A call for peace, love, reconciliation, and understanding.

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Self-care Saturday. I hope everyone is doing just. that. Weekends are a time in which we all sift through all things social media many times a day. This needs to stop. We need to do this because with the events of the past week having to do with Orlando I find myself having flashes of anger and tears and not just any tears but,gut wrenching and stinging tears. I see so much negativity that is being spewed out upon our LGBTQIA, Muslim, and Latino communities because of who they are. This isn't pretty and certainly not right at any speed. I'm issuing a call for peace, love, reconciliation, and understanding that is spread across the boards. We are all God's children and do not need to be targeted just for who we are. We need to stand up together with one voice that tells everyone that we are ready to make a change where division won't bring us down, won't rattle our nerves, won't make us afraid, won't make us crawl back into the closet. No, we are ready to unite together in the bonds of peace, love, reconciliation, and understanding. We are ready to learn, dialogue, take our message of radical love and inclusion into this fragile and broken world that has been torn apart by hate, fear, terror, bigotry, racism, and  is now entering a time of dangerous hate speak and incitement into violence by not just our politicians, but pseudo- religious leaders who do not speak for me. Remember please the majority of those of us who practice the basics of Christianity, have  its roots in the Jesus Movement where Love is what we do and who we are about. Are you with me? Are you ready to Walk with Me On Our Journey on the pathway of CALM (compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy)? Let us follow Jesus and not the religious leaders that preach a message of death and condemnation but follow Jesus who teaches us that it is about Love and that's above all else. So what are we supposed to do when we feel angry? We are going to practice a kind of time out where when we feel like we are about to explode emotionally, by just sitting and spending time in engaging the "Be Stills" Let us do this now.

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

Let's try this a few times and see how it goes. 


God as we come to the end of the first week after the events of  Orlando and the first year in remembrance of the Charlotte 9 at Mother Emmanuel Church we come to you with heavy hearts not feeling like we want to remember another name, another place, and another violent act. God we pray this night and light one single candle in solidarity and unity as your beloved children. We light one single candle that says to those who hate, fear, and target people because of who they are and who we are that love is our aim and that we stand together and have each other's backs. We pray this night again in memory for the 49 who lost their lives last week and the Charlotte 9 because each life is precious and we all must come together and continue to speak for them and hold space while their families and we grieve their losses:

We pray for the victims by Name and pause for a moment. If you have a bell or singing bowl ring it after each name.

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

And the Charleston 9 (From  Wikipedia)

• Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd (54) – Bible study member and manager for the Charleston County Public Library system; sister of Malcolm Graham.
• Susie Jackson (87) – a Bible study and church choir member.
• Ethel Lee Lance (70) – the church's sexton.
• Depayne Middleton-Doctor (49) – a pastor who was also employed as a school administrator and admissions coordinator at Southern Wesleyan University.
• Clementa C. Pinckney (41) – the church's pastor and a South Carolina state senator.
• Tywanza Sanders (26) – a Bible study member; grandnephew of Susie Jackson.
• Daniel Simmons (74) – a pastor who also served at Greater Zion AME Church in Awendaw.
• Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (45) – a pastor; also a speech therapist and track coach at Goose Creek High School.
• Myra Thompson (59) – a Bible study teacher.

Let Light Perpetual Shine upon Them and give them peace. 

We light our candles and carry your love, your light, and your goodness O God, this night into the world that you have made. "The light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in You!' Amen.

More prayers:


God of many names heal this fragile and broken world that you created.
Forgive all of our deeds that led us to destroy and harm your world O God.

God of many names, take away all bitterness and division that have led  us away from you.
Lead us to become the loving and united family you created us to be.

God of many names, we pray for the healing of all our family members who are ill remembering especially___________
Heal our bodies, minds, and spirits also.

God of many names, we pray for all who are dying and who have died. May they have a peaceful transition into the Thin Places.
Help us O God to see death as only the shedding of our mortal bodies into souls of  everlasting life.

God of many names, be with all of our faith leaders and communities as they prepare for worship and devotion to you. 
May we also prepare our souls and hearts to worship you wherever we may be this Sabbath weekend.

God of many names, we pray for the least of these who are our family members  and, who are refugees, victims of human trafficking, abuse, terror, bullying, ---phobias, religious persecution,  violence of any kind, and all those who are separated from their family members, nations and cultures by war or economic hardship.
May we see you in them at all times and in all places

God of many names, may we sew seeds of hope, joy, love, and peace and may we be truly united as your family of love.
Let us love one another and be untied as one!

God of many names, we offer our additional prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances  to you on behalf ourselves and others especially________________________

God of many names, we offer these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus, our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother, and friend. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you and Give God thanks for you this day and always.

Peace, love, prayers, and God's Blessings be always yours,

Sara