St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – 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 Prayer Instructions for links to Morning or Evening Prayer for today)

Today is the feast day of WR Huntingdon, Episcopal priest, who died in 1909. Huntingdon was a major force in the church in his day, called for and participated in the revision of the prayer book that resulted in the 1892 BCP (and for real church geeks, he was a primary author of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. It’s in the small print section of your prayer book under “Historical Documents”. It’s the part I catch you reading when I am preaching….). This prayer was authored by him, we use it during Holy Week and on Fridays for the Daily Office:

The way of the cross – the way of life and peace. Can be a tough “way” at times, but it is the way, the truth, the life. May God be with you on your journey along the way.

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.