Good Evening Dear Family!
Whoa! It must be time for us to meet in community and have prayer time! Some days are so fast and slow that we may not manage our prayer time well. This is one of them. I will endeavor to start earlier. But then again God sometimes God hasn't given me the necessary ingredients to put into our blog stew. Holidays also throw us out of sync too. How many of you have felt the heaviness of this particular Memorial Day Weekend? I have and maybe it has to do with remembering our parents who served in WWII and the daily loss of the Greatest Generation and other wars and living through a perpetual state of war not peace. There isn't any place in this world that isn't near a war torn area or have some kind of struggle going on. Yes there are peaceful places too but they are all too rare and much needed. Our country is not exempt we are not at peace we are at war within ourselves and each other. It may not seem like it but we are. Just look at the groups who feel alienated, hated, misunderstood, and feared:
LGBTQIA
Religious communities
The least of these
The mentally ill
African Americans
Muslims
Asian Americans
Native Americans
Hispanics
Refugees
Immigrants both undocumented and documented.
Disabled
Women
Children
No one is exempt from any kind of alienation, hatred, being misunderstood, and feared. Why are we at war with most if not all of God's family members? Probably because we haven't taken the time to sit down face to face and listen to one another. This coming week and through the month of June we are going to be having our season of prayer for our diverse world, family, nature, and take time to practice love and repentance for the wrongs we have done to and in this community. It is time to become the reconciled and loving family of God. We must stop warring against each other.
God we light our candles tonight as we pray and give thanks for our family members where there is much division, hatred, and fear. We pray that as we pray this list of these our family members we may come up with our own list of family members with whom we find ourselves divided and whom we should work towards inclusion, universal human rights, equality, equity, and equal protection under the law for all God's Children. We pray this night that we may become the Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful family members to all and including the following:
LGBTQIA
Religious communities
The least of these
The mentally ill
African Americans
Muslims
Asian Americans
Native Americans
Hispanics
Immigrants both undocumented and documented.
Refugees
Disabled
Women
Children
May we seek to widen our tables, hearts, heart homes and community to accept them fully and that may we honor them as they honor us by their presence each day. We light our candles and say to each group on the list and our own "The Light of Christ in me Recognizes and Accepts the Light of Christ in you my brothers and sisters of _______________ We welcome you fully into the family of God and ask your forgiveness for any wrongs we have done to you and in the name of Jesus. May we pray and strive to seek to know the Christ/ God in you as you seek to know the Christ/ God in us. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayers for the Tender Souls
We pray for better early interventions for those with mental illnesses and that everyone will be able to listen for their unspoken cries for help.
We pray for the marginalized who feel outcast. May we lovingly bring them into the circle and show them how You love us.
We pray for all of our Family members who have PTSD that they may receive care and the necessary services that will help them prosper and live productive lives.
We pray for our homeless family members who live outdoors. We pray that there may be adequate shelters and a variety of places to live that will meet their needs. We pray that we may be sensitive to their needs when we see them as we walk, shop, and are in our cars.
We pray for the safety of all the vulnerable members of our society.
We pray for better gun laws that will both protect our family members in our community and the persons who aren't suitable gun owners.
We pray that all churches may be truly sanctuaries for everyone and that there won't be a litmus test required to belong. We pray that all faith leaders will give the least of these the the security and feeling that they are loved, accepted, and that their dignity is respected regardless of who they are. Help everyone know who they are and whose they are!
We pray that there may be social service ministries in our urban centers that are non-threatening and available 24/7/365. May we be guided to think outside the box and minister to our family members who need these services.
We pray for compassionate immigration reform and that families may be kept together.
We pray for all of our medical professionals who work in the ER this night and those who work in the Mortuary and Hospice ministries.
We pray for an end to violence against women and children.
God be with the community of Isla Vista and all places of learning where violence has occurred. In the silence remember the places that come to mind and pray for survivors and those who have lost their lives.
God help us to be better at listening, watching, and being family to those who are different that ourselves.
May we see you in their eyes and love them as you love us.
God we lift up these our prayers and the prayers that we have been requested to pray this day to you !
Amen.
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Have a blessed night! I love you, you matter, we all matter and we matter to God. I give God Thanks for you this day and always.
Love, blessings, and peace be yours this day and always,
Sara
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