Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Let us meditate on today's #AdventWord2021 #Soul

 




Good Evening Dear Ones!

Wow it is the last day of November on Chumash Land. Today we are meditating on the #AdventWord #Soul and celebrating The Feast of St. Andrew Apostle and Martyr. St. Andrew was the perfect model of being a leader. He helped to lead his brother Simon Peter to Jesus! Do you have anyone in your life who is ans was like this? Our #AdventWord Work includes meditating on the definitions, synonyms, and quotes on the word #Soul. So let us begin.


Optional work : Journaling our Advent Journey using the format from A Disciple's Prayer Book.

Reflect and Respond to the Gospel and or #AdventWord of the Day

1. What word(s), idea(s), or sentence(s) stand out for

you in the Gospel of the Day?

(Reread the Gospel.)

2. What is Jesus (the Gospel) saying to you?

(Reread the Gospel.)

3. What is Jesus (the Gospel) calling you to do?

Now let us continue with our Celtic Advent Calendar Work:

Ideas for Living Joyfully Forty Days of Celtic Advent & the Twelve Days of Christmas 2021

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

November 30 Turn off recorded music and sing some favorite songs. The Magi move closer.

Let us meditate on the #AdventWord #Soul

The definition of today's #AdventWord #Soul.

soul

noun

the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come:

arguing the immortality of the soul.

the disembodied spirit of a deceased person:

He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.


the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.


a human being; person.


high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.


the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.


the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.


the embodiment of some quality:

He was the very soul of tact.

(initial capital letter)Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.

shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.

deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.

soul music.

SEE LESS

adjective

of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture:

soul newspapers.

++

The Synonyms of #Soul

noun psyche, inspiration, energy

Part I

SYNONYMS FOR soul

Compare Synonyms

conscience

courage

ego

feeling

genius

heart

intellect

intelligence

life

mind

personality

spirit

stuff

thought

vitality

anima

animation

animus

ardor

bosom

bottom

breast

cause

disposition

essence

fervor

force

individuality

marrow

nobility

noumenon

pith

principle

quintessence

reason

substance

vivacity

animating principle

breath of life

pneuma

recesses of heart

secret self

spiritual being

vital force

élan vital

Part II

noun -being

SYNONYMS FOR soul

Compare Synonyms

body

character

creature

ghost

human being

individual

man

person

spirit

woman

mortal

personage

phantom

shadow

umbra

living soul

Now let us meditate upon these quotes on the word soul from Goodreads!

“Beauty is the illumination of your soul.”

― John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom


“Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.”

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.”

― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

“It is very hard for evil to take hold of the unconsenting soul.”

― Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea

“Let today be the day you stop being haunted by the ghost of yesterday. Holding a grudge & harboring anger/resentment is poison to the soul. Get even with people...but not those who have hurt us, forget them, instead get even with those who have helped us.”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

“Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.”

― John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

“I'm not a body with a soul, I'm a soul that has a visible part called the body.”

― Paulo Coelho, Eleven Minutes

“One of the deepest longings of the human soul is to be seen.”

― John O'Donohue

“Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.

If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.

For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.”

― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

“If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

― C.S. Lewis

++++

Let us light a 16th Candle to represent the 16th day of Celtic Advent and pray for unity among all people and that we may strive to be as one in heart, mind, and spirit. (You may turn on your porch light if that would be safer)




May the fire of God’s love burn brightly and steadfastly in our hearts like the golden light within the sanctuary lamp. - St. Columba

Let us light our candles and make vigil!

Our God and Savior now draws near: O come let us worship.

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

Andrew said, ‘Here are five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’John 6:9

Blessed are those who have suffered for the cause of right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.Matthew 5:10

Andrew first found his brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah,’ and he brought him to Jesus.John 1:41–42

Those who want to save their life will lose it; but those who lose their life for the sake of Christ and the gospel will save it.Mark 8:35


Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.



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 Ecce nunc

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Psalm 141:1-3,8ab Domine, clamavi

O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
My eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
in you I take refuge.

