A Season of Prayer for Social Justice: A single candle and a prayer vigil

Good Evening Dear Family:

Happy Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting! This time together will be brief because my hands have been going into spasm. Not sure why but that gives us time to prepare for our weekly and weekend retreat of Self-Care and Sabbath Rest. The time is now when we  place our worries, anxieties, and anything else that is bothering us into the Worry/Sabbath Box, Jar, or Journal and leave them there.


Let us begin with our "Be stills"

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

Breathe in God's love
Exhale God's love Energy

Pause or as they used to say on shampoo bottles: Lather, rinse, repeat. 
Tonight we will take time to do our usual meditations and let us listen for God's still small voice.
Windham Hill -Tibet

God we light one candle tonight as we vigil for peace, justice and unity.  As we spend time in prayer let us take a look back and pray the prayers found in the 2 blogs on September 2 in 2014 and 2015 to remind us that the more things change the more things stay the same:

Gracious Spirit Come among us in the quietness of  this night so that we may hear God's still small voice calling us in love to be a family united in peace, love, and justice.

We pray this night for all earthly creatures and God's Cathedral of life. May we always remember that every living thing is a family member that sustains us/

Gracious Spirit guide us to take care of the least of these and all of our fragile family members.

We pray for all who are ill that we may step up to help give aid and comfort.

Gracious Spirit, bend our ears so that we may listen to our family members' spoken cries for love, help, and acceptance.

We pray for the newly grieving and those who continue to mourn.

Gracious Spirit, we pray for all who are dying and those who have died and have entered the Thin Places today. We pray that your comforting presence and loving arms carried them into the arms of God.

We pray for all who have fallen through the cracks, may we reconnect with them and be mindful of fragile souls who become invisible to us and that we may keep our eyes, hearts, and ears open.

Gracious Spirit, we pray for all those who are discerning vocations and new life paths that they may have courage to change course and say yes to whatever your are calling them to do and to be.

We pray for all refugees, political prisoners, victims of abuse and violence, and those who have died at the hands of their captors remembering Steven Sotloff, James Foley, and Iraqi Christians. We remember and pray for all war torn areas of the world. We remember those suffering from Ebola in Africa, We remember the Missing Girls in Nigeria, We remember Ferguson Missouri, We remember the Martyrs of New Guinea and all who have laid down there lives for their faith and friends.

Gracious Spirit we add our own prayers and those we pray on behalf of others especially__________

We pray lift up all these petitions in Jesus most Holy and Redeeming Name. Amen.

And  we add these prayers as well:

We offer our prayers this night in remembrance of all the refugees who have lost their lives today.

We offer our prayers on behalf of all our family members who are struggling to find meaning in their lives.

We offer our prayers to our family members who are ill and in need of healing.

We offer our prayers this night for all of our family members who are transitioning into the Thin Places and those who have died.

We pray for peace in the world and an end to all violence and terror.

We pray that we may become again become sensitive the needs of others.

We pray for those particular concerns that are on our hearts this evening remembering especially_________________

We lift up our thanksgivings to you O Lord ________________________

Accept these our prayers Lord Jesus in your name. Amen.

If you'd like to do a virtual labyrinth walk here is the blog from last year complete with a photographic journey: 

Crickets Sang their night chant to welcome us to walk the labyrinth

Here is music for the Labyrinth Walk : Autumn -George Winston


Today we remember the Martyrs of New Guinea

THE MARTYRS OF NEW GUINEA 

(2 SEP 1942)

 
New Guinea (also called Irian), one of the world's largest islands, has a difficult terrain that discourages travel between districts, Consequently, it is home to many isolated tribes, with many different cultures and at least 500 languages. Christian missionaries began work there in the 1860's, but proceeded slowly. 

When World War II threatened Papua and New Guinea, it was obvious that missionaries of European origin were in danger. There was talk of leaving. Bishop Philip Strong wrote to his clergy: "We must endeavour to carry on our work. God expects this of us. The church at home, which sent us out, will surely expect it of us. The universal church expects it of us. The people whom we serve expect it of us. We could never hold up our faces again if, for our own safety, we all forsook Him and fled, when the shadows of the Passion began to gather around Him in His spiritual and mystical body, the Church in Papua."  

    They stayed. Almost immediately there were arrests. Eight clergymen and two laymen were executed "as an example" on September 2, 1942. In the next few years, many Papuan Christians of all Churches risked their own lives to care for the wounded. 

by James Kiefer

Almighty God, we remember before you this day the blessed martyrs of New Guinea, who, following the example of their Savior, laid down their lives for their friends; and we pray that we who honor their memory may imitate their loyalty and faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 126

In convertendo

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.

3 Then they said among the nations, *
"The Lord has done great things for them."

4 The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.

5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.

6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.

7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

1 Chronicles 22:11-13

Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you.Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-24

but test everything; hold fast to what is good;abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound^* and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Luke 12:4-12

 ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority^* to cast into hell.^* Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

 ‘And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how^* you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.’

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Good Night Family of Love! I love you! Have a blessed and gentle rest. I give God thanks for you this night and always.  Start preparing yourself for Self and Sabbath Care weekend by putting on an attitude of gratitude and practice random acts of kindness. 


With love and peace,


Sara