Let Us Pray&Jonah's Prayer

Sept. 20, 2020

Remember thy servant, O Lord,
according to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people;
and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee,
she may go from strength to strength in the life of
perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
 BCP, p. 488
Dear Hearts,
    This is the prayer for the departed that I offered on Sunday morning for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and all who have died.  (So, yes, there were a couple edits.)  It is one of the many beautiful prayers in the Book of Common Prayer for the deceased, for the larger fellowship of all the saints in light, for those who mourn, and for all of us who remain on this side of the veil.  They're in two spots -- pp.487-489 and pp. 503-505.
    The richness of these prayers is among the reasons to be an Episcopalian -- or so it seems to me!
 
Our prayers are also asked for ----
All who are ill including,
Margaret S,  and Phillip, and
for Dale and all others 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 the over 200,000 of our fellow citizens,
who have died of the coronavirus.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and
may light perpetual shine upon them.

Let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for the birthdays of
Cindy McNamara, Owen Marks, and Rhoda Whitman
Bless these your servants, as they begin another year,
may they continue to grow in wisdom and grace.
 
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Claire, 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 harrisoncec@snet.net 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 will continue, Wednesday, September 23 at 7p.m.  You can join the livestream via www.facebook.com/cecguilford 

Thursday Bible Study has resumed our conversations with, and about, the saga of Jacob. We continue this Thursday, September 23, at 9:30a.m.  We''ll talk about Genesis chapter 33.  Here's the Zoom link

Report from Sunday School Gathering ... 
I think maybe 18 of us gathered in the backyard -- keeping safe distances, wearing masks, etc. -- for fellowship, refreshment, to play some games, and engage with Tyler Jarvis about the story of Jonah.  Tyler is such a great storyteller, it was just fun to hear him tell the story.  He had some thought-provoking things to say about Jonah's prayer from the belly of the whale; so I had to have a look at it.  Tyler's right.  Instead of being a prayer of repentance and for deliverance from captivity in the big fish, Jonah's prayer is of confidence that God will save him.  Since we may feel in captivity ourselves, I thought it would be worth building tomorrow's Evening Prayers around Jonah's prayer.   As a preview of coming attractions, here it is:
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, 
“I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me; all your waves
and your billows passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight;
how shall I look again upon your holy temple?’
The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped around my head at the
roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God.
As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord;
and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”
Then the Bible says, "Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land."  So, there's hope for us!
Jonah 2:1-10
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
Your Friendly Neighborhood Rector