The New #AdventWords and #HashTags With Meaning are here! Today's word is #Listen

Good Evening Dear Family!

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a good week after Thanksgiving. This is a perfect week to begin taking time to listen more fully to God's voice and spend time in sacred silence listening to what the world is having to say without speaking. This kind of listening requires us to use our eyes, hearts, souls, and minds. Daily we are in a struggle with having to have something to say and not be active in listening and always seeking to respond. This is the time of the year where we need to learn to listen what our family member's have to say not only in the words they speak but in the outward and visible signs they display by their body language. Yesterday's time handing out lunches bore this out in unimaginable ways. So let's start listening, expanding our heart homes,and let us be tenderized with holy empathy and sympathy for all humanity, yes even those who rub us the wrong way and may be our enemies. Listen to their pain, stories, and seek to find common ground.

Let us remember the words of Thomas Merton: "We must slow down to a human tempo and we’ll begin to have time to listen."

Tonight let us set up our sanctuaries in our homes for a time of quiet and holy listening. Practice your breathing and mindfulness exercises with these adapted forms of  the "Be Stills".

Let us start with a variation on this:

Be Still and Know That I am God.
Be Still and know 
Be Still 
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members , and yourself.

Listen with Love in your heart.

Be still and listen to God
Be still and listen 
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members and yourself.

Listen with Joy in your Soul

Be still and listen to God.
Be still and listen 
Be still
Be

Listen for hope in the world.

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other , our family members and yourself.

Be still and listen to God
Be sill and listen
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other, our family members,and yourself.

Listen and pray for peace.

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

Listen for God
Listen to God's voice
Listen to God's message
Listen to the sufferings of  God's Fragile and Broken World.

Dear Ones it is time once again for our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil and light our candles and pray for an end to hatred and fear. We pray this night for clean air, water, and soil so that God's Cathedral of Life may be revived and protected. We pray for all of our family members who are on the margins and who feel lost, lonely, alone, and invisible. We pray for peace and  safety in all cities, states, and nations of the world. We add our thoughts and thanksgivings on this Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday and remember to wear our attitudes of CALM (compassion, acceptance, love and mercy) and gratitude in service to God and the entire family of God. 

Prayers in the stillness. If you so desire you may do a virtual labyrinth to add to your meditation.

*Those may be replaced with names, or by using Family Members.

Quiet our minds O God so that we can listen and hear your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.
Help us to be still and listen to that quiet place in our heart and spirit. Help us to unwind our minds O God.

Quiet our bodies that we may turn our bodies from human doings to human beings.
Take the keys away  that drive our bodies to do and not be.

Help us to feel our spirits and the indwelling of  You and the Holy Spirit in this time of being quiet and still.
May our spirits be enlivened even in the quietness. 

Lord we pray for all who are traveling may they take time to rest and be alert.

Lord help us to lay down our burdens each day at your feet so that we may find rest and spend time with You.

Give us the peace of mind that we are always seeking. 

While we spend time with you Lord please take care of all of our loved ones and those whom we have been praying for. If we should fall asleep and rest be with them as we rest in the quietness.

In the stillness  O Lord may we drink of the Living Water of Life and be refreshed and feel it coursing through our  veins and give us the energy to do your will to your glory and in service to others.

In the stillness we remember and pray for all those who have requested our prayers for themselves and on behalf of others________________________________.

In the stillness we give thanks for the gifts of quiet, contemplation, rest, and times for our bodies, minds, and spirits to be renewed.  We give thanks for__________________________

In the stillness we celebrate those times of joy and those who have made a difference in our lives remembering_____________________

In the stillness we remember those who have entered in to life eternal especially________________And we remember those continue to grieve.

We pray for those awaiting surgery tomorrow. Calm their fears and anxieties Lord.

We pray for those who are being beset by bad weather O Lord. Ease these weather patterns Lord.

We pray for those who live in earthquake prone areas. Quiet their minds and give them  the peace and knowledge that You O God are there. 

