Having the courage to speak truth to power and not be silent!

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Self-Care Saturday! This is where I would usually talk about the necessity for good self-care but tonight I would like to spend time with you about a matter close to my heart. The matter that is close to my heart is this, the need for all of us to stand up and be counted at all times and having the courage to speak truth to power and not be silent. We as God's beloved children requires us to be our family member's keeper and care for each person that we come in contact with no matter how we feel about them. We keep having many acts of domestic terrorism not just once in awhile but almost daily. I don't like it! It makes me sad, mad, and yes angry. I see quite a bit of complicit silence which is never good ! When we don't speak truth to power about injustices and acts of violence committed by others it's as if we committed those acts ourselves. It's almost like watching the injured man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan to see who comes by to help and never helping. What's wrong with this picture people? We all have a voice! Let's start using our voices for good and not just to degrade, bully, or be armchair critics and opiners. It's time for all of us to Stand up, Step up, and Speak up to make this world a place that is peace-filled, peaceful, and loving and free from all fear and injustice. Our silences are not warranted at this time in our nation's and world's history. Each time we stand silent it is like we are aiding and abetting criminals, politicians, terrorists,and anyone else who is harming another by their words and deeds. I know we have been all taught "If you can't say something nice don't say it at all" this isn't like this at all, this is being a voice for the voiceless. 
As we await the beginning of Advent let us find within ourselves the courage to speak truth to power and not be silent. Jesus' cousin John the Baptist knew how to use use his voice to proclaim the coming of Jesus and Jesus did the same when he saw an injustice happening. Let us us this time tonight to be at prayer and pray for courage to be the Light, be a Voice, be a Peacemaker, Be a Child of God, Be the one who speaks up when someone won't. 

Let us spend time in silence and prepare ourselves to be God's voice in a broken world. 

God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.

God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.

God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.

God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.

God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.

God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be silent. 

God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.

God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.

God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Live.

God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.

God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always! 

God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.

We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. Amen. 

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Today's selections from the BCP.

First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.


A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.

For the Diversity of Races and Cultures

O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you
for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth;
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you ! May you rest gentle and be awakened to rest on Sabbath and take time to worship tomorrow on the first day of Advent and the church year.. I give God thanks for you each and every day. 


With love,hope, joy, and peace,

Sara