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Gracious and loving God as we meet in community this evening to pray and light candles let us remember all of our family members who do not have community, family, where loving shoulders and soft places in which to fall are available. We pray for the lost, lonely, and afraid that they may be found and brought into the family of God and wrapped in a quilt of comfort. We pray for our family members who are refugees, asylum seekers, children in foster care, children who are seeking to be adopted and all who are waiting for their forever homes wherever that may be. We pray that we may practice radical hospitality and welcome all of our family members and especially the strangers who are in our midst. We pray that we may keep our eyes on all of our loved ones and pray that no one, not one will fall through the cracks. We pray that a community of CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) may spring up around the world and especially where there is hatred, violence, terror, and division. We pray that peace, justice, and mercy may prevail upon Earth, that we may be peacemakers and called the Children of God. Amen.




Hymn
God that madest earth and heaven, 
Darkness and light; 
Who the day for toil hast given, 
For rest the night; 
May thine angel guards defend us, 
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us, 
This livelong night.
Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
And, when we die, 
May we in thy mighty keeping 
All peaceful lie: 
When the last dread call shall wake us, 
Do not thou our God forsake us, 
But to reign in glory take us 
With thee on high.

An Irish Prayer


As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen




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.

From the Resistance Prays

God of glory, you nourish us with spiritual food. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, that through us your light may shine into all the world.

Because the world is poor and starving, go forth with bread.
Because the world is filled with fear, go out with courage.
Because the world is in despair, provide hope.
Because the world is living lies, speak the truth.
Because the world is sick with sorrow, go out with joy.
Because the world is weary of wars, bring peace.
Because the world is seldom fair, go do the work of justice.
Because the world is under judgment, go with mercy.
Because the world will die without it, always go with love.

- adapted from a prayer by Rev. Mark Jennings

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


Reading's for St. Andrew's Day

Lessons in bold are those used in today's service.

Eucharistic:

Psalm 19
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
Romans 10:9-18
Matthew 4:18-22

Daily Office:

AM Psalm 34
Isaiah 49:1-61 Corinthians 4:1-16

PM Psalm 96,100
Isaiah 55:1-5John 1:35-42



96 Cantate Domino

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.

2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.

4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.

5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.

6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!

7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the Lord honor and power.

8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.

10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the Lord when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth.

13 He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth.

100 Jubilate Deo

1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.

2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.

4 For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.


Isaiah 55:1-5

An Invitation to Abundant Life

55 Ho, everyone who thirsts,

   come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

   come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

   without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

   and your labour for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

   and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

   listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

   my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

   a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

   for he has glorified you.

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

Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

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.

John 1:35-42

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed*). 42He brought Simon* to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter*).

A Song of the Heavenly City

Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4

I saw no temple in the city, *

for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.

And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *

for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

By its light the nations shall walk, *

and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.

Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; *

into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.

I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, *

flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, *

and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations.

All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands,

and all servants give worship there; *

there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.


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.

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


Collects of the Day From A New Zealand Prayer Book


Everliving God,

your apostle Andrew obeyed the call of your Son

and followed him without delay;

grant that we like him may give ourselves readily

to do what you command;

through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.


Jesus, when you call

may we like Andrew leave our nets,

our home, our everything, to follow you.

Hear this prayer for your name’s sake.

Amen.


Creator God,

We praise you for your love in coming to us,

unworthy though we are.

Give us grace to accept the Christ who comes in your name,

and the courage to be Christ for others.


We praise and thank you, Creator God,

for you have not left us alone.

Each year you come to us, Emmanuel,

God with us in a manger.

Each time you come to us

in the broken bread and the cup we share.

In time or out of time you will be revealed

and we shall see you face to face.


Give us courage, God our strength,

to see your Christ in all who suffer,

to be hands to the helpless,

food for the hungry,

and rescue for the oppressed.

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. BCP.


 


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.

Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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.


Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with 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 but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

God of all goodness, come into our heart this night and stay with us when the night is dark and the day is ending. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, help us to Lovingly Respond to the needs all of us your Children who are the least of these.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, may give the gift or presence to all who are mourning any loss.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray that we may lovingly care for your Cathedral of Life and each other.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray for all who are dying and have died today may they enter or have entered the Thin Places with joy and peace. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other while we are living and when are in the Thin Places and reflect your loving image to one another.


God of all goodness, take away all fears, hate, and dis-ease that keeps us from being united as your family of love.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, give us courage to speak truth to power and the strength to fight injustice anywhere and be a voice for the voiceless.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we offer our additional prayers remembering especially_______________
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

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.

