Yesterday June and I had the privilege of visiting Sister Judy Yunker at the Dwelling Place Monastery in Martin, Kentucky. What a wonderful visit! Sister Judy is excited about our little community and has offered to come in late September to visit us so that we might become more acquainted with the monastery's oblate program. On Tuesday evening at our picnic, I'll share some of what I learned with you. The vision at Dwelling Place Monastery is that it will soon be a fully ecumenical (in the fullest robust sense of that word!) Benedictine monastery sometime this summer. That's going to be a truly remarkable development. The Holy Spirit keeps whispering to me that you all will find what's going quite a blessing for the Church, full of possibilities!

And, o yes! While I told Sister Judy that we don't have a name (some sort of a "moniker" other than the phrase prayer group), and she has given us some insightful suggestions that I'd also like to share with you.

One more note: Carol Poston wrote to ask about our meeting time for the picnic. Let's get together about 6:00 p.m. and say grace at 6:15. Just bring something for table-sharing and a lawn chair or two! Hope to see lots of you!

Hi, everyone!

Now that June and I have returned to our Richmond home after a short stay in Georgia, we'd like to invite everyone and his or her family (bring the kids!) and/or friends (this would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce someone to daily prayer) to a backyard potluck picnic and Evening Prayer on Tuesday, May 29, at our home.

Here's how to drive out to our home:

1. Go to Exit 87 (the intersection of I-75 and the EKU By-Pass)

2. Go west on Barnes Mill for 2.3 miles to Crutcher Pike.

Crutcher Pike is the first crossroad past The Corner Store.

3. Turn right onto Crutcher Pike.

4. Go .5 miles to Mule Shed Lane.

5. Turn left onto Mule Shed Lane.

6. Go .8 miles to Marengo Drive.

7. Turn left onto Marengo Drive.

8. Go .3 miles to 281 Marengo Drive, the brick house on the crest of the hill after you enter the left-turning curve of Marengo Drive.

And inasmuch as I hope that my recently ordered DVD of Into Great Silence will get here before the 29th, I'd surely like to share a bit (or all) of it with any of you who can stay a while after Evening Prayer.


We'd surely love to have all of you come! So be sure to mark your calendar (cancel another "obligation" if you have one), fix up something for the table, and drive into the country a little bit for a evening in the love of Christ.

O, yes! I nearly forgot! Please bring along some lawn chairs, just to make sure that everyone is comfy!

Feast of the Ascension of our Lord


On May 17, we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. (Actually I was able to celebrate it today at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal, in Covington, GA, because that fine parish celebrates the Eucharist every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., and when weekday feast days occur, Father Tim simply "transposes" the feast to Wednesay, thus assuring a fair-sized community of regular-attenders for a good many week-day celebrations). The readings for this day are as follows:

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

The fortieth day after Easter Sunday, commemorates the Ascension of Christ into heaven, according to Mark:16:19, Luke:23:51, and Acts:I:2. In the Eastern Church this feast was known as analepsis (the taking up) and as the episozomene (the salvation). The terms used in the West, ascensio and ascensa, signify that Christ was raised up by His own powers. Mount Olivet, near Bethany, is designated as the place where Christ left the earth. The feast falls on Thursday, and it is one of the most solemn in the calendar, ranking with the feasts of the Passion, Easter and Pentecost.

Although no documentation of it exists prior to the beginning of the fifth century, St. Augustine says that it originated with the Apostles, and that it was observed by the Church long before his time. The Ascension is frequently mentioned in the writings of St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and in the Constitution of the Apostles. Perhaps, prior to the fifth century it was commemorated in conjunction with the feasts of Easter or Pentecost.

Connected with this feast were the customs of: the blessing of beans and grapes (after the Commemoration of the Dead in the Canon of the Mass), the blessing of first fruits, (afterwards done on Rogation Days), the blessing of a candle, the wearing of mitres by deacon and subdeacon, the extinguishment of the paschal candle, and processions with torches and banners outside the churches to commemorate the entry of Christ into heaven. In some churches, the Ascension was depicted by elevating the figure of Christ above the altar, through an opening in the roof. In others, the figure of Christ was made to ascend and that of the devil was made to descend.

