I am the one whose praise echoes on high.
I adorn all the earth.
I am the breeze that nurtures all things green.
I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits.
I am led by the spirit to feed the purest streams.
I am the rain coming from the dew
That causes the grasses to laugh with the joy of life.
Hildegard of Bingen

"I Still and Quiet my Soul" (Ps. 131)

For the last two months we have had a time of Contemplative Prayer on Monday evenings. The number of people who come has varied from one to seven or eight. Each time we have contemplated a scripture, or a prayer, or an icon, and found a particular way that piece of holy writ touches our own souls. Then we have taken that meaningful word or phrase in to silent meditation.

Meditation quiets the mind and allows an integration of the differing parts of the brain. The deep breathing that goes along with it quiets the heart and lowers the levels of stress in the body. When combined with scripture or other forms of contemplation, meditation becomes a peace-creating way to connect with God.

One way we often pray as human beings is to bring our prayers to God like so many worry beads. And often when we do, we experience a certain amount of relief as we get so many things off our chest and on to God’s altar. Meditation allows us instead to move our focus away from what is knocking on our conscious mind, and move into the realm of the subconscious, where God can do God’s work in different ways.

If you have not experienced contemplative prayer and meditation, try to set aside 20 minutes of your day in which you can be silent, and let that ticker-tape of thoughts and worries going through your head float on by. Instead, focus on the goodness, the grace, the beauty of God. You will find yourself renewed mentally and spiritually.

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today."
Matthew 6:34

Do not worry -
How easily the words come off the tongue, and how true we know them to be, especially when it is someone else’s worries we are addressing.

But Jesus is addressing our worries and reminding us that we are a part of something much bigger than we can now see.

The creation shows us the value of worry, doesn’t it?

The flowers bloom and go to seed and die—and then come back again next year.

There are flowers struggling through the pavers on my patio at the beach.
Little Johnny jump-ups, blooming with happy abandon as their roots reach into a small amount of sand. They are the poster children for "bloom where you are planted."

I see them pushing through pavement and see struggle, but perhaps from their point of view they are experiencing opportunity and the full warmth of sun.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

The Psalmist writes continually about struggle, disappointment and betrayal,
and yet seems to come back to faith and hope.

"But I will hope continually"
(Psalm 71)

In the face of worries, the faithful posture is that of hope.

The flowers know of hope,

The birds that make nests in every conceivable spot, know of hope.

While we can sing the songs of faith-we also know of hope.

Let us make our statement of hope this day-

Leave worries alone

And get on with the wonder of living.

Blessings,
Debra

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

You, all-accomplishing Word of the Father,
Are the light of primordial daybreak over the spheres.
You, the foreknowing mind of divinity,
Foresaw all your works as you willed them,
Your prescience hidden in the heart of your power,
Your power like a wheel around the world,
Whose circling never began and never slides to an end.
--Hildegard of Bingen--

This Week at St. James:

Saturday: 11:30 Daughters of the King Luncheon at Anne Bricker’s
Sunday: Worship services at 8:00 and 10:15
Monday: Memorial Day: Church office and Academy closed.
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 9:30 Bible Study Retreat at Ginny Miller’s

Prayers Etc.

We seek a clear light to shine
Upon our troubled way.
We ask you to give us clearer directions
Where we have missed the way
And wandered far, bring us back
At whatever cost to our pride.
Take away our stubborn self-will,
For we know that in your will alone
Is our peace.
We seek that peace.
--Peter Marshall--

For those on our prayer list:
Alexa; David; Arabella; Brittany; Owen; Jennifer D.
Rob C.; Andrew ; Jason; Donna & Jim; Larry
Mimi & Poppa B.; Betsy; Mary S.; Todd; Vicki T.
Ray W.; Cathy A.; Carol W.; Charles R.; Dolores; Sherry

For those who are deployed and their families.
For the victims in Myanmar and China.
For Laura Brecht, who will be ordained a Transitional Deacon on June 14.

In Closing:

Christ of the human road,
Let us reach out to touch you,
And sweet Christ,
Show us your lovely face.
As we see your face by faith,
We learn to become like you, Lord Christ.
That the world may see your glory.
Show us your lovely face.

May God the Father bless you;
God the Son heal you;
God the Holy Spirit give you strength.
May God, the undivided Trinity
Guard your body, save your soul,
And bring you safely to his heavenly country
Where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. AMEN

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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