Hello Family of Love!
I feel like I have been away so long! Two days were one too many. I have been suffering from a bad headache and eye strain from way too much screen time. So we are going to not go overboard today. I give thanks to God to learn many things during this break. Tonight's readings are from today's feast day of Priscilla and Aquila -Co-workers of the Apostle Paul. So let us begin with 'The Peace be Stills"
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Ponder these quotes.
"Greet everyone you meet with a warm smile. No matter how busy you are, don't rush encounters with coworkers, family, and friends. Speak softly. Listen attentively. Act as if every conversation you have is the most important thing on your mind today. Look your children and your partner in the eyes when they talk to you. Stroke the cat, caress the dog. Lavish love on every living being you meet. See how different you feel at the end of the day." ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way." ~ Barbara Bush
"Positive culture comes from being mindful, and respecting your coworkers, and being empathetic." ~ Biz Stone
"It used to be that you knew your neighbors and maybe your coworkers - the people in your physical vicinity." ~ Will Wright
"One of the most effective means for transcending ordinary and moving into the realm of extraordinary is saying yes more frequently and eliminating no almost completely. I call it saying yes to life. Say yes to yourself, to your family, your children, your coworkers, and your business." ~ Wayne Dyer
"When you go through enough dark places, you don't complain about little things. You don't lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic; you don't get offended because a coworker was rude to you. You've been through too much to let that sour you." ~ Joel Osteen
"Cancer affects all of us, whether you're a daughter, mother, sister, friend, coworker, doctor, patient." ~ Jennifer Aniston
"Much is now being said about evangelism; but before we get effective evangelism, we have to get effective evangelists. Evangelism is useless unless it is the work of one devoted to God, willing and glad to suffer all things for God, penetrated by the attractiveness of God. New machinery, adaptations and adjustments, are not the first need... but more devoted, adoring, sacrificial souls." ~ Evelyn Underhill
"Re-telling the Christian story is the essence of my vocation. That has been going on since the Evangelists in one form or another." ~ Anne Rice
"Our Lord Jesus Christ, a little before his departure, commissioned his apostles to Go, and teach all nations; or, as another evangelist expresses it, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. This commission was as extensive as possible, and laid them under obligation to disperse themselves into every country of the habitable globe, and preach to all the inhabitants, without exception, or limitation. They accordingly went forth in obedience to the command, and the power of God evidently wrought with them." ~ William Carey
"Give honour unto Luke Evangelist; For he it was (the aged legends say) Who first taught Art to fold her hands and pray." ~ Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Come let us worship:
God is spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Alleluia! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give God the glory. Revelation 19:6,7
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe. Psalm 96:9
Through Jesus let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge God’s name. Hebrews 13:15
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (adapted)
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
When anyone is united to Christ, there is a new world; the old order has gone, and a new order has already begun. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Do not ask anxiously, What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What shall we wear? The whole world runs after such things. Set your heart and mind on God’s commonwealth and justice first, and all the rest will come to you as well. So do not be anxious about tomorrow. Today has enough problems of its own; tomorrow can look after itself. Matthew 6:31-34
Risen Lord be known to us in the breaking of the bread!
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
Let us Make vigil and pray!
The Gospel Lesson on the Road To Emmaus is an amazing gift to remind us to be welcoming to the stranger. Here is the vigil for tonight!
God, we light our candles tonight and pray that we may become the loving and welcoming family of Love/God. We pray for our family members who haven't received warm welcomes in their lives, families, places of work, and worship. We pray that we may become kind to all of your children at any time of the day or night. We pray that we may encircle all of humanity with a warm prayer quilt of welcome and Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world. We pray that we may listen with kind and non judgmental ears as we welcome our new family members who have been strangers to us and now becoming friends. God lead and show us how to be kind, loving, and welcoming in all that we do each and everyday. Help us always to remember that The Light of Christ in Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you. Amen.
God, you told us when we pray that marvelous things happen. You are right there is power in our prayers.
God, you told us that when we pray it makes a difference and that healing happens. Indeed it does, there's power in our prayers.
God, you have shown us that prayer opens our hearts to love and put down the weapons of hate. Our prayers are powerful peacemakers.
