Countdown to Lent 2019! 1 more days until Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday)2 more days until Ash Wednesday! Have you decided upon your Lenten discipline yet? Take your time there isn't any rush!This isn't like making New Year's resolutions!
Good Evening Dear Family!
Happy Monday before Lent begins! I am sorry I didn't blog yesterday as I was doing the yucky but necessary prep for my colonoscopy that I had today. Good news! It looks like I am indeed 5 years cancer free. Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of my cancer diagnosis! I cannot believe it. Tonight we take time to appreciate God's gifts both great and small and begin to do a pre-Lenten settle in. Not a lot of words because, I'm tired and recovering from today's procedure. So let us begin with the "Be stills"
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.
Ponderings!
"Being human means throwing your whole life on the scales of destiny when need be, all the while rejoicing in every sunny day and every beautiful cloud." ~ Rosa Luxemburg
"You are free. You are powerful. You are good. You are love. You have value. You have purpose. All is well." ~ Esther Hicks
"Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them." ~ Shakti Gawain
"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." ~ C. S. Lewis
"Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you - all of the expectations, all of the beliefs - and becoming who you are." ~ Rachel Naomi Remen
"Healing yourself is connected with healing others." ~ Yoko Ono
"the life of Jesus recapitulates key elements in the earlier story of Israel. For a moment, as Jesus stands on the mountain giving the famous sermon, he is Moses. For a moment, answering his critics about his actions on the sabbath, he is David. For a moment, as he calls and names the twelve disciples, he is perhaps Jacob, bringing the twelve patriarchs into the world. For a moment, healing the sick and raising the dead, he is Elijah or Elisha. And so on. In the transfiguration he actually meets Moses and Elijah." ~ N. T. Wright
"Jesus, in His earth walk, was the will of God in action. If you want to know what God thinks about sickness - look at Jesus! He went about healing the sick!" ~ Kenneth E. Hagin
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Come let us worship:
You Lord are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name. Leave us not.Jeremiah 14:9
THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
Lest we forget the great traditions of freedom and faith which are the heritage of humanity; lest we forget the pioneers, the statesmen, the bridge builders, the artists; and lest we forget You, the God of our fore bears who is our God also:
We light this candle of remembrance.
For the hope of a better world, in which righteousness and peace shall prevail among the people of the earth, and to create which is the task of the generations in which we stand, as well as for the courage and faith we shall need if we are to carry on this unfinished work:
We light this candle of consecration.
May the flame upon the altar of free faith shine in our hearts al ways, reminding us of the dark places to which we may carry light and strengthening us in every moment of doubt and discouragement with unwavering faith in You whom we serve and whose we are.
A PRAYER FOR GOD’S LIGHT
Eternal God, shed your light on us who watch for you,
that our lips may praise you,
our hearts bless you,
and our lives glorify you,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
that our lips may praise you,
our hearts bless you,
and our lives glorify you,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
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
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.
100 Jubilate Deo
1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
4 For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Ralph N. Helverson: Fragment of a Prayer
Be with those today who bear burdens too heavy to be borne alone. In the myriad ways we may live our lives, enable us to find strength to do our duty. For those who bear the weight of illness, often unknown to others, sustain and uphold. For those who bear a scar in the soul tortur ing and searing the inner life, bring unity and peace. For those who stand at the brink of some momentous decision, bring clarity and inner resolu tion. For those who walk in the shadow of fear, bring wisdom. God of our secret and open quest for significance and strength, be with us and in us and around us.
1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
4 For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Isaiah 55:1-5
55Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
Ralph N. Helverson: Fragment of a Prayer
Be with those today who bear burdens too heavy to be borne alone. In the myriad ways we may live our lives, enable us to find strength to do our duty. For those who bear the weight of illness, often unknown to others, sustain and uphold. For those who bear a scar in the soul tortur ing and searing the inner life, bring unity and peace. For those who stand at the brink of some momentous decision, bring clarity and inner resolu tion. For those who walk in the shadow of fear, bring wisdom. God of our secret and open quest for significance and strength, be with us and in us and around us.
Colossians 3:12-17
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord* has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ* dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.* 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
John Holmes: O God of Stars and Sunlight
O God of stars and sunlight,
Whose wind lifts up a bird,
In marching wave and leaf fall,
We hear Your patient word.
The color of the seasons
Goes gold across the land.
By green upon the tree tops,
We know Your moving hand.
O God of cloud and mountain,
Whose rain on rock is art,
Your plan and care and meaning
Renew the head and heart.
Your word and color spoken,
Your summer noons and showers —
By these and by Your sunshine,
We know Your world is ours.
O God of root and shading
Of boughs above our head,
We breathe in Your long breathing
Our spirit spirited.
We walk beneath Your blessing
Your seasons and Your way,
O God of stars and sunlight,
O God of this year’s day.
Whose wind lifts up a bird,
In marching wave and leaf fall,
We hear Your patient word.
The color of the seasons
Goes gold across the land.