Lord God watch over this your troubled and divided world. Set us on fire to help heal and unite it with our prayers, love, service, and actions. Give us grace, courage and love energy to do this in Your Name. Amen.

'Great Spirit Prayer

"Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind, Whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others. Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy Myself.Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

An Additional Reflection from the blog I wrote 3 years ago!

Listening to your heart and walking with God on our Journey!

Good Evening Dear Family of  Love and those who are on pilgrimage with us!


Well family we are getting ready for the next season a season that is not like any of the others. We are approaching what we call in my faith the season of Advent. This time is a time for reflection, listening and going on a special journey that will once again lead us to Bethlehem or in Hebrew it means House of Bread where we will meet with expectation and a sense of wonder and awe the Christ child. This is a time where we get to meet God Incarnate, Man Divine. How can we again make this a time where we aren't doing the usual things that are in hyper-holiday drive and the need to out do, out buy and out spend and keep up with the Jones's?  May I suggest the following:( these are good even if you aren't faith based or faith centered)

Take time to listen to your heart and reconnect with you, yourself and God.
Take time to see the season as one of Love and the gifts need to come from the heart.
Take time to reflect on the year that is coming to a close.
Take time to practice good wellness of body, mind, and spirit.
Take time to be with your family and friends more often and not just at the Christmas. Getting to see them ahead of time will give you as they call in psychology baseline data from which to become acquainted.
Take time to get to know the transportation schedules in town. I had a gentleman on my walk who needed to know when the next bus was. I was so sorry that I couldn't have helped him.
Take time to begin your walking or fitness program. It will make things much more stress free. The Order of the Daughters of the King (R) are going to do just that by preparing their bodies for Triennial in 2015.
Take Time to pray and listen to your heart and what God is telling you and where God is leading you on our journey. Have you hydrated enough with the Living Water, Tied your shoes laces tight, put on a jacket and asked God to be on our journey thus far? I hope you have, if you haven't, let's do it now in prayers for the first week of Advent!

Help us to wait patiently again on you God and the plans you are setting before us.
Come thou long expected Jesus

Help us to give all our worries, anxieties, and all our live's baggage to you God, so that we may be free to worship you without fear but with a clean heart and on fire to serve you.
Come thou long expected Jesus

Help us to see are homeless, hungry, lonely, outcast and the least of these this season as we see Jesus, ,Joseph, and the Blessed Virgin Mary every year in the manger. When ever we see some one living out doors help us to remember and pray for them.
Come thou Long Expected Jesus

God our protector, watch over those who are traveling and are on any kind of journey, keep them safe  where ever they may be.
Make ours and their pathways straight as we journey on towards you  and throughout this season and always.

We pray for ______________________________________
Give them comfort Lord.

We give thanks this day______________________________
Shine in our hearts with gladness.

We remember all those who reside in the Thin Places______________________

We pray especially for women, children, and all those who are vulnerable.
Comfort ye my people.

We pray for the aging, sick, and those in any health care facility. We also pray for medical professionals and caregivers.
Comfort ye my people 

We pray for our family members near and far. Help us to love them more and more.
Shine in our hearts with overflowing streams of living water and love.

All this we ask in the name of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Ones. I love you and give thanks for you this day and always. I'm always ready to listen and not to hear or just reply. Keep warm and cozy and be renewed for tomorrow.

Love, hope, joy, and peace. 

Sara

The New #AdventWords and #HashTags With Meaning are here! Today's word is #Renew

Good Evening Dear Family of Love!

Today is day 3 of Advent and our #AdventWord is #Renew! This isn't the kind of renewal like a magazine subscription but to re-new meaning make all things new. Yes friends, God is making all things new and especially during Advent. I like to think that God is managing our dead soulular  not cellular skin cells by renewing them daily with compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy. The dead soul cells keep us from deepening our relationship with God and each other. How do we do this ? Well let's begin by taking time to be in holy silence with each other. If you so desire repeat the key words of Advent:
 Hope,Joy, Love, and Peace 3 times each with slow and gentle inhalations and exhalations between each set.

