Good Evening Dear Ones!
Welcome to Human Rights Week here at Walk With Me On Our Journey! I am writing this blog on the ancestral land of the Chumash and remember that we are called to recognize our indigenous family members who were and are foundational residents of the communities where we live.Today we celebrate the birth of Nelson Mandela. Whose wisdom are we going to ponder today? The words of Nelson Mandela, deliverance, and rescue. Our lessons for today remind us that God is calling us to do something, all we need to do is listen and go deeper into our heart homes. Let us ponder today's pieces of wisdom and meditate on our lessons for today which are a mixture of texts. So let us begin.
"Fools multiply when wise men are silent." ~ Nelson Mandela
"The Gospel is not a mere message of deliverance, but a canon of conduct; it is not a theology to be accepted, but it is ethics to be lived. It is not to be believed only, but it is to be taken into life as a guide." ~ Alexander MacLaren
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." ~ Nelson Mandela
"A successful search for truth means complete deliverance from the dual throng, such as of love and hate, happiness and misery." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it." ~ Nelson Mandela
"Where refugees seek deliverance that never comes And the heart consumes itself as if it would live,Where children age before their time And life wears down the edges of the mind,Where the old man sits with mind grown cold,While bones and sinew, blood and cell, go slowly down to death,Where fear companions each day's life,And Perfect Love seems long delayed.CHRISTMAS IS WAITING TO BE BORN:In you, in me, in all mankind." ~ Howard Thurman
"Freedom can never be taken for granted. Each generation must safeguard it and extend it. Your parents and elders sacrificed much so that you should have freedom without suffering what they did. Use this precious right to ensure that the darkness of the past never returns." ~ Nelson Mandela
"We live in hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us" ~ Paul McCartney
"God uses rescued people to rescue people." ~ Christine Caine
"The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children." ~ Nelson Mandela
"Our call is to be God's agents, to rescue not only the human race but the whole of creation." ~ Tony Campolo
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." ~ Nelson Mandela
"You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action." ~ Nelson Mandela
"Love has the power to rescue us and not let go, otherwise it isn't love" ~ Garrison Keillor
"As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest." ~ Nelson Mandela
"There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return." ~ Nelson Mandela
"My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally. I dream of a world where all people of all races work together in harmony." ~ Nelson Mandela
in truth. John 4:24
Because by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ you have reconciled all things to yourself, not counting our sins against us and renewing our hearts to forgive as we have been forgiven.
+++Tonight let us sit quietly in quiet contemplation for as long as you'd like and then.
Take time to feel:
God's presence.
God enfolding you!
God loving you!
God consoling us if we are grieving,
God taking away all the worry,
God saying "Come to me and rest!",
God speaking in that wonderful "Still small voice of Calm" and reassurance,
God giving us guidance as to our future paths. Sit back relax and be at one with God!
Let us begin with the Be Stills.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am..
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am..
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am..
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
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
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together
with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
We light our candles and pray for the poor and neglected.
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP)
We vigil as one Beloved Community as we pray these prayers.
Let us light our first vigil candle in love and unity and pray for all of God's Family.
Our Neighbors are The Family of God who are in the following prayers and I invite you pray for them daily:
Jesus help us to remember who our neighbor is by praying for our family members below.
Women
Men
Children
Enemies
Refugees, immigrants of any kind
Caregivers
Those who don't share your political or religious beliefs
LGBTQ family members
Elderly
Family members with whom we are estranged
Everyone
The sick and the suffering
The mentally ill and memory challenged
Those living with H.I. V./ A.I.D.S
Everyone
Those who have caused you harm or abused you
Those who hate you or you hate ( Not acceptable)
Those who have forgiven you and those whom you have forgiven
Everyone
Those who do not share the same ethnicity or race as you
Political prisoners
Prisoners of war
Those who cause terror, violence, bullying, and do unspeakable things.
