September 9, 2009

Once we accept our limits,
We go beyond them.
---Albert Einstein---

Let me depend on God alone,
Who never changes,
Who knows what is best for me
So much better than I;
And gives in a thousand ways, at all times
All that the perfect Father can
For the son’s good growth,
Things needful, things salutary,
Things wise, beneficent, and happy.
---Eric Milner-White---

Constance and Her Companions

Today we remember a group of brave women who followed their faith to the point of Death. Constance was the head of an Anglican community of nuns in Memphis Tennessee during the 1870’s. In 1878, Memphis experienced an outbreak of Yellow Fever. At that time, people didn’t know that the fever was carried by mosquitoes; they did know, however, that one was safer on higher, drier ground, so many of the city removed themselves and fled to higher ground. Memphis was so depopulated by the fever that the city lost its charter, and didn’t regain it for fourteen years.

There were several communities of nuns in Memphis at that time, both Roman and Anglican. Many chose to stay to help nurse those who were ill. Constance and her community were some of those who stayed, and Constance herself was the first to die of the fever. All of the nuns who stayed behind to help eventually lost their lives.

The collect for this day says, "Inspire in us a like love and commitment to those in need." Constance and her companions showed the way to put others’ needs above their own. They did not think their own peril worthy of consideration, thinking instead of the ways that they could help relieve the sufferings of others.

We remember martyrs like Constance not only to pay tribute to their faith and suffering, but as examples for us today. Given the same situation, what would we do? Perhaps we would choose as Constance chose; perhaps we would not. My own prayer is that similar circumstances, I would have the courage to do God’s will, whatever that might be.

We give you thanks and praise, O God of compassion, for the heroic witness of Constance and her companions, who, in a time of plague and pestilence, were steadfast in their care for the sick and the dying, and loved not their own lives, even unto death. Inspire in us a like love and commitment to those in need, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.
---Collect for Constance and her Companions---

Daily Morning Prayer

Daily Morning Prayer

This Week at St. James

• Thursday: Knitting at Anne Bricker’s
• Friday: Memorial Service for Brian Swords
• Saturday: Collington Square; Memorial Service for Holliday Obrecht
• Sunday: 9:00 Last Worship Nine service; 10:15 Sunday School Registration and FUNDAY Festival; 3:00 St. Mary’s Walbrook Homecoming Ceremony
• Monday: 10:00 CS Lewis Book Study
• Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist
• Thursday: 7:30 Choir Practice
• Friday: 9:00 Theology and Spirit

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

• David
• Owen
• Betsy
• Gracie
• Read
• David W.
• Mimi B.
• Ann W.
• Dan P.
• Jack D.
• Chuck S.
• Barry M.
• Joe S.
• Frank O.
• Carey B.
• Martina
• Jack and Carol
• Georgie
• Lil A.
• Adam M.
• Ken
• Cathy
• Margie M.
• Diane M.
• Gracia
• Valerie W.
• Bill B.
• Doug H.
• M.C.

For Matt Rogers, our postulant
For those who are deployed and their families.

In Closing:

Why did I hesitate,
Asking for time to look after my own affairs?
Once I had put my hand to the plough,
Why did I look back?
And yet, though I had never seen you,
I loved you,
Perhaps not as I would have liked to,
But I did love you.
Christ Jesus, you were suggesting to me,
"Live the very little of the Gospel that you have understood;
proclaim my life among humanity;
come and follow me"
Until one day, returning to the source,
I understood.
You were asking me
To commit myself to the point of no return.
---from the Taize Community---

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

<< BACK to Parish News