Every morning lean thine
Arms awhile
Upon the window sill of heaven
And gaze upon thy Lord,
Then, with vision in thy heart,
Turn strong to meet thy day.
-Thomas Blake

St. Gregory the Theologian

Yesterday was the feast day of Saint Gregory Nazianzen (329 - January 25, 389), also known as Saint Gregory the Theologian. Gregory was a 4th century Christian bishop of Constantinople. He was the son of Gregory and Nonna. He is honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and as a Doctor of the Church. He is also a highly-regarded saint in Eastern Orthodoxy.

Gregory was one of the Cappadocian Fathers, a great friend of Basil the great, and a prolific writer. Gregory and Basil compiled an anthology of Origen’s works, called the Philokalia. In 361, he was ordained a presbyter against his will. Later, his friend Basil compelled Gregory to become Bishop of Sasima. Gregory said about this bishopric: “It was a detestable little place without water or grass or any mark of civilization.” He felt, he said, “like a bone flung to the dogs.” Needless to say, Gregory’s relationship with Basil suffered after this.

In 379, Gregory moved to Constantinople, having been through a profound spiritual experience after the death of Basil. It is said that he was afire with the love of God. During this period he preached a series of sermons on the Trinity which caused his fame as a theologian. After the Emperor Theodosius expelled the Arian bishop of Constantinople, Gregory was made Bishop, after a ray of sunlight suddenly shone on him.

Collect for Gregory of Nazianzus:
Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: give us grace that, like your bishop Gregory of Nazianzus, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign for ever and ever.
AMEN.

Debra’s Midweek Meditation
Proclaiming the Good News
"The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus."
Acts 8:34-35

This passage from Acts is just two verses of the incredible story of the Ethiopian eunuch-
Read Acts 8:26-40 for the whole account.
I have chosen this little view to highlight the action of witness and proclamation.

The word proclaim comes from Latin-proclamare- which means "forward" and "to cry out".

In other words there is nothing subtle about proclamation.
How does this fit into our understanding of sharing the good news with others?
If we believe that the gospel is Good news then we probably want to share its saving health with others, especially those we love.
However, those we love may be the most difficult with which to share.
I often think of sharing the Gospel in a Good Samaritan context.
Am I willing to walk by on the other side when there is a sufferer nearby?
All too often, I am.
I do not share what I have found to be the source of peace and comfort because I am afraid of proclamation-of crying out.
Think of Philip-he seems to be as surprised by this encounter as the eunuch.
He cries out, because God gives him the words, the courage and the resolve to share the Good news.
If I listen-God will prompt me too.
And I will be surprised by proclamation
coming through me
to another.

Blessings,
Debra

O God, be all my love, all my hope, all my striving;
Let my thoughts and words flow from you,
My daily life be in you,
And every breath I take be in you. AMEN
- John Cassian

Daily Morning Prayer
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morning_prayer.htm

Good Jesus, the water of your teaching
Flows in silence…
Your voice never strains nor shouts.
You do not force us to hear you.
You ask only
That we open
Our hearts to you,
And
In tranquility
Your love enters our souls
- Aelred of Rievaulx

This week at St. James
Friday: 9:00 EFM; 6 – 9 pm Godly Play Training at the Cathedral
Saturday: 8:30 – 1:00 Vestry Incorporation Workshop, St. John’s, Glyndon; 9 – 3 Godly Play training continues at the Cathedral
Sunday: 8-12 Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast; 9:00 Youth Liturgy; 10:15 Children’s Eucharist; 3:00 Il Quarto Pan (string quartet) in concert at St. James
Monday: Church Newsletter Deadline; 10:00 Narnia Book Study
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 9:30 Women’s Bible Study

Prayers, Etc.

For those on our prayer list:
Anna; Nancy; Tony; Joel; Arabella; Brian E.
Tamara; Owen Kent; Jeffrey; Brittany; Jason
David ; Lovisah; Leib & Carlyn; Jewell; Keith
Cathy; Jack; Alice; Bart; Justin; Bernie
Jan; Nancy; Betsey; Hannah; Gavin; Brian
Lilly; Sally; Ron; Sue; Bill; Paul R.
Lee; Philip; Mary Jane; Rev. Pat Underwood
Margaret S.; Matt K. & family; Lori J. & family
Dottie; Brooke; Donovan; Bob; Connie

For Laura and Lyle Brecht

For those who are deployed and their families

Prayer for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church:
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in Columbus for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Closing:

May he support us all the day long
Till the shadows lengthen
And the evening comes
And the busy world is hushed
And the fever of life is over
And all our work is done
Then in his mercy
May he give us a safe lodging
And a holy rest
At the last.
- John Henry Newman

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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