Now let us take time to review and renew our Baptismal Covenant because it gives us a centering point from which to make vigil and pray.

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows (From the Easter Vigil in the BCP)

Celebrant Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and
renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
People I do.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.


Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.

The Celebrant concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and
bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal
life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

In some churches there are times when it may be necessary to speak to member of the clergy for counsel and confession as part of becoming renewed. For now let us take time to remember those things that we have done amiss and ask God's forgiveness so that we may freely atone and be at one with God, ourselves, and each other again.

Tonight we begin and make our vigil by lighting candles representing our commitment to renew ourselves in body, mind, spirit, and in unity and love for one another.

I ask your prayers for the Students at Ohio State, the situation at Standing Rock, the wildfires in Gatlinburg Tennessee, Denver Colorado, The soccer team who was killed in an airplane crash in Colombia. For and end to violence, terror, abuse, and that peace may prevail upon earth.

 (Prayers from the BCP)
O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and
rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be
our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to
your presence, where we may be still and know that you are
God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the
Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.


For the Restoration of Health
Almighty God and heavenly Father, we give thee humble
thanks because thou hast been graciously pleased to deliver
from his sickness thy servant N., in whose behalf we bless
and praise thy Name. Grant, O gracious Father, that he,
through thy help, may live in this world according to thy will,
and also be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the
night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive
far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your
law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having
done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may,
when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen

For Sleep
O heavenly Father, you give your children sleep for the
refreshing of soul and body: Grant me this gift, I pray; keep
me in that perfect peace which you have promised to those
whose minds are fixed on you; and give me such a sense of
your presence, that in the hours of silence I may enjoy the
blessed assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our
Savior. Amen.

In the Morning

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring
forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I
am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still,
help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it
patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly.
Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit
of Jesus. Amen.


Prayers for Transformation
God we pray that we may live lives that will transform us into the children you'd have us be.

God we pray that we may become your peacemakers so that we may help transform this broken, fragile, and divided world.

God we pray that many of  our family members may be raised up to be positive transforming leaders in the nations of the world. 

God we pray that every day we live, move, and just be may be moments of self-transformation.

God we pray that we may seek ways to help transform our cities into places of sanctuary and safety.

God we pray that with your help we may seek to do justice, love, mercy and walk humbly with you and transform the lives of our family members who are voiceless and live on the margins. 

God we pray that society may be transformed into a place where all human needs are met, human rights may be afforded to all, and our family members who have hardness of heart may be transformed into loving and kind human beings willing to extend a gracious hand to help in times of need.

God we pray that as we awaken from tonight's slumber we may be transformed into new beings willing to give lovingly of ourselves. 

God we thank you that by the gift of your son Jesus we were transformed and as new beings we lift up these our prayers in His most Holy Name. Amen

or this meditation Beside the Still Waters

If you so desire you may Click on the links to music below or have this time of meditation in quiet silence ; and let us close our eyes and continue our breathing exercises, let us take time and  feel our bodies, minds, and spirits journeying to the center of our being where we will meet God and spend time with God. Feel God's presence enfolding you and listen for God's still small voice.

Jon Mark -Alhambra

Or

Loreena McKennitt - Nights from the Alhambra


Beside the still waters we come  to seek you  God  in the quietness of our being.

Beside the still waters we come to pray for peace in this fragile and broken world of  yours

Beside the still waters we pray for and end to all anxiety, fear, and worry that our minds and spirits may be still.

Beside the still waters we pray for our neighbors all over the world that we may find unity and learn to love one another as dearly loved family members of Yours.

Beside the still waters we come for respite, relaxation, rest, and renewal. We pray for calmness as we rest in your arms and never ending love and mercy.

Beside the still waters we come to ask prayers for all our family members who are in need of healing and strength remembering___________________

Beside the still waters we come seeking solace for those of us who are living through the long journey of mourning and grief.