The day celebrates the completion of the Lord's work for our salvation, the pledge of our glorification with Christ, and His entry into heaven with our human nature glorified.

I especially like this Orthodox icon which shows Christ, with angels, being escorted back to His heavenly home. His Mother Mary stands with angels and the faithful disciples. In the Orthodox Church, this icon is usually displayed for veneration, in the center on the church, on the feast of Ascension.


An Orthodox website helps us understand what is being presented:


The icon is divided into two parts, top and bottom, heaven and earth. The top is in order, the bottom, except for the Theotokos, is in confusion. The figures are set against the hilly landscape of the Mount of Olives, scattered with olive trees. It is painted with bright colors as a joyous icon.

Although the icon depicts the event described by Saint Luke, it is not meant to be a historical picture, but a representation of the Church.

Christ is shown inside the blessing all with his right hand and holding a scroll in his left. This is to show love and knowledge. This sphere is being carried up in glory by angles.

Even though we see Christ departing, the Orthodox Church sees the second and glorious coming in the same icon. Jesus said he would return exactly as he ascended. The icon does not show direction. His love and teachings are still with the church.


The focus of the lower part of the icon is the Theotokos [Mary, the "Bearer" of God]. She represents the entire Church waiting for Jesus' return.

The entire group, the Theotokos and the disciples also represent the Church. In this case the faithful learning Christians. The disciples are waiting for the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and are shown in confusion.

The disciples shown can not be the historical gathering, but again a image of the Church. The Apostle Paul who was still Saul, a nonbeliever at that time, is standing next to Mary.


Then two angels in white clothes said to the disciples, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem (Acts 1:11).


Inasmuch as many remember the Ascension during one or more of the Daily Offices, it's especially appropriate that on Ascension Day, we pause to contemplate the meaning of our Lord's return to the Father as together they prepare us for the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost, May 27.

Wednesday, May 9: Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, 389

There is a traditional list of eight great Doctors (Teachers, Theologians) of the ancient Church. It lists four Western (Latin) Doctors -- Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, Jerome of Strido, and Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory I) -- and four Eastern (Greek) Doctors -- Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom of Antioch and Constantinople, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus (also called Gregory Nazianzen).

Rob Bradshaw provides this very brief biography:

Gregory, a friend of both Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, was the son of a wealthy bishop (also called Gregory). Like Basil he was well-educated and deeply influenced by the teachings of Origen. In this regard Gregory stood halfway between the literalism of Basil and the allegory of Gregory of Nyssa. Again, like his friend Basil, Gregory was an ascetic at heart. After many years of periodic withdrawal into monasteries he was made bishop, a position that he did not take up willingly. Many of Gregory's works have survived, including his Five Theological Orations which have a distinct Trinitarian emphasis.

To find out more about Gregory of Nazianzus, visit one or more of the following:

• St. Gregory of Nazianzus


• Gregory of Nzaianzus


• Oriental Institute: Centre for the Study of Gregory of Nazianzus (C.E.G.N.)

In your Daily Office you may wish to use this prayer and these readings:

Almighty God, who 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, who live and reign for ever and ever.

Psalm 19:7-11(12-14) or 37:3-6, 32-33; Wisdom 7:7-14; John 8:25-32

April 29, Catherine of Siena, Teacher, 1380

This theologian was the first woman among Roman Catholics to receive the title "Doctor" or "Teacher" of the Church. Catherine was a Dominican sister known for her mystical visions as well as her work on behalf of people who were poor and imprisoned.

Today Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Episcopalians remember Catherine of Siena and her contributions as a teacher and spiritual mentor for Christians during a time when the Church experienced numerous crises. Read about what she means to one Christian woman today and then turn to a good brief biography of her life to see how she may deepen your understanding of our faith and witness, especially when we love others in an imperfect Church. Paintings of Catherine typically portray her as a nun holding a small church building in her hand, symbolizing her commitment to and love for the whole Church, the Body of Christ to which we all are members.