Jesus, you showed the apostles how to pray and revealed yourself to the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus . When you left them they felt the power of the prayers and in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus, you showed us how prayers can be renewing forces in our lives when we need them and as a way of rest. There is power and refreshment in our prayers.
Jesus, you modeled for us a way of life where we love one another and we meet and are united with each other in fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayers, and holding all things in common. There is power in our prayers as we seek unity and the need to seek to be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful)
Holy Spirit, we thank you for empowering us to pray fervently when we are called upon to do so. May our prayers be empowering and powerful.
Holy Spirit, give us when we lag in confidence in our prayers to lean on your power and pray with actions not words.
Holy Spirit, we pray this night that we may feel your power as we are empowered and enlivened to pray for our family members wherever they are throughout the world. Help us to turn our prayer power on and know that there's power in our prayers.
Now let us turn our hearts and prayer power on by lighting our candles and being at prayer.
Tonight let us pray the Beatitudes and Prayer of St.Francis. Before we do this let us pray for peace in the world and an end to violence and terror. Let us remember the people throughout the world who in the last week have been victimized by terror all over the world. We pray for an end to gun violence and for sensible laws to protect God's children. Let us remember that if we lay down all our weaponry of hate and that includes our voices we will be on the way to safety and learning to love our neighbors who are our family members too.
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
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.
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
Let us Make vigil and pray!
The Gospel Lesson on the Road To Emmaus is an amazing gift to remind us to be welcoming to the stranger. Here is the vigil for tonight!
God, we light our candles tonight and pray that we may become the loving and welcoming family of Love/God. We pray for our family members who haven't received warm welcomes in their lives, families, places of work, and worship. We pray that we may become kind to all of your children at any time of the day or night. We pray that we may encircle all of humanity with a warm prayer quilt of welcome and Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world. We pray that we may listen with kind and non judgmental ears as we welcome our new family members who have been strangers to us and now becoming friends. God lead and show us how to be kind, loving, and welcoming in all that we do each and everyday. Help us always to remember that The Light of Christ in Me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you. Amen.
God of all power, love, mercy and radiant light, strengthen us we pray as we light our candles and be at prayer. We pray for your healing power among us who are ill. We pray that we may lovingly respond to our family members who are in need of loving comfort when they are going through any crisis. We pray this night for an end to all forms of weaponry and violence. We pray that we may have courage to lean on you when we feel our energy waning. We pray for all family members who are being robbed of power due to abuse, human trafficking, slavery, bullying, and people who make them feel insignificant and invisible. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world and in our hearts and minds. We pray that we may listen to your call to serve and be empowered to carry your light, your love, your mercy, with listening ears and open hearts. We pray this night and as we remember this The Love and Light that God gave me, I give to you and to all of our family members. May we reflect God's love and light and feel God's holy power indwelling in us and calling us to pray and serve. May we know that there's power in our prayers and it comes from you O God. Amen.
There is Power in Our Prayers!
God, you told us that when we pray it makes a difference and that healing happens. Indeed it does, there's power in our prayers.
God, you have shown us that prayer opens our hearts to love and put down the weapons of hate. Our prayers are powerful peacemakers.
Jesus, you showed the apostles how to pray and revealed yourself to the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus . When you left them they felt the power of the prayers and in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus, you showed us how prayers can be renewing forces in our lives when we need them and as a way of rest. There is power and refreshment in our prayers.
Jesus, you modeled for us a way of life where we love one another and we meet and are united with each other in fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayers, and holding all things in common. There is power in our prayers as we seek unity and the need to seek to be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful)
Holy Spirit, we thank you for empowering us to pray fervently when we are called upon to do so. May our prayers be empowering and powerful.
Holy Spirit, give us when we lag in confidence in our prayers to lean on your power and pray with actions not words.
Holy Spirit, we pray this night that we may feel your power as we are empowered and enlivened to pray for our family members wherever they are throughout the world. Help us to turn our prayer power on and know that there's power in our prayers.
Now let us turn our hearts and prayer power on by lighting our candles and being at prayer.
