Good Evening Dear Family of Love,
Happy Take Care Tuesday. We are on day three of our prayer vigils and and time to set our focus on major areas of concern to God and to us all. Yes I believe that God is concerned about his most vulnerable children in the world that God created. Tonight's vigil is dedicated to the most vulnerable. So dear ones, it is time to set your prayer space and ready it for our time of vigil and prayer.
God as we prepare to enter your holy presence may we take this time to be in silence and begin with "The Be Stills"
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
God we light our candles this night with our tender heart homes open in Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy for God's and our most vulnerable family members.
A Smudging Prayer
Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.
We begin our prayers remembering in love and solidarity the people of Standing Rock. We pray for the Water Resisters who are seeking to preserve clean water and sacred lands. We pray for all indigenous peoples around the world who are struggling to survive and preserve their cultural, environmental, and religious heritage.
We pray for the elderly who are in need of compassion and comfort that they may not be forgotten and that with your help O God we may encircle them with a holy prayer quilt of love, warm, and care.
We pray for all our LGBTQIA family members who are yet again facing a time when their human rights and dignity are being threatened. Give us courage to help them and fight with them as allys and also as family members. We pray for universal human rights, acceptance, and equal protection.
We pray for those who are victims of human trafficking and modern day slavery. We pray that we may become abolitionists and have the courage to help lead these our family members out of bondage and fear.
We pray for children who are living in a world they do not understand and need to be protected by loving parents, askable teachers, and safe adults. Give us courage to help them and also be available if they are being bullied and abused.
We pray for refugees who are in need of safety, asylum, and forever homes. Give the governments around the world the courage to bring them in to their countries with open and loving hearts. We remember the Syrian Refugees and all others who are seeking understanding and compassionate sponsors and refugee agencies who will listen and not be prejudicial. We give thanks for Episcopal Migration Ministries and all other resettlement agencies who are helping refugees around the world.
We pray for all immigrants and those who are Dreamers who seek citizenship and compassionate immigration reform. We pray that no family will be separated and that our nation will understand the nature of families and show just empathy.
We pray for all of our Muslim brothers and sisters who are yet again finding themselves victims of people who do not understand their faith and culture. Help us to provide them with necessary love and support. Help us to educate others so that fear may subside and we may all be one family under one creator.
We pray for all who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse. We pray that they may find shelter and support services that will give them care, solace, and the necessary therapies to begin the healing of wounds both physically and emotionally..
We pray for the homeless, the hungry, the ill clad that they may find shelter from the cold tonight and that they may be provided nourishing meals. We pray for all who work in shelters and we also pray that there may be a variety of shelters to meet their needs.
We pray for the widowed and orphans who continue to mourn the losses of family members. We pray that remaining family members may help them in any way that they can and keep loving connections even when times are tough.
We pray for the chronically ill and those who are disabled that they may receive the right medical attention and that they also may receive help from the departments of social services when they need them. We pray for adequate funding so that they may have good quality of life and not have to worry about financial hardship.
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.
The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3–12
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10
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.
For Prophetic Witness in Society
Almighty God, whose prophets taught us righteousness in the care of your poor: By the guidance of your Holy Spirit, grant that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in your sight; through Jesus Christ, our Judge and Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the Nation.
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
For Peace
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Social Justice
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
The Second Song of Isaiah Quaerite Dominum
Isaiah 55:6-11
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; *
call upon him when he draws near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways *
and the evil ones their thoughts;
And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, *
and to our God, for he will richly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, *
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, *
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain and snow fall from the heavens *
and return not again, but water the earth,
Bringing forth life and giving growth, *
seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; *
it will not return to me empty;
But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, *
and prosper in that for which I sent it.
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.
The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
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.
Teach us love, compassion and honor ... that we may heal the Earth and heal each other." - Ojibwe
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Good Night Dear Ones. I love you! May we seek to reach out to the most vulnerable among us and know that we are one family of God and made in God's image and likeness. Thank you for being present during this time of vigil and always.Tomorrow's vigil will be on conserving God's Cathedral of Life.
Peace, love, and God's Blessings!
Sara
Resources available upon request.
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