Our prayer:

Everlasting God, who so kindled the flame of holy love in the Heart of blessed Catherine of Siena, as she meditated on the passion of your Son our Savior, that she devoted her life to the poor and the sick, and to the peace and unity of the Church: Grant that we also may share in the mystery of Christ's death, and rejoice in the revelation of His Glory, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Readings: Psalm 36:5-10 or 16:5-11; 1 John 1:5--2:2; Luke 12:22-24, 29-31

The Third Sunday after Easter

On this, the Eve of the Third Sunday after Easter, here's some good news: Grace Gutekunst is doing well after her surgery. While she needs to take it easy for a week or so, she'll be able to be out and about very soon. We're all so glad that Grace is doing well, and we offer our thanksgiving to God for her successful surgery and healing.

On Wednesday, April 25, the Church remembers St. Mark; our readings in the Daily Office are as follows:

Psalm 2 or 2:7-10;

Isaiah 52:7-10;

Ephesians 4:7-8,11-16;

Mark 1:1-15 or Mark 16:15-20


O, yes, today I received two books that some or all of you may be interested in: Brother Benet Tredten's How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life (Brewster, MA: Paraclete P, 2006) and Rachel M. Srubas' Oblation: Meditations on St. Benedict's Rule (Brewster, MA: Paraclete P, 2006). These two books are recommended by a number of Benedictine communities for those who are interested in becoming Benedictine oblates. I'm giving Scrubas's Oblation to Grace to read while she recuperates after her surgery, and I'm sure she'd be glad to pass it along when she's finished reading it. I should be finished with Tredten's book in a few days and will be glad to share it. Let me know if you'd like to read it.

Have a blessed Third Week after Easter!

The Calendar for this Week

The Church remembers three important Christians this week:

April 19

Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1012

Alphege (Elphege, AElfheah) was born about 953, during the second major period of Viking raids against England. He became first a monk and then a hermit, and then was appointed Abbot of Bath. In 984 he became Bishop of Westminster. In 994 King Ethelred the Unready sent him to parley with the Danish invaders Anlaf and Swein. The Anglo-Saxons paid tribute, but Anlaf became a Christian and swore never to invade England again. He never did. In that same year Alphege brought the newly baptized King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway to a peaceful meeting with King Ethelred, and to his confirmation at Andover. (Remark: "Unready" does not mean that the king was often unprepared; it means that he was headstrong and stubborn, and would not accept "rede," meaning counsel or advice.)

Prayer: O loving God, whose martyr bishop Alphege of Canterbury suffered violent death because he refused to permit a ransom to be extorted from his people: Grant, we pray thee, that all pastors of thy flock may pattern themselves on the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep; through him who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever.

Olavus Petri, Priest, 1552; Laurentius Petri, Archbishop of Uppsala, 1573, Renewers of the Church

Olavus Petri (born 1493) and his brother Laurentius (born 1499) were the principal leaders of the Lutheran movement in Sweden. Both studied at Wittenberg, where they were influenced by Martin Luther. Gustavus Vasa, first king of newly independent Sweden (formerly ruled from Denmark) brought the brothers to Stockholm and made Olavus a pastor and city councilman, and Laurentius his chancellor.

Prayer: Almighty God, who by the hands of Olavus and Laurentius Petri gave to the people of Sweden the Scriptures and the services of the Church in their own tongue: mercifully grant that all men everywhere may be enabled to hear and read the Good News of salvation preached to them in terms that they understand, that so they may be drawn to the kingdom of your Blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

April 21: Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Theologian, 1109

We give thanks for Anselm [1033-1109], Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor of the Church and Father of Scholasticism, because he formed a link between St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. He had a stormy career. He was exiled twice for championing the Church's rights with two kings. He was a champion of Human Freedom: he forbade the sale of human beings. He is shown with a child and a ship, symbolizing the Church.

Prayer: Almighty God, who raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Just minutes ago I received the following note from Lynn which needs sharing with all of you:

Dear Andy,

I had hoped to come on Thursday but my father has taken a turn for the worse. The Hospice nurse thinks he is very near the end of his life. Please keep us in your prayers. -Lynn

Assuring Lynn that we surround her family with our morning and evening prayers, let's all ask for God's mercies upon Lynn's father and family, perhaps with a prayer like this one:

O Lord Jesus Christ, in your last agony you committed your spirit into the hands of your heavenly Father; have mercy on all sick and dying people, especially on Lynn's father; may death be for him the gate of everlasting life; and give to him, Lynn's father, the assurance of your presence even in the dark hour of his passing, for you are the Resurrection and the life; and to you be the glory for ever and ever.

