Good Evening Beloved Ones!
Happy Saturday Today's words of wisdom come from Harvey Milk who was martyred in San Francisco on November 27, 1978. For those of us who are part of the LGBTQ community and allies he figures prominently in our struggle for universal rights. I remember when he was killed and the person who did it used the famous "Twinkie Defense". This was a hate crime pure and simple. We have made great strides since then, but we have miles to go before we sleep soundly and securely.Remember equality is for all and not some and that God created us in God's image and likeness. Remember these words of Thurgood Marshall? They apply here: "Equal means getting the same thing, at the same time and in the same place." ~ Thurgood Marshall
Happy Saturday Today's words of wisdom come from Harvey Milk who was martyred in San Francisco on November 27, 1978. For those of us who are part of the LGBTQ community and allies he figures prominently in our struggle for universal rights. I remember when he was killed and the person who did it used the famous "Twinkie Defense". This was a hate crime pure and simple. We have made great strides since then, but we have miles to go before we sleep soundly and securely.Remember equality is for all and not some and that God created us in God's image and likeness. Remember these words of Thurgood Marshall? They apply here: "Equal means getting the same thing, at the same time and in the same place." ~ Thurgood Marshall
Celtic Advent Calendar Work Catch Up
This Year Beginning on Thursday
November 25
Invite a single person to join you for a meal in person or via Zoom.
November 26
Reach out to a person whom you haven’t seen recently.
November 27
Make a tasty something and give it away.
Last Year!
November 27 Reach out to a person whom you haven’t seen recently.
Let us begin our vigil by engaging in "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.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
So dear ones let us love one another and know that God loves you. Know this in your heart home for sure. Let us ponder these words of Harvey Milk as we celebrate his life!
“The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up. And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.
_ Harvey Milk
So if there is a message I have to give, it is that if I've found one overriding thing about my personal election, it's the fact that if a gay person can be elected, it's a green light. And you and you and you, you have to give people hope....”
― Harvey Milk
"All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential." ~ Harvey Milk
"Lets make no mistake about this: The American Dream starts with the neighborhoods. If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild our neighborhoods. And to do that, we must
understand that the quality of life is more important than the standard of living." ~ Harvey Milk
"It takes no compromise to give people their rights" ~ Harvey Milk
"All men are created equal. Now matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is about." ~ Harvey Milk
"Coming out is the most political thing you can do" ~ Harvey Milk
"Freedom is too enormous to be slipped under a closet door." ~ Harvey Milk
"Hope will never be silent." ~ Harvey Milk
"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you...And you...And you...Gotta give em hope." ~ Harvey Milk
"If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild our neighborhoods." ~ Harvey Milk
"The American Dream starts with the neighborhoods." ~ Harvey Milk
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning." ~ Harvey Milk
"It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repressions." ~ Harvey Milk
"Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard." ~ Harvey Milk
"Freedom is too enormous to be slipped under a closet door." ~ Harvey Milk
"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you...And you...And you...Gotta give em hope." ~ Harvey Milk
Come let us worship:
Joseph Barth: A Grace
We give thanks for Being;
We give thanks for being here;
We give thanks for being here together.
It is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10
"We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away. We must dissent from a government that has left its young without jobs, education or hope. We must dissent from the poverty of vision and the absence of moral leadership. We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better." ~ Thurgood Marshall
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 us continue to our nightly prayer vigil where we will light up the world with God's light.
God we pray that we may love one another as you love us.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
Listen to the words and music of this piece of music as we reflect on God's love and how we are to respond to God's call to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Ubi Caritas - Durufle
Pause, breathe, and listen
Ubi Caritas -Bob Hurd
We light out next single candle and pray for and end to all division, hatred, bigotry, violence, and any thing that draws us from our love of one another and from God as God's beloved children.
God we pray that we all may be one and that our divisions may cease and that we will carry this light into the world as your beloved children and peacemakers.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
Let us reflect on how we can come together as your children and what that will look like.
Let us pause, breathe, and listen to the words of this piece of music. Meditate on the instruction and sing along.
There's Honey in the Rock
God we light the next candle in solidarity with everyone who is a different faith and loves you just the same.
God we pray that we may learn from each other and be lovingly accepting of everyone's faith.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
We reflect upon how we have used religion as a divider, destroyer of our family members throughout the world, and a way to build walls in fear.
Pause, breathe and Listen
Let us listen to this peace mantra sung by Tina Turner.
