O Lord God,
Give us peace,
For you have given all things to us,
The peace of rest,
The peace of the Sabbath,
The peace without an evening.
---St. Augustine---

A Place of Rest

As I pondered what to write about today, my mind kept flitting to the fact that tomorrow I go on vacation. I am both excited to go, and feeling a bit overwhelmed with all I have to do before we leave: packing and more packing, cleaning the car, making sure our animals, and their caregiver, our son David, have enough to eat for the time that we are gone.

Yet amidst the activity is the looking forward to deep rest – to a time of Sabbath that is longer than a day. It is said that it takes about 10 days to “unplug” ourselves from our current responsibilities. I have found that to be true. This makes it difficult for those who have very little vacation time to get the deep rest that both our bodies and souls need. And without that inner rest, we often become so frenetic on our vacation that we need to rest up from our vacations.

I encourage you this summer, or whenever you take your vacation, to find a way to unplug. Leave the computer behind, or at least your work email. Read relaxing books, walk, play games. Take time with your loved ones, breathe deeply, learn a new prayer discipline, and receive from God the strength and grace you need to get back in the saddle.

Here at the fountain’s sliding foot,
Or at some fruit-tree’s mossy root,
Casting the body’s vest aside,
My soul into the boughs does glide;
There like a bird it sits, and sings,
Then whets, and combs its sliver wings;
And, till prepared for longer flight,
Waves in its plumes the various light.
---Andrew Marvell---

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

This Week at St. James:

Friday: Loree+ leaves for vacation
Sunday: Liturgies at 8:00 and 10:15; 9:00 Daughters of the King
Monday: Confirmation ’08 trip to Hershey Park
Tuesday: Charlie+ back in the office
Friday: Art+ leaves for vacation
Saturday 26th: Picnic here with St. Mary’s, Walbrook

The Pax will return on August 20th.

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:
David; Arabella; Brittany; Owen; Jennifer D.; Rob C.
Jason; Larry; Donna and Jim; Betsy; Mary S.
Mimi and Poppa B.; Todd; Vicki T.; Sherry; Ray W.
Cathy A.; Charles R.; Dolores; Alexa; Joe O.; Richard D.
William; The Bergen Family; The Rekoski Family; Charlie B.
Gracie; Eve; Read

For the repose of the soul of Chip Chew and for his family who mourn. Chip’s funeral will be Saturday, July 19th at 11:00.

For those who are deployed and their families.

My soul, there is a country
Far beyond the stars,
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -
If you canst get but thither,
There grows the flower of peace,
The rose that cannot wither,
Thy fortress and thy ease.
---Henry Vaughn---

In Closing:

Its time to rest, holy God.
I have had enough activity.
Teach met o attend to each moment,
To realize that the world’s business
Will not offer solace,
Or help me say yes
To the stillness
At the center of my being.
Let me share the solitude I find in the garden
With others
In a way that is loving and free.
--Wayne Simsic---
from "Garden Prayers"

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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