"May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore." ~ Saint Patrick


God of all goodness we lift up our prayers in the name of your only son Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, brother, and friend. Amen

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

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

(source: from Saint Clare)

The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" 
I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditation. 

Blessing, light, and glory surround us
and scatter the darkness of the long and lonely night.

Good Night Dear Ones a special closing office before we rest!
As we close our  time together let us have a period of quiet and wind down to open the doors of sanctuary and our time of retreat. 

Let us remember the words of Thomas Merton: "We must slow down to a human tempo and we’ll begin to have time to listen."

Tonight let us now enter our sanctuaries in our heart homes for a time of quiet and holy listening. Practice your breathing and mindfulness exercises with these adapted forms of  the "Be Stills".

Let us start with a variation on this:

Be Still and Know That I am God.
Be Still and know 
Be Still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members , and yourself.

Listen with Love in your heart.

Be still and listen to God
Be still and listen
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members and yourself.

Listen with Joy in your Soul

Be still and listen to God.
Be still and listen 

Be still
Be

Listen for hope in the world.

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other , our family members and yourself.

Be still and listen to God
Be sill and listen
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other, our family members,and yourself.

Listen and pray for peace.

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

Listen for God
Listen to God's voice
Listen to God's message
Listen to the sufferings of  God's Fragile and Broken World.


Prayers in the stillness. If you so desire you may do a virtual labyrinth to add to your meditation.





*Those may be replaced with names, or by using Family Members.

Quiet our minds O God so that we can listen and hear your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.
Help us to be still and listen to that quiet place in our heart and spirit. Help us to unwind our minds O God.

Quiet our bodies that we may turn our bodies from human doings to human beings.
Take the keys away  that drive our bodies to do and not be.

Help us to feel our spirits and the indwelling of  You and the Holy Spirit in this time of being quiet and still.
May our spirits be enlivened even in the quietness.

Lord we pray for all who are traveling may they take time to rest and be alert.

Lord help us to lay down our burdens each day at your feet so that we may find rest and spend time with You.

Give us the peace of mind that we are always seeking.

While we spend time with you Lord please take care of all of our loved ones and those whom we have been praying for. If we should fall asleep and rest be with them as we rest in the quietness.


In the stillness  O Lord may we drink of the Living Water of Life and be refreshed and feel it coursing through our  veins and give us the energy to do your will to your glory and in service to others.

In the stillness we remember and pray for all those who have requested our prayers for themselves and on behalf of others________________________________.

In the stillness we give thanks for the gifts of quiet, contemplation, rest, and times for our bodies, minds, and spirits to be renewed.  We give thanks for__________________________

In the stillness we celebrate those times of joy and those who have made a difference in our lives remembering_____________________

In the stillness we remember those who have entered in to life eternal especially________________
And we remember those continue to grieve.

We pray for those awaiting surgery tomorrow. Calm their fears and anxieties Lord.

We pray for those who are being beset by bad weather O Lord. Ease these weather patterns Lord.

We pray for those who live in earthquake prone areas. Quiet their minds and give them  the peace and knowledge that You O God are there.

Lord God watch over this your troubled and divided world. Set us on fire to help heal and unite it with our prayers, love, service, and actions. Give us grace, courage and love energy to do this in Your Name. Amen.

++++
Beloved ones!  I love you. Have a blessed rest in God's loving arms!

Peace, hope, joy, and Love!
Sara

Resources
If you would like to meditate and study the lessons for St. Andrew's Day, Click the word St. Andrew
Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship 1 and 2
Quote sites for prayers
Northumbria Community
Metis Aboriginal Ministries- Smudging prayer
A to Z quotes
In Lak'Ech- Luis Valdez
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Helpful Blogs for the season:

The below is from the Northumbria Community

Celtic Advent: November 16th

This was the traditional beginning of monastic fasting and preparation for the feast of Christmas, reflecting Lent in lasting for forty days. We seek to prepare the way for the Lord to come right to the centre of our lives. Every valley and pot-hole should be filled in, every mountain and hill levelled and every obstacle removed. The mountains are the wrongs we do, and the pot-holes are the good things we fail to do.
It is said that the door to the stable where the Christ-child has been born is very low – and only those who kneel find access. Being ready for Christmas should mean that our thoughts are focused not just on letters, cards, food and drink, and presents, but on repentance, humility and interior ‘house-cleaning’. The more we prepare in this way, the less we will be overwhelmed by the commercialisation of Christmas.
Prepare a way for the Lord!

