Remembering Jessye Norman on the occasion of her death

Good Evening Dear Ones!

I hope all is well. Last evening I had every intention of writing further on prophetic witnesses but the news of Jessye Norman's passing has brought me low. Her voice was in the words of the prophet Jeremiah was my "Balm in Gilead". So tonight we honor her with her quotes and use the lessons for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Next Monday we will have our special Moral Monday Liturgy. So let us begin.


"There's no anger ever in a spiritual. There's always the dream of a hope of a better day coming. That God understands the troubles that I'm experiencing." ~ Jessye Norman

"Pigeon-holes are only comfortable for pigeons." ~ Jessye Norman

"Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself." ~ Jessye Norman

"The very best thing that could happen to a voice, if it shows any promise at all, is when it is very young to leave it alone and to let it develop quite naturally, and to let the person go on as long as possible with the sheer joy of singing." ~ Jessye Norman

"I am deeply spiritual; I revel in those things that make for good - the things that we can do to shed a little light, to help place an oft-dissonant universe back in tune with itself... Long live art, long live friendship, long live the joy of life!" ~ Jessye Norman

"It is still more likely that a woman's power would be seen as aggression, and a man's power would be seen as assertion." ~ Jessye Norman

"There has never been a time when I was not committed to, involved in, or caring of, the social and political issues of my world." ~ Jessye Norman


"One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation." ~ Jessye Norman


"I am grateful that my horizons were not narrowed at the outset." ~ Jessye Norman

Come let us worship.

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has
passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17,
NRSV

You Lord are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name. Leave us not. Jeremiah 14:9

I looked, and heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. Revelation 5:11

O praise the Lord all you angels, you mighty ones who do God’s bidding; and heed the command of the Most High. Psalm 103:20


You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together
with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19

Alleluia. Our God is glorious in all the saints: O come let us
worship. Alleluia.

Venite Psalm 95

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving *
and raise to the Lord a shout with psalms.
For you are a great God; *
you are great above all gods.
In your hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are yours also.
The sea is yours, for you made it, *
and your hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For you are our God,
and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. *
Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice!
Let us listen today to God’s voice:
Harden not your hearts,
as your forebears did in the wilderness, *
at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,
when they tempted me.
They put me to the test, *
though they had seen my works.
Forty years long I detested that generation and said, *
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my wrath, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep
darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night;
who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon
the surface of the earth: The Lord is his name.    Amos 5:8

Alleluia. Our God is glorious in all the saints: O come let us
worship. Alleluia.

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

Calling All Angels

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


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



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.

There is a balm in Gilead
Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman: "There Is a Balm in Gilead"

Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again. Refrain

2 If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus

and say, "He died for all." Refrain 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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

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

I looked, and heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.Revelation 5:11

O praise the Lord all you angels, you mighty ones who do God’s bidding: and heed the command of the Most High. Psalm 103:20

From the Resistance Prays

He began to explain to them. “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.”

Everyone was raving about Jesus, so impressed were they by the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?”

Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me” ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.”

When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was filled with anger. They rose up and ran him out of town. They led him to the crest of the hill on which their town has been built so that they could throw him off the cliff. But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.


- Luke 4:21-30

God of truth-tellers and whistleblowers, you call us to proclaim the truth in difficult places and times. Give us the courage to be those who speak truth in the midst of gaslighting and drawn curtains. Protect those who find themselves in danger when they live into your call. Stand with those who stand up to the powerful and corrupt rulers our world is faced with in these times. Keep watch over each of us as we demand action for all who have and continue to suffer at the hands of those who would wield their power to harm the least of these. Amen.






150 Laudate Dominum
1 Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy temple; *
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *
praise him for his excellent greatness.

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

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

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

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

Daniel 12:1-3

The Resurrection of the Dead

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


A Song of the Heavenly City
Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4
I saw no temple in the city, *
for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *
for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light the nations shall walk, *
and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.
Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; *
into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.
I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, *
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, *
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations.
All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands,
and all servants give worship there; *
there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.


Revelation 5:1-14

The Scroll and the Lamb

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

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

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

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.

Mark 13:21-27

21And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!”* or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it. 22False messiahs* and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23But be alert; I have already told you everything.
The Coming of the Son of Man

24 ‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
   and the moon will not give its light, 
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 
26Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.


We Praise You, O God Te Deum laudamus

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

For Church Musicians and Artists

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in
heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through
art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on
earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty,
and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for
evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



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

Almighty and everlasting God,
whom we adore with all the angelic host,
may we always rejoice in your heavenly protection
and serve you faithfully in this present life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. (ANZPB)

Make us your messengers, Jesus,
make us the guardians of your faith,
and grant us also that great and ancient vision
Michael,
numberless angels
the dazzling host of heaven
to accompany and inspire us for all time;
to the glory of your holy name.

Amen. (ANZPB)

Holy Michael, archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down to hell Satan and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Northumbria Community

A Song of the Spirit
Revelation 22:12-17

“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.

A Collect for Peace 

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgements, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. 

A Collect for Aid against Perils 

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love

of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

A Collect for Protection 

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the
strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We
thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and
humbly ask for your protection through the coming night.
Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who
died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen. 

A Collect for the Presence of Christ 

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day
is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and
awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in
Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake
of your love. Amen. 

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”


― Teresa of Ávila

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love.

Francis of Assisi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *

according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *

and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)

Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always
protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow
the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.

(source: from Saint Clare)

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 Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" 

I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditation. 

Our closing hymns and music!

Take time to listen to the following songs as part of  our meditation time: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michaelmas Mix 

+++++++

Good Night Dear Family and Messengers of Hope, Love, and Peace! I love you! Our theme this week will be focusing on how to be God's messengers of the God or Good News in troubled times. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always. 

With love and blessings!

Sara

Resources:

YouTube for Music

Walk With Me On Our Journey

Book Of Occasional Services

Enriching Our Worship

Quote sites for prayers

Northumbria Community

In Lak' Ech - Luis Valdez

Bonus Prayers
Let us be at prayer and take our time being in conversation and listening with God.

God of Love, we pray this night for all who don't feel your loving arms around them. Help us to love the unloving and wrap our loving arms around them.

God of Creation, we give thanks to you for all that you have made and may we walk tenderly in God's Cathedral of Life.

God of Love, we pray for peace in this fragile and broken world. Heal all divisions and lead us to be peacemakers and hope bearers.

God of Creation, we pray for rain and an awareness that we are called to be conservationists and stewards of this planet that you called into being.

God of Love, we pray that we all may be lead to full inclusion as Your family Members.

God of Healing, we pray for all our family members both great and small who are ill and seek your healing touch . May they receive your healing and loving grace.

God of Life, may we take time to live as you would have us do. May we respond to your call and follow you wherever you lead us.

God of all Mercy, we pray for all who are transitioning towards a new life with You in the Thin Places and all who have made the heavenly and joyous journey into eternal life.

God of all Gentleness comfort those who mourn and may we we be sources of strength and comfort to them.

God we give thanks to you for our many blessings especially_____________________


God of our family, we pray for all our family members and ourselves remembering especially_____________

Lord Jesus come quickly and heal us and make us whole. We lift these our prayers to you In your most Holy Name. Amen.

Listen to this : God's Love Letter