Dear Calvary Family and Friends,
A blessed St. Francis day. Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may, for love of you, delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The following link will take you to a wonderful biography of Francis, http://satucket.com/lectionary/Francis_Assisi.htm
While few today would be willing to go to the extremes of poverty and service to all of God’s creatures that Francis did, perhaps we can see his example and take from it, ways we too can reach out to those in need and be willing to spread the good news of the gospel to those whom we meet in out daily lives.
I was asked this past Sunday if I ever conduct healing services. I said yes and went to my car to retrieve my oil stock for holy oil. I announced this past Sunday that beginning on the 9th of October, we would start including the service of laying of hands and healing after the passing of the peace on the second Sunday each month. At the appropriate time, those wishing prayer can come to the altar rail and receive laying on of hands and prayer for themselves and others and if they wish anointing with oil for themselves. I will be happy to offer these as well in the chapel on other Sundays I am with you right after the service for anyone who is in need.
How to lead Morning Prayer. This Sunday at 10:00 A.M., I will lead a session on how to lead corporate Morning Prayer. While some of us are old enough to remember the years before our current Book of Common Prayer came to be when Holy Communion was not celebrated every week in the church, in some places, only once a month even if priests were present. For many, the use of Morning Prayer is now the exception. Due to a shortage of supply clergy, a number of the faith communities in our diocese are lucky if they have communion once or twice a month on Sundays. One of the downsides of this change was that many came to feel that if there were not communion, then there was not real “church.” Yes, we can say the service in our own homes, but as we have learned coming out of Covid, there is great joy being able to come together as a community to worship, raise hymns of praise, and have time for fellowship. When they came to Moses protesting that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, the Patriarch replied, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.” I would say that “Would that all the Lord’s people would lead Morning Prayer.” I invite you to gather with us this Sunday and learn about Morning Prayer.
Peace,
Bryant+
