Dear Family Members,
Happy We All Matter Monday! We all do and not just some. I know that we are facing yet another Super Tuesday Primary election and that means an endless barrage of media and political pundits of varying stripes. This is a time for all of you who are readers who live in primary states to pray and vote. If you do not live in a primary election state I ask you to pray for our family members who are voting, If you live outside of the United States and live in other countries and aren't American please pray for the United States and please keep doing so until the end of this year's election cycle. We are all in this together. I'm not going to tell you who to vote for but I am going to direct you to pray with a conscience set on Jesus and Human rights for all people. This is your time to pray and discern what is best not just for you but for all of us. This is a time to use prayer as an opening up of your heart home to Jesus, The Least of These, and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Those who cannot speak for themselves are those who haven't been born yet, haven't become citizens, are too young to vote, and the severely disabled person and veteran. When we vote we vote for the vulnerable and the marginalized. Let us remember this always. Last week I asked us to pray for these our family members as we pray again these prayers in last week's prayer vigil.
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.
Let us light our candles again and be at prayer:
God we thank you for this country of ours and ask that you come into our hearts this night as we discern the course of this country. Help us we pray to remember that we were called long ago to be beacons of liberty for all people. We pray that we may remember that diversity is what makes us great not walls, division, bigotry, hatred, exclusion, and fear. Release us from the bonds of fear, injustice, and inequality. Give us courage to take Jesus, the least of these, and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves into the voting booth with us . Help us we pray to vote with our minds set on the CALM principle and with hearts, minds, and spirits as we remember that we are called to be Compassionate, Accepting, Loving and Merciful. We pray for healing of wounds, hatred, and division and that we may seek to be united as one country, one people, in love, and service one to another as we were following 9/11. May we foster together with God's help the courage to lay down the weaponry of words and any kind of weapon that seeks to hurt, harm, and cause fear and division. We remember these words from the prophet Isaiah:
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
God we pray and continue to pray as we light our candles may they be torches of liberty, diversity, and unity. We remember this night the words on the Statue of Liberty as we close this time of prayer and vigiling.:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
-Emma Lazarus
We come before you O God humbly with our hearts full and in need of your guidance this night and in the days and weeks to come and we pray especially for our country, enemies, and allies this night and always Amen.
Here are a series of prayers from other blogs to use as we pray during this time of prayerful discernment for our nation.
To begin tonight's meditation let us listen to a few protest songs sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary Mix
Think about what the words of these wonderful songs are saying to you and your heart home
Now let's take time to mediate on what voting and our founding mothers and fathers, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King, John Adams, Johnathan Myrick Daniels, Medgar Evers, Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce, Thomas Jefferson, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela,Malala, Mahatma Gandhi, and all those who have fought for justice throughout the world mean to us. Who are your favorite protesters? What do they mean to you?
Let us pray in the Key of Jesus and Ring the Bells of El Camino Real for those who fought for justice, peace, and equality. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Martin Luther King Jr. and his witness to all of our family members who were longing for justice in this their distant home and land that we take for granted. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Mahatma Gandhi who taught us how to protest non-violently Help us to follow Your and His Model and use our words to make peace and cry out for the voiceless.
We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for all who gave their lives in the Stonewall riots to help pave the way for LGBTQ rights and the rights of those who are afraid to live authentically. May we see God in each of us who are in the LGBTQ community, who are family, allies, and friends , be enfolded into the mainstream community with out fear and labeling. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Elizabeth Cady Stanton and all of our sisters who fought for the rights of women so that they would no longer be property but full and perfect members of society and examples of citizenry to their sons and daughters. We pray that all of our sisters may have full protection and rights securely given them. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Mahatma Gandhi who taught us how to protest non-violently Help us to follow Your and His Model and use our words to make peace and cry out for the voiceless.
We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for all who gave their lives in the Stonewall riots to help pave the way for LGBTQ rights and the rights of those who are afraid to live authentically. May we see God in each of us who are in the LGBTQ community, who are family, allies, and friends , be enfolded into the mainstream community with out fear and labeling. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Elizabeth Cady Stanton and all of our sisters who fought for the rights of women so that they would no longer be property but full and perfect members of society and examples of citizenry to their sons and daughters. We pray that all of our sisters may have full protection and rights securely given them. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for all of our family members who were interned in the Japanese internment camps at Manzanar and Santa Anita. We pray for their contributions to our society and ask for their forgiveness for the wrongs we may have done out of fear and mistrust. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for the witness of all our Native and Indigenous Martyrs who were here in their homelands of origin in this country We pray for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done to them and remember the trail of tears that took them away from places they call home and became refugees in strange and distant lands. We remember this night all of our family members who are refugees. We pray that they may one day return home as You , Mary, and Joseph left Egypt for Nazareth. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Malala and all children who speak truth to power. We pray for all our children that they may be protected from harm. May all of our youth look to Malala for hope and a role model of what one child can do. We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for Cesar Chavez and all those who fought for the farm worker and for the rights and protection of those who put food on our tables We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for those who have died in the struggle for justice, equality, inclusion, and universal human rights.We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for all the many witnesses that we have not named but you know them all may we remember them now_____________________________We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
Jesus we pray and give thanks for this night especially for ________________________
We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Justice for all of our family members now.
We pray this in the Key of Jesus! Ring out the Bells of Forgiveness,Justice, Peace, Human kindness, and most especially love, for all of our family members now. We pray this in the name of Jesus who came to unite us in love, forgiveness, and serve to and speak for the least of these. Amen.
