Almighty and everlasting God,
You made the universe with all its marvelous order,
Its atoms, worlds, galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures:
Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation,
We may come to know you more truly,
And more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose;
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
-Book of Common Prayer, 827

The manifest Glory of God

Recently, Steve and I had the opportunity to accompany George and Phyllis Shuppert on their monthly pilgrimage to the Hubble Space Center, to hear a lecture on the cosmos. This particular evening, the lecturer taught us about the Kuiper Belt, that great surround of….well, that’s the question…planets? Planetoids? Asteroids? No, something in between perhaps. As much as we know, or think we know about our cosmos, there are yet as many mysteries as there are stars in the universe.

I cannot contemplate the heavens without at the same time contemplating God’s work in creation. Our universe is so vast, so unknown, and to us observers, so beautiful. Perhaps it mirrors God’s own nature. Psalm 139 reminds us, "How deep are your thoughts, oh God – how vast is the sum of them…" Indeed, this psalm begins with the writer saying it is impossible for one to flee from God – whether one is in the deepest recesses of the earth, or the farthest reaches of heaven, God is there.

We may not understand the mysteries of the Kuiper belt, nor can we understand all the mysteries of God, but we can still seek to know. As we seek to know more about our universe, we can also seek to know God in a deeper manner.

In the ending words of Psalm 139: "Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts. Look well whether there be any wickedness in me and lead me in the way that is everlasting."

The heavens declare the glory of God,
And the firmament shows his handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another,
And one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language,
And their voices are not heard,
Their sound has gone out into all lands
And the message to the ends of the world.
In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun;
It comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a champion to run its course.
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
And runs about to the end of it again;
Nothing is hidden from its heat.
Let the words of my mouth,
And the meditations of my heart
Be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
- Ps. 19 1-6,14

Debra’s Midweek Meditation
As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you;
abide in my love.

This saying of Jesus from John 15 is part of the farewell discourse.
Jesus wants to tell and share everything he can with his friends, before he is no longer with them.

How can we understand the idea of abiding in Jesus in the same way that Jesus abides in the Father?

That kind of intimacy with God is a gift of the Spirit, and yet
Jesus is telling us here to do it-to abide in His love.

If we look at these words slantwise rather than head on we might see that there is a promise under the commandment.
The promise is, that Jesus has already achieved intimacy with the Father and now He is granting it to us.

In other words, Jesus is at home within our hearts.
We do not need to seek for Him in other places.

As we turn within we may rest in the arms of the One who is already there--
already waiting--
already calling--
already desiring our presence.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

Abide with Christ-
Stay very close to Him.

You belong to Him and He to you.

Blessings, Debra

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

First of all, we know that God is the beginning, middle and end of everything good;
and it is impossible for us to have faith in anything good or to carry it into effect
except in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
(St. Nikodimos)

This week at St. James
Wednesday: 7-9 Pre General Convention meeting at St. Thomas
Friday: 9:00 EFM in the Parish Library
Saturday: 10:00 Sunday School work day in the morning; 2:00 SJA Piano Recital
Sunday: Rogation Sunday; 11:45 Wes Wubbenhorst with the Confirmation Class
Monday: 10:00 Narnia book study
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist in the Meditation Chapel

We beseech thee, O Lord,
Mercifully to correct our wanderings;
And by the guiding radiance of thy compassion
To bring us to the saving vision of thy truth.
- Gothic Missal

Prayers, Etc.

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; Scott G.
Lori S. and Family

For Laura and Lyle

For those who are deployed and their families

In Closing:

The Canticle of the Sun
by Francis of Assisi

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy are those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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