Beside the still waters we come praying for all the least of these and all who are affected by violence, terror, abuse, and everyone who is struggling through the world's calamities.

Beside the still waters we give thanks for the lives who have entered eternal joy today and those who are in the midst of transitioning from this earthly life into a heavenly one.

Beside the still waters we pray for all who are lost, lonely, alone and seeking companionship. We pray that our hearts may be stilled as we wait. We pray that we may not lose heart and live boldly,yet gently alone.

Beside the still waters we pray for _____________________

Beside the still waters we give thanks for _______________

Beside the still waters may we journey over to the other side of the lake and offer our prayers in the quietness to Jesus . Amen.

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Before we close here is today's Story From the Window!

Today's Story From the Window!
God puts our homeless and indigent family members in our midst every day as a sacred reminder that we shouldn't become complacent or hardened. Today one of our homeless veterans came to the window distraught as many like him do but today was different he shared with me that he and his lady who is 4 months pregnant live down in the riverbed. He is 60 and she is in her 20's. He doesn't have a clue what to do to keep them safe. He has had to kill rattlesnakes, scorpions, and other dangerous creatures. Today my tears were and are flowing from my heart. I'm afraid for everyone who is having to live this way. God calls us to see Him in everyone we meet and not look away. Looking God and his children in the eyes, having empathy, and truly loving, serving and respecting the dignity of all is very important. Tonight we pray for Joe, Perla, and the health of their unborn child. We pray for all parents to be in situations like them. Tonight we pray for all the marginalized people who live in challenging situations. Pray for the homeless, hungry, and ill-clad tonight and in danger. Let our hearts be filled with love and empathy this season and beyond and renew our commitment to serve the least of these.

Good Night Dearly Beloved Family Members! I love you! Have a blessed and restful night! May we be united in prayer, love, and family hood and give God thanks for this always.

With love, joy, and in the stillness,

Sara

Our #AdventWord List!

The New #AdventWords and #HashTags With Meaning are here! Today's word is #Love

Good Evening Dear Family of Love!

Happy Second Day of Advent and You Matter Monday ! Today's new hashtag with meaning is #Love. Love should be the keyword for the season and beyond. Today I had the privilege of handing out 37 shelf stable lunches at the window today down at the church. Mondays after Thanksgiving is a sacred time where we get to connect with our family members who are homeless and food insecure and we get to spend time talking to them. Some of our family members are new and some are our regular and familiar loved ones. Today it has been very cold here in town and my heart broke every time I saw one of these precious souls come to the window. If you can imagine each of the faces representing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit you might be having your heart home become widened and tenderized with love. I kept hearing the songs from Les Miserables and thinking of the faces in that production and also anything Dickensian. The flash and bling we associate with the season isn't always necessary when love is all the bling we need. Love is what centers us. Love Focuses us on what's important. Love is what tunes our hearts to the requisite frequency. Love sets the tone! Love reminds us every day that our life's purpose must be holy and dedicated to the least of these. Love speaks for justice, peace, mercy. Love speaks truth to power! Love makes us better than we can ever ask or deserve. As Lin-Manuel Miranda reminded us so poignantly following the tragedy in Orlando at the Tony Awards

 “love is love is love is love is love” 
― Lin Manuel-Miranda 

Tonight let us make vigil and light our single blue Advent Candle in love and solidarity with one another.

Here is the introduction to tonight's prayer vigil as found on Facebook.

Let us pray and make vigil and light one single blue Advent candle remembering today's #AdventWord #Love and that we may find our selves united in love and purpose as we serve the least of these in the days and weeks to come. We light this candle also for all those in Standing Rock and Ohio State. We also come together to pray for a widening of our heart homes and that they may be tenderized during this holy season of joyful expectation. Even if times are tender and fear laden.

God of Love come among us as we pray this night.

God of Love come to our hearts and fill them more fully with hope, joy, love, and peace.