Lynn's phone number is 623-6185 and her address is 610 Benjamin Drive.

May God keep you, Lynn, your father, and all your family safe in his everylasting love.

If you'd like a visible and daily reminder that we're praying for one another, print this page and then cut out the bookmark for your prayerbook.

Last Thursday evening, five of us met at Stephan Locke's home, Echo Run. Before our Evening Prayers and the delicious nibbles afterwards, we spend a good bit of time talking over what we think will be best for us as we leave the early months of this year and head toward our Eastertide days and beyond. We all sensed rather strongly that in our homes, as individuals and families, we are fairly well committed to daily prayer. Our weekly meetings since late January have truly been a blessing to us, helping us enter regular morning and evening prayer, knowing that others, not too distant from each of us, are praying with us. With this awareness, we also sensed that it is probably not necessary for us to continue meeting weekly as a group; most of us have family and parish obligations that make it quite difficult to absent ourselves from our homes every Thursday evening. That said, however, we also decided that it would be good for us to do three things in the future.

First, we wish to meet several times during the year--most likely during the late summer, Advent, next year's Lent--for several weeks in a row in order to join our hearts, hands, and heads for renewal, refreshment, and re-creation in prayer.

Second, for those who wish to do so, we'd to explore the possibility of entering some sort of oblate program so that we might additional resources to support our commitment to daily prayer. To that end, Leslie, Jim, June, and Andy plan to visit The Dwelling Place Monastery in Martin, Kentucky. Andy has previously been in contact with the Oblate Director, and he will see if we can make arrangements for a visit in the next week or so. We'll also explore other oblate programs and come up with a recommendation.

Third, June and Andy want to invite everyone--and everyone's family and children!--to their home some early summer evening, the date of which is to be announced. So be appraised that you'll get an invitation sometime soon (most likely in middle May) for a sunset potluck supper. Because we'll have some children, we'll do our best to be sure that the kids have a good time and comfortably enter Evening Prayer with us.


Please be sure to remember Grace Gutekunst is your prayers and intercessions. On Thursday Grace wrote this note to us all:

I am staying close to home for the next several days in preparation for surgery
on April 19th to correct the heart defect I had had since birth. Hopefully, it won't be long before I can see your faces once again. My sister is coming in from the Chicago area and will stay with me for a week or so. I'm told there is minimal hospital incareration, so I should be home within a day or two and will have some restrictions but should be able to get back into the swing of things soon. Know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Blessings to all. -- Grace

If you'd like to be in touch with Grace, her phone number is 624-2090, and her address is 230 Burnam Court, Richmond, KY, 40475.

O, yes, one more thing. We'd like to encourage more use of our blog so that we let one another know what happening in our lives and parishes. Meeting less than weekly doesn't mean that we can't chat with one another! So that everyone knows how and feels comfortable doing so, Andy will soon send out a note to each of you that will give you information about posting and commenting on this blog. We'd really like to more of us to visit www.prayingdaily.blogspot.com and share our thoughts, especially those that will deepen our prayer lives.

"He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life." --William Law

Depending on your calendar, the Church commemorates the life and witness of William Law either on April 9 (with Dietrich Bonhoeffer) or on April 10.

Law, William 1686-1761, English clergyman, noted for his controversial, devotional, and mystical writings. One of the nonjurors , Law was deprived of his fellowship in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and lost all chances for advancement in the church. Unexcelled among the controversialists of his day, he was also a leading devotional writer. In the former role he wrote Three Letters to the Bishop of Bangor (1717-19) in the Bangorian Controversy , and The Case of Reason (1731), in reply to Matthew Tindal, the deist. In the field of devotional writings, few books have been given so high a place as his Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (1728). Its influence was acknowledged by John Wesley. In The Spirit of Prayer (1750) and The Spirit of Love (1754) is discernible the influence of Law's study of Jakob Boehme, the mystic. Law's collected works (9 vol., 1753-76) were edited by G. B. Morgan in 1892-93.