Show me, Lord Jesus, how I may best prepare to celebrate Your birth into this world. Show me those things I need to repent of, that I may find Your forgiveness. Show me how to avoid the greed and selfishness of this season and focus on what is truly essential. Amen.


This week’s Rule reflection
We are not a Community because of physically living close to each other (although some do) but because we live close to our chosen way of living and have covenanted together to live Availability and Vulnerability before God and others as one expression of living faithfully in a fragmented world Trevor Miller  


Monday, November 29, 2021

#AdventWord Day 2= #strength! God gives us strength in trying moments!

 




Good Evening Dear Ones!


Happy Monday! I'm writing this after being told by my Primary Care Doctor that I'm severely anemic. Today it has taken a lot of #strength to write this blog and feel connected to the ancestral land of the Chumash. I almost shut down the computer but God gave me strength to write this. So let us begin.

On this the second day of 4 week Advent  our #AdventWord of the day is #strength!  Today we are going to take a look at a few quotes on our #AdventWord of the day-#Strenght. If you are interested in the word itself you may do the word analysis journaling exercise. So let us begin!




Optional work : Journaling our Advent Journey using the format from A Disciple's Prayer Book.

Reflect and Respond to the Gospel and or #AdventWord of the Day

1. What word(s), idea(s), or sentence(s) stand out for

you in the Gospel of the Day?

(Reread the Gospel.)

2. What is Jesus (the Gospel) saying to you?

(Reread the Gospel.)

3. What is Jesus (the Gospel) calling you to do?

Now let us continue with our Celtic Advent Calendar Work:

Ideas for Living Joyfully Forty Days of Celtic Advent & the Twelve Days of Christmas 2021

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

November 29

Read or Tell stories to loved ones.


Please ponder these quotes!


All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.


From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring


“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

― Lao Tzu


“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

― Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections


“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

― Albert Camus

“Promise Yourself


To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.


To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.


To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.


To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.


To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.


To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”

― Maya Angelou

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

― Corrie Ten Boom, Clippings from My Notebook

There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

― Frederick Douglass


“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt


“A quiet conscience makes one strong!”

― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“Spending time with God is the key to our strength and success in all areas of life. Be sure that you never try to work God into your schedule, but always work your schedule around Him.”

― Joyce Meyer


“Don't give up the fight,

Stand up for your rights.”

― Bob Marley


“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)”

― Anonymous, Holy Bible: New International Version

“REMEMBER YOUR GREATNESS


Before you were born,

And were still too tiny for

The human eye to see,

You won the race for life

From among 250 million competitors.

And yet,

How fast you have forgotten

Your strength,

When your very existence

Is proof of your greatness.

You were born a winner,

A warrior,

One who defied the odds

By surviving the most gruesome

Battle of them all.

And now that you are a giant,

Why do you even doubt victory

Against smaller numbers,

And wider margins?

The only walls that exist,

Are those you have placed in your mind.

And whatever obstacles you conceive,

Exist only because you have forgotten

What you have already

Achieved.


Poetry by Suzy Kassem”

― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem


“Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me.”

― Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches


Let us light a 15th Candle to represent the 15th day of Celtic Advent and pray for unity among all people and that we may strive to be as one in heart, mind, and spirit. (You may turn on your porch light if that would be safer)




May the fire of God’s love burn brightly and steadfastly in our hearts like the golden light within the sanctuary lamp. - St. Columba

Let us light our candles and make vigil!
Stand up and raise your heads; your redemption is drawing near.Luke 21:28




Our God and Savior now draws near: O come let us worship.

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

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down
righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,
and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also. Isaiah 45:8, NRSV

Andrew first found his brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah,’ and he brought him to Jesus.John 1:41–42

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.



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 Ecce nunc

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Psalm 141:1-3,8ab Domine, clamavi

O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
My eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
in you I take refuge.

