Good Evening Beloved Community.
This is the last Friday of 2017 ! Can you believe it? I don't. This morning I learned of the death of a dear friend and sister the Rev. Zelda Kennedy. She helped me put the spark and emphases on my call within social justice and the resistance. All of us who have had cancer are part of this family that we didn't expect to be a part of let alone join. But we are. This night we continue to hold vigil for all members of our cancer family who have died during this holiday season and hold in our hearts our departed family members who now reside in the Thin Places. That being said, we are also going into our final online retreat of the year. Our theme is letting go of the old and inviting in the new. This is a time where I would suggest we do a few de-cluttering projects to get ready. Choosing the lessons for this vigil has been a challenge. Since Zelda was committed to social justice, those are the lessons we will use this evening.
First let us do our Worry Free Sabbath work and get out our Jars, journals, and boxes and place what ever is troubling you and making you mad in them and let them go.
Let us engage in our centering exercises:
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause
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.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause
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.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Pause
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.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth. John 1:14
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
Sacred Activism is the fusion of the mystic's passion for God with the activist's passion for justice, creating a third fire, which is the burning sacred heart that longs to help, preserve, and nurture every living thing.
Andrew Harvey
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries, but the song of social justice.
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
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
We continue to hold sacred space for all who mourn in this healing circle of love: We continue to remember and as in the African Proverb:
"IF YOU SPEAK MY NAME, I WILL LIVE FOREVER."
We speak theses names before you this night: Zelda, Jennifer, Leann, Joy, and all others whom we name before you now.
Help us to remember this as we pray and make vigil tonight:
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
Let us prepare to let go and let God as we put away this year and look towards the next, by praying this 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.
Psalm 72
1 Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King’s Son;
2 That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice;
3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.
7 In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall
be no more.
8 He shall rule from sea to sea, *
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 His foes shall bow down before him, *
and his enemies lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11 All kings shall bow down before him, *
and all the nations do him service.
12 For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
and the oppressed who has no helper.
13 He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; *
may prayer be made for him always,
and may they bless him all the day long.
16 May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
growing thick even on the hilltops; *
may its fruit flourish like Lebanon
and its grain like grass upon the earth.
17 May his Name remain for ever
and be established as long as the sun endures; *
may all the nations bless themselves in him and
call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, *
who alone does wondrous deeds!
19 And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! *
and may all the earth be filled with his glory.
Amen. Amen.
Isaiah 42:1-7
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon
him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness
A Song of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:24-28
I will take you from among all nations; *
and gather you from all lands to bring you home.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *
and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.
A new heart I will give you *
and a new spirit put within you.
I will take the stone heart from your chest *
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will help you walk in my laws *
and cherish my commandments and do them.
You shall be my people, *
and I will be your God.
James 2:5-9, 12-17
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith
and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored
the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who
blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
A Song of Christ’s Goodness
Anselm of Canterbury
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you; *
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride, *
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds, *
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life; *
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; *
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead, *
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us; *
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness, *
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.
Matthew 10:32-42
Jesus said, “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
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.
To make a creative contribution to this world
O God, we thank you for the lives of great saints and prophets in the past, who have revealed to us that we can stand up amid the problems and difficulties and trials of life and not give in. We thank you for our foreparents, who've given us something in the midst of the darkness of exploitation and oppression to keep going. Grant that we will go on with the proper faith and the proper determination of will, so that we will be able to make a creative contribution to this world. In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. - Martin Luther King Jr.
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.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] 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[b] 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.
O God our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the
angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in
danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and
grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and
serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Christ Has No Body. Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks. Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. - Teresa of Avila
God of unchangeable power, when you fashioned the world the
morning stars sang together and the host of heaven shouted for
joy; open our eyes to the wonders of creation and teach us
to use all things for good, to the honor of your glorious name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(source: A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 569)
Increase the number of persons of good will and moral sensitivity.
O God, make us willing to do your will, come what may. Increase the number of persons of good will and moral sensitivity. Give us renewed confidence in nonviolence and the way of love as taught by Christ. Amen.
Martin Luther King Jr.
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.
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.
Holy God we come before you this night with many things on our heart and minds.
We ask that you be with us as we pray for ourselves and others.
