Walk With Me On Our Journey's Annual How Can We Be of Help Issue!

Good Evening Family of Love!

Happy Friday and Labor Day Weekend! As we continue to pray for all our family members who are in the wake of Hurricane Dorian let us remember ways in which we can be of help. This is our giving issue.

 Please consider donating to a reputable charity of your choosing. Before you give please do your homework and see who is the best charity that uses your donations wisely. Here are a few websites that can be of help:

Charity Navigator

Charity Watch

If you are an Episcopalian please give through Episcopal Relief and Development they have a good dollar for dollar donation ratio.

Here are ideas that you can do in your local community!

I'm proposing that as we meet another weekend and tremendous storms that are approaching on the East Coast of the country we take this time to seek to serve the homeless, the hungry, the ill clad, the lost, and the lonely. Don't turn your faces away from them. Look at them with compassion, acceptance, love, and mercy. Make up your own bags of blessing or shelf stable lunches and don't forget to add socks if you can. 
For your shelf-stable lunches you will need:
Brown paper lunch bags
Granola bars
Cheese and crackers
Peanut butter crackers
Bottled water or V8 juice
Ring top cans of tuna, Vienna Sausages etc
Small packages of nuts.
Wash and dries.
Napkin, plastic utensils.
The items are endless.

Here are a list of other suggestions that aren't checkbook related. 

This is a good time to donate blood
Become a Bone marrow donor and be on one of their registries.

Donate clothing to homeless shelters, Goodwill (R) , the Salvation Army, or any thrift shops.
Don't forget about shoes in good condition. 
Donate household items too- make sure everything is in good condition.
See if there are coat drives and unload old but wearable coats.
Donate food to food banks.
Give of your time to many of the organizations that need your help. 
Gather books and magazines and take them to hospital or any place where waiting rooms need reading materials.
Make up Bags of Blessings!





BLESSING BAGS

INGREDIENTS:

Gallon size Ziplock bags

chap stick

packages of tissues

toothbrush and toothpaste

comb

soap

hotel size shampoos

trail mix

granola bars

crackers

pack of gum

band aids

mouthwash

coins or predetermined dollar amount, say 5.00 (could be used to make a phone
call, or purchase a food item)

hand wipes

you could also put in a warm pair of socks

a packet rain poncho

tampons (for women)

The ideas could be endless!

Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe throw in a note of 

encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car and when you see anyone in
 need give them out. 

++ Pairs of socks, scarves, mittens anything warm. 
Flashlights, umbrellas.
Tarps and rain ponchos.
Note pads and paper and pens and pencils. 

For those of you seeking to make donations to help those in the path of Dorian  and any other natural disasters here is a list with links;

Episcopal Relief and Development - http://www.episcopalrelief.org/
Habitat for Humanity- http://www.habitat.org/
American Red Cross- http://www.redcross.org/
Direct Relief International- https://www.directrelief.org/
Doctors Without Borders- http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
Feeding America - http://www.feedingamerica.org/

The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army- If and only if you can get a financial report on them. Check their current social policies!

Childhelp: Child Help

Episcopal Migration Ministries. The Episcopal Migration Ministries

See if Habitat For Humanity can use your old tools that are in good condition and building supplies. 

See if any of the affected areas have a Women's March group that might be collecting women's hygiene supplies. 


++++

Here is something we all can do! Pray without ceasing for all who have been affected by Dorian. This is a way we can give from our hearts and know that our prayers are reaching God and our neighbors.  


Let's light one candle for all who have been and are being affected by Hurricane Dorian.

TIMES OF TROUBLE

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Psalm 46:1

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

God of All Kindness, we light our candles for all of our family members around the world who do not have access to food, clothing,shelter, clean water, and medical care. We pray for all of our family members who do not have a home to return to either by natural disaster or war and terrorist acts. We pray for all the many aid agencies that are struggling to meet the needs of our family members where resources are scarce. We pray that we may rise up and help them to seek and find solutions to the scarcity of programs and unmet needs. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world and an end to terror, hatred, bullying and abuse. We pray for each other tonight and as God to heal, help, and console us as we struggle with aspects of daily living. We pray for justice and universal human rights for all. We pray that we may follow Jesus by being CALM(Compassionate, accepting, Loving, and Merciful). May we love one another and shine the light of Christ one to another "The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!"  May we all have a restful and blessed rest this night and always. 

.
John Baillie: The Heavy Laden

O God, we bring before You the burden of the world’s life:
All who are far from home and friends,
All who lie down hungry or cold,
All who suffer pain,
All who are kept awake by anxiety,
All who are facing danger,
All who toil, or keep watch while others sleep.
May they have a sense of Your presence that will turn their

loneliness into comfort and their trouble into peace.


Here are quotes to ponder on giving:

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." ~ Maya Angelou

"No one has ever become poor by giving." ~ Anne Frank


"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you?'" ~ William Arthur Ward


"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." ~ John Bunyan

"One must be poor to know the luxury of giving!" ~ George Eliot

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." ~ Emma Lazarus

"Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost." ~ Ignatius of Loyola

"Cheerful givers do not count the cost of what they give. Their hearts are set on pleasing and cheering the person to whom the gift is given." ~ Julian of Norwich



Psalm 107:1-9

Part I Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.