Tonight let us pray the Beatitudes and Prayer of St.Francis. Before we do this let us pray for peace in the world and an end to violence and terror. Let us remember the people throughout the world who in the last week have been victimized by terror all over the world. We pray for an end to gun violence and for sensible laws to protect God's children. Let us remember that if we lay down all our weaponry of hate and that includes our voices we will be on the way to safety and learning to love our neighbors who are our family members too.
The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10
The Prayer of 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
are born to eternal life. Amen
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
We your servants bless you, O God,
as we stand by night in your house.
We lift up our hands towards the holy place,
and give you thanks and praise.
Bless us from all places where you dwell,
O God, creator of the heavens and the earth.
THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES - Anonymous
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.
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 (Metis Aboriginal Ministries)
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.
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.
SLOW US DOWN…YET ALSO - Anonymous
Slow us down, O God. Ease the pounding of our hearts by the quieting of our minds;
Yet also, wake us up. Shake the complacency out of our souls by opening our minds to the cry of the wounded, the refugees wandering without homes, the homeless at home, and the children who starve.
Steady our hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time;
Yet also, quicken our steps with a vision of the urgent action now required to cure the causes of stunted growth, premature death, battered women, and abused children.
Give us, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlast ing hills;
Yet also, alert our eyes not to the comforting illusion of constancy divorced from change, but rather to such sharp reality as deep poverty surrounding us at home and abroad.
Break the tensions of our nerves and muscles with the soothing mu sic of the singing streams;
Yet also, give us, amid the calm days of our years, souls which are prepared to cope with the confusion necessarily occurring amidst new creation in the cities, towns, and the countries of the earth.
Help us to know the magical, restoring power of sleep;
Yet also, break the chains of euphoria deluding us to think that we are acting responsibly when we do no more than listen to music which protects our feet from marching.
Remind us of the fable of the hare and the tortoise, that we may know that there is more to life than increasing its speed;
Yet also, remind us of the fable of the astrologer who fell plumb to the bottom of a well, not seeing his feet while reading the sky.
Slow us down, O God, and inspire us to send our roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values, that we may grow more surely toward the stars;
Yet also, wake us up, so our eyes may see the people around us and our arms may be open to embrace the suffering who cry.
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.
Psalm 119: 33-40
He Legem pone
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *
and I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *
I shall keep it with all my heart.
35 Make me go in the path of your commandments, *
for that is my desire.
36 Incline my heart to your decrees *
and not to unjust gain.
37 Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *
give me life in your ways.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, *
which you make to those who fear you.
39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, *
because your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for your commandments; *
in your righteousness preserve my life.
Hymn
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.
Acts 18:1�4,18�21,24�28
Paul in Corinth
18After this Paul* left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul* went to see them, 3and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. 4Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.
Paul’s Return to Antioch
18 After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers* and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. 19When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay longer, he declined; 21but on taking leave of them, he said, ‘I* will return to you, if God wills.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Ministry of Apollos
24 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. 27And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers* encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, 28for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah* is Jesus.
The Song of Hannah
1 Samuel 2:1-8
My heart exults in you, O God; *
my triumph song is lifted in you.
My mouth derides my enemies, *
for I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like you, *
nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.
Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *
Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.
The bows of the mighty are broken, *
but the weak are clothed in strength.
Those once full now labor for bread, *
those who hungered now are well fed.
The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *
while the mother of many is forlorn.
God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *
gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.
God raises the poor from the dust; *
and lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with the rulers *
and inherit a place of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are God’s *
on which the whole earth is founded.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us* while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
A Song of Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:6-11
Though in the form of God, *
Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *
and was born in human likeness.
Being found in human form, he humbled himself *
and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him *
and given him the name above every name,
That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *
to the glory of God the Father.
The Lord’s Prayer or the alternative is said. From A New Zealand Prayer Book
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.
Or
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
Lancelot Andrewes: Be All To All
We bring before You, O God:
the cries of the weary,
the pains of the distressed,
the tears of the tragedies of life,
the anxious hours of the insecure,
the restlessness of the refugees,
the hunger of the oppressed.
Dear God, be near to each.
Helper of the helpless,
Hope of the homeless,
The Strength of those tossed with tempests,
The Haven of those who sail:
Be all to all.
