Traveling light on the Way of Love

Good Evening Beloved Family!

Happy Wisdom Wednesday!Today we turn towards the Eucharistic Lectionary for our lessons. All of these lessons are small but mighty texts that have much to say to us about simplicity and traveling light. Today let us ponder the words of the Gospel according to Luke as our marching orders on the Way of Love. This is how we must live our lives in the days and weeks to come. Our journal work today is to do a word analysis on the word simplicity. For our Nehemiah readings let us read chapters 6-9 this week and into the next.No need to rush. 
Questions of the day: Could you do what Jesus directed the Twelve to do?Could you do it today?

Let us engage in the "Be Stills" and do gentle inhalations and exhalations.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.




Let us ponder these quotes!

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet." ~ Frederick Buechner

"When the solution is simple, God is answering." ~ Albert Einstein

"Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein

"Lord, catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain so that at least for the moment, I may be startled into seeing that you are here in all your splendor, always and everywhere, barely hidden, beneath, beyond, within this life I breathe." ~ Frederick Buechner

"There is great freedom in simplicity of living." ~ Peace Pilgrim

"Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more." ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

"The simplest things are often the truest." ~ Richard Bach

"Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near." ~ Frederick Buechner

"Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest." ~ Peace Pilgrim

"Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature." ~ Thomas a Kempis

"We find by losing. We hold fast by letting go. We become something new by ceasing to be something old." ~ Frederick Buechner

"Live simply so that others may simply live." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"The world says, The more you take, the more you have. Christ says, the more you give, the more you are." ~ Frederick Buechner

"Justice is the grammar of things. Mercy is the poetry of things." ~ Frederick Buechner

"We find by losing. We hold fast by letting go. We become something new by ceasing to be something old. This seems to be close to the heart of that mystery. I know no more now than I ever did about the far side of death as the last letting-go of all, but now I know that I do not need to know, and that I do not need to be afraid of not knowing. God knows. That is all that matters." ~ Frederick Buechner


Come let us worship.

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

Jesus said: “If any of you would come after me, deny yourself
and

take up your cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

God is Spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and

in truth. John 4:24
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Let us light our candles and make vigil as we begin afresh and as one family of God and love.

God we pray that this season may be a time of we not me. May we place ourselves in the role  of being servants  where we may be of service to others.

Because this is a change of season, here is a vigil prayer from last year. It is a reminder for us to care for the earth.

Let us light our candles and make vigil. Tonight's vigil prayer comes from the Episcopal Church House of Bishops: A Word to the Church from the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops used by permission from The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, Bishop Suffragan ,Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

A Prayer for Our Time and for the Earth
Dear God, Creator of the earth, this sacred home we share;
Give us new eyes to see the beauty all around and to protect the wonders of creation.
Give us new arms to embrace the strangers among us and to know them as family.
Give us new ears to hear and understand those who live off the land
and to hear and understand those who extract its resources.
Give us new hearts to recognize the brokenness in our communities
and to heal the wounds we have inflicted.
Give us new hands to serve the earth and its people
and to shape beloved community.
For you are the One who seeks the lost,
binds our wounds and sets us free,
and it is in the name of Jesus the Christ we pray.
Amen.

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.

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.

In Lak 'Ech by Luis Valdez

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.

A Smudging Prayer

Creator,
our Father in heaven,
we come to you as your children.
We confess that we are weak and broken images of you.
We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ.
May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies.
We pray that your Holy Spirit
 will help us to worship in spirit and truth.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you.
Amen.

You O Lord are in your holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before you. Habakkuk 2:20 (adapted)


24 Domini est terra

1 The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, *
the world and all who dwell therein.

2 For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

3 "Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? *
and who can stand in his holy place?"

4 "Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.

5 They shall receive a blessing from the Lord *
and a just reward from the God of their salvation."

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.


Proverbs 30:5-9
5 Every word of God proves true;
   he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
   or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.


7 Two things I ask of you;
   do not deny them to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
   give me neither poverty nor riches;
   feed me with the food that I need,
9 or I shall be full, and deny you,
   and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
or I shall be poor, and steal,
   and profane the name of my God.

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



Luke 9:1-6
The Mission of the Twelve
9Then Jesus* called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ 6They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

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.

From the 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.

God of liberating power, who called Thecla to proclaim the gospel and did not permit any obstacle or peril to inhibit her: Empower courageous evangelists among us, that men and women everywhere may know the freedom that you offer us in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Everything Has Its Time
3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

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 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

“May today there be peace within. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. 

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. 

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 

It is there for each and every one of us.” 
― Teresa of Ávila 

We pray the words of the Beatitudes 

The Beatitudes

5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

For Peace

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of

peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel

for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion

may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your

love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with

you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for

ever. Amen.

For those who Influence Public Opinion

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many

voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where

many listen and write what many read; that they may do their

part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and

its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Self-Dedication

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so

guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our

wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto

thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always

to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

We pray these intercessions as well.

God of all mercy help us to learn what it means to be merciful and Teach us how we show mercy.

God of all justice help us to learn what it means to be just. Teach and show us how to be just.

God of all humbleness help us to learn what it means to be humble.Teach and show us ho to be humble and enter into humility.

God of all love help us learn to love more fully. Teach and show us how to be more loving.

God of all peace help us learn to be peace makers. Teach and show us how to be peace makers.

God of all joy help us to be joyful and show joy to others.

Help us every day to know that we are praying in the light and love of God.

God of all kindness help us to learn to be kind. Teach and show us how and what it means to be kind.

God of all hopefulness help us to learn how to be hopeful when we feel hopeless.

God of all gentleness help us to learn to be gentle even when we feel like lashing out. Bring us back to that gentle core where we feel your gentleness.

God of all holiness help us to learn how to be holy. Teach us and show us what it means to be holy beings.

God of all patience help us to learn how to be patient. Teach and show us how to be patient.

God help us we pray to enter into a time of prayer for all who have been victims of unnecessary violence, bigotry, hatred, and fear.

God we pray for___________________

God we pray for the least of these who will not have adequate food, clothing, and shelter this weekend. Help us to care for them as you care for us out of your great abundance. 

Help us every day to know that we are praying in the light and love of God

God help us to learn how to be practitioners of civil disobedience, peaceful non-violent protest, and social justice. Teach and show us how to do these things with courage, grace, and love.

God we lift up these our prayers to you in your light and love. Amen.

The Song of Simeon- Luke 2:29-32

Nunc Dimittis

1 Lord now you let your servant ′ go in ′ peace:

your ′ word has ′ been ful′filled.

2 My own eyes have ′ seen the · sal′vation:

which you have prepared in the ′ sight of ′ every ′ people,

3† a light to reveal you ′ to 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 shall be for ′ ever. ′ A′men.

Gracious God, 

you have given us much today; 

grant us also a thankful spirit. 

Into your hands we commend ourselves 

and those we love. 

Be with us still, 

and when we take our rest, 

renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.

Amen.

May the God of all grace 

who has called us to eternal glory in Christ,

restore, establish and strengthen us. 

To the one true God be the dominion for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! May we continue to have a blessed week filled with Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace and be empowered by the Holy Spirit into humane and just action for the good of all and the peace of this fragile and broken world in which we live, move, and have our being. (Sorry for the Pauline run-on sentence)

Love and blessings,

Sara

Resources:

Satucket Lectionary for Lessons and our Saint of the Day : Thecla

The New Zealand Prayer Book

The Book of Common Prayer

In Lak 'Ech - Luis Valdez

Metis Aboriginal Ministries- Smudging Prayer

Bonus Resource:

The Acts of Paul and Thecla