Dear Family of Love,
Happy Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting! I hope everyone is recovering nicely from your family's Thanksgiving celebration and you haven't been on a Tryptophan Trip! Here in Santa Maria it has been really cold and it got me to think about what we can do to help the least of these the late Fall and Winter months. Tonight let us make a list that would be fitting for where you live of things that might be helpful:
Warm Clothing
Scarves
Mittens
Beanies and head wear
Socks
Shoes
Blankets
Sleeping Bags
Instant and shelf stable food items
Pillows
Gift cards for restaurants
Food
Rain ponchos
Tarps
Hand warmers
Flash lights
Pens, pencils, markers, notepads, envelopes, and stamps
Lists of shelters and where to get food.
First aid items
The list is endless
What is on your particular list? I hope you can add more to yours.
Now let us Light One Candle and be at prayer.
Gracious God we pray for our family members who were victims of the shooting at the Planned Parenthood office in Colorado Springs. We pray particularly for those who lost their lives and for their families and co-workers who mourn their loss. We pray for the shooter and ask you to help the authorities to get to root of this latest act of violence. We remember all of the areas throughout our country and the world that have been touched by violence, if you remember their names pray for them now_________________________
Gracious God we pray for the refugees who have been forced to live outside in the cold on their way to the refugee centers. We pray that they may have patience in waiting to be resettled.
Gracious God we pray for an end to partisan bickering and that our government will return to a spirit of cooperation and sound governance.
Gracious God we pray for an end to terrorism and extremism in all its vicious and violent forms.
Gracious God we pray for peace on earth and that the world may return to a sense of CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy).
Gracious God we pray for all who are in grief's long season and those who are pre-grieving.
Gracious God we pray for our family members who are ill that they may receive your healing and comfort.
Gracious God we pray that we may place our worries, fears, anxieties, anger, and all those emotions that draw us away from being in preparation during this Sabbath Rest and Self-Care Weekend into our Worry/ Sabbath box.
Gracious God we pray for all faith communities who are in preparation for worship and especially those who are prepping for the season of Advent.
Gracious God we pray for________________________________
Gracious God we give thanks for___________________________
Gracious and Loving God we lift up these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus. Amen.
Good Night Dear Ones! Have a blessed night! I love you and give thanks to God for you always.
Love and blessings,
Sara
If you are in need of more prayer time here are a few prayers from the BCP (Book of Common Prayer)
For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen
For Peace Among the Nations
Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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.
In Times of Conflict
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Cities
Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of
that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their
glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth.
Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life.
Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate
poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail
with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and
women from different cultures and with differing talents may
find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
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