Good Evening Dear Family of Love!
Happy Take Care Tuesday! I hope everyone is doing just that! Last evening before I went to bed I came up with this slogan, Just Say NO to Hyperholidayism ! What is hyperholidayism you ask? It is that syndrome that puts us all into the unnecessary need to goop up our holiday time with lots of activity and frou frou. Last evening we talked about the #AdventWord #Simplify part of simplification means we get to #Prune which is today's #AdventWord. Pruning our activities and frou frou is necessary from time to time so that we can get down to what matters most. I don't decorate my house since I live alone. I spend more time at church where my heart is on fire and in ministry towards my extended family. I'm also dealing with depression and being alone this year and it is another new normal. But, I can feel the indwelling of God in my inner being. So I'm learning new skills that are necessary. Since I have had a drastic change in income this year I haven't been to any department store for quite awhile I'm finding that I don't miss it. I'm pruning my life towards what is really important and what is not. On Thursday I will have a phone interview for food stamps, I hope that I can get them. I'm having to learn how to live on less. So I get to find out what it is like to be the least of these and have a home. Please pray that I qualify for Medi-Cal and Food Stamps. before January 20. Enough about me, how can I help you? I think I can help you by giving you tips on what to do when the holidays aren't so holly and jolly.
We must love, support, and be there for one another no matter what.
Be prayerful and meditative
We must be able to not sweat the small stuff
Make a new plan for how you are going to go through the holidays.
You don't have to be a people or family pleaser.
Keep it real! You don't have to get sucked into the commercialism and hype.
Know who your natural allies are! Having trouble with your immediate family ? Create a new one of your own choosing.
Don't feel you must conform to the same traditions each year.
Check into your local place of worship.
Read Walk With Me On Our Journey! PM me on Facebook or DM me on TWITTER! I'm here for you and am your soft place to fall. I'm even open to Face time and Skype! Let me know and we'll set up a conference call.
Limit your time when you visit or how long people visit. No need to have long and drawn out visits. My mom would be the visit limiter for the family. She'd stand up, sweep her arm out and say "It was nice to see you! Please come again!" When she was bed-ridden or in her chair out of the wheel chair she found ways too.
Get to know your holiday and grief triggers! Stay away from your family if you need to.
Exercise and watch your diets.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND REGARDING, PLANS, AND ANYTHING ELSE. THIS INCLUDES TRIPS, FAMILY GET- TOGETHERS, COOKING, DECORATING, AND WHATEVER ELSE IS CAUSING YOU STRESS AND DEPRESSION AND DIS- EASE THESE DAYS LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS AND BEYOND. ENJOY THESE DAYS BY KEEPING IT SIMPLE SWEETIES!
Call your local mental health professional, AA Sponsor,clergy person if your depression and addictions becomes acute.
Have the following numbers and links handy for yourself or any family member!
1 (800) 273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
911
211 search information
Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Overeaters Anonymous
PFLAG
Alzheimer's Organization
Trans Life Line US: (877) 565-8860 Canada: (877) 330-6366
Trevor Project Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386.
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Now let us turn to our time of prayer and our continuing daily journey into to the Great O Antiphons!
Now let us continue on to our meditation on the Great O Antiphons and make vigil and pray.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home ;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
And open wide our heav'nly home ;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Sapientia
O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Adonai
O Adonai, Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law in Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall stop their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: Come and deliver us, and tarry not.O Radix Jesse
O Clavis David -
O Key of David, Sceptre and the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth: Come and bring forth the prisoners out of the prison house.
O Oriens -
O Day-spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
God of compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy, we light our candles this day in love and solidarity with our family members in Aleppo, Berlin, and Turkey. We stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart with all of our brothers and sisters who are in great need and fear during these cold and dark Winter months. Help us to reach out to them and if it is we who need to reach out give us courage to do so. This night we come to you asking your help to have us prioritize and prune our lives in accordance with your will and that we may not fear changes but embrace them. Help us to follow the star to Bethlehem and meet Jesus there once again and remind us that the manger was not a kingly palace but a solemn and awesome place where God as a mortal lived with living creatures both great and small and lived up to his name Emmanuel "God with us". May we in the days ahead feel your presence with us O God. Amen.
Anthem at the Candle lighting. (BOS)
You, O Lord, are my lamp; *
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You have been my helper:
My God, you make my darkness bright.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
V. Let my prayer be set forth, O Lord:
R. As incense in your sight.
Evening Psalms
Light of the World Phos hilaron
Light of the world, in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.
Psalm 134 Ecce nunc
Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Psalm 141:1-3,8ab Domine, clamavi
O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
My eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
in you I take refuge.
God you gave us lights in the sky to help us light our way. Help us to follow the light of Christ and lead us away from darkness and into a new dawn of being.
God you gave us light to help plants grow. Help us be good stewards of all living things and in your Cathedral of life.
God give all of your servants who preach the Word tomorrow that they may be given your holy light to shine the words that they will say and make the "Words become Flesh" Inspire our ears as we hear old and familiar texts.
God give us the warmth of your light to comfort all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.
God give us the warmth of your light to comfort all who mourn and are pre-grieving.
God show us how to Follow Christ's Light and love, Be the lights of love, and give the lights of love to all of our family members who are feeling invisible and marginalized. Help us to be lights of comfort to the least of these.
God show us how to pray when we feel like we are losing your Light. Help us to learn to live as the the living Word your Son Jesus and ask ourselves what He would do when we faced with self doubt.
God bring to light in us those things we need to pray for ourselves and on behalf of our family members remembering especially_________________
God we pray these prayers in the name of your Son Jesus the Christ who brought light to a darkened world. Amen.
Extra Goodies from (Enriching Our Worship and the Book of Common Prayer)
A Song of the Wilderness
Isaiah 35:1-7,10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, *
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, *
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, *
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *
Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *
and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool *
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away
Canticle P
A Song of the Spirit
Revelation 22:12-17
“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.
15 The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen
A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we 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. Amen.
In the Evening
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows
lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is
hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.
Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest,
and peace at the last. Amen
After Worship
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the words which
we have heard this day with our outward ears, may, through
thy grace, be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may
bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor and
praise of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Good Night Dearly loved ones! I love you and give thanks to God for you this day and always. May you all have a blessed and restful night. Take time to stop the Glorification of Busy.
With love, joy, peace, hope, and blessings,
Sara
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