Be within us, to strengthen us;
without us, to keep us;
above us, to inspire us;
beneath us, to uphold us;
before us, to direct us;
behind us , to propel us;
around us, to sustain us.
Be all to all in present need.
God of grace and might, who gave to your servants Aquila and Priscilla gifts of zeal and eloquence to make known the truth of the Gospel: Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer Sets:
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Risen Lord Be with us this night and give us courage to feel and know your presence in our lives.
Risen Lord we pray for all of our family members who do not know you yet.
Risen Lord may we always love the least of these our family members.
Risen' Lord we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Risen Lord come into the hearts of those who are seeking do divide and not unite. We pray for peace and that hearts may be turned towards God.
Risen Lord guide all those who are transitioning into the Thin Places may they have a pain free and joyful journey into eternal joy.
Risen Lord help us to comfort all who mourn and give them love and compassion.
Risen Lord we pray for all those in ministry that they are getting rest after Holy Week and Easter Day.
Risen Lord we pray for an end to violence, abuse, and terror.
Risen Lord may we always meet you in the fellowship of breaking bread.
Risen Lord we pray for________________
Risen Lord we give thanks for________________
Risen Lord we pray these our prayers and thanksgivings in your Name. Amen.
Optional Prayer Sets:
Prayer set A
Jesus banish our doubts so that we may believe and know that you not only rose from the dead but entered into our forgiven hearts with love. May our hearts and heart homes be ever widened to include the ability to love more and more fully.
Jesus take away our fears that bind us so that we may be ever drawn more closely to you.
Jesus, give us the strength and courage to speak for the voiceless and invisible.
Jesus, we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing. We pray especially for_____
Jesus, we pray for those who are facing many struggles this week that they may find peace, joy, hope,love, and a spirit of calm.
Jesus, we pray for our family members who are in need of prayer especially for ____________
Jesus, keep our hearts open to new possibilities and new lives and new loves.
Jesus, banish all those who have hardness of heart and who do not know how to love family members who differ from themselves.
Jesus help us when we need to be focused and not distracted this week. Give us energy and banish fatigue.
Jesus we pray for all those who have chronic illnesses of body, mind, and spirit.
Jesus we lift up these our prayers to you in your most holy name. Amen.
Prayer Set B
God our creator help us to find the necessary endurance in our lives to live,love, move, and just be.
God we pray for all of your children who are ill that they may find the courage to stay the course and be patient patients. May they find strength in their weakness.
God we pray for all of our family members who are in need of courage to leave abusive and dangerous situations.
God we pray that our faith in you may never falter and that our faith may blossom from that tiny mustard seed.
God we pray that we may become resilient in all aspects of our lives.
God we pray for our family members who live in war torn ,violence prone and areas affected by natural disasters in the world that there may be peace and healing.
God we pray for all who mourn that they may have the endurance to grieve, Courage to take each day one at a time, faith to know that things will get better, and resiliency to bounce back slowly from sadness and adversity.
God we pray for all of our family members who are involved in athletic events that they may have the physical and mental endurance to participate.
God we pray this night for the least of these, give them endurance to survive, courage to find services, faith in you, and resiliency with you to find a new life path and safe living conditions.
God we pray that there may be an end to hate, fear, doubt , and injustice.
God we thank you for giving us endurance, courage, faith, and resiliency. May we all learn how to have each of these in our own lives.
God we lift up our own prayers and thanksgivings in the name of Jesus your Son who had endurance, courage, faith, and resiliency. Amen.
Prayer Set C
God of Love and Abundance ,we pray this night for our family members who have little and who have more than enough that we may share from our abundance lovingly with great mercy and kindness.
God of Love and Abundance, we pray this night for our family members who have not learned your message of Love and inclusion.
God of Love and Abundance ,we pray this night for our family members who are feeling lost and alone without any support. May we rise up and go to them and show and give them love abundantly to the brim and overflowing.
God of Love and Abundance, we pray for peace in this your fragile world that love and peace may encircle those places where violence, war, hate, and division pervade the lives of our family members who find themselves defenseless.
God of Love and Abundance, we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing and grace. May we with you lovingly help them with love and from our heart-home's abundance.
