This week, all the clergy of the Diocese of Maryland traveled to Ocean City for a Clergy Conference.  While we were there, I had an opportunity to spend an afternoon on the beach with a friend.  It was a wonderful reminder of the renewing power of God’s Creation.  We walked along a beach in Delaware, picking up shells and examining pieces of horseshoe crabs that had been thrown up on the shore.  We sat and watched the waves in their endless rhythm of rising and falling, giving and taking, and in the process, somehow, we were refreshed and renewed.  
There is a tradition of calling Creation the Book of Nature.  There are times when Creation speaks as clearly as scripture – and indeed, scripture echoes the wonders of creation:
            

           “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.”  (Ps. 19:1)

           “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.”  (Ps. 29:3)

“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.  See! the Winter is past,
The rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
The season of singing has come.”  (Song of Songs 2:11)

In Creation, we see the hand of God, the handiwork of God.  It is a reminder to us that we, too, are God’s handiwork.  The rhythm of the waves, the immensity of the mountains, the icy chill of the water cause our souls to tap into something deeper, something older.  As we do, we are reminded that God is God, and we are not.  And that God is, and will be, no matter what our present challenges are.  Like the ocean waves, we live in a rhythm of rising and falling, giving and taking, and in doing so, we join in the great song of the cosmos:  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.  Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Debra’s Midweek Meditation

"Listen: there was once a king sitting on his throne. Around  him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory,  bearing the banners of the king with great honor. Then it pleased the king to  raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather  flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along.  Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God."

Hildegard von Bingen

photo by Adam Hart-Davis

Our Sunday School lesson this week identifies the theme from  1 Thes 2:1-8 as "embraced".

I started to think about what it meant to be embraced by God  and I remembered the above quote from Hildegard.

The image of feather on the breath of God is one of  gentleness and freedom.  This embrace does not hinder  movement, rather it expands movement.

This embrace nudges a journey and then supports its progress  rather than directing and forcing compliance.

In the letter to the Thessalonians Paul describes the loving  embrace of his ministry with the people:

"We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for  her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share  with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have  become very dear to us."

When our image of God is gentle we may find it easier to come  into His presence.

When our image of God is as natural as a breath, we may find  it easier to be in the presence of others.

Let yourself be embraced by this gentle, loving, natural God,  then go out and embrace others.

Blessings,

Debra

That we can glimpse you

within creation is a beautiful thought
but also tells us
that you desire to be seen
to be found and known
Open our eyes, Lord
as we walk through this world
feel the wind and sunshine
see the majesty of creation unfolding before our eyes
Help us

to see you  

Daily Morning Prayer

This week I publish once again the new site for daily Morning Prayer.  This site also offers Evening Prayer and Compline, my favorite service of the day.   The site offers all in audio.

  http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morning_prayer.htm

This Week at St. James

Sunday:  Holy Eucharist at 8:00, 9:00, 10:15
              Men’s Bible Study, 9:00
              Adult Study, 10:15

Monday:  Men’s Community Golf Tournament
Wednesday:  Christian Formation Discernment meeting, 7:00 pm


Prayers Etc.

Those in need of healing and their families:
Chloe       Sean N.     Nancy B.        David W.        Sally       Ellie       Charlie M.      Joan B.         Phil O.         Barbara
Debbie      Jack H.     Ginny C.         Charles         Heather, JB, Chase and Sandy

Prayers for our seminarian Laura and her husband Lyle.
For all wounded soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in our military hospitals
For those displaced by Katrina and Rita
For the victims of the earthquake
For those who will soon be deployed, and for those who will soon return.

In Closing:

O Lord our God
and God of our fathers!
Mercifully direct and guide our steps
to our destination,
and let us arrive there in health, joy and peace!
Keep us from snares and dangers, and protect us from
enemies that we might meet along the way.
Bless and protect our journey!
Let us win favor in your eyes
and in the sight of those around us.
Blessed are you, O Lord,
who hear and grant our prayers!
                                            (from Celtic Daily Prayer)

Pax et Bonum,

Loree+