Peace Mantra - Tina Turner
Origin: Hindhuism
Language: Sanskrit
God we come to you and pray for all nations of the world where there is division, war, hatred, and daily acts of violence and Covid-19 cases. We pray especially for those on the front lines and remember all of God's children in this fragile and broken world.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
The Mourner's Kaddish In English
Tonight we light our candles and pray for an end to hatred an fear that keep us from being reconciled to each other and ourselves. We light these candles for all of our family members who live in fear because they are afraid to be who they are. We pray and light candles for reconciliation between all family members who have sought to be divided and not united. We pray and light our candles in memory of all indigenous peoples of the world and that we may respect their history, their persons, and their gifts to the world. We pray and light our candles this night so that we may light up the world with God's light as a message of Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy to all who have been affected by hatred, bigotry, racism, phobias, discrimination, violence, abuse, and terror. We pray that we may shine the light of God by authentically showing to others our true selves that God has made in God's image and likeness. We light our candles and celebrate each other's diversity and the gifts we bring to this beautiful world that God created. We lift up our prayers each day for the Orlando 49 and all who have been victimized by terror. We pray for_____________________. The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the light of Christ in you!
God we come to you to acknowledge that no one is invisible and that we as your children each have a special role to play in this fragile and broken world of ours. Help us to know that as COG (Children of God) we may help serve you by serving others by making the right changes we want to see in world. Help us ourselves to be the change we want to see in the world. May we always seek to be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) even when the day's news cycles rattle our nerves. May our spirits be enlivened, our steps, quickened, and that we may feel your Living Water Coursing through our veins this night and forevermore. Amen.
Christ our Passover Pascha nostrum
1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.
Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
In the months to come, as we hear the voices of too many white Americans continue to insist on controlling the narrative of what it means to be a “real American,” I invite you to prayerfully read the words of poet David M. Williams (below). Hear what the Spirit is saying to the people. And let the people say, “Amen.”
_________
Ode to a Lady
Spotted in the murky harbor,
our ship Canada-bound
soon to pass,
I glanced
sideways, frowned, and wondered
how she was faring, a clay green torch-bearing
beacon that looked the transcendent
proprietress of an inn
with many rooms.
A ferry steamed toward her, full
of many-colored hats and a few people
waving at our fourteen-deck behemoth.
As we passed, with slightly
stooping shoulders,
she held forth her torch.
Tears welled up as
I recalled a childhood trip, my mother
letting me climb to her crown.
Now leaning over the rail
on the tenth deck of our ship
I heard her whisper how dare they.
Psalm 33:12–22
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.
Acts 17:22-31
22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor* he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would search for God* and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said,
“For we too are his offspring.”
29Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’
We give thanks for Being;
We give thanks for being here;
We give thanks for being here together.
It is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10
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
Blessed are those who have suffered for the cause of right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:10
"We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away. We must dissent from a government that has left its young without jobs, education or hope. We must dissent from the poverty of vision and the absence of moral leadership. We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better." ~ Thurgood Marshall
Do not ask anxiously, What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What shall we wear? The whole world runs after such things. Set your heart and mind on God’s commonwealth and justice first, and all the rest will come to you as well. So do not be anxious about tomorrow. Today has enough problems of its own; tomorrow can look after itself. Matthew 6:31-34
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
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
God said, ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’ Genesis 8:22
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Psalm 24: 1
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
God said, ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’ Genesis 8:22
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Psalm 24: 1
Let us light our candles, turn on our porch lights, and widen our heart homes and make vigil and hold sacred space for one another in unity and love.
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.
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 us light our 13th candle and walk in the light and enter silently into the Gratitude Zone and Give Thanks To God. Take time to continue or begin a gratitude journal and write down what you are grateful for during this retreat time.
16 Days of Bible Verses and Prayers From the Mothers Union for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.
Day 1
God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God, he created them;
male and female, he created them.
Then God looked over all he had made,
and he saw that it was very good!
Genesis 1:27, 31 (NLT)
Creator God, thank you that we are all made in your
image, and equally loved by you. Open our eyes to see
your face in those of our sisters and brothers. Amen
Day 2
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be
released,
that the blind will see that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.
Luke 4:18-19 (NLT)
Compassionate God may those experiencing all forms of
violence be given courage, hope and practical help to
break free from their abuse. Amen
Day 3
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Steadfast God, give us resolve to work tirelessly to
change attitudes that promote, accept and perpetuate all
forms of violence and abuse. Amen
Let us continue to our nightly prayer vigil where we will light up the world with God's light.