If you wish to know more about William Law, visit

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of William Law Priest, 1761

William Law: Writer, Priest, and Non-Juror

Biographical Sketches of Memorable Christians of the Past: William Law

And again, depending on your calendar (either on April 10 or 12), Lutherans and Anglicans also remember Mikael Agricola, born in Uusimaa, Finland, about 1510. He went to school in Viipuri (Viborg) and then in the cathedral town of Turku (Abo). The bishop of Turku, a Dominican monk, sent him to study at Wittenberg, where he met Luther and Melanchthon, and upon returning home, became rector of the cathedral school and eventually assistant to the bishop. On the death of the bishop in 1554, he was consecrated as the new Bishop of Turku without papal approval, and carried out a relatively conservative program of reform along Lutheran lines, retaining traditional doctrines and practices wherever he did not see scriptural grounds for rejecting them.


Mikael saw the importance of worship and teaching in the Finnish language. He accordingly established rules of orthography which are the basis of modern Finnish spelling, and wrote an Aapinen (primer), a prayer book (with other information), a translation of the New Testament, and a translation of the Liturgy. He translated many hymns into Finnish, and collected hymns that had been written or translated by others. He also took pains to learn what he could about the ancient pre-Christian myths and folklore of the Finnish people. He is accounted the father of written Finnish.


His accomplishments as a bishop are the more impressive when we remember that they took place in a short time. Three years after he became bishop, he was sent to negotiate a treaty with the Russians, and on his return fell ill and died suddenly, in his forties.

Almighty God, we praise thy holy Name for the men and women whom thou hast sent to call the Church to its tasks and renew its life, and especially at this time for thy servants Mikael Agricola, whom thou didst call to preach to the people of Finland. Raise up, we beseech thee, in this our day, teachers and prophets inspired by thy Spirit, that their voices may give strength to thy Church and proclaim the reality of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

9 April 2007: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Teacher and Martyr, 1945

On Monday the Church in her prayers asks us to remember and thank almighty God for the witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who reminds us that “when Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die.” For more information about his life, teachings, witness, and death, visit

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian, 1 April 1945

International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian, 1945, April 9

If you are interested in seeing one or more films about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you can to go www.netflix.com and get any or all of the following three movies:

Bonhoeffer (2003) This poignant documentary traces the life of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was one of the first to speak up against Adolph Hitler throughout Hitler's rise to power. Bonhoeffer organized the Confessing Church, the only structured revolt against Hitler, and turned to his roots as a devout Christian for the strength to take a political stand for Jews everywhere.

Hanged on a Twisted Cross: The Life, Convictions and Martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1996) Ed Asner narrates this documentary about German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who condemned the atrocities of the Nazi party and was executed just days before the end of World War II. Rare archival footage, documents and footage of original locations paint a portrait of Bonhoeffer's life and times. The program examines questions still very relevant today, such as how a man of peace can accept the use of violence in order to combat evil.

Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace (2000) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Ulrich Tukur) pays the ultimate price for speaking out against the Nazi party in this dramatization of the German Lutheran minister's life. The clergyman actively opposes Hitler's regime, heroically condemning its atrocities. On many occasions, he has the opportunity to keep his peace and save his own life, but he stands by his moral convictions and is eventually hanged by the Nazis one month before the end of the war.

A happy and blessed Easter to everyone! Now that we're again singing the Alleluias in vigils, services, and prayers and living resurrected lives with our Lord, here's a reminder that Louise and Stephen Locke will host the next scheduled meeting of the group at their house on this Eastertide Thursday April 12th at 7: 00 p.m.

The address is 3629 Lexington Road , Richmond.

Easiest Directions:

Take I-75 North from Berea or Richmond to exit 97 (Clay's Ferry Exit).

Turn left, cross over interstate.

Turn left into first driveway. Stone gates with cement dogs on top. Brick house. "Echo Run."

If you need to be in touch with Louise and Stephen, here are the numbers:

859-200-4679 cell
859-62302068 home

Thank you Louise and Stephen for inviting us to your home for Evening Prayer.