We pray in remembrance of those who have entered the Thin Places and for all who mourn especially_____________
We pray for all those who are receiving hospice care and who are dying. We pray for our family members,hospice workers, clergy, and friends who sit vigil at bedside.
We pray for all refugees who are seeking asylum in any country. . Help us to be welcoming to all refugees where ever they may come from Help us to fine tune our thinking and recognize that our family members who may be illegal immigrants may be actually refugees. Help us to see them as The Least of These.
We pray for all who are ill and have chronic illnesses and pain. That they may be healed, comforted, and that their suffering will be relieved.
We pray that there may be peace in this world ant that we may be united in love as Your Family O, God.
We pray for all our most vulnerable family members who are in need of shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and a comforting and compassionate ear and soft place to fall.
We pray for the stranger, resident alien, and all of our family members whom we have yet to meet. May we be welcoming, loving, and compassionate.
God settle our bodies, minds, and spirits as we take our rest tonight. Be with those who have asked us to pray especially____________ heal, relieve, comfort and may they feel your abiding love and presence.
All this we ask in Jesus Most Holy Name. Amen.
Or these
Let us be at prayer for all our family members who are caregivers and those receiving care.
Gracious God you are the chief caregiver of us all be with all those who are caring for your children. Give them courage each day as they face the many challenges of caring for their loved ones.
Gracious God we thank you that we have been adopted as your children so that we may help care for the least of these and as we do so realize ever so fully that we are your Family of Love.
Gracious God we pray for our family members who are receiving care may they be able to accept help and learn to let go and let others lend a hand without feeling guilty our bearing a grudge.
Gracious God we pray that as caregivers and care receivers we may have empathy for one another.
Gracious God we pray for peace in the world and may we become caregivers who are also peacemakers.
Gracious God we pray for an end to violence of any kind may we start to care and have our heart homes tenderized and not hardened by these senseless acts.
Gracious God we pray our caregiver list and ask for prayers for ourselves and on behalf of our family members who have requested our prayers especially_____________________
Gracious God we continue to pray for Those who are homeless and without shelter on these cold nights, all who are traveling, those who are healing from surgery, and all those who are afraid to ask for our love and prayer support.
We ask these our prayers in the name of Jesus who taught us how to care in words, deeds, and love Jesus we thank you for teaching us that you meant all means all and not some. That everyone was included in your saving embrace on the cross. That you continue to show us the right pathways in which to be caregivers on to another by the example of the Good Samaritan and the Woman with the Alabaster Jar. In Your most holy name. Amen
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his
sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Hebrews 13:20-21
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. 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.
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)
Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his
sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Hebrews 13:20-21
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. 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.
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)
Current Blogs for Prayers and Vigils:
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Good Night Beloved Community! May we rest secure in the knowledge that God is with us and in us and God's love for us is something we can count on no matter what. I love you.
With love, gratitude, and compassionate heart,
Sara
Here is a bonus reflection:
A Reflection:
Today I was thinking and remembering the countless members of our extended Cancer family members, those who have survived and those who have gone before us to prepare a place at the great eternal survivor banquet that is awaiting us.The term cancer survivor implies being cancer free but to me it implies all of us from the time of diagnosis to the end of our lives and beyond no matter what your cancer status is. When we are diagnosed or our a family member is diagnosed we all have cancer. Yes, we all have cancer the disease in all its wretched forms affects everyone. Cancer affected my family from the time I was six years old when my dad was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to go down to Santa Barbara every day for cobalt treatment. He would get up go to work at Guadalupe Hardware, take time off and drive to Santa Barbara for treatment, return to work and come home to my mother and 4 children ages 6 through 16 years old. Cancer was brutal on us and also my dad did suffer from depression too and panic attacks that mom had to cope with. Cancer reared its ugly head in 1981 when mom was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her leg due to excessive sun worshiping. Not an easy time because I was getting ready for Cal Poly. That was the easy cancer. All bets were off in 1997 when my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to have surgery along with radiation and chemotherapy that was