By green upon the tree tops,
We know Your moving hand.
O God of cloud and mountain,
Whose rain on rock is art,
Your plan and care and meaning
Renew the head and heart.
Your word and color spoken,
Your summer noons and showers —
By these and by Your sunshine,
We know Your world is ours.
O God of root and shading
Of boughs above our head,
We breathe in Your long breathing
Our spirit spirited.
We walk beneath Your blessing
Your seasons and Your way,
O God of stars and sunlight,
O God of this year’s day.
Romans 16:17-23
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offences, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good, and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Plains Indian Prayer
GREAT GOD, WE SUMMON YOU
Great Spirit, who dwells in every object, every person and every place: we summon You from the far places into our present awareness.
God of the North, Who gives wings to the waters of the air and rolls out the snow-storm covering the earth with silver carpet: temper us with toughness to withstand the biting blizzard.
God of the East and of the red sun’s rising, brace us that we neither neglect our gifts nor lose in laziness the hopes each day affords.
God of the South Whose warm breath of compassion dissolves our fears and meets our hatreds: teach us that they who are truly strong are also kind.
God of the West and of the sunset, bless us with knowledge of the freedom which follows the well-disciplined life.
God of the earth beneath our feet, storer of unreckoned resources: we would give thanks unceasingly for Your great bounty.
Great God within, may we be aware of the goodness of the gift of life and be worthy of its priceless privilege.
John 16:16-24
16 ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.’ 17Then some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”; and “Because I am going to the Father”?’ 18They said, ‘What does he mean by this “a little while”? We do not know what he is talking about.’ 19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, ‘Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”? 20Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23On that day you will ask nothing of me.* Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.* 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
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.
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.
I'm going to do this Malcolm Boyd Style.
Dear Papa God and family we have cancer,
Not in my body but in our community, the nation, and the world.
We pray for a worldwide chemo treatment of love, mercy, justice, dignity and respect for all of our family members. That will heal us and make us whole.
We need to radiate the world with light to see the goodness in all people.
We need to excise hate, bullying, injustice, abuse, and all forms of negativity from our consciences and beings and unite us in love and familyhood.
Dear God we lay all of our collective and personal concerns and all those whom we now pray into you loving and gentle arms asking you to take each of these precious concerns and heal and make whole.
God I Give thanks for compassionate doctors, friends, clergy, family members and even the grocery workers who gave me hugs today. I know that you are doing amazing things in our lives and on this journey of ours. May we love, serve, and follow you where ever we are this day and always. Amen.
Dear Papa God and family we have cancer,
Not in my body but in our community, the nation, and the world.
We pray for a worldwide chemo treatment of love, mercy, justice, dignity and respect for all of our family members. That will heal us and make us whole.
We need to radiate the world with light to see the goodness in all people.
We need to excise hate, bullying, injustice, abuse, and all forms of negativity from our consciences and beings and unite us in love and familyhood.
Dear God we lay all of our collective and personal concerns and all those whom we now pray into you loving and gentle arms asking you to take each of these precious concerns and heal and make whole.
God I Give thanks for compassionate doctors, friends, clergy, family members and even the grocery workers who gave me hugs today. I know that you are doing amazing things in our lives and on this journey of ours. May we love, serve, and follow you where ever we are this day and always. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER -Walter Rauschenbusch
O God, we praise You for the night and for sleep. Release our limbs of toil. Smooth our brow of care. Grant us a refreshing draught of forgetfulness. Comfort those who toss on a bed of pain, or whose nerves crave sleep and find it not. Save them from despondent thoughts in the darkness. May they learn to lean on Your all-pervading life and love so, their souls may grow tranquil and their bodies may rest.
GRACE, COURAGE, WISDOM
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and wis dom to distinguish the one from the other.
TEACH US
O God, the sovereign of nations, teach us how we may build a common life in which the nations of the world may find peace and justice. Show us what we ought to do. Show us also what are the limits of our power and what we cannot do. Recall us to our dignity as co-workers with You now and evermore.
FOR ALL PEOPLE
O God, we pray for all sorts and conditions of people:
For all who toil in the burden and heat of the day, that they may en joy the rewards of their industry, that they may not be defrauded of their due, and that we may never cease to be mindful of our debt to them for making our life tolerable;
For those in authority, who have power over others, that they may not use it for selfish advantage but be guided to do justice and to love mercy.
For those who have been worsted in the battles of life, whether by the inhumanity of others, their own limitations, or the fickleness of fortune, that they may contend against injustice without bitterness, and learn how to accept what cannot be altered, with patience;
For the rulers of nations that they may promote peace among the peoples and establish justice in our common life.
For the teachers and ministers of Your power, for artists, scientists and interpreters of the spiritual life, that they may not corrupt the truth to which they are committed;
For prophets and seers who awaken us from our sloth, that they may hold their torches high in a world darkened by prejudice.
O God, who has bound us together in this bundle of life, give us the grace to understand how our lives depend upon one another and our responsibilities to You.
