Sunday – Clergy, Staff, Wardens and Vestry and the Rector Search (click HERE to read the Rector Search prayer)

 

From Romans 12, appointed for today, this reminder of how we, the followers of Christ, are to treat our enemies.

 “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let us pray for peace in our local communities, our nation, and the world. And to remember these words.

Saturday – for the Green Team and for all Creation, for our ministries to Seniors, and for all on our Parish prayer list.

I love the collect for Saturday, as we prepare for worship on Sunday. Our worship on the morrow give you glory. And that includes our worship on Saturday evening, as is the case here at St. Paul’s. May our worship give God glory. Isn’t that what it’s all supposed to be about?

A Collect for SaturdaysO God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship on the morrow give you glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday – Daughters of the King, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Marthas, worship volunteers (acolytes, ushers and greeters, chalice bearers) and all over volunteer groups who work so tirelessly and joyfully for the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ at St. Paul’s.

I am not the first to say that the 4th commandment is the one broken most often by the people of God. Honoring the Sabbath seems to be more difficult for us all the time.

I was encouraged at General Convention to hear how all four of the candidates for Presiding Bishop were adamant about sabbath time – weekly with a day off, monthly with intentional spiritual direction, yearly with a retreat.

While I don’t practice what I preach very well, I am thankful for the last 3 days of sabbath time. Jennifer and I escaped for a quick trip to the Keys, my first time down there, and while we kept busy with fun activities, at the same time I was actually able to put “work” aside for a bit. I did spend time in prayer, especially around our discernment, but that is an appropriate thing to do while enjoying sabbath rest.

I pray all of you will make sure you keep sabbath, somehow, someway. We all need it. Perhaps this can be your prayer tonight as well – from the 51st Psalm appointed for tonight, “Create in me a clean heart o God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Renew. Amen.

St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Thursday – The people of Bondeau, Haiti, especially Pere Phanord, the school teachers and medical clinic volunteers, for our Cursillo community.
(click Prayer Instructions for links to Morning or Evening Prayer for today)

A switch to Evening Prayer for today, and the Mission St. Clare sight which I normally use opens with this hymn:

Hymn: I love to steal awhile away

I love to steal awhile away

From ev’ry cumb’ring care,

And spend the hours of setting day

In humble, grateful prayer.

I love to think on mercies past,

And future good implore,

And all my cares and sorrows cast

On Him whom I adore.

I love by faith to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heav’n;

The prospect doth my strength renew,

While here by tempests driv’n.

Thus, when life’s toilsome day is o’er,

May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,

And lead to endless day.

******************

As I “steal away from ev’ry cumb’ring care*”, I can’t add anything to that! Blessings to all.

*cum·ber

(kŭm′bər)

tr.v. cum·bered, cum·ber·ing, cum·bers

1. To weigh down; burden: was cumbered with many duties.

2. To hamper or hinder, as by being in the way: was cumbered with a long poncho.

3. To litter; clutter up: Weeds cumbered the garden paths.

4. Archaic To bother; distress.

n.

A hindrance; an encumbrance.

And all my cares and sorrows cast

On Him whom I adore.

I love by faith to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heav’n;

The prospect doth my strength renew,

While here by tempests driv’n.

Thus, when life’s toilsome day is o’er,

May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,

And lead to endless day.

As I “steal away from ev’ry cumb’ring care*”, I can’t add anything to that! Blessings to all.

*cum·ber
(kŭm′bər)

tr.v. cum·bered, cum·ber·ing, cum·bers

1. To weigh down; burden: was cumbered with many duties.

2. To hamper or hinder, as by being in the way: was cumbered with a long poncho.

3. To litter; clutter up: Weeds cumbered the garden paths.

4. Archaic To bother; distress.

n.

A hindrance; an encumbrance.

St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Wednesday – Paul’s Place after school program and the St. Paul’s Day School
(click Prayer Instructions for links to Morning or Evening Prayer for today)

From Psalm 116 appointed for today: 

10 How shall I repay the LORD *

for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *

and call upon the Name of the LORD.

12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *

in the presence of all his people.

OK, so the best laid plans, right? I wrote yesterday that I was hoping to put the anxiety over finding our next call on the shelf for a few days. Who was I kidding (besides myself, obviously)? Yet while saying Morning Prayer today, surrounded by such breathtaking beauty (there is something about water, isn’t there?), reading this Psalm I am reminded of all the good things God has done for me, and in response – well, I do recall saying some vows 13 years ago. They included this one – “Will you persevere in prayer, both in public and in private, asking for God’s grace, both for yourself and for others, offering all your labors to God, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit?”

I will. I will “fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people“. With God’s help.