Last evening my online subscription to Christianity Today provided "Images of Calvary: Contemporary Christian artists reflect on Good Friday," a slideshow of images compiled by Susan Wunderink, who writes this preface:

During the Middle Ages, a tradition of prayer and reflection on images of the Passion formed into the Stations of the Cross, a sort of Via Dolorosa of the visual arts. This slideshow of contemporary art, although it doesn't stick to the traditional fourteen stations, can be used as a meditation on Jesus Christ's path to the Cross. Each artist's statement below the art explains how it connects to Christ's sacrifice.

Many of the images are extraordinary and may well provide you with an opportunity to deepen your appreciation for all that we remember in our liturgies, daily offices, and worship during the last days of Holy Week. Click here to view the slideshow.

Leslie and Jim have written to ask all of us to "please keep Stephen, Louise and Graham Locke" in our prayers. Louise's father died last week in New Jersey. Although Louise's father's death was not unexpected, we all know how difficult and sad it is to lose one's parent. As Stephen, Louise, and Graham travel to and from the East Coast, we ask that they find comfort and strength in the love of God, that everyone in their family is blessed with the hope of the Resurrection with Christ, and that during this time of grief the mercies of the Holy Trinity be with all who mourn the loss of Louise's father.

During this year's Holy Week, most of us will be worshipping the Holy Trinity's love for us with other Christians, perhaps on Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday, within an Easter Vigil, and during The Feast of the Resurrection. As we prepare for and celebrate Easter, let's be sure to remember one another in our intercessions, asking God to draw each one of us closer in love to Him, closer in love to the holy catholic Church, closer in love to our fellow parishioners, closer in love to members of our families, closer in love to our neighbors--and especially closer in love to those who deperately need the love of God in Christ: those who are suffering in war, those in prisons, our enemies, those who are undergoing injustice, widows, widowers, and orphans, the homeless, and the poor of the world. Let us ask God that our lives--buried and risen with Christ in baptism, nurtured by the Gospel, shaped by the prayers and readings of the Daily Office, and fed by the Presence of Christ in Holy Communion--may bring healing and new life to all whom we meet in the days and weeks to come.

My office last evening gave me this reading from the Catechetical Lectures (XX.5) of Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315-386):

O strange and wonderful event! We were not really put to death, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified, we were not really brought back to life. But, even the imitation is symbolic [in the best sense of the word; that is, the imitation "intimately connects us to that profound Event'"], the salvation is very real! Christ was truly crucified, truly buried, truly raised up. And all this was given to us by grace in order that we might share his sufferings by imitating them, and thus truly obtain salvation. How vast God's love for men! Christ had his utterly pure hands pierced by the nails, he suffered; and yet it is to me, who share in his sufferings without suffering or experiencing pain, that he give the grace of salvation.

May our Lord Jesus drench you in His dying love even as He also shows you how to die, urging you to come to His new life.

And, O yes, remember: on the Thursday after Easter we meet at Stephen Locke's home. You'll receive a reminder a day or two after Easter Sunday.

Carol Poston writes:

Last Thursday, March 22, Steve, Leslie, Jim and I gathered at Leslie and Jim's home. We studied the lectionary psalm for the day and had our evening prayers. We discussed a name for the group, but came to no consensus. We also discussed a meeting location for this Thursday's meeting on March 29. Steve had mentioned his house, but I don't remember whether that was for this Thursday or later in the spring. I had occasion to call Fr. Birch. He said Our Saviour would be available, but that he would be in Berea with the college students. I will not be able to be present Thursday night--I'm already overcommitted and the week hasn't even started!

And Andy appends this note:

Right now I'm in the village library at Barnesville, Ga. My laptop went ka-blooey yesterday, and I'm not sure if I can get back online this week. I'll call Steve Locke and chat with him to see if his home is available and/or if would like to shepherd us at Our Saviour on the 29th--and we'll go from there! Need I say that I wish I could be with you all! Yes!

Last Sunday afternoon Fr. Birch--and a whole household of friends and neighbors--blessed the home of Leslie and Jim Farris. The Lord heard our prayers as, from room to room, Scriptures were read, the waters of blessing were sprinkled on walls and the gathered guests, and Lesie, Tom, and their son Jason, gave thanks to God for their new home. As the sun shone brightly through the windows and filled the house with light, we were reminded that the Light, Jesus Himself, lives in and among the Farris family. And you should have seen--and tasted!--the tables of lovely food; and in the kitchen, "wine" to gladden hearts. Thank you, Leslie and Jim, for inviting us to be with you on such a special day!