We light our candles and pray this night in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters here and throughout the world.
We begin this vigil as we light a single candle in unity and with love for one another.
We begin this vigil as we light a single candle in unity and with love for one another.
God we pray that we may love one another as you love us.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
Listen to the words and music of this piece of music as we reflect on God's love and how we are to respond to God's call to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Ubi Caritas - Durufle
Pause, breathe, and listen
Ubi Caritas -Bob Hurd
We light out next single candle and pray for and end to all division, hatred, bigotry, violence, and any thing that draws us from our love of one another and from God as God's beloved children.
God we pray that we all may be one and that our divisions may cease and that we will carry this light into the world as your beloved children and peacemakers.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
Let us reflect on how we can come together as your children and what that will look like.
Let us pause, breathe, and listen to the words of this piece of music. Meditate on the instruction and sing along.
There's Honey in the Rock
God we light the next candle in solidarity with everyone who is a different faith and loves you just the same.
God we pray that we may learn from each other and be lovingly accepting of everyone's faith.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
We reflect upon how we have used religion as a divider, destroyer of our family members throughout the world, and a way to build walls in fear.
Pause, breathe and Listen
Let us listen to this peace mantra sung by Tina Turner.
Peace Mantra - Tina Turner
Origin: Hindhuism
Language: Sanskrit
Om Om Om
Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu
Sarvesham Poornam Bhavatu
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu
Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Mantra's Meaning:
May there be happiness in all
May there be peace in all
May there be completeness in all
May there be success in all
Let us engage in 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.
We light candles and place them in a circle and pray for all nations of the world.
Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu
Sarvesham Poornam Bhavatu
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu
Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Mantra's Meaning:
May there be happiness in all
May there be peace in all
May there be completeness in all
May there be success in all
Let us engage in 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.
We light candles and place them in a circle and pray for all nations of the world.
God we come to you and pray for all nations of the world where there is division, war, hatred, and daily acts of violence and Covid-19 cases. We pray especially for those on the front lines and remember all of God's children in this fragile and broken world.
God hear the cries of your children as we pray.
Pause, breathe, and listen in silence as we reflect upon what peace is supposed to be like.
We light out candles in loving memory of all your children who have lost their lives to any kind of violence.
The Mourner's Kaddish In English
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world
which He has created according to His will.
which He has created according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;
and say, Amen.
and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;
and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored,
adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that
are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that
are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen
may He create peace for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen
Tonight we light our candles and pray for an end to hatred an fear that keep us from being reconciled to each other and ourselves. We light these candles for all of our family members who live in fear because they are afraid to be who they are. We pray and light candles for reconciliation between all family members who have sought to be divided and not united. We pray and light our candles in memory of all indigenous peoples of the world and that we may respect their history, their persons, and their gifts to the world. We pray and light our candles this night so that we may light up the world with God's light as a message of Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy to all who have been affected by hatred, bigotry, racism, phobias, discrimination, violence, abuse, and terror. We pray that we may shine the light of God by authentically showing to others our true selves that God has made in God's image and likeness. We light our candles and celebrate each other's diversity and the gifts we bring to this beautiful world that God created. We lift up our prayers each day for the Orlando 49 and all who have been victimized by terror. We pray for_____________________. The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the light of Christ in you!
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.
God we come to you to acknowledge that no one is invisible and that we as your children each have a special role to play in this fragile and broken world of ours. Help us to know that as COG (Children of God) we may help serve you by serving others by making the right changes we want to see in world. Help us ourselves to be the change we want to see in the world. May we always seek to be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) even when the day's news cycles rattle our nerves. May our spirits be enlivened, our steps, quickened, and that we may feel your Living Water Coursing through our veins this night and forevermore. Amen.
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
God is Love and where true love is,God himself is there!
God is Love and where true love is God himself is.
God is Love and where true love is God
God is Love and where true love is.
God is Love
Be still and know that God is Love.
Be still and know that God is.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be
Peace be still.
God is Love and where true love is God himself is.
God is Love and where true love is God
God is Love and where true love is.
God is Love
Be still and know that God is Love.
Be still and know that God is.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be
Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be
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.
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.
Christ our Passover Pascha nostrum
1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.
Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
God, we light our candles this night and pray that the words we pray may lend towards peace and CALM. God we pray that we may learn to use our words with gentleness and wisdom. We pray that we may pray and think about what we do and how we act. We pray that our lives may be kind and mannerly one to another. We pray that we may seek to love our enemies with the understanding that we are just people trying to do the best we can with what we have. We pray for peace in the world that we may show the world how to be peacemakers not only in our words but in our deeds. We pray that we may shine your light to this fragile and broken world with our gracious words, works, and deeds and love energy. We pray this night for all those who haven't learned how to use kind words and deeds but violence. We pray for the change of hearts and minds that will lead to a world that is united in love, understanding, equity, justice, and universal human rights. We pray these our prayers who used Words to create and not destroy and Brought to Earth the Word Incarnate Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Confession of Need
Let us confess our need for God’s healing grace.
Silence
Compassionate God,
we confess our weaknesses and our need for your
strengthening touch.
We confess that some illnesses stem from our own fault,
while others are beyond our control.
We turn to you, source of life,
and ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ
for the gifts of true healing and life in you. Amen.
May the God of love visit us in our times of trial and weakness,
and raise us to newness of life, through Jesus Christ, in the
power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
From The Resistance Prays
Holy One,
You have given us enough
And so, we give you thanks
For the gifts we need to challenge and change
For companions on the journey toward reconciliation
We give you thanks for the wisdom of our bodies
The creativity and passion of our minds
The grounding of our own souls in a world unsettled and turned
And we give you thanks
For the unsettling, as well
We thank you for the moments when our being breaks through the complacency of markets
To name what is not right and what still can be
Help us to hold both of these truths deep in our being, Holy One,
Giving thanks and giving voice,
Breathing in and breathing out,
Growing and rising still
Amen
In the months to come, as we hear the voices of too many white Americans continue to insist on controlling the narrative of what it means to be a “real American,” I invite you to prayerfully read the words of poet David M. Williams (below). Hear what the Spirit is saying to the people. And let the people say, “Amen.”
_________
Ode to a Lady
Spotted in the murky harbor,
our ship Canada-bound
soon to pass,
I glanced
sideways, frowned, and wondered
how she was faring, a clay green torch-bearing
beacon that looked the transcendent
proprietress of an inn
with many rooms.
A ferry steamed toward her, full
of many-colored hats and a few people
waving at our fourteen-deck behemoth.
As we passed, with slightly
stooping shoulders,
she held forth her torch.
Tears welled up as
I recalled a childhood trip, my mother
letting me climb to her crown.
Now leaning over the rail
on the tenth deck of our ship
I heard her whisper how dare they.
++++
Let us take time to do our Worry Free Sabbath work and then engage in mindfulness before we enter fully into our time of worship.
Now let us begin relaxing our bodies by unwinding, breathing, doing some relaxation exercises that will make you feel de-stressed.
After this let us listen to this Ravi Shankar Chants of India or this Relaxation: Relaxing Nature Sounds and Tibetan Chakra Meditation Music for Relaxation Meditation
After this let us listen to this Ravi Shankar Chants of India or this Relaxation: Relaxing Nature Sounds and Tibetan Chakra Meditation Music for Relaxation Meditation
Psalm 33:12–22
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.
Acts 17:22-31
22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor* he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would search for God* and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said,
“For we too are his offspring.”
29Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’
A Song of Pilgrimage Priusquam errarem
Ecclesiasticus 51:13-16,20b-22
Before I ventured forth,
even while I was very young, *
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
In the forecourts of the temple I asked for her, *
and I will seek her to the end.
From first blossom to early fruit, *
she has been the delight of my heart.
My foot has kept firmly to the true path, *
diligently from my youth have I pursued her.
I inclined my ear a little and received her; *
I found for myself much wisdom and became adept in her.
To the one who gives me wisdom will I give glory, *
for I have resolved to live according to her way.
From the beginning I gained courage from her, *
therefore I will not be forsaken.
In my inmost being I have been stirred to seek her, *
therefore have I gained a good possession.
As my reward the Almighty has given me the gift of language,*
and with it will I offer praise to God.
Matthew 25:31-40
The Judgement of the Nations
31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”
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.
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
O God, who called your servants Kamehameha and Emma to an earthly throne that they might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave them zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we also may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For the Human Family
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Birthday of Harvey Milk From All Saints Pasadena
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace to follow the example of our brother Harvey Milk, that we might fearlessly contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may employ our freedom and our privilege in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations. Ground us in your love and in your compassion to be agents of change and proclaimers of the hope that will never be silent. All this we ask in the name of the One who created us in love and called us to walk in love together. Amen.
