A Monday Vigil to Entrust ourselves to God throughout the coming week.

Good Evening Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone is being restored from their Monday experience. Today has been one of relaxation, work, and a time of community. I believe that Monday is the perfect time to gather together in a healing circle of love and to entrust ourselves to God throughout the coming week. This vigil will set the tone for the coming week. What does it mean to entrust? 

en·trust
[ənˈtrəst]


VERB
assign the responsibility for doing something to (someone):
"I've been entrusted with the task of getting him safely back"
synonyms: assign to · confer on · bestow on · vest in · consign to · delegate to · depute to · devolve to · give to · grant to · vouchsafe to

put (something) into someone's care or protection:
"you persuade people to entrust their savings to you"
synonyms: hand over · give custody of · turn over · commit · consign · deliver · commend

For our purposes let us use the entire definition for our meditation.  

Questions to ponder today: 

What gifts has God given you?

When you were baptized what did God confer on you?

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Have you handed yourself over to God's care?

Have you emptied yourself and filled the your spirit with God and God's Love?

We see quite a few of the synonyms in books on prayer.  Think of the many phrases that you see in the above definition in the Book of Common Prayer or KJV. You will be surprised as to what you may find. 

Tonight we give ourselves over to God by entrusting ourselves without fear but with faith. So in that spirit let us take time to be one with each other in the healing circle of love. We will be using the lessons from the feast day of Dag Hammarskjöld. Our vigil format continues in the same manner.

For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.

Dag Hammarskjold

Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin.
Let there be peace on Earth
Let there be peace.

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin.
Let there be peace on Earth
Let there be peace.

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin.
Let there be peace on Earth
Let there be peace.

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Each day the first day:
Each day a life.

Dag Hammarskjold

The longest journey is the journey inward.

Dag Hammarskjold

Let us cleanse our hearts and minds from all of the gunk that is clogging up our lives and preventing us from being a united family by praying the smudging prayer.

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.

Let us light our candles and place them in the sand bowl as a symbol of unity and as a family.

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.

God of all love we come together tonight to accept your call to light our candles and pray. We pray this night to be loving towards one another. We pray this night for guidance in how we can best serve you in the world. We pray that we may be more giving of ourselves to others. We pray that we may be able to be hopeful and hope-filled to this fragile and broken world. We pray that we may shine your light and help people out of the dark places they find themselves in. We pray that we may be supportive in what ever decisions people make,  We pray for the least of these who struggle with the day to day issues of living. We pray that everyone will be lovingly included and not excluded and invisible. We pray that we may be peacemakers and children of God. We pray that we may "Strive for justice, and respect the dignity of every human being"* We pray that we may build bridges and tear down walls. We pray for the courage to speak truth to power. We pray for an end to hatred, violence and terror. We pray that we may use our voices not to hurt but to heal. We pray this night that we all may be one and that we may continue to pray for and all places where terror and violence have occurred even when the media fails to report it. May we all be one with those who mourn and stand vigil for the peace of the world and in the places where there is danger. God we lift up these prayers to you with hurting hearts, open hands up lifted, with loving care and voices. Amen.

Let us say together the Mayan Poem In Lak Ech by Luis Valdez

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.

A Prayer of Dag Hammarskjold

A prayer of Dag Hammarskjold (1905 – 1961)

Have mercy
Upon us.
Have mercy
Upon our efforts,
That we
Before thee,
In love and in faith,
Righteousness and humility,
May follow thee,
With self-denial, steadfastness and courage,
And meet thee

In the silence.

Give us
A pure heart
That we may see thee,
A humble heart
That we may hear thee,
A heart of love
That we may serve thee,
A heart of faith
That we may love thee,

Thou
Whom I do not know
But whose I am.

Thou
Whom I do not comprehend
But who hast dedicated me
To my fate.
Thou -

“It is not we who seek the Way, but the Way which seeks us. That is why you are faithful to it, even while you stand waiting, so long as you are prepared, and act the moment you are confronted by its demands.” 
― Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings

Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions.

Dag Hammarskjold

Psalm 16:5-11 

5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.

6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.

8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.

9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.

10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.

11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

The only kind of dignity which is genuine is that which is not diminished by the indifference of others.

Dag Hammarskjold

Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷ Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
   whose trust is the Lord. 
⁸ They shall be like a tree planted by water,
   sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
   and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
   and it does not cease to bear fruit. 

