Let Us Pray + St. Luke the Physician

October 20, 2020

Judge eternal, throned in splendor,
Lord of lords and king of kings,
with thy living fire of judgment purge this land of bitter things;
solace all its wide dominion with the healing of thy wings.

Still the weary folk are pining for the hour that brings release,
and the city's crowded clangor cries aloud for sin to cease;
and the homesteads and the woodlands
plead in silence for their peace.
Hymn 596, verses 1 & 2, Hymnal 1982
Dear Hearts,
    A contemporary setting of this hymn's text served as the anthem for Sunday's Convention Eucharist for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.  The online "Brady Bunch" choral presentation was very cleverly done (and represented hours and hours and hours of work by our Cathedral's musical staff!)  But it was the text that really grabbed me.  There were tears.  Of course it was appropriate for the feast of St. Luke the Physician with its reference to healing, but it also seemed to me to aptly describe our national situation today.
   I do hope that you participated in the 10a.m. Sunday service.  The music was varied and lovely; Bishop Laura's sermon was an imaginative "conversation" with St. Luke; the visuals were a treat to the eye, and I found the Renewal of Baptismal Promises with the rest of the Diocese to be quite moving.  In case you missed it, or would like to experience the service again, you can find it and other convention videos here.
  There will be more to say about the substance of convention another time.  Meanwhile, strike a medal for your delegates -- Jennifer Huebner, Bill Cuddy and alternate Susan Pogue.  The technological challenges of mastering massive Zoom meetings, and separate platforms for elections and routine voting -- and the necessary moving back and forth between them -- were massive.  We did our best! 
Our prayers are also asked for ----
All who are ill, including
Philippe and Sheward; 
and for all who are contending with Covid-19 disease,
and for all facing financial hardship because of the pandemic.
May they all know the healing power of
Christ's presence and love.

For the repose of parishioners
Ella Marks and Richard Andrews,
and for the over 220,000 of our fellow citizens,
who have died of the coronavirus.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord;
may light perpetual shine upon them.

Let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for the birthday of
Frances P, and Harriet S (belatedly)
Bless your servants as they begin another year,
may they continue to grow in wisdom and grace.

And let us offer our thanksgivings for the
37th wedding anniversary of
Rose & Chris Robinson.
May their home continue to be a haven
of blessing and peace.
 
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Carol U, Kabir, Margaret S, Kate, Frank, Jack, Judy & Ed S,  Michael M,  Richard D, Dave K, Brian A, Jim & Annie, John, Joan G., Lois C., Winnie Z, Bernie and family, Susie & Paul, Pam McG, Julie H,  Murray E., Brooke & family, Kate S., Tracy M., Carl,  Michael S, Joanne N-R,  Madeline H, and Kelly G,
Also: Paul D, Susan S, Linda B, June C, Charlie K, Anne C, Mark S, Angela G, Maria, Bob, Olivia, Lois T, and Jo B.
Please also remember:  St. Luke’s School & Church in Martel (Haiti).

To add names and concerns for Wednesday's and Sunday's intercessions, and this "Let Us Pray" letter, please send them to YFNR at [email protected] with any details you care to share.  Names will then move to the "continuing" list for 30 days, and the longer term list upon request. 

Wednesday Evening Prayers this, Wednesday, October 21 at 7p.m. will be our own commemoration of St Luke Physician.  St. Paul refers to Luke as "the beloved physician" in Colossians 4.14.  So our prayers will be a Litany for Healing.  Our hymns will also ring the changes on Luke's ministry as an Evangelist -- tradition credits him with both the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. You can join the livestream via www.facebook.com/cecguilford. The bulletin will contain a biographical sketch; you'll find it  here.  

Thursday Bible Study will return to the beginning of the Joseph saga in Genesis 37 and 39. Things are not looking good for poor Joseph.  Join the conversation on Thursday, October 22, at 9:30a.m.  Here's the Zoom link.

"Those who sing pray twice,"
said St. Augustine.  Which compounds the pain of our current situation, in which it isn't safe for us to sing together.  However, if you walked under the Rectory windows during last Sunday's Convention Eucharist, you could have heard me singing at full voice.  I recommend this practice to you, and also commend the final verse from "Judge eternal."  Note the reference to "the richness of thy word."  it's Luke who passes along several of Jesus' great parables.
Crown, O God, thine own endeavor;
cleave our darkness with thy sword;
feed all those who do not know thee
with the richness of thy word;
cleanse the body of this nation
through the glory of the Lord.
Hymn 596, verse 3, Hymnal 1982
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
Your Friendly Neighborhood Rector