Good Evening Dear Ones!
Happy Take Care Tuesday! I hope everyone is being strengthened by God on this special season of the year. Here is y/our question with today's #AdventWord #Strengthen. What strengthens you? For the past two days we have had the following words, tender and deliver. Do these words have anything in common? Please take time to meditate upon them. Google the words and look to find out how many of them have Bible verses attached. Tonight we have a combination plate of lessons and also we remember the Feasts of Charles De Foucauld and Nicholas Ferrar.
We open tonight's time together with the Prayer of Abandonment by Charles De Foucauld.
Father, I abandon myself into Your hands.
Do with me what You will; whatever You do, I will thank You.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me, as in all Your creatures,
and I’ll ask nothing else, my Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit;
I give it to You with all the love of my heart,
for I love You, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into Your hands with a trust beyond measure,
because You are my Father. Amen.
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Let us ponder these quotes from Charles de Foucauld.
"Cry the Gospel with your whole life." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"You have only one model, Jesus. Follow, follow, follow him, step by step, imitating him, sharing his life in every way." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"As soon as I came to believe there was a God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than live only for him." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"Above all, always see Jesus in every person, and consequently treat each one not only as an equal and as a brother or sister, but also with great humility, respect and selfless generosity." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"It is not necessary to teach others, to cure them or to improve them; it is only necessary to live among them, sharing the human condition and being present to them in love." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"We should never forget the two axioms: 'Jesus is with me' and whatever happens, happens by the will of God." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"To love anyone is to hope in him for always. From the moment at which we begin to judge anyone, to limit our confidence in him, from the moment at which we identify him with what we know of him and so reduce him to that, we cease to love him and he ceases to be able to be better." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"The absence of risk is a sure sign of mediocrity." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"To receive the grace of God you must go to the desert and stay awhile." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"The one thing we owe absolutely to God is never to be afraid of anything." ~ Charles de Foucauld
"What great faith our Lord Jesus Christ asks of us - and how just that is. Do we not owe him such faith? It looks impossible to us, but Jesus is Master of the impossible." ~ Charles de Foucauld
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Calendar Work For December 1: Turn off recorded music and sing some favorite songs. The Magi move closer.
Celtic Advent Calendar 2020! Yes it's here From Contemplative Cottage
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Isaiah 2:3a
Come let us light this Candle in Unity and come together in a sacred circle of love.
Come let us hold sacred and loving space for one another.
Come let us be together in Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love during the upcoming season of Advent.
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Isaiah 2:3a
Watch at all times, praying for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the world shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Prepare the way of the Lord, make the paths straight, and all the world shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:4, 6
Restore us again O God: show us the light of your face and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3
According to the riches of God’s glory, may you be strengthened with the might through the Holy Spirit in your inner being, and may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19
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THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
Lest we forget the great traditions of freedom and faith which are the heritage of humanity; lest we forget the pioneers, the statesmen, the bridge builders, the artists; and lest we forget You, the God of our fore bears who is our God also:
We light this candle of remembrance.
For the hope of a better world, in which righteousness and peace shall prevail among the people of the earth, and to create which is the task of the generations in which we stand, as well as for the courage and faith we shall need if we are to carry on this unfinished work:
We light this candle of consecration.
May the flame upon the altar of free faith shine in our hearts al ways, reminding us of the dark places to which we may carry light and strengthening us in every moment of doubt and discouragement with unwavering faith in You whom we serve and whose we are.
The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!"
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God is with us.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God is with us.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God is with us.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God dwells in you
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God dwells in you.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God dwells in you.
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
God lives within me
Peace be.
Peace.
God lives within me.
Hymn before meditating and reading of the lessons:
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.
1 Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5 May he live* while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
7 In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 73:24-28
24 You will guide me by your counsel, *
and afterwards receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? *
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.
26 Though my flesh and my heart should waste away, *
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Truly, those who forsake you will perish; *
you destroy all who are unfaithful.
28 But it is good for me to be near God; *
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
11A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Isaiah 35:1-7,10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, *
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, *
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, *
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *
Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *
and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool *
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
THE LETTER OF
James
Salutation
1James, a servant* of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 My brothers and sisters,* whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Poverty and Riches9 Let the believer* who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.
Luke 10:21-24
Jesus Rejoices
21 At that same hour Jesus* rejoiced in the Holy Spirit* and said, ‘I thank* you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.* 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’
23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesus* said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’
John 16:25-33
Peace for the Disciples
25 ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.* 28I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’
29 His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 30Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ 31Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? 32The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’
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.
Lord God, make us so worthy of your perfect love; that, with your deacon Nicholas Ferrar and his household, we may rule ourselves according to your Word, and serve you with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Loving God, help us to know you wherever we find you and seek to serve you in all people, that with your servant Charles de Foucauld, we may be faithful even unto death; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)
Praise and honour to you living God;
your coming will be like a thief in the night,
like lightning flashing across the sky.
Grant that we may be ready,
and our hearts answer, Come Lord Jesus.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen. (ANZPB)
God as we begin our season of Advent and preparation for your Son' Jesus's birth may we be united again with him and each other.
God as we await joyfully this most special day of days may we see Jesus in the eyes of each other and hold the Christ light for then.
God may we be sensitive to the needs of our family members nearby and far away.
God may we learn to have patience, slow down, and be.
God may we take time to be at one with You and each other.
God may we take away any label that divides us and that we may only be we and only have our names to identify each other.
God may peace prevail upon Earth beginning with ourselves, just like pebbles in a pond.
God may we step up and show love and compassion to those who mourn.
God may we learn to serve our fragile family members without fear and lovingly respond to their needs.
God we pray for the healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits and all of our family members who are ill.
God fill our hearts with love to overflowing so that everyone will know that we are your children and truly the Family of Love and at one with each other.
God we pray for __________________________
God we offer our thanksgivings ____________________
God we celebrate this day _______________________
God help us to remember___________________________
God lift up these our prayers in the name of your son Jesus our redeemer, healer, reconciler, master, brother, and friend. Amen.
or these
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.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
Holy Wisdom, in your loving kindness you created and restored us when we were lost: inspire us with your truth, that we may love you with our whole minds and run to you with open hearts, through Christ our Savior. Amen. (source: Alcuin of York, Mass of Wisdom)
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
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
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.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Love, blessings, hope, peace, and joy be always yours!
Sara
We pray that the end of this Church year may bring reflection and a recommitment to the promises we made at baptism.
We pray for the strength and courage to do better in our lives and in the church.
We pray for all ministers and the people whom they shepherd.
We pray for peace. Help us to remember that peace in the world starts in our hearts with love for you and our family members.
We pray for all those who will travel this week to be with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate Thanksgiving.
We pray that everyone will dial down the hype and focus on you.
We pray for the lost, lonely, hungry, and the homeless.
We pray for all those who minster to those in cyberspace and online.
We pray for the courage and strength to practice good wellness habits.
Help us to be good stewards of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Help us today to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet and hold the Christ light for them.
Help us to have an attitude of Gratitude by showing it in both words and deeds.
Help us to remember to pray for___________________________.
Help us to give thanks for________________________________.
Help us we pray for all those who we haven't seen for awhile, help us to reach out to them.
Help us we pray this day that we may to remember that you are the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords and that we walk with you on your journey everyday as you walk with us.
Loving God we lift up these petitions to you and give you thanks that you are already at work responding to them in your time. Help us to wait patiently on you and know that you are our Guardian, Guide, and stay this day and for evermore. Amen.
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