Conversations with Daughters #18

Faith in the Wilderness:Spirituality in a Pandemic

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Opening Prayer

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Read by Nancy Severin

We return, O God, to this gathering of hearts, never separated by time.Your abiding Spirit hovers over each one of us - Your Presence within us in every moment of our days.By evolving innovation and energy unseen we connect our images in Your image.We connect with heartstrings and moonbeams - whispers in silence and within the airwaves of Love.Let us sink in to the present - the NOW of all Being and the Essence of all that is.Slow us down that we might hear Your wisdom - in Your Word and in each other. Amen.

Matthew 4:1-11

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4 Afterward, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to experience the ordeal of testing by the accuser. 2 And after fasting for forty days, Jesus was extremely hungry. 3 Then the tempter came to him and said, “How can you possibly be the Son of God and go hungry? Just command these stones to be turned into loaves of bread.”

4 He answered, “The Scriptures say:

Bread alone will not satisfy,but true life is found in every wordthat constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”

Read by Nancy Severin

Matthew 4:1-11

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5 Then the accuser transported Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and perched him at the highest point of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you’re really God’s Son, jump, and the angels will catch you. For it is written in the Scriptures:

He will command his angels to protect youand they will lift you upso that you won’t even bruise your foot on a

rock.”

7 Once again Jesus said to him, “The Scriptures say:

You must never put the Lord your God to a test.”

Read by Nancy Severin

Matthew 4:1-11

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8 And the third time the accuser lifted Jesus up onto a very high mountain range and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and all the splendor that goes with it.

9 “All of these kingdoms I will give to you,” the accuser said, “if only you will kneel down before me and worship me.”

10 But Jesus said, “Go away, Satan![i] For the Scriptures say:

Kneel before the Lord your Godand worship only him.”

Read by Nancy Severin

Matthew 4:1-11

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11 At once the accuser left him, and angels suddenly gathered around Jesus to minister to his needs.

Read by Nancy Severin

Questions

1. In your wilderness, what temptations have you faced?

2. Where have you found grace? - Who were the angels who waited on you?

3. If the “you” today could go back one year ago and talk to the “you” then, what would you say?

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Sharing

To raise your hand, go to Reactions > Raise HandOrParticipants > Raise Hand

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Message: Bringing Us Out of the Wilderness

The Rev. Jocelyn IrvingChaplain, Province III

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The Prayer of the Order

O Eternal Father, You have sent us Your Son to teach us things pertaining to Your heavenly Kingdom. Give Your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Grant that we, Your Daughters, ever may discern Your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life. Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread Your Kingdom and to gather Your scattered sheep within Your fold. Pour out upon us the seven-fold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is Your work we are called to do, that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in Your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Motto of the Order

For His Sake…I am but one, but I am one.I cannot do everything, but I can do something.What I can do, I ought to do.What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.Lord, what will you have me do?

Next Conversations with Daughters#19

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April 17, 4pm EDT

Thy Kingdom Come