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Gracious and loving God as we meet in community this evening to pray and light candles let us remember all of our family members who do not have community, family, where loving shoulders and soft places in which to fall are available. We pray for the lost, lonely, and afraid that they may be found and brought into the family of God and wrapped in a quilt of comfort. We pray for our family members who are refugees, asylum seekers, children in foster care, children who are seeking to be adopted and all who are waiting for their forever homes wherever that may be. We pray that we may practice radical hospitality and welcome all of our family members and especially the strangers who are in our midst. We pray that we may keep our eyes on all of our loved ones and pray that no one, not one will fall through the cracks. We pray that a community of CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy) may spring up around the world and especially where there is hatred, violence, terror, and division. We pray that peace, justice, and mercy may prevail upon Earth, that we may be peacemakers and called the Children of God. Amen.




Hymn
God that madest earth and heaven, 
Darkness and light; 
Who the day for toil hast given, 
For rest the night; 
May thine angel guards defend us, 
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us, 
This livelong night.
Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
And, when we die, 
May we in thy mighty keeping 
All peaceful lie: 
When the last dread call shall wake us, 
Do not thou our God forsake us, 
But to reign in glory take us 
With thee on high.

An Irish Prayer


As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen




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.

From the Resistance Prays

God of glory, you nourish us with spiritual food. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, that through us your light may shine into all the world.

Because the world is poor and starving, go forth with bread.
Because the world is filled with fear, go out with courage.
Because the world is in despair, provide hope.
Because the world is living lies, speak the truth.
Because the world is sick with sorrow, go out with joy.
Because the world is weary of wars, bring peace.
Because the world is seldom fair, go do the work of justice.
Because the world is under judgment, go with mercy.
Because the world will die without it, always go with love.

- adapted from a prayer by Rev. Mark Jennings

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


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."


Isaiah 2:1-5

The Future House of God

2The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.



2 In days to come

   the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

   and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

3   Many peoples shall come and say,

‘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.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

   and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

   and their spears into pruning-hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

   neither shall they learn war any more.


Judgement Pronounced on Arrogance


5 O house of Jacob,

   come, let us walk

   in the light of the Lord!


A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit

Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21


Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors *

a holy people and a blameless race.

She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, *

withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.


To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, *

and led them by a marvelous way;

She was their shelter by day *

and a blaze of stars by night.


She brought them across the Red Sea, *

she led them through mighty waters;

But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *

and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.


And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, *

and praised with one voice your protecting hand;

For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *

and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.



Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ 7And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ 8The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ 10When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one* in Israel have I found such faith. 11I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 13And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour.

A Song of God’s Love

1 John 4:7-11


Beloved, let us love one another, *

for love is of God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, *

for God is Love.

In this the love of God was revealed among us, *

that God sent his only Son into the world,

so that we might live through Jesus Christ.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *

and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.

Beloved, since God loved us so much, *

we ought also to love one another.

For if we love one another, God abides in us, *

and God’s love will be perfected in us.


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.

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

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)

Come, O come Emmanuel,
you are the way, the truth and the life;
Come, living Saviour
come to your world which waits for you.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen. (ANZPB)

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.

Matthew 5:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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.


Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with 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 but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

God of all goodness, come into our heart this night and stay with us when the night is dark and the day is ending. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, help us to Lovingly Respond to the needs all of us your Children who are the least of these.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, may give the gift or presence to all who are mourning any loss.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray that we may lovingly care for your Cathedral of Life and each other.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we pray for all who are dying and have died today may they enter or have entered the Thin Places with joy and peace. 
Let us shine your vesper light to each other while we are living and when are in the Thin Places and reflect your loving image to one another.


God of all goodness, take away all fears, hate, and dis-ease that keeps us from being united as your family of love.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, give us courage to speak truth to power and the strength to fight injustice anywhere and be a voice for the voiceless.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

God of all goodness, we offer our additional prayers remembering especially_______________
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.

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.

"May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore." ~ Saint Patrick


God of all goodness we lift up our prayers in the name of your only son Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, brother, and friend. Amen

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

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

(source: from Saint Clare)

The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!" 
I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditation. 

Blessing, light, and glory surround us
and scatter the darkness of the long and lonely night.

Good Night Dear Ones a special closing office before we rest!
As we close our  time together let us have a period of quiet and wind down to open the doors of sanctuary and our time of retreat. 

Let us remember the words of Thomas Merton: "We must slow down to a human tempo and we’ll begin to have time to listen."

Tonight let us now enter our sanctuaries in our heart homes for a time of quiet and holy listening. Practice your breathing and mindfulness exercises with these adapted forms of  the "Be Stills".

