9th Ripple in the Pond taking a break and finding balance! Meditation time ! Relax , refresh, and renew!

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Self- Care Saturday! Tonight we are going to take much needed break from all the seriousness, not that this is easy but we must try. For the past week we have been emotionally bombarded by all the negativity, natural disasters (Severe Weather counts), violence, terror, and any thing else that has our hearts, minds, and spirits hurting. First let us calm our spirits and use this easy finger labyrinth: You may use your mouse to do it if you wish!

First pray that this time of finger prayer walking will be blessing to you! Start at the bottom where the opening is and follow the path in and then follow the path out. At every turn pray what is making you feel anxious, worried, or fearful away. When you get to the center there are 6 petals enter each and pray for ; In the first petal pray for peace,
 in the second petal pray for all our family members,
 in the third petal pray for the sick and all who have asked you to pray on their behalf an on behalf of others.
in the fourth petal pray for those who mourn, 
in the fifth petal pray for those who have died.
in the sixth petal add your personal prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances.
Stay in the center as long as you like and pray that love, peace, joy, and hope will fill the hearts of our enemies and that we may do good to those who hate us. 
As you make your way out of the labyrinth take time to prepare your hearts, minds, and spirits for rest tonight and the Sabbath day tomorrow.

Now finally let us sit quietly and slowly pray the  words on this picture as you do go deep into the center and connect with all that is sacred and holy within you and listen for God's still small voice.

After this let us let us be at peace for as long as you like ! You may listen to this music or you may enjoy the silence which ever you feel will bring peace to your bodies,  minds, and spirits. 

Spem In Alium by Thomas Tallis

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis -Ralph Vaughan Williams

If Ye Love Me- Thomas Tallis

Cambridge Singers Mix

As we finish this time of meditation begin to reflect on this picture of the ripples in the pond and ask where are you in this picture as we become aware of the inter- connectedness  of each other and each ripple.

Gracious and loving God we thank you for this time of rest and renewal. May we seek you in all things and find you within us and each other and May the light of Christ in Me Reflect the Light of Christ in You. May our hearts shine with your love to all and yes, God we know that means our enemies and those whom we do not like. May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us. Amen.

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Good Night Brothers and Sisters ! Rest, relax, and renew your bodies, minds, and spirits as we take time this night for our S.P.A. time which means:

S= Sabbath

P= Preparation

A= Activity

May we know and feel your love and mercy this night and always! I love you and give God thanks for you this night and always!

With all that is good and holy reflecting the image of our Creator I honor and pray for you this night.

With joy, love, peace, and hope to the brim and overflowing!

Sara

The 8th Ripple in the Pond ! Let us speak of loss and God's infinite love for us.

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting! Today we found and find ourselves mourning the loss of Leonard Nimoy and Malcolm Boyd. These two lights have entered the Thin Places on the same day.  Most of us know about Leonard Nimoy as the actor who portrayed Spock in 'Star Trek" who spoke the famous words "Live long and prosper". Many of you may not know who Malcolm Boyd is, he was one of the first openly gay priests in the Episcopal Church who was a prolific author of many books the most famous is ARE YOU RUNNING WITH ME JESUS?, not to mention a performance artist who performed at The Hungry Eye in San Francisco along with the likes of Dick Gregory. My parents had the pleasure of seeing them many moons ago. I never had the

opportunity to me Mr. Nimoy but I did have the honor of meeting Malcolm Boyd many times at diocesan events in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and meet him. At the consecration of our former Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Reverend Chester L. Talton, I had the privilege of receiving communion from Malcolm Boyd and Bishop Barbara C. Harris who was the first woman bishop in the Episcopal Church and around the world.  Wonderful memories of two heroes and steadfast role models.

 Why do these deaths and new members in the Thin Places touch me deeply? They do because it is a constant reminder that we are all mortal beings with immortal souls. Losses make us keenly aware that we need to take time to see how precious and  dear life is and not to take anything or anyone for granted. These losses and many others make us keenly aware of  the fragility of  life and at the same time God's infinite love for us. We are never separated from God and each other in life nor in death. Our love and God's love for one another is as strong as the best epoxy ever found or invented. Tonight let us take time to remember our loved ones who have left this mortal canvass and now permanently reside in the Thin Places and they are very thin indeed and for us our heart homes from which they will never leave. A friend of mine has on her headstone "Love means never having to say goodbye!"  Right now  I invite us to slow down and see this 8th ripple in the pond speaking to us as a symbol of infinity and God's and our infinite love for one another. God's love never goes away! Neither should our love for one another.  As I keep telling you I love you! My love for you isn't going anywhere and neither am I. 

