Monday – Children, youth, and family ministries of St. Paul’s and those who teach and work with our youth. Our music program and choirs.

(click on Prayer Instructions for tips on saying Morning or Evening Prayer and online resources)

It seems evangelism remains foremost in my thoughts and prayers as I pray the daily office each day. Episcopalians joke about not using the “E” word, but we must get serious, joyfully serious, about sharing our faith. We are not primarily “in your face” people and evangelism by terrorism (meaning scaring young people, primarily, into professing faith in Christ) is not what I am talking about. But we have much to say about Jesus and much to offer the world, which if full of people seeking God, yearning for a spiritual home. All of us are called, sent by Christ, to preach the good news by what we do, how we love, and whom we serve, as well as what we say about God and the redemption of the world in Jesus Christ.

From Mark chapter 4, today’s gospel, we hear Jesus say: “13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown:when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground:when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are those sown among the thorns:these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil:they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

Sow the word. Be like Sojourner Truth, whose feast day is today. Sow the word, God will give you the courage and the strength.