A Feast of Simplicity

Yesterday was the feast day of George Herbert, a wealthy man who gave it all up to become a priest in a tiny parish in England in the early 1600s. George Herbert is famous for saying, "Nothing is little in God's service." Herbert was a writer and a poet, but didn't use his great talents for fame or fortune. He wrote because it was what he felt called to do. It was what he was good at, what he had to offer God.

At the end of his life, when Herbert knew he was dying, he sent his poetry to his friend, Nicholas Ferrar. His intent was for Nicholas to enjoy his poems and then to get rid of them. But Nicholas published them. It's a good thing he did, too, because Herbert's poetry is some of the most beautiful poetry we have from the early 17th century.

Here's one of his poems - a favorite of mine - entitled "Prayer"

Prayer the Churches banquet, Angels age
Gods breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav'n and earth;

Engine against th' Almightie, sinners towre,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-daies world transposing in an houre,
A kinde of tune, which all things heare and fear;

Softnesse, and peace, and joy, and love, and blisse,
Exalted Manna, gladnesse of the best,
Heaven in ordinaire, man well drest,
The milkie way, the bird of Paradise,

Church-bels beyond the starres heard, the souls bloud,
The land of spices; something understood.

May your prayer take you to a deeper understanding of the glorious simplicity found in living out one's true calling.
Blessings,
Janet+

Lenten Prayer

Lord, in this Lenten season, we come to you in prayer. You know the deepest prayers of our hearts before we frame them into words. Yet when we force ourselves to find the right phrases to tell you of our need, we realize how much we depend on you. Walk with us so that our lives become a prayer. You have given so much to us, God. Help us to have the courage and strength we need to give ourselves to you. Help us to kick out of our lives bad habits, poor habits, selfish ways, and all the things that separate us from you. Help us to understand that we do our own thing best when we line up our lives with you first in prayer.
Guide us. Direct us. Show us your way.
Amen.
--Taken from "Lent Begins at Home," by Pat and Rosemary Ryan - Ligouri, MO: Liguori Publications, 1978. P.11.

Pancake Supper - our little version of Mardi Gras!!

Dear Friends in Christ -
Today is the last day of Epiphany, the last day of the season of glory and light before we begin the wilderness journey of Lent.

Please do come for a festive evening of family fun. The Men's Group is serving pancakes tonight (Tuesday, 2/20) beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Here's a little inspiration for this fine day, a thought for the day which was in my email "in box" when I got to work this morning:

Work hard -- Do your best -- Keep your word -- Never get to big for you britches -- Trust in God -- Have no fear -- Never forget a friend
---Harry S. Truman

Onward and upward!
Janet+

OASIS CANCELLED

Dear Friends in Christ -

Due to the nasty, nasty weather out there, our Oasis Bible Study for tonight (Wed. 2/14) is cancelled. Please do enjoy a lovely evening at home - and take a minute to read the text we would have been studying this Valentine's evening - Paul's "love chapter": 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13. It's heartwarming reading!

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

PS - Look forward to seeing you on Saturday night for Game Night!

GAME NIGHT

Saturday, February 17th - 6:00 p.m. 'til ??? - Parish Hall - BE THERE!
PLEASE BRING:
1. A potluck dish to share.
2. Your favorite game (call Jayne Bolton to let her know what you're bringing - 459-1922).
3. Your good humor.

At the end of a long, cold, snowy week, this night promises to be FUN - FUN - FUN!

Quiet strategists among us, dust off your old skills at chess and see if you can still win a few rounds. For chatterboxes, there will be games like Outburst and Apples-to-Apples.

Enjoy some good food and good fellowship . . . together with some good friends - old and new!

Please do come - and don't hesitate to bring a friend. All are welcome!

Election of a Bishop Suffragan for Connecticut

Dear Friends in Christ -

This is an exciting and important time in the life of our Diocese. On Saturday, March 10th, we will elect a new Bishop Suffragan to serve as a chief pastor, priest and leader among us.

The slate of candidates presented by the nominating committee was announced this morning. Click here to go right to the list of candidates: http://www.ctbishopsearch.org/ctbishopsearch/Candidates.htm. You'll notice that a former priest of this parish, The Rev. Canon Tom Furrer, is among the candidates. I'm sure you all join me in sharing congratulations and lifting him up in prayer.

What can you do? PRAY - pray for our Diocese, pray for those who will be voting as representatives of St. Paul's (Betty Tuttle and David Nash; Ginny Mihalko and Lilly Beall are alternates), and for me, as I vote, too.

The Bishop's Convocation for Prayer (on which I serve as Chair) created the following prayer at Bishop Smith's request. I join our Bishop in his request that we all use this prayer during the coming weeks, as we prepare and gather for the election of our newest bishop suffragan.

Eternal God, source of all wisdom, help us to hear clearly the voice of your Spirit calling one forth to serve your Church as bishop suffragan. May this process of discernment draw the people of this Diocese together in your will, that we may be vessels of your love and light in the ministries and communities in Connecticut. In all things, may your Spirit rest upon those who are standing for election and upon us all, through Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit govern, heal and bless. Amen.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+