For
Sunday, November 6, 2016, The Saints Among Us, Season of Creation***V, Readings:
Breastplate of St. Patrick*, Canticle 1**, Romans 12:9-18, Matthew 5:1-12a
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. [St. Patrick]
O ye people of God, bless ye the Lord,
O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,
O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,
praise him and magnify him for ever. [Canticle 1]
Let love be genuine...Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of it all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
[Romans 12:1a, 17-18]
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:7-10]
Saints among us, the theme for this week, may beg the question - what is a Saint? Dictionary.com in part defines "saint" as:
1. any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally
recognized as such by the
Christian Church, especially by canonization.
2. a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence.
In other words, certainly not me! However, we each know someone we would designate as a "saint" even if they are not formally recognized. Especially at this moment in this country's election process, anyone that can resist the pull into angry debate and diatribe has at least one star towards potential sainthood! And yet the readings especially chosen for this Sunday all give us clear direction as we arise each day for a path to saintly living. Further, in the Epistle appointed for All Saints' Day, the writer of Ephesians says, ...with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints...[Ephesians 1:18] Saintly living is very hard work for most of us and definitely requires a lifetime of, first, desire to attain to it, followed by attempts, false starts, regression, and re-programming, and repeat. But the hope is there, if my faith remains strong, that I may find some measure of virtue to live by. Sure, faith wavers at times, but then there is the morning and a chance to arise today with a fresh start and a recognition of all the opportunities to feel the power of God in my life and the companions great and small who are with me in spirit and in person. And in the letter to the Romans, Paul gently says, If it is at all possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all. So my prayer for this day is keep me in a peaceful mindset and let me not repay anger with anger, and strife with strife. As the saying goes what I give out I get back. I also must remember that I need not be alone in my quest to be a better person. I have a choice to join with a community of faith, not merely a "like-minded group" but involvement with those who provide me with spiritual growth, comforts me in difficult times, joins me in the daily highs and lows of life, and challenges me to work with and for all of God's Creation in all of its glory and grunge.
From the simple and almost child-like hymn often sung on All Saints' Day, I take great comfort and encouragement in the words describing the saints of God as one was a doctor and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green...you can meet them in school, or in church, or...in trains or in shops or at tea, for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too...[Hymn 293, "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God", The Hymnal 1982]. When it is at all possible, so far as it depends on me, with all the perseverance and prayer I can muster, I do mean to be one too.
LET US, GOD’S
PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most High Creator,
we arise today through all the strength, light, radiance, splendor, and
stability of our faith in You. Fill us with the wisdom to find the Way You have
set before us, led by the example of those we recognize as the Saints who have
gone before us, and the saints who live among us now.
Creator,
Redeemer, Sustainer God
RESPONSE: Let us rejoice and be glad in You
~ Most
High Creator, may those who lead us on this Earth, in this Nation, and in this
Community, arise today, and every day, with the heartfelt purpose to oppose all
that is merciless and cruel, acting only in the best interests of Your Planet
and all of her Inhabitants. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God
Let
us rejoice and be glad in You
~ Most High Creator,
bless all whose spirits are low from chronic illness, deadly addiction, or emotional
turmoil, and lift the energy of those who give them care. We pray especially
for:
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God
Let
us rejoice and be glad in You
~ Most High Creator,
as You bless and comfort the mournful, those now entering the gates of Your salvation,
are embraced forever in the Glory of Christ our Lord. We pray especially
for:
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God
Let
us rejoice and be glad in You
~ Most High Creator,
we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God
Let
us rejoice and be glad in You
~ Most
High Creator, we give You great thanksgivings and ask Your special blessings
upon all who stand with Christ to guide our life’s journey to You. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God
Let
us rejoice and be glad in You
The Celebrant
adds: Gracious, Compassionate God, keep us genuine in love, pure in
heart, and as peacemakers in our thoughts, words, and actions. Help us to arise
each day to seek the light and values of the Communion of Saints who surround
us in Heaven and on Earth. We ask through the salvation of Christ, and the wisdom
of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, are the Threeness in the One Creator
of Creation forever and ever. Amen.
I arise today through the strength of heaven, light of the sun, radiance of the moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of the sea, stability of the earth, firmness of rock.
I arise today through God's strength to pilot me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's way to look before me,
God's shield to protect me.
From all afar who shall wish me ill,
Afar and a'near,
Alone and in a multitude,
Against every cruel, merciless power
That may oppose my body and soul.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
May thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Click this link for the beautiful music video: The Deer's Cry
**Canticle 1 A Song of Creation [The Book of Common Prayer]
I O all ye works of the
Lord, bless ye the Lord; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
praise him and magnify him for ever.
III O let the earth bless
the Lord; *
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord;
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye wells, bless ye the
Lord; *
O ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord;
O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O all ye fowls of the
air, bless ye the Lord; *
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord;
O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
praise him and magnify him for ever.
IV O ye people of God,
bless ye the Lord; *
O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye spirits and souls
of the righteous, bless ye the Lord; *
O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord.
O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord.
Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; *
praise him and magnify him for ever.
***for more information on the Season of Creation and the Earth Charter see: http://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2016/10/prayers-of-people-very-beginning-1st.html
Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.
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