 to the index SACRED
READINGS ARCHIVE
UNIVERSAL WORSHIP Theme:
Suffering and Forgiveness Toward the One,... (after lighting taper) To the glory
of the Omnipresent God, we kindle the light symbolically representing
the...Hindu Religion, Buddhist Religion, Zoroastrian Religion, Native
American
Religion, Divine Feminine, Jewish Religion, Christian Religion,
Religion of
Islam (lighting
each candle with the word kindle.) To the glory
of the Omnipresent God, we kindle the light symbolically representing
all those
who whether known or unknown to the world, have held aloft the light of
Truth through the darkness of human
ignorance. (lighting
the Spirit of Guidance candle) Let us
pray. Saum Praise be to thee...(while facing the God candle) We will read
from the World Scriptures We read in the
Hindu Scriptures "A superior being does not render evil for
evil; this is a Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 115 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Wisdom. We will read
in the Buddhist Scriptures "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me!" In those who harbor
such thoughts hatred is not appeased. "He abused me he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me!" In those who do not
harbor such thoughts hatred is appeased. Hatreds never cease through hatred in this
world;
through love alone they cease. This is
an eternal law." Dhammapada 3-5 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Compassion We will read
in the Zoroastrian Scriptures "May generosity triumph over niggardliness, May love triumph over contempt, May the true-spoken word triumph over the
false-spoken
word. May truth triumph over falsehood." Yasna 60.5 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Purity We will read
in the Native American Scriptures "Grandfather, look at our brokenness. We know that in all creation only the human
family has strayed from the O We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Nature We will read
in the Divine Feminine Scriptures "Everything is plundered, betrayed, sold, Death's great black wing scrapes the air, Misery gnaws to the bone. Why then do we not despair? By day, from the surrounding woods, Cherries blow summer into town; At night the deep transparent skies Glitter with new galaxies. And the miraculous comes so close To the ruined, dirty houses -- Something not known to anyone at all, But wild in our breast for centuries." Anna Akhmatova, Women in Praise of the
Sacred, p.
208 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light of the Divine Love We will read
in the Jewish Scriptures "...thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18 "What is
hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." Talmud, Shabbat 31a "God said, "Resemble Me; Exodus Rabbah 26.2 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Law We will read
in the Christian Scriptures " You have heard that it was said, "You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But
I say to you, Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, so that you may be the sons and daughters
of your
Father who is in heaven;" Matthew 5: 43-45 "The Peter came up and said to him, "Lord,
how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" "Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you
seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18: 21-22 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Self-Sacrifice We will read
in the Scriptures of Islam "It may be that God will ordain love between
you and those whom you hold as enemies.
For God has power over all things; and God is
Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful." Qur'an 60.7 "Those who act kindly in this world will have
kindness." Qur'an 39.10 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Unity We will now
have a few minutes of silence (three
minutes) Let us pray Salat Most gracious
Lord, Master Messiah,...(facing the God candle) ( "Consider
your responsibility sacred. Be polite to
all. Do nothing
which will make your conscience feel
guilty. Extend your
help willingly to those in need. Do not look
down upon the one who looks up to you. Judge not
another by your own law. Bear no malice
against your worst enemy. Influence no
one to do wrong. Be pre Prove trustworthy
in all of your dealings." The Cooper Rules Vadan p. 165 We offer to
the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for
the Light
of the Divine Truth Sermon on suffering and
forgiveness and Prayer for Perpetrators. PRAYER FOR
PERPETRATORS Found in
Chapel of the Holy Innocents, This prayer was found on a
piece of wrapping paper in Ravensbruck, the
largest concentration camp for women in
"O
Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those
of ill
will. But do not remember all the
suffering they have inflicted upon us, remember the fruits we bought
thanks to
this suffering: our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity,
the
greatness of heart which had grown out of this, and when they come to A blessing prayer for
the suffering humanity: "Heal our spirits, Lord, from
all wounds that our hearts have
suffered or caused through this life of limitation upon the earth. Purify our hearts with Thy Divine Light and
send upon our spirits Thy Mercy, They Compassion, and Thy Peace. Amen" Listen to Let us pray
Khatum O
Thou, Who art the Perfection of Love,
Harmony and Beauty... (facing the God candle) Benediction (facing the congregation) May the
Blessing of God rest upon you; may God's Peace abide with you; may
God's
presence illuminate your hearts now and for evermore.
Amen |