4 Some wandered in desert wastes; *
they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

5 They were hungry and thirsty; *
their spirits languished within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He put their feet on a straight path *
to go to a city where they might dwell.

8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.

9 For he satisfies the thirsty *
and fills the hungry with good things.


Ecclesiasticus 38:27-32

27 So it is with every artisan and master artisan
   who labours by night as well as by day;
those who cut the signets of seals,
   each is diligent in making a great variety;
they set their heart on painting a lifelike image,
   and they are careful to finish their work. 
28 So it is with the smith, sitting by the anvil,
   intent on his ironwork;
the breath of the fire melts his flesh,
   and he struggles with the heat of the furnace;
the sound of the hammer deafens his ears,*
   and his eyes are on the pattern of the object.
He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork,
   and he is careful to complete its decoration. 
29 So it is with is the potter sitting at his work
   and turning the wheel with his feet;
he is always deeply concerned over his products,
   and he produces them in quantity. 
30 He moulds the clay with his arm
   and makes it pliable with his feet;
he sets his heart on finishing the glazing,
   and he takes care in firing* the kiln. 


31 All these rely on their hands,
   and all are skilful in their own work. 
32 Without them no city can be inhabited,
   and wherever they live, they will not go hungry.*
Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people,*

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.


1 Corinthians 3:10-14

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. 14If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a 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.

Matthew 6:19-24

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust* consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust* consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.*

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.


Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy
great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this
night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen

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 Social Justice
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.



 For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served
but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give
themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom,
patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the
suffering, the friendless, and the needy- for the love of him
who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus
Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and 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.

 Christ Has No Body by Teresa of Avila 

 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.

  Prayers of Hope

Let us pray!

God of Hope, as we enter fully into the Fall and Winter Months  may we be given lenses that show us many things and where you would have us go, and what we are to become. Help us to lay down our worries and fears so that we may wait, watch, pray, and listen to you with open ears, hearts, and spirits.

God of Hope we pray for all of our family members who are in need of hope when they feel hopeless. Help us to bring hope to Your fragile and broken world.

God of Hope we pray for all our family members who are forced to live on the streets and out of doors during the cold weather. We pray that they may find sheltered areas from the winds, cold, rain, and snow. We pray that there may be homeless shelters and warming centers that will meet their needs as we know that one shelter type doesn't fit all.

God of Hope, we pray for our littlest family members who are in children's hospitals and PICU that they may be healed and be able to enjoy the holidays with their families.

God of Hope, we pray for all those who are dying and have died today that they may feel your loving presence and give them hope as they enter the Thin Places.

God of Hope, show us how to help creatively without having to write a check.

God of Hope, we pray for peace in your fragile and broken world. May we truly be blessed as peacemakers and find ourselves as your children. 

God of Hope, we pray for all caregivers that they my find rest and respite. 

God of Hope, we thank you for the gift of rain. May we continue to have more rain to refresh, replenish, and renew your  drought parched earth.

God of Hope, help us to see You in all of our Family of Love's faces and that we may act accordingly and love, honor, and respect each other.

God of Hope, help us to love more fully, care more deeply, comfort with more compassion, and be more accepting  and inclusive of all our family members.

God of Hope help us to console and comfort all who mourn at any stage of grief. Give us courage not to let any of our family members fall through the cracks. 

God of Hope, we pray this night for all refugees, captives, political prisoners, victims of violence and abuse of any kind, victims of human trafficking and slavery. 

God of Hope, we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially______________

God of Hope, we offer our thanksgivings remembering especially______________________

God of Hope, we offer these our prayers and thanksgivings in the name of your only begotten son Jesus. Amen.

Or these prayers! 

Now let us take time to pray to the loving and merciful God who made us and speaks to us gently and lovingly to our hearts,minds, and spirits every minute that we live, move, and just be!

God speak to our troubled minds and spirits as we prepare for our night's rest. We pray that we may take time to rest and pray more fully and in the knowledge that you are holding us and our family members in your arms that are loving and merciful.

God  we pray for peace in our hearts, minds, bodies, spirits, and this world that you have created. We pray especially for unity where there is deep division. We pray that we may become truly peacemakers and learn what it is to make peace at all levels of our being.

God we pray for all of our family members who are ill in body, mind, and spirit that they may be healed. We remember this day_____________________

God we pray for all of our family members who have died and are transitioning into new lives in the Thin Places and Eternal Life and Joy.

God we pray for all who are struggling to find meaning and new life paths by life's wrinkly twists and turns.

God we pray for all who are being affected by severe weather remembering especially the people who are being affected by hurricane Harvey. 

God we pray for all refugees, captives, victims of violence and abuse, and terror. 

God we pray that we may love, include, and never treat anyone as invisible and give everyone a sense of belonging.

God of all Goodness we lift up these our prayers in the Name of Jesus. Amen.


 Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.
At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes 
the salvation you have prepared for all nations - 
a light to the world in its darkness, 
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying, 
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. 


 A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

 Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from
generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus
for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21


 Good Night Dear Family! Take time this weekend to stop the glorification of busy and rest from your labors. I love you and give thanks to God for you now and always.


 With Love, prayers, and blessings!

 Sara

 Resources
A to Z quotes
Prayers of Power
Satucket Lectionary
Book of Common Prayer
New Zealand Prayer Book

Walk With Me On Our Journey