Good Evening Dear Ones!
Happy Self-Saturday! This is a reminder question, What have you done for you today? If you haven't done something maybe you have come to the right place. Last evening I set this weekend's theme as how to be a messenger of God and the God (Good) News? It is simply this, it is love! Love is the language we use! Love is what gives us the courage to do as St. Francis of Assisi said " Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words" Our loving actions show everyone how it is supposed to be done. I keep hearing in my head the old Burt Bacharach and Hal David song in my head "What the world needs now is love!" How many of you remember that song? If not let's have a refresher course!
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It's the only thing
That there's just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No not just for some
But for everyone
Lord, we don't need
Another mountain
There are mountains
And hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans
And rivers enough to cross
Enough to last
'Til the end of time
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It's the only thing
That there's just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No, not just for some
But for everyone
Lord, we don't need
Another meadow
There are cornfields
And wheat fields enough to grow
There are sunbeams
And moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen, lord
If you want to know
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It's the only thing
That there's just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No, not just for some
But for everyone
No, not just for some
Oh, but just for everyone
What the World Needs Now is Love
Everybody sing!
Isn't that simple? Love is the language we use as messengers of God and thGod News! How do we do this ? We care for the least of these, be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) and be living Bibles to a fragile and broken world.
Let us enter into our time of mindfulness:
Let us spend 5 minutes listening to mindfulness music so that we may find rest for our weary bodies, minds, and spirits. Be conscious of your breathing as you inhale and exhale.
Sheep May Safely Graze
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Or this format:
Inhale
Exhale
Let there be peace.
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Peace be still
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Let there be peace on Earth.
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Blessed are the peacemakers
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
May peace prevail upon earth
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Be Still and Know that I am God
Inhale
Exhale
While we light our candles, make,vigil and pray let us listen to this!
Illumination - Peaceful Gregorian Chants - Dan Gibson's Solitude [Full Album]
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 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 of All Kindness, we light our candles for all of our family members around the world who do not have access to food, clothing,shelter, clean water, and medical care. We pray for all of our family members who do not have a home to return to either by natural disaster or war and terrorist acts. We pray for all the many aid agencies that are struggling to meet the needs of our family members where resources are scarce. We pray that we may rise up and help them to seek and find solutions to the scarcity of programs and unmet needs. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world and an end to terror, hatred, bullying and abuse. We pray for each other tonight and as God to heal, help, and console us as we struggle with aspects of daily living. We pray for justice and universal human rights for all. We pray that we may follow Jesus by being CALM(Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful). May we love one another and shine the light of Christ one to another "The Light of Christ in me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" May we all have a restful and blessed rest this night and always.
Psalm 119:97-104
119
Mem Quomodo dilexi!
97 Oh, how I love your law! *
all the day long it is in my mind.
98 Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *
and it is always with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, *
for your decrees are my study.
100 I am wiser than the elders, *
because I observe your commandments.
101 I restrain my feet from every evil way, *
that I may keep your word.
102 I do not shrink from your judgments, *
because you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste! *
they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104 Through your commandments I gain understanding; *
therefore I hate every lying way.
The Song of Mary Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm *
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones *
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things *
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-8
81all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,* helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
A Song of God’s Love
1 John 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, *
for love is of God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, *
for God is Love.
In this the love of God was revealed among us, *
that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through Jesus Christ.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *
and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, *
we ought also to love one another.
For if we love one another, God abides in us, *
and God’s love will be perfected in us
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is* useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
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
Luke 24:44-48
44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah* is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses* of these things.
IN LAK’ECH
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
Luis Valdez
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes praying and pausing in between.
5 When Jesus 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 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.
“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.”
― Teresa of Ávila
O God, who gave us the holy Scriptures for a light to shine upon our path: Grant us, after the example of your servant Jerome, so to learn of you according to your Holy Word, that we may find the light that shines more and more to the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.
A PRAYER OF SAINT JEROME FOR CHRIST'S MERCY
O Lord, show Your mercy to me and gladden my heart. I am like the man on the way to Jericho who was overtaken by robbers, wounded and left for dead. O Good Samaritan, come to my aid. I am like the sheep that went astray. O Good Shepherd, seek me out and bring me home in accord with Your will. Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life and praise You for ever and ever with those who are there. Amen.
God of unity help us to break down the walls that separate us . May we be united as one family under you O God.
God of peace, we pray for peace in our hearts, minds, spirits, and especially in our cities, and in the war torn places in this your fragile and broken world.
God of justice, we pray that everyone may be granted the right to peaceably assemble and protest injustices anywhere.
God of mercy, help us to show mercy to all those who are the least of these and see you in each of their faces. May we reflect love, kindness, mercy, and shine the light of Christ to them.
God of kindness, help us to be kind and not hateful and replace hate for kindness, love, justice, and mercy.
God of all creation, we pray that we may become united with all creation and practice Godly conservation that will please You and heal your planet for the good of all living things. We pray for rain that it will heal all the drought stricken areas of the world and in our state.
God of Healing, Heal all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirit.
May we reach out to them when they cry and ask for help.
God of Comfort, We pray for all those who pre-grieving and sitting vigil at bedside while they wait for their loved ones to transition into the Thin Places. May we offer solace and comfort when needed.
God we pray for all those who are dying and who have died today that they may have or have had a joyful and peaceful journey into the Thin Places.
God of all Gentleness, we pray for the health and safety for all of the little ones your children. We pray that they may be treated as precious treasures and may be cared for tenderly.
God of Forgiveness and mercy we ask forgiveness of all the wrongs that we have done either by omission and commission.
God of Love, may we always be loving and thankful.
God we add our prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others now_____________________
God we lift up these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Or these
God of many names heal this fragile and broken world that you created.
Forgive all of our deeds that lead us to destroy and harm your world O God.
God of many names, take away all bitterness and division that have led us away from you.
Lead us to become the loving and united family you created us to be.
God of many names, we pray for the healing of all our family members who are ill remembering especially___________
Heal our bodies, minds, and spirits also.
God of many names, we pray for all who are dying and who have died. May they have a peaceful transition into the Thin Places.
Help us O God to see death as only the shedding of our mortal bodies into souls of everlasting life.
God of many names, be with all of our faith leaders and communities as they prepare for worship and devotion to you.
May we also prepare our souls and hearts to worship you wherever we may be this Sabbath weekend.
God of many names, we pray for the least of these who are our family members and, who are refugees, victims of human trafficking, abuse, terror, bullying, ---phobias, religious persecution, violence of any kind, and all those who are separated from their family members, nations and cultures by war or economic hardship.
May we see you in them at all times and in all places
God of many names, may we sew seeds of hope, joy, love, and peace and may we be truly united as your family of love.
Let us love one another and be untied as one!
God of many names, we offer our additional prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances to you on behalf ourselves and others especially________________________
God of many names, we offer these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus, our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother, and friend. Amen.
The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of thy 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.
The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always
protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow
the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
(source: from Saint Clare)
++++
Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always! May we love one another and continue to speak in the language of love as messengers of God and spread the God (Good)News.
Love and blessings!
Sara
Resources:
Enriching Our Worship
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Book of Common Prayer
In Lak 'Ech -Luis Valdez
Quote sites for prayers
Metro Lyrics for : What The World Needs Now Is Love
YouTube for Music
Satucket for Lessons and our Saint of the day : St. Jerome
