The slippery slope of FB Posts and Twitter Tweets! They may rattle one's spirit!

Good Evening Dear Family of God,

Happy We All Matter Monday! As I write this I must confess that I have gotten myself involved in some weird threads on FB these past few days and they have unsettled me greatly.This is the  slippery slope of FB Posts and Twitter Tweets! They may rattle one's spirit! I won't go into all of the details but it reminds me that we have got to let God and let God work with in us and for the good of all our family members.We must continue to seek out what God is calling us to do and stop the bickering and jockeying for position. This garbage is as bad as when we are praying and being in the gimme, gimme, gimme mode and not looking outwards to those who have need of prayer and comfort from each of us. We are called to do as Jesus commands us to do and to be loving and caring for the least of these. We don't get a bye or a pass in this. I know you probably are thinking "There Goes Broken Record Sara!" This is more of a reminder to myself that I must be loving and leave what I see and read alone and be of good courage and speak truth to power when God calls me to do so. Really I do believe this and Yes I do believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit  There is no doubt about that. Sometimes I think the Spirit does rattle us for the good of all to remind our brothers and sisters to a higher standard of behavior. Let us strive this week to strive to be better people and pray before we enter discussion threads on Facebook. We all need to be spreading the Good News and being children of God and peacemakers. We must be CALM (Compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful).  

Everybody please take a few deep breaths and slowly exhale together as we begin our new week. 

Tonight let us remember this "Peace be Still"

Let this be in our minds and in our hearts as we lather, rinse, and repeat.

Be Still and know that I am God.
Be Still and know that I am.
Be Still and know.
Be Still.
Be.


God of all mercy we light our candles this night as we pray and remember the young people who lost their lives in Isla Vista two years ago. We pray for their families, friends, and all of us who mourn their loss. We pray for the family members of the shooter that they may continue to feel your loving presence. We pray to you God that all senseless forms of violence may cease and that there will be no further loss of life due to gun violence. We pray for all the mental health professionals who help us all when we are in dire need of improved mental health care and facilities. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world of ours. Tonight we are reminded of the words of St. Francis of Assisi :

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I 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;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life."

God we pray and light our candles this night and in the week to come in memory of all  our family members who have lost their lives either by gun violence and terrorist action. We pray that we may love our neighbors, enemies, and those who hate us and that we may sew seeds of love not hate. Amen.

And a few other prayers from vigils awhile ago and still more prayers to be said and offered.

Gracious and loving God as we meet in community this evening to pray and light candles let us remember all of our family members who do not have community, family, where loving shoulders and soft places in which to fall are available. We pray for the lost, lonely, and afraid that they may be found and brought into the family of God and wrapped in a quilt of comfort. We pray for our family members who are refugees, asylum seekers, children in foster care, children who are seeking to be adopted and all who are waiting for their forever homes wherever that may be. We pray that we may practice radical hospitality and welcome all of our family members and especially the strangers who are in our midst. We pray that we may keep our eyes on all of our loved ones and pray that no one, not one will fall through the cracks. We pray that a community of CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) may spring up around the world and especially where there is hatred, violence, terror, and division. We pray that peace, justice, and mercy may prevail upon Earth, that we may be be peacemakers and called the Children of God. Amen.

Holy God,as we pray and light more candles let us pray that we may truly and fully become the loving Family of God. God we know that it is time. We know that this journey into family hood won't be easy but we must take time to lay down our, rage, fear, anger, suspicion, hatred, bigotry, terror, and all that seeks to divide us. Give us we pray courage to learn to love one another as Jesus first loved us. Help us we pray to realize that we are one family and that whatever our race, color, creed, gender, and sexual orientation may be we are made in your image and likeness O, God. Tonight we pray for safety in our cities, towns, counties, states, and nations. We pray for all of our family members nearby and far away who have been affected by violence, abuse, bullying, and degradation this day. We pray for their safety and that you'll wrap your loving and holy arms of protection around them. We pray for the least of these who lack clean water, safe and permanent shelter, nourishing food, and warm clothing. Help us to walk the walk and talk the talk and spread your Gospel of Love to this fragile and broken world. Let us be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) people this night and forever more. Amen.

Tonight we are going to spend our time together with a  Time of prayer for the healing of lives, world, nations, and the Earth

Gracious and loving God, we pray for all of our family members this night who are in our hearts and on our minds especially_________________.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all lives who are touched by abuse and violence.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of  all those whose hearts are hardened and feel the need to act violently.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all family members of the animal kingdom that are facing being endangered and extinct.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all of our personal wounds that have kept us from moving on and living lives well lived.

Gracious and  loving God, we pray for the healing of all of those who are mourning losses of  family members and pets. We remember especially those who have lost children.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all children who are suffering from any untimely disease that keeps them from enjoying childhood.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all of our family members with whom we might be estranged. May we lovingly be united once again with them.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of  your Cathedral of Life and that we might be good stewards of  the Earth you made.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all hearts and heart homes who are facing any family holiday alone!

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all divisions that we may be one.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all who have had surgery that they may receive healing and recover fully.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all who are homeless, hungry, and ill-clad that they may find warm shelter, nourishing food, and warm and comfortable clothing.

Gracious and loving God,we pray for the healing of all nations where there are warring factions and terror that peace may prevail upon earth.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all faith communities that they may find common ground rooted in love.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all the hate and rancor in this world.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of all those who are feeling isolated and outcast that they may feel accepted and loved as the beautiful people whom you created that they may see  as you see them.

Gracious and loving God, we pray for the healing of  anything that is being brought to mind this night remembering especially__________________________

Gracious and loving God we pray in the name of Jesus,Your Son. Amen.


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Today's wish is this! May you all take time to smell the roses and enjoy God's Cathedral of Life in God's Sunshine of Love.

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May God Bless you all ! I love you and am proud to call you family not just any family but the family of God and Love. Take time to let the people in your life know that they matter and remember tomorrow is Take Care Tuesday. Let us take care of ourselves so that we may take care of of others.


Love and blessings!

Sara