We all have within us a center of stillness surrounded by silence.

Dag Hammarskjold

A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit

Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21

Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors *

a holy people and a blameless race.

She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, *

withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.

To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, *

and led them by a marvelous way;

She was their shelter by day *

and a blaze of stars by night.

She brought them across the Red Sea, *

she led them through mighty waters;

But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *

and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.

And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, *

and praised with one voice your protecting hand;

For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *

and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.

Ezekiel 36:24-28 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

24 I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

You dare your Yes - and experience a meaning...You repeat your Yes - and all things acquire a meaning...When everything has a meaning, how can you live anything but a YES.

Dag Hammarskjold

Romans 6:3-11

3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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.

In the presence of God, nothing stands between Him and us - we are forgiven. But we cannot feel His presence if anything is allowed to stand between ourselves and others.

Dag Hammarskjold

Mark 10:35-45

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36 And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37 And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 38 But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ 39 They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

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.

In a dream I walked with God through the deep places of creation; past walls that receded and gates that opened through hall after hall of silence, darkness and refreshment--the dwelling place of souls acquainted with light and warmth--until, around me, was an infinity into which we all flowed together and lived anew, like the rings made by raindrops falling upon wide expanses of calm dark waters.

Dag Hammarskjold

A Prayer of Self-Dedication

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so

guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our

wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto

thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always

to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ. 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.

Almighty God who exalted your humble Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords: Kindle within the hearts of the leaders of this world a yearning for peace with justice as you did within your servant Dag Hammarskjöld and, following his good example, ever guide our feet into the way of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness; 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.

You who are over us,
You who are one of us,
You who are also within us,
May all see you-in me also.
May I prepare the way for you,
May I thank you for all
that shall fall to my lot,
May I also not forget the needs of others.
Give me a pure heart-that I may see you.
A humble heart-that I may hear you,
A heart of love-that I may serve you,
A heart of faith-that I may abide in you. Amen.

- Dag Hammarskjøld

One who has surrendered to it knows the way ends on the Cross – even when it is leading through the jubilation of Gennesaret or the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Dag Hammarskjold

Prayers that calm and renew

God we pray this night for all who are restless and their nerves that are shaken. 
Calm our nerves, minds, and spirits God.

God we pray for peace in this your broken world.
Calm our fears, banish hate and let us sew seeds of love and mercy to those whom we fear and hate.

God we pray for all those who have entered into hospice care and are in transition.
Calm their fears and those of their loved ones as they vigil and sit at bedside. We pray for a gentle and peaceful transitioning.

God  we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing.
Give us a sense of calm while we wait for your healing O God.

God give us courage when we make mistakes and admit our wrong doing.
Calm our fears and make us strong as we meet the bumps in the road and along our life's journey.

God we pray for our nation as it goes through many trials and tribulations.
Calm our unnecessary fears and banish all of our phobias, hate, and mistrust.

God we pray for a restful and peaceful night and that we may be rested, relaxed, renewed, and refreshed. 
Give us Calm bodies, minds, and spirits as we rest.

God we pray for all those who ask us for prayer remembering especially__________________ and for ourselves._____________.
Give us calm while we pray.

God we  pray for rain in the drought parched lands. Help us to conserve water and be diligent in conservation of our environment. 

God we pray for all the leaders of the nations around the world that need to feel the power of your love and remember they are ambassadors for peace and that they do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O god and that they may turn their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning  hooks and that they may never learn war anymore. 
Calm all this extremism and warring madness. 

God we pray for all who lead the various faith communities and the people with whom they minister. Calm our fears when we meet  other family members of God  from other faiths that we may show our love and compassion to them.

God we pray this night for all the least of  these. Keep them safe from harm. 
Calm their fears in the night hours and may they feel your loving and protective arms around them.

Calm us O God That we may be renewed by your loving presence that we may use the presents you have given us in the presence and service of others. 

God we lift up these prayers in the name of your only Son Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Prayers for the Tender Souls

Let us pray


We pray this night for our mental health professionals and all of our mentally ill family members who have fallen through the cracks.

We pray for better early interventions for those with mental illnesses and that everyone will be able to listen for their unspoken cries for help. 

We pray for the marginalized who feel outcast. May we lovingly bring them into the circle and show them how You love us.

