Advents 2022 runs from November 27th through December 24, 2022 The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit,” begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of […]
What are Collects?
The word Collect means to gather. In the context of prayer, a collect a prayer which is often used in worship, and it is one which gathers the intentions of the people. Collects follow a pattern of prayer adopted by early Christians. Thomas Cranmer is well known for his further development of this style of […]
Do Not Fret
If I had to pick a favorite psalm, I would have to pick Psalm 37, which was the psalm for the Order for Evening Prayer today. The psalmist tells us, “Do not us fret about evil doers”. Instead, we are to: 1. Trust in the Lord. Remember, God has it all in hand. […]
Called to Shine not Whine
Philippians 2:14-end was one of the readings for the Order for Morning Prayer today. Verses 14 through 15 call to mind topics that I am expert in: Grumbling ( murmuring) and Complaining (disputing). Not unlike the Israelites wandering in the desert, if I allow myself, I can easily switch from grumbling about God’s plan to […]
Let God Order Your Steps
In the Order for Morning Prayer this morning, a portion of Psalm 119 was read. I really love verse 133, below. It is carved into the paving stones of our cloister. I wanted to share this for anyone that feels stuck, or unsure what to do next. I want to encourage you to take time […]
The Conversion of St. Paul
On January 25th we remember the Conversion of St. Paul. In honor of this day I have composed the following prayer. lmighty God, on this day we remember the Conversion of St. Paul, thy zealous apostle and martyr. We thank Thee for the legacy of his ministry and example. And we ask, Heavenly Father, just […]
Fortitude
I intend to start posting a series on Words to encourage the faithful. Today’s word is Fortitude.
Do Not be Deceived by Hate
Hate is a powerful force. It can fuel revenge and retribution for wrongs both real and imagined. But hate comes at a price that is too high. This is because hate and the Holy Spirit can cannot reside in the human heart at the same time. In exchange for hate, we must cut ourselves off […]
Whom shall I fear?
We live in challenging times. Many are struggling with the political and social changes facing us. This certainly can cause some anxiety; even more so because of the pandemic and its disruptions of family, work, and social activities. Because of social distancing many of our regular means of coping with anxiety are not as readily […]
Whom do you seek?
Last evening a dear friend and I met on the phone to do Evening Prayer together, as is our custom every Wednesday evening. The Old Testament reading for the first Wednesday after Epiphany was 1 Kings 22:51 through the end of the first chapter of 2 Kings. Having fallen gravely ill, Ahaziah sent his messengers […]