Friday, September 29, 2017

Come together into the healing circle of love and rest. Celebrating the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels!




Good Evening Dear Family!

Happy Friday! Here we are on retreat and our time of  Sabbath rest and self care. We are here in the healing circle of love and rest. We are where God is calling us to be. Sometimes that isn't easy to see but all we need to do is to stop, look, and listen to what God is saying to us through God's words and the deeds of others. God speaks to us wherever we are every nano-second of the day. It is time to come together in God's presence and in this virtual but real presence as a family who are interconnected as children of God. Tonight's theme is filled with angels and the lessons for the  feast day of St. Michael and all Angels. 


Let us spend 10 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.

10 minute mindfulness music

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.



Before we light our candles and make vigil let us listen to this.

Calling All Angels


Their sound has gone out into all lands, * alleluia, alleluia.
Their sound has gone out into all lands, alleluia, alleluia.
And their message to the ends of the world:
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Their sound has gone out into all lands, alleluia, alleluia.


V. Let the righteous rejoice, alleluia:
R. In the presence of God, alleluia.




Image result for angel candle


Holy God you sent angels to be messengers of hope, health, healing and good news to all who need it, may we become angels and messengers in human form so that this world may know you, your love, and the gifts you bring to us through the voices and actions of many. Help us we pray as we answer your call to be daily messengers of Good News as we respond in the words of this mini litany. 

Will you be an angel in human form to help bring peace to this hurting world?
I will with God's help.

Will you be an angel in human form spreading the Good news daily in both words and deeds?
I will with God's help.

Will you be an angel in human form comforting and loving  our enemies when they need it the most?
I will with God's help.

Will you  be an angel in human form seeking to be peace makers and children of God?
I will with God's help.

Will you seek to be a messenger of hope?
Yes, Loving and hope bearing God, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .


Will you seek to be a messenger of love?
Yes, Loving God who is Love, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .


Will you seek to be a messenger of joy?
Yes, Loving God and bringer of Joy, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .


Will you seek to be a messenger of comfort?
Yes, Loving God and Holy Comforter ,every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .


Will you seek to be a messenger crying out for Justice, mercy and unity?
Yes, Loving God of Justice, mercy, and unity, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .


Will you seek to be a messenger of healing and voice for the voiceless and marginalized?
Yes, Loving God and healer of us all, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you .

Will you strive to do these things for God and our family members?
Yes, Loving God, every day that I live, move, and just be! May my words and deeds be loving reflections of you and to our family members throughout the world. 



150 Laudate Dominum
1 Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy temple; *
praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *
praise him for his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *
Praise him with lyre and harp.

4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; *
praise him with strings and pipe.

5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; *
praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath *
praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!



Daniel 12:1-3

12‘At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth* shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky,* and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

104 Benedic, anima mea

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.

2 You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.

3 You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind.

4 You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.

5 You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.

6 You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.

7 At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

8 They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.

9 You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.

10 You send the springs into the valleys; *
they flow between the mountains.

11 All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.

13 You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.

14 You make grass grow for flocks and herds *
and plants to serve mankind;

15 That they may bring forth food from the earth, *
and wine to gladden our hearts,

16 Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *
and bread to strengthen the heart.

17 The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,

18 In which the birds build their nests, *
and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.

19 The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *
and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.

20 You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time of its setting.

21 You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

22 The lions roar after their prey *
and seek their food from God.

23 The sun rises, and they slip away *
and lay themselves down in their dens.

24 Man goes forth to his work *
and to his labor until the evening.

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

36 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *
and the wicked be no more.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!



2 Kings 6:8-17

8 Once when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took counsel with his officers. He said, ‘At such and such a place shall be my camp.’9But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, ‘Take care not to pass this place, because the Arameans are going down there.’ 10The king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God spoke. More than once or twice he warned such a place* so that it was on the alert.

11 The mind of the king of Aram was greatly perturbed because of this; he called his officers and said to them, ‘Now tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?’ 12Then one of his officers said, ‘No one, my lord king. It is Elisha, the prophet in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber.’ 13He said, ‘Go and find where he is; I will send and seize him.’ He was told, ‘He is in Dothan.’ 14So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night, and surrounded the city.

15 When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, ‘Alas, master! What shall we do?’ 16 He replied, ‘Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.’ 17 Then Elisha prayed: ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.


Revelation 5:1-14

5Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed* with seven seals; 2and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9They sing a new song:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
   saints from* every tribe and language and people and nation; 
10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving* our God,
   and they will reign on earth.’

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice,
‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honour and glory and blessing!’ 
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might
for ever and ever!’ 
14 And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped. 

34 Benedicam Dominum

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

2 I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.

3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.

5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.

6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.

11 Come, children, and listen to me; *
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Who among you loves life *
and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?

13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
and your lips from lying words.

14 Turn from evil and do good; *
seek peace and pursue it.
 

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, *
and his ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
and delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those whose spirits are crushed.

19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.