God of Love and Abundance, we pray for all of our family members who mourn and those who have entered into the Thin Places.
God of Love and Abundance, we add our prayers and thanksgivings with love from the depths of our heart homes and pray on behalf of all those who have asked us for our prayers remembering _____________
God of Love and Abundance, we lift these our prayers in the Name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.
+++++
Welcome all ! Let us welcome all of our family members by telling them we love them. I also want to tell you this even if your faith community isn't the same as mine (Episcopalian)
The Light of Christ (God, G_D)* in me Recognizes the Light of Christ (God, G_D) *in You!
*Adapt for your faith community. I love you!
Risen Lord be known to us in the breaking of the bread!
Christ is risen. Alleluia.
And has appeared to the disciples. Alleluia.
Let us pray !
God we thank you for welcoming us into your family.
May we welcome all of our family members and be lovingly welcoming.
Risen Lord be known to us.
May we give all of our family members the gift of our presence.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you that you for the joy you give us as we welcome new family members with love.
May we give all of our new family members a welcome filled with joy and love.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you that you are always on the journey with us.
May we hold hands together as we journey on as true family members united in peace, joy, justice, and equality.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you that you give us sensitive hearts, empowering spirits, and minds to think.
May we have empathy, sympathy, zest, and intelligence to be the beautiful people of God that you created.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you for opportunities to serve and care for the least of these.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you for opportunities to care for the caregiver.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you for courage to be a voice for the voiceless, to speak truth to power, and to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you .
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you for the tenderness to care for our family members who are ill and lovingly with compassion shepherd those who are mourning who are going through their grieving process.
Risen Lord be known to us.
God we thank you and pray for___________________
Risen Lord be known to us.
Accept these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.
++++
Joan Goodwin: To The Four Directions
Spirit of the East, spirit of air, of morning and springtime: Be with us as the sun rises, in times of beginning, times of planting. Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage as we go forth into new adventures.
Spirit of the South, spirit of fire, of noontime and summer: Be with us through the heat of the day and help us to be ever growing. Warm us with strength and energy for the work that awaits.
Spirit of the West, spirit of water, of evening and autumn: Be with us as the sun sets, and help us to enjoy a rich harvest. Flow through us with a cooling, healing quietness and bring us peace.
Spirit of the North, spirit of earth, of nighttime and winter: Be with us in the darkness, in the time of gestation. Ground us in the wisdom of the changing seasons as we celebrate the spiraling journey of our lives.
+++
A. Powell Davies' Prayers
WALLS
Eternal Spirit, life of our minds and breath of our being: strangely do we walk though the days of our years, unseeing, unhearing, inatten tive, though the glory of life is all about us. We wrap ourselves up in the petty and trivial, shutting out life’s promise. We are afraid of life—and its mighty claim upon us—and we wall ourselves in, thinking to be safe.
Break down our walls, O God! Blow upon the barriers we
have built to keep us paltry. Let them all be swept away!
IF WE COME TO YOU
Eternal Spirit, who dwells in the hearts of those who seek You: if we come to You in joy, may we draw strength from the experience; if we come in sorrow, touch us with Your great compassion; if we have lost our way, and the darkness has overtaken us, may the light of Your pres ence appear before us that we may see our path; if we come to You weak and discouraged and know not where to turn, may we recall the resources You have given us. Illumine our minds with a vision of the future’s promise.
DISCOVERY
Eternal Spirit, who gives wisdom, show us how much of what we pray for in the world about us is waiting to be found within ourselves.
PRAYERS
Give us to know, O God, how vain are all our hopes, how empty all our prayers, until we ourselves are ready to fulfill them.
THE FRESHNESS OF CREATION
God of the morning of the world, at the sound of whose voice cre ation wakes and sings, open our hearts to the gladness of the earth. May the freshness of creation cleanse our souls. Forgive us that we go on our way in haste. Lift up our eyes! May we see the wonder all about us, from the most fragile petal on the tiniest of blooms to the miracle of a new blade of grass. We thank You for this revelation of Yourself that never grows old. May the beauty of Your world breathe into our spirits.
BREATHE YET AGAIN
How can we come to You, O God, with hearts that we have closed to one another?