Everyone
Jews
Christians
Muslims
Buddhists
Hindus
All faith communities
Everyone
Indigenous peoples
Victims of Human Trafficking
Everyone
Cancer patients,
Chronically ill
The disabled
The poor
The homeless
The hungry
The lonely
The lost
The unemployed
The farm worker
Everyone
The misunderstood
The learning disabled
The marginalized
The invisible ones
The least of these
Everyone
The family of nations and all the peoples God's world
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of life in all its diversity and beauty. Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we praise you that you came to find the lost, to free the oppressed, to heal the sick, and to convert the self-centred. Holy Spirit, we rejoice that you breathe in the life of the world and are poured out into our hearts. As we live in the Spirit, may we also walk in the Spirit. Grant us faith and courage to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus: becoming pilgrims of justice and peace in our time. For the blessing of your people, the sustaining of the earth, and the glory of your name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." - Luke 4:18-19
Strengthen and fortify us, God, and fill us with your Spirit. Open the eyes of the public so that people won’t be misled by fascist rhetoric. Bless the attorneys trying to preserve liberty and give clarity to the judges sworn to uphold the Constitution. Amen.
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.
122 Lætatus sum
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the Lord.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
"May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good."
Numbers 20:9-11
9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. 10Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ 11Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
A Song of the Wilderness
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.
Ephesians 2:12-17
12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body* through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.* 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;
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.
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!’
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.
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.
God of peace, who called your servant Albert Luthuli to be a leader in the struggle against apartheid: Strengthen your Church, that in union with his example and prayers, we might resist injustice in all its forms; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for all time. Amen.
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, whose prophets taught us righteousness in the care of your poor: By the guidance of your Holy Spirit, grant that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in your sight; through Jesus Christ, our Judge and Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.
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.
Let us listen to the same prayer as sung by John Michael Talbot Lord Make Me an Instrument- John Michael Talbot
Lord Jesus, as we approach the up coming week may we pray for peace in the world.
Jesus, give us the courage to become instruments of your peace and be "Lights of the World" and "The Salt of the Earth"
Jesus, grant us the wisdom to find out for ourselves the truth behind all the stories we read and see in social media and in the newscasts.
Jesus, we pray for the forgotten people in all the war torn areas of the world that our eyes may be opened and that we may have loving hearts to welcome them.
Jesus, give us we pray the energy to do the tasks no matter how large or how small you give us in service to you and in your Kingdom.
Jesus, we remember those who are on our hearts this night especially______________________
Jesus, protect all our family members around the world this night and 'Hide them under the shadow of your wings"
Jesus, keep reminding us that we are to be your hands, your feet, your voice, in the world. Give us by your example to never treat anyone as invisible.
Jesus, help us to be living and breathing Bibles by our love, compassion, mercy, words, deeds and remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi "Preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words!"
Jesus, we remember all of our vulnerable family members who are lonely, lost, refugees, homeless, hungry, and all the least of these. Help us to remember that by caring and serving them we are serving you.
Jesus, heal all those who are mentally ill, PTSD, Memory problems, and all those who struggle with daily living. We remember all of our family members who are disabled.
Jesus, help us to know that we are one with you and God and that we may never be afraid to come to you and knock at the door. Help us always to be listening and seeking you in those moments of stillness and calm.
Come Lord Jesus and be among us this night and always. Amen.
Peace Prayer - Talbot
God is Love and Love is God
Prayers
In the Spirit of Loving Our Neighbors and Family Members
God is Love and Love is God, may we love you with a gentle and childlike spirit.
God is Love and Love is God, may we love our family members with a loving heart and a welcoming heart home.
God is Love and Love is God, may we learn to love ourselves and treat ourselves with gentleness and without shame.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for all who are ill and in any distress of body, mind, and spirit.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for peace in this fragile and broken world.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for all refugees, captives, victims of terror,violence, abuse, and human trafficking.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for all who are being persecuted by virtue of their sexuality and gender. May they be afforded all human rights and acceptance.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for all who are mourning and who are pre-grieving.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for all who are dying and who have died may they enjoy with joy their new mansion fit for them and in the Thin Places.
God is Love and Love is God, we pray for__________________________
God is Love and Love is God , we give thanks for_______________________
God is Love and Love is God, we lift up these our prayers in the Name of Jesus who is Love incarnate. Amen.
we thank you for our good life,
for those who are dear to us,
for our dead, and for all who have helped and influenced us.
We thank you for the measure of freedom we have,
and the extent to which we control our lives;
and most of all we thank you for the faith that is in us,
for our awareness of you and our hope in you.
Keep us, we pray you, thankful and hopeful
and useful until our lives shall end.
Amen.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship
In Lak 'Ech- Luis Valdez
Satucket for Lectionary and Psalm Texts
New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Metis Aboriginal Ministries: Smudging Prayer
YoutTube for Music.
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