Pax et Bonum

The Online worship resource for St. James Parish

August 26, 2009

Tears are the safety-valves of the heart
When too much pressure is laid on it.
---Albert Smith---
O God of peace,
Who has taught us that
In returning and rest we shall be saved,
In quietness and in confidence
Shall be our strength:
By the might of your Spirit lift us,
We pray, to your presence,
Where we may be still and know
That you are God;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
---BCP, 832---

Celebrate!

Today is the feast day of...

Actually, I think I will invent a new one! Today is the feast day of all those who have learned to live one day at a time: caregivers, those who are chronically ill, those who have family members in crisis, or are in crisis themselves. Today we celebrate all of you who carry daily an unseen burden and bear it faithfully.

As I was serving in the Healing Eucharist this morning it struck me once again how much sorrow is in this world, and how much people hold within themselves, in hope that something will change, and something good will happen. The three Great Gifts of the Spirit, Faith, Hope and Love, do their work to enlighten the darkness that sometimes surrounds us. Faith, the assurance of things hoped for, offers its gift of relinquishment. We take our concerns to God, in faith that he hears us, and is walking alongside at every moment. Hope gives us that light of future resolution, of good things that await in the light beyond. And Love...Love is our motivation, our companion, our reason for being.

We would all love to be able to control the outcomes of whatever crisis we are in at the moment. Many of us would like to manage the pain of those around us, so that they do not hurt too deeply. Neither of these gifts have been given to us. Only God knows the outcome. Part of living one day at a time is learning to give our burdens to God and trust God in the outcome. That takes great faith. And hope. And love.

Rejoice today that God is with you, hears you, knows you, and even though the burden doesn’t go away, God is there to give the strength to bear it. Let us call on our faithful Friend and Lord.

Alone with none but Thee, my God,
I journeyed on my way:
What need I fear, when Thou art near
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand.
 
The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen dread no foe:
We leave our fate to Thee, and wait,
Thy bidding when to go.
‘Tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our trust, O king of kings.
---St. Columba---

Daily Morning Prayer

Daily Morning Prayer

This Week at St. James

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

We seek a clear light to shine
Upon our troubled way.
We ask You to give us clearer directions
Where we have missed the way
And wandered far, bring us back,
At whatever cost to our pride.
Take away our stubborn self-will,
For we know that in Your will alone
Is our peace. We seek the peace.
---Peter Marshall---

In Closing:

I sought the Lord,
And afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek him,
Seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
I was found of thee.
Thou didst reach forth thy hand
And mine enfold;
I walked and sank not
On the storm-vexed sea;
‘twas not so much that I on thee took hold,
As thou, dear Lord, on me.
I find, I walk, I love,
But oh, the whole of love
Is but my answer, Lord, to thee;
For thou wert long beforehand with my soul
Always thou lovedst me.
---Pilgrim Hymnal, From the Hymnal 1982---

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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