6 JAMAICA: INDEPENDENCE DAY: Jamaicans everywhere, including at their chapel in North Truro, celebrate this year the 64th anniversary of their independence from the UK.
+ TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD: Many Christain Churches today remember this mysterious event, when Jesus appeared in brilliant light with Moses and Elijah. Then and since, it’s appreciated as evidence of Jesus’ glory and identity – also of Christians’ luminous identity. One of the churches in the Nauset region – at the Community of Jesus in Orleans – was given this title in 2000.
+ FIESTA DE SAN SALVADOR: For many centuries, places (like the Central American country of El Salvado) named after Jesus celebrate their name day on the feast of Jesus’ transfiguration. This is thus a grand day on Nantucket, with its thousands of Salvadorans.
+ HIROSHIMA DAY: Despite the distance of decades, many recall this day in 1945, and renew their work against nuclear weapons.
9 UN – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: The first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations was held in Geneva on August 9, 1982. This led to the General Assembly proclaimng this annual Day. At the same time, event planners in the USA were preparing for the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s famous “discovery” of 1492. Native Americans and allies were looking for a way to refocus “Columbus Day” and that quincentennial. Thus we have an International Day each August and a USA Day in many areas two months later, For us here, remembering and marking both the UN Day and the USA holiday helps all know that the heritage and needs of the October holiday are global.15 22 The UN website notes: “Indigenous Peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years. Yet, throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous Peoples today are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life.”
MOTHER MARY: This has long been one of the most important days celebrating Mary. Lutherans call it “Mary, Mother of Our Lord”. On the Episcopal calendar it’s “St. Mary the Virgin”. Catholics observe it as the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. Three parishes in the Nauset area bear her name, St, Mary of the Harbor, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of the Cape. In 2020, Pope Francis added an official “title” for Mary, “Comfort of Migrants”. Her long journey to Bethlehem while pregnant, and her sudden rush to Egypt, bearing an infant and hoping for asylum, show that the displacement and fears of today’s migrants were biblical realities. On this mid-August day we can pray for all migrants, invite migrants to find comfort in Mary, and encourage Churches honoring Mary in heaven to honor her on earth by comforting migrants.
UN – INTERNATIONAL DAY COMMEMORATING THE VICTIMS OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE BASED ON RELIGION OR BELIEF: By proclaiming this annual Day, the General Assembly recalled that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely. Let us pray for all who are denied these rights, and for our own country that we have refugee acceptance policies that address this need.
SACRED SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 19: 32-36 & Deuteronomy 24: 17-22: Earliest codes for holiness and wholeness.
Psalm 75 & Psalm 85: Songs for peace in our world
Psalm 121: Song sung by migrants, on the move
Isaiah provides many poetic promises of peace & justice. Here are a few:
Isaiah 11: 1 – 9
Isaiah 32: 1 – 20
Isaiah 57: 14 – 21
Matthew 2:1-23
Jesus as a refugee in Egypt; the treacherous king that caused this
Matthew 25: 31-46
Welcoming the stranger as an essential mission of a Christian.
PRAYERS FOR DETAINED IMMIGRANTS
Gracious God, we ask for your blessing upon our sibling(s), name/s ,
who have enriched this community and blessed us by being a part of it.
Now bless and preserve them at this time of separation.
Day by day, guide them and give them what is needed—
dignity, security, justice, and peace.
Stir in us Your Spirit, that we might do our part
to preserve and defend the dignity and security of our neighbors.
Give us courage. Give name(s) courage.
Carry us, together, from here. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
who Himself endured these forces. Amen.
– from Global Refuge
PRAYER TO MARY, COMFORT OF MIGRANTS
Most prayers “for migrants” presume those praying are non-migrants
praying for migrants. Here, though, is a prayer to share with migrants.
Mary, Comforter of Migrants, we come before you with heavy hearts,
bearing the burdens as we seek refugeand the solace of a new home.
You who know the struggles of the journey, guide and protect us on the road,
offering strength in moments of fear, and hope when the way seems unclear.
Embrace the families torn apart, our souls searching for safety, and facing uncertainty and despair.
May your loving presence bring us peace and reassure us of our worth.
Inspire us to be a source of comfort for all of us who migrate and seek refuge.
Help us to recognize the face of Christ in all of our sisters and brothers.
O Mary, wrap your mantle around us, and intercede for a world where we might find peace,
belonging, and the promise of a brighter future
– from ihmimmaculata.org
THE CANTICLE OF CREATION
This October, many churches will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the
death of Francis of Assisi. Over the last two years of his life, he composed
this canticle, in four segments.
I. The first segment allows us to first and fully praise God, the Creator.
II. Then follows the main section, praising God through all of creation,
where we live as brother and sister to all.
III. The third segment was added later by Francis, after he saw a local
dispute (the mayor versus the bishop) and worked for reconciliation and
peace.
I. Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!All praise is yours, all glory, all honor
And all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy
To pronounce your name.
II.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,
And first my lord Brother Sun,
Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright
And precious and fair.
All praise be yours, My Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods,
By which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, lowly, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
Through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful is he, how gay! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,
Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
III.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
For love of you; through those who endure Sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
By you, Most High, they will be crowned.