The Mission of the Church
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Social Justice
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.
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For Prophetic Witness in Society
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.
For Prophetic Witness in The Church
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
Let us pray.
We pray for and remember Harvey Milk
We pray for and remember Matthew Shepard
We pray for and remember the Martyrs of Orlando.
We pray for and remember those who died in the violent acts at Stonewall
We pray for and remember all transgender persons who have been murdered and who have taken their own lives.
We pray for and remember all people who have died from A.I.D.S. and those who had the courage to ACT- Up.
We pray for and remember all people who still live in the closet with fear. Help them to come out and be accepted authentically for who they are and who God made them to be.
We pray for and remember all people in the LGBTQIA community who are resisting and persisting at this present time for equality and human rights.
We pray for and remember all the youth who are discovering who they are as people We pray that we may lovingly support them and give them courage to love and be loved.
We pray for and remember all allies, families, and friends who are standing in solidarity shoulder to shoulder with us.
We pray for and remember all people who are suffering mental health issues as they strive to live authentically.
We pray for and remember all the communities and nations of the world where being LGBTQIA is a crime and punishable by death. We pray for universal human rights for all people no matter who they are. We pray for the gay community in Chechnya.
We pray for and remember all those whom we name now who are precious to you O God, and us ________.
We pray for and remember that You O God Created us in your image and likeness in love, for love, and to be loved. Amen.
Let us continue to our nightly prayer vigil where we will light up the world with God's light.
Tonight we light our candles and pray for an end to hatred an fear that keep us from being reconciled to each other and ourselves. We light these candles for all of our family members who live in fear because they are afraid to be who they are. We pray and light candles for reconciliation between all family members who have sought to be divided and not united. We pray and light our candles in memory of all indigenous peoples of the world and that we may respect their history, their persons, and their gifts to the world. We pray and light our candles this night so that we may light up the world with God's light as a message of Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy to all who have been affected by hatred, bigotry, racism, phobias, discrimination, violence, abuse, and terror. We pray that we may shine the light of God by authentically showing to others our true selves that God has made in God's image and likeness. We light our candles and celebrate each other's diversity and the gifts we bring to this beautiful world that God created. We lift up our prayers each day for the Orlando 49 and all who have been victimized by terror. We pray for_____________________.
The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the light of Christ in you!
Here we pray for God, ourselves, our community with hearts that are open to all with love and mercy.
We pray this night to end the need to hide our true selves from the world.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are struggling to come to terms who they are.
We pray for loving and supportive families who won't be judgmental and who will offer a soft place in which to fall.
We pray this night for the heartbroken and those who are in need of loving care.
We pray this night for all caregivers who are being drained and need respite.
We pray this night for all who are longing for love and companionship.
We pray this night for all the least of these that we may be able to help them in anyway we can.
We pray for all of our faith communities that we may learn from them with hearts and minds open to seek common ground.
We pray this night for all who have died that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.
We pray this night especially for______________________________
We pray that we may practice good conservation in the preservation of God's Cathedral of life.
We pray that we all may find soft places to fall and that they may be places of human and physical sanctuary.
We pray, We pray, We pray and we pray some more for any tender concern that is on our hearts this night ________________
We pray these our prayers this night for all refugees, migrants, victims of human trafficking and any and all forms of violence.
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace to follow the example of our brother Harvey Milk, that we might fearlessly contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may employ our freedom and our privilege in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations. Ground us in your love and in your compassion to be agents of change and proclaimers of the hope that will never be silent. All this we ask in the name of the One who created us in love and called us to walk in love together. Amen.
The Mission of the Church
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Social Justice
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.
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For Prophetic Witness in Society
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.
For Prophetic Witness in The Church
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
Let us pray.
We pray for and remember Harvey Milk
We pray for and remember Matthew Shepard
We pray for and remember the Martyrs of Orlando.
We pray for and remember those who died in the violent acts at Stonewall
We pray for and remember all transgender persons who have been murdered and who have taken their own lives.
We pray for and remember all people who have died from A.I.D.S. and those who had the courage to ACT- Up.
We pray for and remember all people who still live in the closet with fear. Help them to come out and be accepted authentically for who they are and who God made them to be.
