray for the safety of all who work or are traveling in the night hours.
We pray for all ministers who travel to parishioners bedsides either at home or in hospital during the night hours. Keep watch over them and traveling mercies!
We pray for those who are ill or are in emergency rooms and those who minister to their needs.
We pray that we may continue to sow seeds of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in the days ahead and always.
Give us the courage to be able to keep things simple and not be led by the holiday hype.
Help us to keep it real.
Help us to be more loving and compassionate.
We pray for all those who continue to grieve and those who find the holidays difficult.
We pray for_______________________
We Offer our Thanksgivings for_________________
We cast our named worries____________________ to you that they may not trouble us this night and always!
We pray for all those who are in the Thin Places and know that they continue to be wrapped in your loving arms.
Lord help us to be rested enough to hear your words "Walk with me on our Journey" in the morning and respond with a loud and joyful "Yes!"
Loving God give us courage to walk with you on our journey to the Manger of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Enliven our Spirits, Quicken our Steps, and Tenderize our hearts and hydrate us with the Water Of Life this night and always! Amen!
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Good night dear ones! I love you!
Sara