Ursula M. Niebuhr: For the Day of Light
O God, who has placed us in a world You and we constantly create, we give thanks as we work and as we pray. We praise You for the day of light and life, for the night which brings rest and sleep, and for the ordered course of nature, seedtime and harvest. We bless You for the joy of children and the wisdom of the old. We thank You for the love of God and people which shines forth in commonplace lives, and above all for the vision of You in silent meditation, in fellowship, in the sacrament of the shared life, and in prayer. We praise Your name now and forever more.
Almighty God, who empowers evangelists and preachers: Help us to proclaim your Word with power, like your servant Paul Cuffee, that more might come to a deeper life in you; in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord God we pray for all of our family members today who are facing new challenges of life.
We pray for our family members who are in danger throughout the world at this moment remembering the Ukraine, Venezuela, Syria, Uganda, Nigeria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Sudan.
For the homeless, hungry, lonely and all those who lack resources and support systems.
We pray for all of our family members who haven't been brought fully into humanity's circle of love, acceptance, and equality.
Giving thanks For new beginnings and journeys that take us to unexpected places and ministerial possibilities by God's wonderful leading, guiding, and path directing.
We pray for this night____________________
We give thanks to God for our many blessings and__________________________
We celebrate life and ___________________________
We remember and pray for those near death and those who have died and gone to their new home in the Thin Places.
We lay our prayers before you O Lord of Love. We ask this in Jesus our redeemer's name. Amen
From A New Zealand Prayer Book -Family Prayer
We thank you, Lord Jesus, for the day you have given us, and for all the pleasure we have had. Guard us while we sleep, and bless all those we love, this night and for ever.
Amen.
A COLLECT
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
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.
A good reminder as we end the day:
Diann Neu: Blessed Be Our Hands
Blessed be the work of our hands.
Blessed be these hands that touch life.
Blessed be these hands that nurture creativity.
Blessed be these hands that hold pain.
Blessed be these hands that embrace with passion.
Blessed be these hands that tend gardens.
Blessed bed these hands that close in anger.
Blessed be these hands that plant new seeds.
Blessed be these hands that harvest ripe fields.
Blessed be these hands that clean, wash, mop, scrub.
Blessed be these hands that become knotty with age.
Blessed be these hands that wrinkle and scar from doing justice.
Blessed are these hands that reach out and are received.
Blessed are these hands that hold the promise of the future.
Blessed be the works of our hands and hearts.
Joseph Barth: A Grace
We give thanks for Being;
We give thanks for being here;
We give thanks for being here together.
We give thanks for Being;
We give thanks for being here;
We give thanks for being here together.
++++
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that God is Love.
Be still and know that You are Love.
Be sill and know that I Am Love.
Be still and know that God is Love.
Be still and know that You are Love.
Be sill and know that I Am Love.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Slowly inhale.
Hold.
Slowly exhale
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Slowly inhale.
Hold.
Slowly exhale
Pause. Count to 10.
Lather, rinse, repeat!
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Well Dear Ones, I love you! I will be walking sometime tomorrow. Keep the Faith, Feel and show the love, and walk with me on our journey. The best continues to shine with God's love, mercy, and grace!
Love and still with a mind at peace,
Sara
During the season of Lent we will be returning to our meditation and mindfulness exercises so that we may calm our hearts and spirits and practice self-emptying. The quotes to ponder will be placed in the resources section with homework questions throughout the week. This is a time to journal our journey.
We continue to use our toolkit during Lent :
Journal
Worry Free Sabbath (Jar, Journal, Box) Work
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Bible of your choice or explore the different versions or translations with BibleGateway.com
Community resource directory
Church or social justice newsletter
Episcopal Church -Lenten Resources 2019
Sacred Ground -Episcopal Church
Resources
Sojourners
ReclaimingJesus.org
Matthew25Pledge.com
Watch this space as we join the Good Book Club and read Romans for the season of Epiphany!
Today:
Monday, March 4
Romans 16:17-23
Romans 16:17-24
Romans 16:17-23
*NRSV omits verse 24
Here is the complete text including verse 24 :
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offences, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good, and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Tomorrow:
Romans 16:25-27
Final Doxology
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whombe the glory for ever! Amen.
A to Z Quotes
Book of Occasional Services
Northumbria Community
Enjoy perusing these sites.
Today's Readings from Satucket Lectionary Page
Featured Saint of the Day:
Almighty God, who empowers evangelists and preachers: Help us to proclaim your Word with power, like your servant Paul Cuffee, that more might come to a deeper life in you; in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily
AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15Deut. 6:10-15; Heb 1:1-14; John 1:1-18
Daily:
AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39
Deut. 6:16-25; Heb 2:1-10; John 1:19-28
Eucharistic:
Deut. 6:16-25; Heb 2:1-10; John 1:19-28
Eucharistic:
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship 1 and 2
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Metis Aboriginal Ministries
YouTube
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