We pray for and remember all people in the LGBTQIA community who are resisting and persisting at this present time for equality and human rights.
We pray for and remember all the youth who are discovering who they are as people We pray that we may lovingly support them and give them courage to love and be loved.
We pray for and remember all allies, families, and friends who are standing in solidarity shoulder to shoulder with us.
We pray for and remember all people who are suffering mental health issues as they strive to live authentically.
We pray for and remember all the communities and nations of the world where being LGBTQIA is a crime and punishable by death. We pray for universal human rights for all people no matter who they are. We pray for the gay community in Chechnya.
We pray for and remember all those whom we name now who are precious to you O God, and us ________.
We pray for and remember that You O God Created us in your image and likeness in love, for love, and to be loved. Amen.
Let us continue to our nightly prayer vigil where we will light up the world with God's light.
Tonight we light our candles and pray for an end to hatred an fear that keep us from being reconciled to each other and ourselves. We light these candles for all of our family members who live in fear because they are afraid to be who they are. We pray and light candles for reconciliation between all family members who have sought to be divided and not united. We pray and light our candles in memory of all indigenous peoples of the world and that we may respect their history, their persons, and their gifts to the world. We pray and light our candles this night so that we may light up the world with God's light as a message of Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy to all who have been affected by hatred, bigotry, racism, phobias, discrimination, violence, abuse, and terror. We pray that we may shine the light of God by authentically showing to others our true selves that God has made in God's image and likeness. We light our candles and celebrate each other's diversity and the gifts we bring to this beautiful world that God created. We lift up our prayers each day for the Orlando 49 and all who have been victimized by terror. We pray for_____________________.
The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the light of Christ in you!
Here we pray for God, ourselves, our community with hearts that are open to all with love and mercy.
We pray this night to end the need to hide our true selves from the world.
We pray this night for all of our family members who are struggling to come to terms who they are.
We pray for loving and supportive families who won't be judgmental and who will offer a soft place in which to fall.
We pray this night for the heartbroken and those who are in need of loving care.
We pray this night for all caregivers who are being drained and need respite.
We pray this night for all who are longing for love and companionship.
We pray this night for all the least of these that we may be able to help them in anyway we can.
We pray for all of our faith communities that we may learn from them with hearts and minds open to seek common ground.
We pray this night for all who have died that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.
We pray this night especially for______________________________
We pray that we may practice good conservation in the preservation of God's Cathedral of life.
We pray that we all may find soft places to fall and that they may be places of human and physical sanctuary.
We pray, We pray, We pray and we pray some more for any tender concern that is on our hearts this night ________________
We pray these our prayers this night for all refugees, migrants, victims of human trafficking and any and all forms of violence.
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
― Teresa of Ávila
For Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Micah 6:8 8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
In Times of Conflict
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Micah 6:8 8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
In Times of Conflict
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Poor and the 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.
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.
For the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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
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.
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
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 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
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.
The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Romans 15:13
believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Romans 15:13
The blessing of God, the eternal goodwill of God, the shalom of God, the wildness and the warmth of God, be among us and between us, now and always.
Today's Meditation
If I chose to hide you away, it is for a reason.
I have brought you to this place.
Drink in the silence. Seek solitude.
Listen to the silence.
It will teach you. It will build strength
Let others share it with you.
It is little to be found elsewhere.
Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.
Find silence. Find solitude – and having discovered her riches, bind her to your heart.
Frances J. Roberts
I have brought you to this place.
Drink in the silence. Seek solitude.
Listen to the silence.
It will teach you. It will build strength
Let others share it with you.
It is little to be found elsewhere.
Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.
Find silence. Find solitude – and having discovered her riches, bind her to your heart.
Frances J. Roberts
Good Night All! Let us enter into our time of vigil and prayer! I love you! Here are tomorrow's Collects for the First Sunday of Advent!
Good Night Dear Ones. I love you. Have a blessed rest and Blessed and Joyous New Church Year and Advent Season.
Peace, hope, joy, and Love!
Sara
Resources
A to Z quotes
A New Zealand Prayer Book
Book of Common Prayer
Contemplative Cottage
Enriching our Worship 1 and 2
In Lak'Ech- Luis Valdez
Metis Aboriginal Ministries- Smudging prayer
Northumbria Community
Quote sites for prayers
Satucket Lectionary Page:
Walk With Me On Our Journey
Helpful Blogs for the season:
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