We pray for all of our Family members who have PTSD that they may receive care and the necessary services that will help them prosper and live productive lives.

We pray for our homeless family members who live outdoors. We pray that there may be adequate shelters and a variety of places to live that will meet their needs. We pray that we may be sensitive to their needs when we see them as we walk, shop, and are in our cars. 

We pray for the safety of all the vulnerable members of our society.

We pray for better gun laws that will both protect our family members in our community and the persons who aren't suitable gun owners.

We pray that all churches may be truly sanctuaries for everyone and that there won't be a litmus test required to belong. We pray that all faith leaders will give the least of these the the security and feeling that they are loved, accepted, and that their dignity is respected regardless of who they are. Help everyone know who they are and whose they are!

We pray that there may be social service ministries in our urban centers that are non-threatening and available 24/7/365. May we be guided to think outside the box and minister to our family members who need these services.

We pray for compassionate immigration reform and that families may be kept together.

We pray for all of our medical professionals who work in the ER this night and those who work in the Mortuary and Hospice ministries.

We pray for an end to violence against women and children.

God be with the communities of New York, Minnesota, and Kashmir and all places where violence has occurred. In the silence remember the places that come to mind and pray for survivors and those who have lost their lives.

God help us to be better at listening, watching, and being family to those who are different that ourselves.
May we see you in their eyes and love them as you love us. 

God we lift up these our prayers and the prayers that we have been requested to pray this day to you !

Additional prayers and vigils if needed:

Now let us light our candles and settle into our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigils: Tonight let us pray for the leaders of our country and that we may learn to love one another no matter who we are and where we are from. Let us pray that we may have Love Energy to carry God's Good News of Love to all the world. Let us light our candles and be at prayer.

Holy God,as we pray and light more candles let us pray that we may truly and fully become the loving Family of God. God we know that it is time. We know that this journey into family hood won't be easy but we must take time to lay down our, rage, fear, anger, suspicion, hatred, bigotry, terror, and all that seeks to divide us. Give us we pray courage to learn to love one another as Jesus first loved us. Help us we pray to realize that we are one family and that whatever our race, color, creed, gender, and sexual orientation may be we are made in your image and likeness O, God. Tonight we pray for safety in our cities, towns, counties, states, and nations. We pray for all of our family members nearby and far away who have been affected by violence, abuse, bullying, and degradation this day. We pray for their safety and that you'll wrap your loving and holy arms of protection around them. We pray for the least of these who lack clean water, safe and permanent shelter, nourishing food, and warm clothing. Help us to walk the walk and talk the talk and spread your Gospel of Love to this fragile and broken world. Let us be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) people this night and forever more. Amen.

Let us pray that we all may be well and healthy in body, mind and spirit!


God and giver of life and health return our bodies, minds, and spirits to wholeness and may we be healed of any and all illness.
May we all be well and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

God and giver of life and health return our country and the nations of the world to the state of peace and unity so that we all may be one with you O God.
May we all be well and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

God and giver of life and health we pray for all who are our most vulnerable family members who are homeless, hungry, and ill-clad. We pray that they may be safe from the elements tonight.
May we all be all be well and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

God and giver of life and health we pray for all who are dying and who have died this day that they leave this world in joy, warmth, and in your loving and sustaining arms.
May we all see death as the return to our souls to the stars and Thin Places. and be truly well and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

God and giver of life and health we pray especially for_________________________
Mat we all be well and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

God and giver of life and health we pray and give thanks for your Love and mercy that sustains us each nano-second that we live, move

God and give of life and health sustain and give respite to all caregivers that they may not be afflicted with great stress and illness.
May we all be well and healthy, in body, mind, and spirit.

Jesus as you are the Great and Glorious Physician we offer these our prayers in your most holy name. 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)

Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to

generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.

Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

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Good Night Dear Brothers and Sisters! Lots of love and gratitude from me to you!

Have a blessed night and early morning whenever you read this.

Peace, love, prayers, and God's blessings!

Sara

Resources:

Satucket for Lessons and Saint of the Day : Dag Hammarskjöld

Metis Aboriginal Ministries

Enriching our Worship 

Book of Common Prayer

Quote Sites for Dag Hammarskjold

Bible Gate Way

Walk With Me On Our Journey

In Lak Ech - Luis Valdez