O Lord God, from whom we come,
In whom we are enfolded,
To whom we shall return:
Bring us in our pilgrimage through life;
With the power of the Father protecting,
With the love of Jesus indwelling,
And the light of the Spirit guiding,
Until we come to our ending,
In life and love eternal.
- Peter Nott

A week with the Archangel

Life is always an adventure. Sometimes we ask for the adventure; sometimes it comes upon us unexpectedly, for good or ill. Last week, I had the kind of adventure that was planned for – at least in part. For my continuing education, I attended an icon writing workshop at St. Mary’s Retreat Center in Sewanee, TN.

Icon writing? The word in Russian for writing and painting is apparently the same. And there is a calligraphic element to the creation of icons, as I discovered this week, when my brush wouldn’t obey my desire for small, fine lines.

I had hoped to write an icon of Christ. Instead, the class tackled a 13th century icon of Michael the Archangel. Michael is said to be the captain of the Lord’s hosts – the Prince of angels, in charge of caring for God’s people, and keeping the forces of evil at bay. This week I found myself praying, as I worked on Michael – praying for God’s people, for this world, for wisdom and grace.

Icon writing is an amazing experience. There are traditional colors that are used for certain things. The icon is square, similar to an altar, showing that God’s spirit moves north, south, east, west, with no end. The icon board is clothed in linen or cotton, like the icons of flesh and blood – us. We are icons of God – glimpses of the Kingdom – as we move upon this earth. As one writes an icon, one moves from darkness to light – dark base colors that are put on in multiple layers, and each shade added is a bit lighter. Gold to show the majesty of God. Highlights around the eyes and nose and forehead, showing that Michael is attentive through the senses to God’s voice. And each stroke, layer by layer, put on in prayer – sometimes in intercession, sometimes in pleas for God’s help to bear witness through the icon.

We sat for four days, 8-10 hours a day, painting prayer, in silence. It was an amazing experience, one that I will repeat if given the opportunity. I came away with a greater understanding of the intersection between life and art, prayer and movement, light and shadow. Those intersections create this world we live in, yet another icon of God’s glory.

St. Michael, intercede for me with God in all my necessities, especially (name your specific need). Obtain for me a favorable outcome in the matter I recommend to you. Mighty prince of the heavenly host, and victor over rebellious spirits, remember me for I am weak and sinful and so prone to pride and ambition. Be for me, I pray, my powerful aid in temptation and difficulty, and above all do not forsake me in my last struggle with the powers of evil. Amen.

Debra’s Midweek Meditation
"For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Mark 12:44

This is Jesus' pronouncement of the scene before Him at the temple. Some gave little; some gave much. The amount is of little consequence-it is the heart that determines a true gift.

What is the nature of the widow's poverty?
It seems to me that it is the same poverty that Jesus talks about in the Beatitudes. "Blessed are the poor." This poverty, then, is a blessing because of the response of the widow.

I do not say that poverty is a blessing of itself,
because it is not.
The blessing is finding God in the midst of the life I am actually leading and sharing that God with others.

This Widow's poverty is a symbol of generosity, hope and love. Jesus turns our idea of poverty upside down and let's us know that when we give up our attachments--then, we are rich! The widow is rich-
Richly blessed with hope,
richly blessed with generosity,
richly blessed with the capability to love God.

St. Francis has a lot to say about the blessing of poverty.
He chose poverty as a means to become closer to Christ.
He chose poverty as a way to leave behind distractions and focus completely on love and worship.

He chose poverty.

I end with a prayer attributed to him:

Let us desire nothing else
let us wish for nothing else
let nothing else please us and cause us delight
except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,
the One True God, Who is the Fullness of Good,
all good, every good, the true and supreme Good;
Let nothing hinder us,
nothing separate us or nothing come between us.

Blessings,
Debra

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

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for;
But everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
- Unknown Confederate Soldier

This week at St. James
Friday: SJA Christmas Shoppe
Saturday: ECSM Extra Mile Walk; SJA Christmas Shoppe
Sunday: 3:00 EKK Concert with Yvonne Hook in STM, Reception following
Monday: SJA closed; No CS Lewis study
Tuesday: 7:30 Vestry meeting
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist

Prayers, Etc.
For those on our prayer list:
Lori; Leib & Carlyn; Lovisah; Brittany; Prof; Lee
Bill; Bill and Stacey; Sally; Dot; Sue; Art W.
Mrs. Chung; Rob Lindsey; Harold Fitch

We pray for the repose of the soul of Doris McCalley.

For those who are deployed and their families.

For Laura and Lyle.

Almighty and most merciful God,
We remember before you all poor and neglected persons
Whom it would be easy for us to forget:
The homeless and destitute,
The old and the sick,
And all who have none to care for them.
Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit,
And turn their sorrow into joy.
Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son,
Who for our sake became poor,
Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
- Book of Common Prayer

In Closing:
Oh God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you.
My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
As in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place,
That I might behold your power and your glory.
For your lovingkindness is better than life itself;
My lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live
And lift up my hands in your Name.
- Psalm 63:1-4

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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