Here is tonight's meditation music    Durufle Ubi Caritas Mix 

We pray this night for all who are grieving losses of  family and friends. We pray especially for ___________

We pray this night for those who are adjusting to new normals without support of family and friends.

We pray this night for all of our family members who are in the midst of severe weather that they may be protected and kept safe from harm.

We pray for the least of these that we may remember that we are the least of these and some times we may be homeless, hungry, and ill-clad. May we lovingly respond to each of our needs.

We pray that we may know and feel God's infinite love surrounding us and each other. 

We pray for all of our family members who have yet to know and feel God's love and the love that surrounds them.

We pray that we may love fearlessly without fear and may receive love in the same way.

We pray that we may lovingly help conserve your Cathedral of Life.

We pray for peace in this world and an end to violence meted upon your children and the relics of civilization.

We pray for all of our littlest brothers and sisters who are ill and are in the many Children's hospitals that are helping them heal.

We pray for all of our family members who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. May they be healed and given comfort.

We pray for all faith communities who are preparing or actively involved in worship this weekend. May we all be loving one to another and seek to find common ground.

We pray these our prayers and thanksgivings and lift them up unto you Jesus! Amen.

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Good night dear brothers and sisters of mine! I love you! May you find rest this night and remember to keep the faith fearlessly without fretting. Don't forget to place your worries, anxieties, fears and whatever else troubles you into the Worry/Sabbath Jar. I give God thanks for you this night and always.

With infinite and abiding love, peace, and blessings,

Sara

The 6th and 7th ripples in the pond! More about loving our enemies and finding common ground.

Dear Family of Love


Thank you for your prayers! Yesterday was truly weird! That unexpected fever and virus wasn't on the menu. We last left off with loving our enemies  and doing good to those who hate us. Yesterday when I attended and served at our weekly Holy Communion and Healing service we had prayer time and the rite of holy unction or holy oils for healing. When it came to my time for what was on my mind and heart I admitted that I was angry about what ISIS is doing and my heart was hurting because of the latest abductions of  the Syrian Christians. How many of you in our family are experiencing righteous anger about what is happening in God's world today?  I hope all of us are. What can we do about it? This is a difficult question to answer and we all know there isn't any easy answer to this question. Maybe if we start from that holy place within our heart homes and find some way to love our enemies that is a good place to start. I would begin with prayer and also the realization that we all came into this world as helpless infants who were and are Children of God. We must start from a place of common ground. I know that seems simplistic but please listen to what I'm saying. We have an opportunity to look at what we really have in common when we strip away the violence and all the bad stuff.  Please look at this:

What we have in common: 

We breathe
We eat
We sleep.
We wear clothes
We must have homes of some kind.
We have families.
We must have loved ones.
We were children once who looked at the world with wonder.
We make love and yes even do love.
We are sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors.

Can you think of other things that we have in common? Let us meditate on this tonight and then pray using what we have in common.  Here is tonight's meditation music: The Impressionists -Windham Hill  


God we share many things in common with our enemies, may we find common ground as we pray this night.

God may we breathe clean air and find ourselves breathing in love and breathing out peace.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we eat of the abundance of the fruits of  your Cathedral of Life and break bread together in solidarity.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we find rest for our souls and may we rest in the knowledge that you God created us all and made us in your image and likeness. Take away any anxiety and bitterness that keeps us from resting upon our beds. 
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we be clothed with peacemaking skills and clothing that will keep us warm.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we give thanks for our homes in which we live. We pray that everyone will have a home that safe and filled with warmth and love. We pray especially for those who have become refugees due to wars and violent conflicts. 
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for our families who need our love, patience, and we give thanks for them with loving and sustaining and merciful hearts.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all of our loved ones especially those who have asked us for our prayers remembering especially____________________________
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we remember your beloved little children that they may be safe from harm and still have a childlike wonder  and awe for the earth and your creation. May we recapture this sense wonder.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God teach us how to be lovers and may we find the holiness in our relationships one to another.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God show us the paths towards peace,justice, mercy, equality, and universal human rights.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all who mourn that they may be given love, comfort, and compassion.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all who have died and are dying. We pray especially for those who are dying terrible deaths that they felt your loving presence as they were carried into the Thin Places.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we thank you for this day and as we lift up these our prayers in the name of  your son Jesus. Amen. 


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Good Night Dear Family ! I love you! May you find rest in God's Gentle arms of love and know and feel God's loving presence. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.

Love and peaceful hearts be always yours,

Sara