St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Sunday – Clergy, Staff, Wardens and Vestry and the Rector Search (click HERE to read the Rector Search prayer)
There is something magical about sitting quietly on this balcony in the early morning. The sun has not yet risen, yet the sky is beginning to lighten in the east, where although I cannot see or hear it, I know, less than a mile away dawn is breaking over the vastness of the Atlantic, waves strumming the heartbeat of God in swells small and large, eternal, beautiful, powerful. I look across at the condos nearby and not a light is on to disturb the darkness, only the promise of the sun.
It’s Sunday, y’all. I hope you are going to your place of worship today. If you don’t have one, and you live in the Delray Beach area, we would love to see you at St. Paul’s.
And since it is Sunday, I leave you with Canticle 21, my favorite and one most appropriate for the Lord’s Day. Blessed Sunday to all.
Canticle 21 You are God
Te Deum laudamus
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.