suspended due to her ever weakening condition that she rallied and survived. In the fall of 1997 my sister Margaret was diagnosed with metastatic cancer 10 days before her death on Christmas Eve. Strangely and sadly my mother predicted her death. That was immediate family in about 2007 Steve's mom Eileen was diagnosed with dual cancers breast and colon and I got to be her companion when she was at radiation until she lost strength. She died in 2008 with Michael Cunningham and I at her side. Steve wasn't able to sit vigil. Later that year Steve received his diagnosis of verrucous cell carcinoma a strange form of squamous cell carcinoma. The lesions look like cauliflower he survived rounds of radiation and chemo until his body couldn't handle it anymore and on August 19, 2012 he died. As a caregiver for my dad and Steve it struck me that I hadn't been as proactive in my self-care and had my screening tests updated and did the dreaded colonoscopy and that is when I found out I had colon cancer early in 2014 and then my journey began. I am still cancer free but have a few glitches in my system to get control of. Through these journeys I learned that we all are family. We cry happy tears when bells are rung after chemo and radiation are completed by any cancer family member and when we ourselves are serenaded with "Happy Last Chemo" and the Line Dance is done around the Chemo Suite. We also cry tears of sadness when our cancer family members lose their battle and enter into eternal life. While holding vigil for those who survive and those who are transitioning into the thin places. I don't know why I'm telling you this, probably due to the fact I'm getting ready to write my story of Hope for the Day of Hope Magazine. Remember dear ones we are all in this together. We hold sacred vigil for the living, surviving, transitioning, and those who have valiantly gone on before us. Love to all! Don't forget to get your check ups! Sara
Today I was thinking and remembering the countless members of our extended Cancer family members, those who have survived and those who have gone before us to prepare a place at the great eternal survivor banquet that is awaiting us.The term cancer survivor implies being cancer free but to me it implies all of us from the time of diagnosis to the end of our lives and beyond no matter what your cancer status is. When we are diagnosed or our a family member is diagnosed we all have cancer. Yes, we all have cancer the disease in all its wretched forms affects everyone. Cancer affected my family from the time I was six years old when my dad was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to go down to Santa Barbara every day for cobalt treatment. He would get up go to work at Guadalupe Hardware, take time off and drive to Santa Barbara for treatment, return to work and come home to my mother and 4 children ages 6 through 16 years old. Cancer was brutal on us and also my dad did suffer from depression too and panic attacks that mom had to cope with. Cancer reared its ugly head in 1981 when mom was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her leg due to excessive sun worshiping. Not an easy time because I was getting ready for Cal Poly. That was the easy cancer. All bets were off in 1997 when my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to have surgery along with radiation and chemotherapy that was suspended due to her ever weakening condition that she rallied and survived. In the fall of 1997 my sister Margaret was diagnosed with metastatic cancer 10 days before her death on Christmas Eve. Strangely and sadly my mother predicted her death. That was immediate family in about 2007 Steve's mom Eileen was diagnosed with dual cancers breast and colon and I got to be her companion when she was at radiation until she lost strength. She died in 2008 with Michael Cunningham and I at her side. Steve wasn't able to sit vigil. Later that year Steve received his diagnosis of verrucous cell carcinoma a strange form of squamous cell carcinoma. The lesions look like cauliflower he survived rounds of radiation and chemo until his body couldn't handle it anymore and on August 19, 2012 he died. As a caregiver for my dad and Steve it struck me that I hadn't been as proactive in my self-care and had my screening tests updated and did the dreaded colonoscopy and that is when I found out I had colon cancer early in 2014 and then my journey began. I am still cancer free but have a few glitches in my system to get control of. Through these journeys I learned that we all are family. We cry happy tears when bells are rung after chemo and radiation are completed by any cancer family member and when we ourselves are serenaded with "Happy Last Chemo" and the Line Dance is done around the Chemo Suite. We also cry tears of sadness when our cancer family members lose their battle and enter into eternal life. While holding vigil for those who survive and those who are transitioning into the thin places. I don't know why I'm telling you this, probably due to the fact I'm getting ready to write my story of Hope for the Day of Hope Magazine. Remember dear ones we are all in this together. We hold sacred vigil for the living, surviving, transitioning, and those who have valiantly gone on before us. Love to all! Don't forget to get your check ups! Sara
Resources:
Satucket -Lectionary Page
BCPONLINE
Enriching Our Worship
Various Occasions
New Zealand Prayer Book.
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
In Lak Ech- Luis Valdez
Guideposts - Prayers of Martin Luther King Jr.
Walk With Me On Our Journey
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