Respecting our origins!

Good Evening Beloved Community,

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is ready for the 3 day weekend and our first online Lenten Retreat time of 2018.  Last evening I attended the Democratic Club Meeting and the speaker was Simone Baker of Black Lives Matter. She introduced herself and honored her African- American Roots and her forebears. In today's Good Book Selection Luke honors Jesus' patriarchal lineage after Jesus' baptism  by John the Baptist. I at first was shocked but then I realized that was exactly what Simone Baker did last evening. Where did we come from? What are our origins? Family trees do take us back to Lucy in the Olduvai Gorge and to God's very Creation when God made everything. Why is this important? It creates a place where we all need to respect one another because we are all one body and a  big Pando Tree where we are connected through and through. What is a Pando Tree you ask? Well here is a picture:

This is a good example of being We not Me. This morning I went over to the Democratic Headquarters to get things ready for Black History Month and saw a picture of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and it spoke of many things as well. Those of us who were baptized in the Episcopal Church promise to "Strive for Justice and Peace and respect the dignity of every human being"  Again it is all about respect, dignity, and love or being CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful). 

A visual of this might be of help.

Where does that lead us tonight? Into prayer time, study, meditation  in a sacred circle of healing and love where we hold space for one another where we respect one another as the beautifully created child God made in God's image and likeness. ( Sorry for the Pauline long-windedness) :) .

As we begin this precious time let us light our candles for those who grieve in Parkland Florida and the Victims of the earthquake in Oaxaca Mexico. 

Dear Ones Let us take time for our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Tonight let us pray that we may not be tempted to be led into hatred ,bigotry,division, and all that separates us from our family members. Let us pray to find strength in God's love to put on the mantle of Love and shine and show God's light to the world. We pray for all who are ill and in any kind of struggle. Let us pray in the word's Jesus taught us in either the traditional or contemporary form:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name, 
thy kingdom come, 
thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive those 
who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, 
for ever and ever. Amen

Or this
Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your Name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those 
who sin against us. 
Save us from the time of trial, 
and deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours, 
now and for ever. Amen.

Take time to meditate, reflect upon these passages fromJohn 

God is Love

1 John 4: 16

So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

1 John 4:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 3:16 

1 John 4: 9,10

⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17

John 1:12-13 

12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

Today's snippet for meditation and reflection.

1 John 4:18 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

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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. 

Part of reading this Gospel from Luke , will be to do our own family tree as best we can this weekend. How far can you go? Who holds the lore and genealogy in your family? These exercises will help us respect our origins. 

Let us begin.

A Song of Our Adoption

Ephesians 1:3-10

Blessed are you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, * for you have blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Before the world was made, you chose us to be yours in Christ, * that we should be holy and blameless before you.

You destined us for adoption as your children through Jesus Christ, *according to the good pleasure of your will, 

To the praise of your glorious grace, *that you have freely given us in the Beloved.

In you, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, 

According to the riches of your grace * which you have lavished upon us.

You have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight, *the  mystery of your will,

According to your good pleasure which you set forth in Christ, *as a plan for the fullness of time,

To gather together all things in Christ, *things in heaven and things on earth. 

Luke 3.21-38

 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ 

 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. 

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. 

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. 

Now let us read the 4th chapter of 1 John in its entirety to place what we have prayed into context.

1 John 4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. ⁴ Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

God Is Love

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. ¹⁶ So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. ¹⁹ We love^[b] because he first loved us. ²⁰ Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters,^[c] are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister^[d] whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. ²¹ The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters^[e] also.

***

For the Human Family
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.


For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. 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.

Let us remember and pray the words of 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 

CALM Prayers

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy drive far from us all temptations that keep us from you and serving the least of these.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we thank you for times in the wilderness so that we may be more fully united with you and spend time hearing your still small voice.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy, we pray for peace in our hearts and in this world.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy may we be united as one in your big wonderful and loving family.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we pray for all who are ill and suffering. May we lovingly respond to their needs and not be tempted to turn away.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we pray for all who are in mourning of any kind of loss.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we pray for all refugees captives victims of human trafficking bullying and abuse.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we give thanks for the rich diversity of cultures faiths and peoples.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we pray for all who have been on any kind of retreat or travel that now leads them back of the mountaintop experience into new life.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we pray for an end to injustice and inequality. We pray for universal human rights and that we may become the voice of the voiceless and let justice roll down.

God of all compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy we add our own prayers and thanksgivings________________ and lay them in the loving arms of your son Jesus. Amen

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) 

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Good Night Beloved Community! I love you! Have a blessed rest and take time for yourselves as we enter this period of self-care and Sabbath rest. Remember we get a 3 day weekend to do this.

Peace, Love, and Blessings,

Sara

Resources:

Oremus Bible Browser

Enriching Our Worship

In Lak' Ech - Luis Valdez

Book of Common Prayer

The Good Book Club

Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John

Walk With Me On Our Journey

The Bible Gateway