Dear Family of Love,
I hope everyone had a wonderful and wonder-filled Wednesday! Today I served at our weekly Holy Eucharist and Healing Service at 10:00 a.m. We have a small group who are a positive prayer posse. Say that 3 times fast. Prayer is what we do a lot of here at Walk With Me On Our Journey. Praying is not always easy especially again today with the events in Paris and Colorado. I urge each one of us to take time a few times a day to pray or hold in your thoughts some of the concerns that rattle and make your heart homes sad and discomfited. Pray for our family members who are in pain and all of our many family members who have been affected by these senseless acts of violence and any other troublesome situation. The world that our loving God created has I'm afraid to say it slipped off its balancing axis. There isn't a day when extremism isn't rearing its ugly head by people who call themselves Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. What do these three have in common? We are all part of the Abrahamic faiths. These acts of extremism must stop and it doesn't matter what the religious labels are,an extremist is an extremist. What do we do? What do we do? Here is what we do and what we don't do.
What must we do?
Pray
Love
Educate ourselves on who these groups are and educate ourselves on what these faiths really teach and not just the sensationalism we see in social media.
Pray
Love
Be a peace maker.
Pray
Love
Write your governmental bodies and tell them not to give money to any group who has extremist ties.
Pray
Love
Break bread with family members of other faiths.
Pray
Love
Speak out for justice, Speak for the voiceless, Speak for those who do not have universal human rights, Speak out for those who are being bullied and abused,
Pray
Love and love some more!
What we mustn't we do?
Hate
Make flip racist or ethnic comments
Hate
Raise our fists in anger
Hate
Discriminate against a family member who is different from you.
Hate
Bullying is not allowed
Hate
Joke about family members from other cultures.
Hate.
Used armed weaponry against another family member because you are afraid of them.
Hate
Fear
Raise our voices in hate and anger
Hate
Fear
Abuse or harm any living creature that God created
Hate
Fear
Practice religious extremism.
Hate
Fear
None of these and many more are not acceptable at any speed.
Tonight let's meditate on the above for a little while and then let us be at prayer. Here is tonight's mediation and listening music. I Sat Down Under His Shadow -Bairstow,
Spem In Alium -Tallis,, Tallis -Gaude Gloriosa Dei Mater
Let us pray for peace in the world and pray for the many situations that give our heart homes pain, worry, and anguish.
God of peace we pray that there may be an end to all acts of violence in your troubled world. We remember most especially all those who were killed and injured in the act of terror in Paris and the Bombing of the NAACP Chapter in Colorado. We pray that all acts of extremism will take flight and that love my unite us all in the family of love and justice.
God of Peace help us to remember the words of the Beatitudes and Magnificat as we pray them this night within these our prayers.
God of Peace we pray for all who are ill and in the hospital. We pray for your healing of all of our bodies, minds,spirits, and troubled heart homes that feel sadness at today's tragic events.
God of Peace we pray for the least of these who are homeless, hungry, and ill clad that they may find shelters and warming centers this night. Help us to step up and come to their aid.
God of Peace we pray for all who are mentally ill that they may find the necessary and care they need.
God of Peace we pray for all who are newly grieving the loss of loved ones and all of us who continue to grieve loss long after our loved ones have entered the Thin Places.
God of Peace shine in our heart homes so that we may shine your light to others with love, joy, hope, and peace this night Help us to shine the light and the Star or Bethlehem's light to those who are in darkness. May this light shine upon them and lift them out of the dark places.
God of Peace surround all caregivers with love and help them to find rest and respite from their labors. May caregivers of family members receive love and respect from their siblings as they care for their parents.
God of Peace help us to Speak out for justice, Speak for the voiceless, Speak for those who do not have universal human rights, Speak out for those who are being bullied and abused,
God we lay these our prayers and those who have come seeking our prayers remembering especially__________at the feet, and in the arms, and in the most Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
A final piece of music: O Day of Peace (Jerusalem)
O day of peace that dimly shines
through all our hopes and prayers and dreams,
guide us to justice, truth, and love,
delivered from our selfish schemes.
May the swords of hate fall from our hands,
our hearts from envy find release,
till by God's grace our warring world
shall see Christ's promised reign of peace.
Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb,
nor shall the fierce devour the small;
as beasts and cattle calmly graze,
a little child shall lead them all.
Then enemies shall learn to love,
all creatures find their true accord;
the hope of peace shall be fulfilled,
for all the earth shall know the Lord.
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! I hope that tonight we may find peace in our heart homes, love as our peace making force, and giving thanks for all our many blessings as our final prayers as we lay ourselves into God's loving and enfolding arms.
Love, peace, prayers, blessings, and abundant grace be always yours,
Sara
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