God of Love help us to bring to this fragile and broken world a climate of love, forgiveness, and the indwelling of the fruits of the Spirit to all people. Help us to call to mind these fruits: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

God of Love, We pray for the least of these this night at home and around the world. 

God of Love, we pray for those who are ill and who are in need of proper medical care, and the patience to await the healing you are bringing them.

God of Love, Take away from us the need to speak when we need to listen with the ears of our hearts, and not to seek to reply but understand.

God of Love, help us to become the peacemakers and children you are calling us to be.

God of Love, give us the courage in the words of the Prophet Micah "To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God"

God of Love, we pray for an end to all forms of hateful division and anger towards those who differ from us. 

God of Love, we pray that we will live out the words of Teresa of Avila in her famous prayer 

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

God of Love, we pray that we may become instruments of peace as in the words from St. Francis of Assisi :

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; 
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


God of Love, give us courage to live out and listen to your words you spoke through you son Jesus on the sermon on the Mount. 

Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Beatitudes

5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

God of Love, help us to acknowledge our dependence upon you and each other. Help us to build bridges and tear down walls of division and hatred. 

God of Love, give us strength to live each day without fear of those who differ from us and gather the strength to find common ground in Love for one another. 

God of Love we pray for___________________

God of Love we pray and ask for the forgiveness of our sins this day as we call them to mind____________

God  of Love, we pray and give thanks for___________________

God of Love we celebrate and remember this day Kamehameha and Emma

O Sovereign God, who raised up (King) Kamehameha (IV) and (Queen) Emma to be rulers in Hawaii, and inspired and enabled them to be diligent in good works for the welfare of their people and the good of your Church: Receive our thanks for their witness to the Gospel; and grant that we, with them, may attain to the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs 21:1–3

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.

All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Psalm 97:1–2,7–12

Dominus regnavit

1 The Lord is King;
let the earth rejoice; *
let the multitude of the isles be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, *
righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.

7 Confounded be all who worship carved images
and delight in false gods! *
Bow down before him, all you gods.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
because of your judgments, O Lord.

9 For you are the Lord,
most high over all the earth; *
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 The Lord loves those who hate evil;
he preserves the lives of his saints
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light has sprung up for the righteous, *
and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, *
and give thanks to his holy Name

Acts 17:22–31

Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we too are his offspring.’

Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Matthew 25:31–40

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’"

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Ubi Caritas in English and Latin

WHERE charity and love are, God is there.

Christ's love has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.

And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

WHERE charity and love are, God is there.

As we are gathered into one body,

Beware, lest we be divided in mind.

Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,

And may Christ our God be in our midst.

WHERE charity and love are, God is there.

And may we with the saints also,

See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:

The joy that is immense and good,

Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

Latin

UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.

Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.

Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.

Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:

Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.

Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.

Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deu

UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,

Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:

Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,

Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

This night we pray and close our time of  meditation on the #AdventWord #Love with this song - 

Ubi Caritas - John Rutter

Ubi Caritas Taize

Additional prayers from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us

through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole

human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which

infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us

unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and

confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in

your good time, all nations and races may serve you in

harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

For our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love

our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth;

deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in

your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Families

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary

in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in

which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee,

every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride

of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance,

patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those

who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the

hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the

children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among

us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to

another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the

joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient

wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love

whatever is just and true and good, following the example of

our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Young Persons

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an

unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways

give more life than the ways of the world, and that following

you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to

take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance

for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you,

and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Those Who Live Alone

Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head:

Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their

solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find

fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Aged

Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing

years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for

them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding

helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and, as their

strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance

of your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

For the Absent

O God, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts

of the earth: We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold

and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend

them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both

they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together

by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the

fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

For those we Love

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy

never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come,

knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we

can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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Good Night Loved Ones! Here are the Advent Words we are meditating upon. Please check the list below for the words that await us tomorrow.

I love you and give God thanks for you this night and always! May peace be upon you all and give you a restful and refreshing sleep.

With hope, joy, love, and peace,

Sara