20 He will keep safe all his bones; *
not one of them shall be broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.



Mark 13:21-27

21And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!”* or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it. 22False messiahs* and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23But be alert; I have already told you everything.
24 ‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
   and the moon will not give its light, 
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 
26 Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

An Alternate set of lessons are here:

Genesis 28:10-17


10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went towards Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder* set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the Lord stood beside him* and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed* in you and in your offspring. 15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ 16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’ 17 And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’

Revelation 12:7-12

7 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
   and the kingdom of our God
   and the authority of his Messiah,*
for the accuser of our comrades* has been thrown down,
   who accuses them day and night before our God. 
11 But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
   and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. 
12 Rejoice then, you heavens
   and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
   for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,

   because he knows that his time is short


John 1:47-51


47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ 48 Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ 49 Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ 50 Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ 51 And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you,* you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’


Today I reprise a Portion of a Blog 3 years ago in remembrance of Ferguson.


I posted this on Facebook in response: 

Good afternoon dear family ! It seems as though I'm on rest detail today. That means feet up and sleeping. I hate this especially on Monday. But this too shall pass. Please keep all those who have to go to work tired and energy zapped. Keep Ferguson in prayers and all the war torn areas of the world and that includes our own country. We may not like to think of our country as war torn, but it is. We are a divided country because we do not know how to lay down our weaponry of hate, division, sharp tongues, and the lack of respect and dignity of every family member and resident in this country and the world. We must do this now for the good of all! We must be loving and accepting of all no matter what. God calls us each and every moment we live to be one family not many! When God means all God Means all and not some. Please think and pray on this. 

I feel that it is vitally important for all of us to do this now more than ever ! I guess that I'm channeling St. Michael and All Angels and learning to be a messenger of and for hope ,love, peace and inclusion.You wouldn't have known this since I was in Jammie mode today. I remembered that God calls us to do things wherever we are  even when we are in our Jammies!

Tonight let us meditate what it means to be a messenger of peace, love, hope, and inclusion of all. Remember God means all and not some! We do not get to play pick and choose. Everyone gets to play and be a part of God's Family and is Forgiven all their Sins, Let us take time to go to the center and find peace and learn from the peacemaker of all God and hear what God is saying to us this night. 

Tonight's meditative music is this:Johann Pachelbel Chamber Works, London Baroque or this Pachelbel Canon in D one hour version

Holy and merciful God our hearts continue to be heavy with all the saddening and troubling  events around your broken and fragile world. May we lean on you and seek your encircling and  comforting mercy, peace, and love.

We pray this night for all troubled cities around the world remembering especially Ferguson and Hong Kong. We pray for peace and that all of our family members may be safe and that all this rancor and violence may cease.

We pray for all children who are sick and in the hospital and receiving treatments. We pray also for their parents and the medical teams who care for them.

We pray that we may continue to lay down our burdens, worries, and anxieties and anything else that  prevents us from being at peace in body, mind, and spirit. 

We pray for all who are near and dear to us and especially those who are on our prayer hearts tonight and  on the prayer hearts of our extended family members.

We pray that  we may become messengers of  God's Good News and that we may be lights of the Gospel to all those who do not know it and to those who may have forgotten what God's Gospel message means.

We pray that we may find our voices to speak truth to power and of the many injustices in our land and around the world. 

We pray today for all who are dying and have entered into Heavenly Joy.

We pray for all who are homeless, hungry, refugees, captives, victims of human trafficking, victims of war in our country and around the world, those who seek equality and inclusion, those who long to be able to seek safety from those who hate,harm, bully, and make them feel invisible and insecure.


Gracious God we remember today St. Michael and all Angels with this prayer from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.


Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gracious and loving God we offer these our prayers in the name of Your only Son Jesus. Amen.



“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


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)

The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" 
I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditaion. 

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

Our closing hymns and music!
Take time to listen to the following songs as part of  our meditation time: 

Christ the Fair Glory of the Holy Angels (Lyrics are below the video)

1 Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
maker of all things, ruler of all nations,
grant of thy mercy unto us thy servants
steps up to heaven.

2 Send thine archangel Michael to our succour;
peacemaker blessed, may he banish from us
striving and hatred, so that for the peaceful
all things may prosper.

3 Send thine archangel Gabriel, the mighty;
herald of heaven, may he, from us mortals,
drive every evil, watching o'er the temples
where thou art worshiped.

4 Send from the heavens Raphael thine archangel,
health-bringer blessed, aiding every sufferer,
that, in thy service, he may wisely guide us,
healing and blessing.

5 May the blest mother of our God and Saviour,
may the celestial companies of angels, 
may the assembly of the saints in heaven
help us to praise thee.

6 Father Almighty, Son, and Holy Spirit,
God ever blessèd, hear our thankful praises;
thine is the glory which from all creation
ever ascendeth.


Michaelmas Mix 
+++++++
Good Night Dear Family and Messengers of Hope, Love, and Peace! I love you! Our retreat theme this weekend will be focusing on how to be God's messengers of the God or Good News. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always. 
With love and blessings!
Sara

Resources:
YouTube for Music
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Book Of Occasional Services
Enriching Our Worship
Quote sites for prayers
Satucket Lectionary Page for Lessons and today's Saint of the Day: St. Michael and All Angels
In Lak' Ech - Luis Valdez


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