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O GOD of Creation,

You are the Master of time and all that time produces;

Designer of all created order:

all that sustain life, all works, all gifts,

all callings and missions,

all history, all institutions,

all laws, all righteousness.

You are the ETERNAL,

Governor of time past,

of our present,

and of the future.

O GIVER and SUSTAINER of LIFE

You sanctify the ordinary experiences of each day

by Your mercy and grace,

and by Your providential care of all,

to whom You have granted Your ‘breath of life’.

You have given us talents and resources, opportunities and benefits

You dispense Truth and Wisdom,

and have made known Your Way of life,

so that humanity might learn to live with one another

in peace and harmony,

with justice and righteousness,

with compassion and care for the less privileged.

For all these and more we are grateful and give You praise.

[Opening Prayer – copied from the Baccalaureate Program of the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City, RP.]

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As the kindling of sabbath lights begins our Sabbath celebration,

we thank You for Your Presence,

gracing the Sabbath fellowship of family, friends,

like-minded believers,  Sabbath-observers all,

whoever they are, wherever they are;

and we look forward to the joy and delight

that every Sabbath celebration

never fails to bring into our hearts,

and the sense of peace that we feel on this day of Rest,

truly the anticipated blessing for obedience

to Your 4th Commandment in the Decalogue.

Most of all we seek the wisdom we always gain

from the study of Your Torah

which guides our lives

moment by moment, day after day,

from the rising of Your sun to its setting,

from one Sabbath to another.

Your Torah instructs us in right living,

as we wander through the ‘darkness’ of world systems

that follow man’s way instead of Your Way,

and yet, the wonder is —

despite man’s ignorance and limitations,

basic Torah values  are enshrined

in democratic societies which attest,

O Lord YHWH, to Your declaration

that Your Torah is written

on the tablet of every heart and mind

of every individual born in this world.

Blessed are You, O God of Israel, Giver of the Torah,

Who revealed Yourself and Your Name

to the mixed multitude in the wilderness of Sinai,

and from that moment on,

humanity had no more excuse to be ignorant of

Your Will and Your Way.

May Your Light to the Gentiles, Israel,

shine even more brightly

as a testimony to Your faithfulness to Your promise

to their Patriarchs and to them as Your Firstborn son.

May we, Gentiles,

who have been privileged to be reflectors of Your Light,

continue to shine in ways we don’t realize,

even when our life-wick has reached its end,

to signal our entry into Your Eternal Sabbath.

Indeed, Lord YHWH, may it be so!

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Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

BLESSINGS

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Blessed are You, Lord YHWH, our God,

King of the universe,

Who has blessed us with the breath of life,

Who has directed us to the pathway

that leads to Your Way of Life,

Who has granted us the potential for  procreation,

the gift of children—sons and daughters,

the blessing of succeeding generations

and extended families. [Name them.]

May each of our kin learn to anchor their faith in You,

and in the good in humankind,

the only created species who bear Your image.

May they choose to tread the path

toward what is right in Your eyes

and in the eyes of men,

so that Your image is reflected

in each and every one,

from generation after generation of our lineage.

As we share the Sabbath wine and bread,

we are grateful for Your provisions

for each day of our life.

We delight in entering Your Sanctuary in time,

and say with all gusto, ‘to Life’,  ‘Mabuhay‘,

and join Your chosen people in offering

their traditional Shabbat toast:  l’chaim!

Sabbath Meal & Torah Study

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HAVDALAH

 Psalm 4 – A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds,

and be silent. Selah

Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say,

“Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

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Shabbat Shalom!