Good Evening Family!
Today we remember and celebrate the lives of C.S. Lewis and John F. Kennedy who brought much into our lives. C.S. Lewis brought us the wonderful Chronicles of Narnia and many extraordinary theological tomes and President John F. Kennedy was a prophet who died too soon and left us with a legacy many likened to Camelot. These men gave us wonderful insights into life and living and how to engage in the work of being human. Tonight we ponder their words of wisdom and give thanks for their legacies. But first here is our Celtic Advent Calendar Work.
Celtic Advent Calendar 2021! Yes it's here From Contemplative Cottage
November 22
CS Lewis Day Appreciate an animal companion today and look for the Deeper Magic! Aslan Lives!!
Text or email a loved one a favorite memory of them. Mary & Joseph move closer
Here are our quotes to ponder!
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." ~ C. S. Lewis
"One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties." ~ C. S. Lewis
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." ~ John F. Kennedy
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." ~ C. S. Lewis
"This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see HIM." ~ C. S.
Lewis
"We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny." ~ C. S. Lewis
"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done." ~ C. S. Lewis
"There can be no progress if people have no faith in tomorrow." ~ John F. Kennedy
"God wants a child's heart and a grownup's head." ~ C. S. Lewis
"Never let your fears hold you back from pursuing your hopes." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful." ~ C. S. Lewis
"The state is the servant of the citizen, and not his master." ~ John F. Kennedy
"I want God, not my idea of God." ~ C. S. Lewis
"Lets talk to one another instead of about one another." ~ John F. Kennedy
"Christ, who said to the disciples, 'You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' can truly say to every group of Christian friends, 'You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.'" ~ C. S. Lewis
"The best road to progress is freedom's road." ~ John F. Kennedy
"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." ~ John F. Kennedy
"It is in the American tradition to stand up for one's rights--even if the new way to stand up for one's rights is to sit down." ~ John F. Kennedy
"We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others." ~ John F. Kennedy
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Bonus Quotes
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." ~ C. S. Lewis
"God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good." ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"To him who knows how to read the legend, it conveys more truth than the chronicle." ~ Martin Buber
"Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles" ~ N.D. Wilson
"Chronicles are not explanatory of what they record." ~ Gilbert Ryle
"The Old Testament is full of poetry, prophecies, chronicles, documentations, storytelling, fairytales." ~ Amos Oz
"Newspapers. . . give us the bald, sordid, disgusting facts of life. They chronicle, with degrading avidity, the sins of the second-rate, and with the conscientiousness of the illiterate give us accurate and prosaic details. . ." ~ Oscar Wilde
"Newspapers. . . give us the bald, sordid, disgusting facts of life. They chronicle, with degrading avidity, the sins of the second-rate, and with the conscientiousness of the illiterate give us accurate and prosaic details. . ." ~ Oscar Wilde
"Love is friendship that has caught fire. ... Love is content with the present, it hopes for the future, and it doesn't brood over the past. It's the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough." ~ Ann Landers
"History is no longer just a chronicle of kings and statesmen, of people who wielded power, but of ordinary women and men engaged in manifold tasks. Women's history is an assertion that women have a history." ~ Toshiko Kishida
Let us light our eighth Candle of Celtic Advent and pray for unity among all people and that we may strive to be as one in heart, mind, and spirit.
Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening. Make your Church bright with your radiance.
Loving Jesus: Protect and sustain us with your hand. Open the door of your love that, sealed with your wisdom, we may be free to serve you with joy. Amen. (a prayer of St. Gertrude)
You Lord are all that I have; I have promised to keep your Word. I have sought your favour with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promises.Psalm 119:57, 58
Jesus said, ‘Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.’John 12:26
Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One. Baruch 5:5
According to the riches of God’s glory, may you be strengthened with the might through the Holy Spirit in your inner being, and may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with the fulness of God.Ephesians 3:16–19
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
Because in the beauty of holiness you call us to worship you, and you have given faithful artists, writers, and composers to illumine our prayer from age to age.
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19
Jesus said, ‘Anyone who has left brothers or sisters, father, mother, or children, land or houses for the sake of my name will be repaid many times over, and given eternal life.’Matthew 19:29
If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.John 8:31, 32
Our invocational hymn:
Be thou my vision, O Christ of my heart,
Be all else but naught to me save that thou art,
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
Riches I heed not, nor folk’s empty praise,
Be thou my inheritance now and always,
Be thou and thou only the first in my heart,
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.
Come let us worship.
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.
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.
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
Hymn
Hail, gladdening Light, of God’s pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest,
The lights of evening round us shine,
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung,
With undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone!
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
139 Domine, probasti
1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You press upon me behind and before *
and lay your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6 Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
where can I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning *
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there your hand will lead me *
and your right hand hold me fast.
1 Peter 1:3-9
A Living Hope
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice,* even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen* him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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.
John 16:7-15
7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate* will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about* sin and righteousness and judgement: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
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.
O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty, we give you thanks for Clive Staples Lewis whose sanctified imagination lights fires of faith in young and old alike; Surprise us also with your joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is ours in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Gracious God we pray for our family throughout the world and that peace may prevail everywhere and in our own country.
Gracious God we pray for understanding between all peoples and that we begin to not be afraid of race, creed, color, gender, or sexual orientation.
Gracious God we offer our prayers and thanksgivings to you remembering especially____________
Gracious God we pray for the least of these that they may find safe shelter, warm meals, and protective clothing. We pray that we may see you in them as we serve and love them without fear and judgement.
Gracious God we pray for all who travel and that the weather will be in their favor.
Gracious God may we always be thankful and have an attitude of gratitude.
We pray these prayers and offer them in the Name of your Only Son who taught us the true meaning of thanksgiving by instituting the Holy Eucharist which means Holy Thanksgiving. Amen.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you have reminded us that we are to be a forever and eternal family and as we are this we need to lovingly respond to the need of our family members.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you teach us many things day by day. May we remember that we are each other's keeper.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God you love us unconditionally through and through. May we find the way to do this and model your example. May we have courage to speak the words I love you with warm hearts and light in our eyes.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God we pray for all who are ill and seeking healing. We pray and give thanks for healing that has already taken place. May we speak up for our family members who may not know how to advocate for themselves.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially_____________
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.
Jesus we come to you with our voices united in prayer for peace and lift up these our petitions and prayers 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.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
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
As we listen we begin to prepare to pray and give thanks for the days leading up to our weekend of rest, relaxation, and renewal.
Come Holy Spirit, calm our hearts, minds, and physical selves that we may feel your enlivening and empowering presence.
Gracious Spirit, we pray for peace in this troubled and broken world of ours and in ourselves.
Gracious Spirit, as we approach God's day of Sabbath may we prepare ourselves in heart and mind to meet Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the cup of salvation, and by drinking from the well of the Water of life that never runs dry.
Gracious Spirit, help us to give ourselves permission to take rest, do self-care, and honor God by entering into that weekly Sabbath Rest.
Gracious Spirit, give us courage to serve the least of these and become their loving and compassionate brothers and sisters.
Gracious Spirit, heal all those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.
Gracious Spirit, we pray for the protection of those who travel .
Gracious Spirit, may we ever seek to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Gracious Spirit, encircle all those who are dying and who have died. Enfold you loving arms around the departed and give loving comfort to those who mourn. May we lovingly enfold them as well.
Gracious Spirit, as the night has fallen and we shall soon be at rest we pray with special intention for ourselves and especially our family members who have asked us to pray for their concerns especially___________________
We add any other prayers, celebrations, remembrances, and thanksgivings here. We pray these prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
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