O Holy One, remind us! We are Your children, all, lighted by the same precarious flame. How foolish are our walls of prejudice, our emp ty pride!
O patient God, take pity on us! You who breathed into us the one breath of our common life, breathe yet again, and bring us to our souls’ awakening.
HOW LONG, O GOD?
How long must it be, O God—for our years grow shorter—before we are ready for our duty? All about us are the miseries of human in justice and oppression. When shall we be one with the destitute, the dispossessed, opening our hearts to the downcast and the weary? These are flesh of our flesh, bearing Your image and breathing Your breath within them. They are pilgrims with us, one in hope and yearning. O God, when we pray for a better world, joyous and peaceful, with all its banners bright, help us to see that we ourselves must bring this world to pass, and take us to where our work is waiting for us.
GRATITUDE AND FORTITUDE
In our ever changing world so full of what is wonderful, help us, O God, to accept with gratitude all that gladdens us, and to accept with fortitude all that brings us grief.
May we take time to watch the morning and the evening skies, to look often and long at the marvellous earth and all that lives upon it, to be with heart and soul a friend and neighbor and a part of humankind.
We rejoice in the heritage bequeathed to us from yesterday as we celebrate festivals of faith and hope.
May we be learning always, from all that we see and do, and from all that happens to us;’ and if shadows overtake us, may we not dim within ourselves the light that helps others to live.
EXPECTATIONS
May we remember, O God, that from those to whom much has been given, much is expected.
TIME AND TIMELESSNESS
O God of timeless ages, in whom the past, the present, and the future meet: we bow our heads before the everlasting. Our years come and go swiftly. Soon we children of an hour must give back to You the breath that gave us life. Yet the voice of faith sings in our nighttime. The silence speaks; the darkness glows. Amid the haste, we see the march of desti nies and feel Your presence as our dust is lighted with immortal power.
THE HOPE
O God, when the shame of what we are is upon us, touch us with the hope of our becoming.
PRAY SOFTLY
O God, when we thank You for what is given to us and not to others, let us remember to pray softly, for there will be many who overhear.
The pilgrim prayer – Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end…. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem lost in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
St. Gildas 5th C Pilgrims’ Prayer
In health may I and all of my companions
Safely arrive with no harm or injury –
May my boat be safe in the waves of the ocean,
My horses safe on the highways of the earth,
Our money safe as we carry it with us
To pay due heed to our poor necessities.
May our enemies fail to do harm to us,
However evil the counsels which inspire them,
In the eternal name of Christ our Master,
May my roads all lie plain before me,
Whether I climb the rugged heights of mountains,
Or descend the hollow depths of valleys,
Or trudge the lengthy roads on open country,
Or struggle through the thickets of dense forest:
May I walk always in straight ways and shining
To longed-for places . . .”
For the Diversity of Races and Cultures
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you
for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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)
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.
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.
God’s Blessing be with you,
Christ’s peace be with you,
the Spirit’s outpouring be with you,
now and always. Amen.
(source: Celtic)
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)
Gaelic Prayer: Ancient Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed Sunlight shine on you and warm your heart until it glows, so that a stranger may come and be warmed by it, and also a friend. May the light shine out of the two eyes of you like a candle set in two windows of a house, bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
May the blessing of the Rain be on you-soft, sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit so that flowers may spring up. And may the Great Rains be on you. May they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines reflected, and sometimes a star.
May the blessing of the Earth be on you-the great and round earth. May you have a kindly greeting for folks you pass as you’re going along the roads. May the earth be soft under you when you lie upon it, tired at the close of the day.
++++
Good Night Dearly Loved Ones! I love you! Let us travel gently throughout the coming week, loving each other, bearing each other's burdens, and being each other's soft place to fall. Let us continue to welcome each other into our beautiful and loving family of God. Let our lives radiate gratitude, welcome, love, and hope. Don't forget to practice being CALM (Compassionate Accepting, Loving, and Merciful)!
With love and blessings,
Sara
Resources:
A to Z quotes
A New Zealand Prayer Book.Book of Common Prayer
Enriching Our Worship 1997
Prayers of Power
Satucket Lectionary
Other Sources as Notes.
No comments:
Post a Comment