Today's wish: My wish for today is that everyone will come together in love, unity, and peace
From Facebook: Good Evening! Happy You Matter Monday and elecion evein some parts! I hope everyone takes time to give thanks for the ministries of our founding mothers and fathers and all who have and are striving for justice, equality, inclusion, acceptance, and giving voice to the voiceless. We have a lot to do dear family and hate, extremism of any kind and yest that means extremism on all the spectrum of faith and belief, and division is not the way we need to do it. We must unite as the Children of God that is everyone on the planet in loving service and compassion to and for one another
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Today's wish: My wish for today is that everyone will come together in love, unity, and peace
From Facebook: Good Evening! Happy You Matter Monday and elecion evein some parts! I hope everyone takes time to give thanks for the ministries of our founding mothers and fathers and all who have and are striving for justice, equality, inclusion, acceptance, and giving voice to the voiceless. We have a lot to do dear family and hate, extremism of any kind and yest that means extremism on all the spectrum of faith and belief, and division is not the way we need to do it. We must unite as the Children of God that is everyone on the planet in loving service and compassion to and for one another
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Tonight let's meditate on the words unity and love. Take your time and find your way into the center and stay there. Be in conversation and listen to what God is saying.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to help us promote healthy bodies, minds, and spirits not only in our lives but as as good citizens.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to seek peace in everything we do.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God, to love and care for the least of these.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, to strive for justice, peace, and equality throughout all nations of the world and in our own country.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, that we may learn to love and care for the refugee, victim of violence, and human trafficking.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God that we may care for all who are in mourning and those who have died.
Open our eyes, ears hearts and souls O God to help us fight injustice and oppression.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts,and souls O God to come to you when we are in need of help and comfort.
Open our eyes, ears,hearts and souls O God to Pray for all those who are ill and in need of your healing. remembering_________________________
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls that we may lift up our prayers and thanksgivings to you O Lord . Amen.
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Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to help us promote healthy bodies, minds, and spirits not only in our lives but as as good citizens.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God to seek peace in everything we do.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls O God, to love and care for the least of these.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, to strive for justice, peace, and equality throughout all nations of the world and in our own country.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God, that we may learn to love and care for the refugee, victim of violence, and human trafficking.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts and souls O God that we may care for all who are in mourning and those who have died.
Open our eyes, ears hearts and souls O God to help us fight injustice and oppression.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts,and souls O God to come to you when we are in need of help and comfort.
Open our eyes, ears,hearts and souls O God to Pray for all those who are ill and in need of your healing. remembering_________________________
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls that we may lift up our prayers and thanksgivings to you O Lord . Amen.
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Dear God we pray on this election day eve that we may be good citizens and take time to vote tomorrow.
May we view voting as a sacred privilege not to be squandered but prized.
May we educate ourselves on the various issues and pray for your guidance in these matters and that we always remember the least of these and those who are on the margins especially for those whose rights may be violated and not made equal to that of our own.
We pray for our leaders at all levels of government.
We pray for our courts and the judiciary.
We pray for all governmental agencies at the local, state, and national level.
We pray for all new citizens who will be voting in their first election.
We pray that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O God and may justice roll down.
We pray that our voices may be as we vote and may we remember the voiceless who can't vote.
We pray for all lawyers, paralegals, court clerks, bailiffs, sheriffs, justices of the peace, law enforcement personnel, judges, District Attorneys and all those who help administer justice in our land.
We pray for those who work in our prisons and jails. We pray for prison reform and those who are in prison.
We pray for compassionate immigration reform.
We pray for peace in our country and and end to violence of any kind.
We pray for an end to human trafficking and abuse.
We pray for the protection of our most vulnerable family members.
We pray for peace in all troubled and war torn areas of Your World O God. Take time in this time of silence to call these places and situations to mind.
We pray for all those who have asked us to pray for them and others on their behalf.
We add our own prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances _____
God we lift up these prayers to you in your Name. Amen.
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Have a blessed night dear family! I love you, you matter, and I'm blessed and give thanks that we are family!
May we view voting as a sacred privilege not to be squandered but prized.
May we educate ourselves on the various issues and pray for your guidance in these matters and that we always remember the least of these and those who are on the margins especially for those whose rights may be violated and not made equal to that of our own.
We pray for our leaders at all levels of government.
We pray for our courts and the judiciary.
We pray for all governmental agencies at the local, state, and national level.
We pray for all new citizens who will be voting in their first election.
We pray that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O God and may justice roll down.
We pray that our voices may be as we vote and may we remember the voiceless who can't vote.
We pray for all lawyers, paralegals, court clerks, bailiffs, sheriffs, justices of the peace, law enforcement personnel, judges, District Attorneys and all those who help administer justice in our land.
We pray for those who work in our prisons and jails. We pray for prison reform and those who are in prison.
We pray for compassionate immigration reform.
We pray for peace in our country and and end to violence of any kind.
We pray for an end to human trafficking and abuse.
We pray for the protection of our most vulnerable family members.
We pray for peace in all troubled and war torn areas of Your World O God. Take time in this time of silence to call these places and situations to mind.
We pray for all those who have asked us to pray for them and others on their behalf.
We add our own prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances _____
God we lift up these prayers to you in your Name. Amen.
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Have a blessed night dear family! I love you, you matter, and I'm blessed and give thanks that we are family!
With love, prayers, peace, blessings, and thanks for you always,
Sara
Sara
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