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.

St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Tuesday – Seekers and other Young Adults, those in our community who are unchurched, our community and those in need, especially Family Promise and CROS ministries
From Psalm 45, appointed for today:

1My heart is stirring with a noble song;

Don’t worry, I am not about to sing for you! But my heart is stirring. My wife and I are taking a quick holiday to the Florida Keys, so the next 3 days my prayer time will be shared with  gazing at the ocean, watching the amazing sunsets, spending much needed time with my bride. One of my most-do-before-we-leave-south-Florida hopes was to see the Keys, as I have never been here before. And while our trip is very short (3 days), it is much needed. The future weighs on me at times, I must confess. I know my time at St. Paul’s is winding down, and I have no idea where we will be next. I know God knows, and for these 3 days my prayer is to put that aside and just be. Be present with my wife, be present with God’s glorious creation, be present in prayer….and maybe my heart will stir with a noble song.

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.