Good Evening Dear Ones!
I guess God knew what and who I was to write about this night. If you haven't heard by now Muhammad Ali has died. He fought a valiant struggle with Parkinson's disease for 30 years. We will always remember the iconic image of him lighting the cauldron at the Atlanta Olympics. He was a devout Muslim and humanitarian. When all that has been said and done our response is to look to him as an example of great courage and the need to speak truth to power. He never wavered even up until the end calling out Donald Trump against his Islamophobic nature and comments. We must learn that we must call people out for their words and deeds even if we risk imprisonment, loss of livelihood, and friendships. God calls us to something greater than ourselves Muhammad Ali responded and went beyond what we mere mortals do in an entire lifetime. Tonight we light our candles in memory of Muhammad Ali and all those who serve as valiant examples of striving for justice, peace, mercy and freedom. After our prayer vigil let us take time to meditate on who our mentors, role models and heroes are in our own lives and then pray some more.
God of many names we come before you to mourn and celebrate the life of Muhammad Ali and all those who have served and are serving as valiant examples of striving for justice, peace, mercy, and freedom. We come before you and light our candles in their memory and also as a reminder that you call each of us to be beacons to the world in which we live. God help us we pray to call our family members out when they speak in hate-filled, racist, and phobic tones. God help us to call our family members out when they call people names and bully, abase, and abuse. God help us to call our family members out when we see them speak and act against your holy ways and example. God we pray that as we light these candles we may shine your light in the dark places and as our sisters and brothers in Islam say at the passing of a soul we pray "From God we come and to him we return. " May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
Now let us ask ourselves who are our mentors, heroes, and role models? Go deeper with God! Use that Love Energy to take you there! When you arrive be still and know that God is God, Listen with the ear of the Heart, and feel the indwelling of God within you. Don't be afraid to reach down deep within and let go and let God grab a hold of you and love you for you not somebody different. Let God in to love you! Let God in to empower you! Let God in to call you on to unexpected pathways! Let God remove all hatred, disunity, and fear so that you may walk in the light of God and that as we said in many of our times together at DOK events "The Light of Christ in Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" Go deeper seek out who your mentors, heroes, and role models are you may be surprised to find out who they are!
God we thank you for this night and all that you brought into it even the rocky parts.
God we give thanks and remember before you our mentors, heroes, and role models_____________
God help us to learn how to rely upon you when we find ourselves in the depths of despair.
God we pray for peace and that we may be the loving agents to bring about love, harmony, justice, and peaceful unity.
God we pray for rain for all drought parched areas of the world that the Earth may be cleansed and healed.
God we pray for all refugees around the world that they may find a place of sanctuary and safety in which to live and prosper.
God we pray for our family members who are homeless, hungry, and ill clad.
God we pray that we may find our way to you each and every day and that we may feel your loving and abiding presence in our heart homes.
God we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit that they may be healed and comforted.
God we pray for anything that is giving us cause for pause that we may find rest this evening and into the wee small hours.
God we pray for all who are in transition to eternal life and those who have died this day remembering Phyllis Tickle that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.
God we add our prayers and thanksgivings knowing that all though they are the last on our list they are first in your heart remembering especially______________________ . Accept these our prayers in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! I hope you all take time for rest,relaxation, renewal, and refreshment this evening. Take time to prepare yourselves for this weekend's Self-Care and Sabbath Rest Retreat.I give thanks to God for you this night and always.
With love and heartfelt gratitude,
Sara
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Blogs to remember:
Journeys come in all shapes and sizes
Time to pray for peace in God's Broken and Fragile World! We all belong To God's Family People!
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