Let us start with a variation on this:

Be Still and Know That I am God.
Be Still and know 
Be Still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members , and yourself.

Listen with Love in your heart.

Be still and listen to God
Be still and listen
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other ,our family members and yourself.

Listen with Joy in your Soul

Be still and listen to God.
Be still and listen 

Be still
Be

Listen for hope in the world.

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other , our family members and yourself.

Be still and listen to God
Be sill and listen
Be still
Be

Inhale God's Love for you
Exhale Your Love for God, each other, our family members,and yourself.

Listen and pray for peace.

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

Listen for God
Listen to God's voice
Listen to God's message
Listen to the sufferings of  God's Fragile and Broken World.


Prayers in the stillness. If you so desire you may do a virtual labyrinth to add to your meditation.





*Those may be replaced with names, or by using Family Members.

Quiet our minds O God so that we can listen and hear your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.
Help us to be still and listen to that quiet place in our heart and spirit. Help us to unwind our minds O God.

Quiet our bodies that we may turn our bodies from human doings to human beings.
Take the keys away  that drive our bodies to do and not be.

Help us to feel our spirits and the indwelling of  You and the Holy Spirit in this time of being quiet and still.
May our spirits be enlivened even in the quietness.

Lord we pray for all who are traveling may they take time to rest and be alert.

Lord help us to lay down our burdens each day at your feet so that we may find rest and spend time with You.

Give us the peace of mind that we are always seeking.

While we spend time with you Lord please take care of all of our loved ones and those whom we have been praying for. If we should fall asleep and rest be with them as we rest in the quietness.


In the stillness  O Lord may we drink of the Living Water of Life and be refreshed and feel it coursing through our  veins and give us the energy to do your will to your glory and in service to others.

In the stillness we remember and pray for all those who have requested our prayers for themselves and on behalf of others________________________________.

In the stillness we give thanks for the gifts of quiet, contemplation, rest, and times for our bodies, minds, and spirits to be renewed.  We give thanks for__________________________

In the stillness we celebrate those times of joy and those who have made a difference in our lives remembering_____________________

In the stillness we remember those who have entered in to life eternal especially________________
And we remember those continue to grieve.

We pray for those awaiting surgery tomorrow. Calm their fears and anxieties Lord.

We pray for those who are being beset by bad weather O Lord. Ease these weather patterns Lord.

We pray for those who live in earthquake prone areas. Quiet their minds and give them  the peace and knowledge that You O God are there.

Lord God watch over this your troubled and divided world. Set us on fire to help heal and unite it with our prayers, love, service, and actions. Give us grace, courage and love energy to do this in Your Name. Amen.

++++
Beloved ones!  I love you. Have a blessed rest in God's loving arms!

Peace, hope, joy, and Love!
Sara

Resources

Book of Common Prayer
Enriching our Worship 1 and 2
Quote sites for prayers
Northumbria Community
Metis Aboriginal Ministries- Smudging prayer
A to Z quotes
In Lak'Ech- Luis Valdez
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Helpful Blogs for the season:

The below is from the Northumbria Community

Celtic Advent: November 16th

This was the traditional beginning of monastic fasting and preparation for the feast of Christmas, reflecting Lent in lasting for forty days. We seek to prepare the way for the Lord to come right to the centre of our lives. Every valley and pot-hole should be filled in, every mountain and hill levelled and every obstacle removed. The mountains are the wrongs we do, and the pot-holes are the good things we fail to do.
It is said that the door to the stable where the Christ-child has been born is very low – and only those who kneel find access. Being ready for Christmas should mean that our thoughts are focused not just on letters, cards, food and drink, and presents, but on repentance, humility and interior ‘house-cleaning’. The more we prepare in this way, the less we will be overwhelmed by the commercialisation of Christmas.
Prepare a way for the Lord!

Show me, Lord Jesus, how I may best prepare to celebrate Your birth into this world. Show me those things I need to repent of, that I may find Your forgiveness. Show me how to avoid the greed and selfishness of this season and focus on what is truly essential. Amen.


This week’s Rule reflection
We are not a Community because of physically living close to each other (although some do) but because we live close to our chosen way of living and have covenanted together to live Availability and Vulnerability before God and others as one expression of living faithfully in a fragmented world Trevor Miller