It was cold and rainy last evening, Thursday, when the doorbell rang, and Leslie and Jim Farris came in for Evening Prayer. Just wonderful to see them! Although we did take time to talk about Psalm 85, we spent the better part of our pre-prayer evening simply getting to know each other and how our children are faring. That too is a great blessing the Daily Office brings to those who gather to listen to God; they also get to listen to one another.

In addition to inviting us to the blessing of their house this Sunday at 4:00 p.m., Leslie and Jim have also graciously invited us to their home for next week's Evening Prayer. The Psalm appointed for the evening of March 22, next Thursday, is Psalm 69; it's a long one, so the Office suggests we prepare ourselves to pray verses 1-38.

Here's how to arrive at their home, 136 Stevie’s Way, Berea, for both the Sunday's Blessing and Thursday's Evening Prayer, :

From Richmond:

• Take 25/421 (at the Kroger’s) to Berea.


• Turn left onto 421 past the Depot, Kingston.


• Tollow 421, go past Pilot Knob Baptist Church.
  
• Immediately on the left, at the end of the guard rail after the church, turn left onto Pinewoods.


• The first right is Stevie’s Way.


• Their home is at the end of the cul-de-sac.
  

From Berea:

• Follow 21 to Big Hill.


• Turn left onto 421.


• Turn right into Pinewoods(After Redlick Rd and before Pilot Knob Church).


• The first right is Stevie’s Way.


• Their home is at the end of the cul-de-sac.
  

It's a lovely drive to the Farris' home; enjoy the journey!

In this contribution to the Washington Post/Newsweek On Faith online discussion (posted 5 February 2007), Jim Wallis responds to the question: What is prayer? Do you pray? If so to whom and for what?

Yes, I pray. But there are many misunderstandings about prayer. For many, prayer is talking to God, sometimes with a great list of requests and needs – sort of like childrens' Christmas lists mailed to Santa Claus.

But, at least for me, prayer is more often becoming a time of listening than talking. There is so much noise in our world and our lives (much of our own making); prayer becomes a quiet space enabling us to stop talking long enough to see what God might be trying to say to us. The disciplines of prayer, silence, and contemplation practices by the monastics and mystics are precisely that – stopping the noise, slowing down, and becoming still, so that God can break through all our activity and noise in order to speak to us. Prayer serves to put all the parts of our lives in God’s presence, reminding us of how holy our humanity really is.

And also for us, prayer is the act of reclaiming our identity as the children of God; it declares who we are and to whom we belong. The action of prayer places us outside the realm of the powers and principalities. As prayer declares our true identity, it destroys our false identities. In prayer we act upon who we really are, and thus prayer has the effect of diminishing the illusions that have controlled us, and helping us remember what is really true. Prayer allows us to step out of our traps and find ourselves again in God.

Contemplative writer and priest Henri Nouwen once shared with our Sojourners community that the desert fathers regarded prayer as an act of "unhooking" from the harness of the world's securities. Such prayer may be the only action powerful enough to free us from our spiritual bondage to property, money, power, ideas, and causes, which often control our behavior.Only those who have truly found their identity in God can resist the violent tugs and pulls of the false values offered by the world.

By re-establishing our security in God, prayer becomes an effective weapon in resisting the world’s false securities.

Prayer changes our frame of reference; it is not merely a preparation for action. Prayer must be understood as an action in itself, a potent political weapon to be used in spiritual warfare against the most powerful forces of the world. Prayer is not undertaken in place of other actions; it is the foundation for all the other actions we take.

I recall the way Archbishop Desmond Tutu would pray in South Africa, during the apartheid era. His prayers constantly affirmed God’s power over the claims of the state, and that was a threat to their power. And prayer, in recognizing God's authority over the evil powers, moves us beyond opposition to affirmation, and beyond resistance to celebration. Thus prayer and the results of prayer can be the most revolutionary of acts. The powers that be in this world are aware of this – that is why they consider those who pray in this way to be a threat.