Let's celebrate our lives while we live, move, and just be. Let us pray and give thanks!

Good Evening Dear Ones!

Happy being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! We either wake up to terrorist acts, loud and inept politicians, or the deaths of many of our celebrity musicians and actors. Today we awaken  and find out that Prince died today and while I mourn his passing, I find that I am celebrating a life well lived. You see Prince wasn't cheated out of giving to us his music and up to the time of his death kept sharing his talent with others. We mustn't allow ourselves to go back and do the woulda, coulda, shoulda or the if onlys. God doesn't wan't us to do that! God gives us all a fixed timetable of life that God only knows. Yes, dear ones we may have one minute to live or a long life way into the 90's and beyond. So what does that mean as people of faith?  I think it means that we need to change up our focus from being death centered to life-centered. We should be celebrating our lives while we live, move, and just be. Does that mean that we shouldn't be sad or emotional about the loss of our family members and those who have touched our lives? Of course not but we all must remember that Prince lived a life well lived and the same can be said of Doris Roberts. We must strive live our lives well and not have any regrets. My faith teaches me that death isn't the final frontier. Death is what unlocks our souls from our tired out and ill bodies so that we may become the very essence of who God made us to be. Tonight we pray and give thanks to God for lives well lived and the promise that we must strive to live well, not for our own benefit but in honor of God and in the service of all of our family members.


Let us begin by being still as we calm our hearts with this phrase: Peace be still. We mustn't forget our deep breathing and exhaling after each section of  3. Remember to experience your deep breathing and remember it was God who made you and gave you life!


Peace be still.
Peace be still.
Peace be still.

Peace be.
Peace be.
Peace be.

Peace.
Peace.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.


Loving and merciful God, we come to you this night to light our candles not just to pray but to give thanks for all that you do in our lives each minute of the day. We pray and celebrate the lives of Prince, Doris Roberts, our friends and family members. We celebrate all of our family members who are living lives well and those who have lived lives well lived. We pray for our family members who are in mourning and experiencing grief's long process. Help us to grieve well and not skip steps. We pray for peace in the world. We pray for an end to all deaths by violence, terror, bullying, abuse, and those who are fleeing dangerous situations.  We pray this night for all refugees and our family members who are seeking shelter from domestic violence. We pray that we may  be compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful each and every minute of the day. We pray for sound governance and leaders who will help unite us in the bonds of peace and family hood. We pray that what ever is on our hearts, minds and troubling our spirits may be laid to rest this night and that we may have a peaceful and healthy sleep.  We pray and give thanks for musicians, artists, writers, actors, potters, sculptors, craftsmen, architects and all those who help make this world a place of culture and beauty. We pray that we may be good stewards of God's Cathedral of life and that we may celebrate Earth Day reminding us that you O God made this out of love and that we need to help protect and not destroy it. We continue to pray for all of our family members who are the least of these who lack food, clothing, and shelter tonight that they may be kept from harm and find shelter away from the elements We continue to pray for these places too: Burundi, Central America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Jordan, Ecuador, Japan, Kabul, The United States, and all other places where there is strife, danger, division, hatred and the woeful disregard for equality and human rights. We  offer these our prayers this night and lift them to you and keep them safe with in our heart homes. Amen.

Let us continue to pray!


Now let us pray for peace and unity among all people and nations! 

God who made us and makes us one we pray for unity among all people and nations
May we be one and love one another.

God who made us and makes us one lead us to put away all hindrances that divide us
May we be one and love one another

God who made us and makes us one give us  the courage to see you in the eyes of all who are our enemies and wish us harm.
May we be one and love one another.

God who made us and makes us one we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. Heal them and make them whole and may we lovingly respond to their needs.
May we be one and love one another.

God who made us and makes us one we pray for the protection of those who are protesting using peaceful non-violence.
May we be one and love one another.

God who made us and makes us one we pray for the protection of all our most vulnerable family members. Help us to see ourselves and you in their eyes and love them as you have taught us and to serve them as you have taught us to serve.
May we be one and love one another.

God who made us and makes us one. we give thanks for all those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this day.

God who made us and makes us one may we be with those who are pre-grieving and mourning any loss.

God who made us and makes us one we pray for all who are dying and have died may they find loving, joy, and oneness with you in the Thin Places.

God who made us and makes us one we offer these our prayers and thanksgivings in the most Holy Name of your Son Jesus. May we be one and love one another. Amen.


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If you are so bold you may add this to your prayers and meditation!

 Walking in the footsteps of a refugee

                         A Guided Meditation and Virtual Prayer Walk

Let us imagine ourselves through the eyes of a refugee and pray along the way.

Imagine you have decided to leave the only home you and your family have ever known.

God I don't want to live in this country where my children and husband and I are having to dodge bullets and face daily fears.  God help us to have courage to leave this war torn city and country and find safety.

Imagine having to carry a loaded in a backpack without any of the usual comfort items.

God I'm not ready to become homeless but in order to find a better life for my family I must Give me courage to take what I really need for my husband, children and myself.

Imagine the first day on the road by foot. How do your feet feel and what does your body feel like going long distances?

God my feet feel like they have become calloused, blistered, and in a lot of pain. Give us courage to honor our bodies, minds, and spirits when we need to as we flee our country of origin.

Imagine not having enough warmth on these cold nights out in the open.

God help us to find a suitable place of shelter for the night and that we may find warmth.

Imagine meeting up with other refugees and telling your stories and developing a new kind of family.

God we thank you that we have met many of our fellow refugee families and that we finally realize that we are all in this as one big family. God help us to find and make lasting friendships and that we may find safety together.

Imagine being in danger and seeing lawless gangs.

God help us to remain safe and secure and we pray for our enemies and those who wish to do us harm.

Imagine us having to find shelter, clothing, and food everyday on the road and there aren't any refugee camps nearby.

God help us to find shelter, clothing,food everyday. Help us to keep our eyes and ears open to finding refugee camps that are run by compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful people.

Imagine becoming ill on the road.
God help us to find ways to cope with illness each day that we are not in familiar territory.

Imagine having a loved one die on the road. 

God help us to mourn our loved ones loss on the road and that we may honor their bodies by burying them reverently in the ground. Help us to always to remember to carry white sheets for burial shrouds along the way.

Imagine you have finally reached the refugee camps and are awaiting resettlement. 
God we thank you for finally reaching the camp and we pray that we may have patience to wait our turn to go through the resettlement process.

Imagine the day when you meet your sponsoring family.
God we thank you for our new family. Help us  when it is our turn to welcome the stranger that we may model our lives after you Jesus and remember that you, Mary, and Joseph were refugees too.




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Good Night Dear Ones ! I love you and give God thanks for you this night and always. Remember that we must daily celebrate our lives while living and live lives well lived. 

With love and blessings!

Sara