Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 95 and 69; Evening, Psalm 73;
Jeremiah 5:1 to 9; Romans 2:25 to 3:18; John 5:30 to 47:

“Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.” (Romans 2:29)

I’m going to run the risk of offending some of you today.  I truly hope that I do not. Some Christians do not like Jews. Such attitudes make me sad. They claim to love the Jew named Jesus, who kept all the Jewish traditions, but at the same time, the same Christians refuse to give his tradition an honest look.

I see Judaism as a faith not a race. I don’t believe in race. Sorry, it’s just me. The Jewish people were the displaced Israelites who escaped bondage under the Pharaoh of Egypt.  They were probably mixed with Egyptian blood as well, after all, Joseph, son of Jacob (Israel), married the daughter of an Egyptian and had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  They became Tribes of Israel even though they were half Egyptian.  My whole point is that we are what we practice, not who we claim as biological ancestors, but rather, who we claim as our spiritual ancestors.  Abraham himself came from the place that is now known as Iraq.  So what is being a Jew inwardly as Paul tells us?

Being a Jew at heart for me really means practicing the faith and worship of One God, the Creator of all that is, and lover of life, all life.  Further, I see Christianity as a path within Judaism, not a totally different way of honoring God. I am a U.S. Marine (retired) but I don’t get upset when people reference my connection to Marines with the U.S. Navy. Marines come under the Department of the Navy.  We Christians try to follow Jesus the Jew, in all that he commands us.

There is one caution about the word Jew I feel I must remind us. When we read “the Jews” in the Gospel, especially, the Gospel according to John, let us be advised that the evangelist is really talking about the Temple authorities, not the regular Jewish people, many of who followed Jesus. Too many Christians have taken the wrong use of this word to sanction anti-Semitism.

Mad at me yet?  I hope not. If we aspire to be a people of love we can’t harbor any hatred or malice towards those who differ from us. We must strive to love all people. Thank You Jesus.

Today we remember Thomas Ken, Bishop and Non-Juror (March 21, 1711), and his information may be found at: Thomas Ken.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray (For the Human Family BCP p. 815)

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalm  71; Evening Psalm 74;
Jeremiah 4:9 to 10 and 19 to 28; Romans 2:12 to 24; John 5:19 to 29:

“When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.  They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.” (Romans 2:14 to 16)

This just goes to show that all humanity, Jew or Gentile (the Non-Jew Nations), all have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. And according to later writings in Jeremiah which says, “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33 and 34)

God, in Christ Jesus, has written this on the human heart, whether we know it or not. I think we do know it however.  We don’t need a list of written laws for right and wrong to obey, or enforce. We already have an innate sense of the right thing to do or say. It has been given to us by God. It is called our conscience. We all have it or we perhaps suffer from some kind of anti-social psychosis which may have been known as demonic possession in the day of Jesus.

We truly should let our conscience be our guide. I think too that we all have secret thoughts. These secret thoughts will be judged by our Lord Jesus at our judgment day.  Personally, I think we will be judged on whether or not we carried out our dark thoughts, or subdued them as demons trying to possess us. It is possible to subdue our passions but it might take being a part of a society greater than one’s self: a Church family or a benevolent fraternity or sorority bent on doing good; perhaps a combination of both Church and fraternity or sorority or other benevolent association.

But as our reading from Romans points out, all of us have some God-given sense of what is good and right so to do.  Let us remember the caution from St Paul, “Conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse [us] on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.”

Today we remember Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary (March 20, 687, and his information may be found at: Cuthbert of Lindisfarne.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 355)

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73 to 96;
Jeremiah 3:6 to 18; Romans 1:28 to 2:11; John 5:1 to18:

“Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

At one point in my life I was training to be a machine shop operator.  After our school training was completed places of employment were found for us. I was hired at a printing machine manufacturing company. My supervisor’s name was Clyde Hampton, (I don’t know if he is still with us), and he was very patient and kind with me at a time when I had low moral values.  I had a poor work ethic even though my dad had raised me to work for what I needed.  I was in my late teens, rebellious and thought I could outsmart Mr. Hampton. It was later in life that I realized how patient and kind Mr. Hampton was with me. He never threatened me with firing me even after I had been repeatedly late for work. His kindness and patience I remembered later in life and was truly sorry for not being a better worker for him. Lent is a time of spiritual maturation.

I think if my machine shop supervisor tried to use intimidation on me it would have resulted in an adversarial employee relationship, one which would not have favored me and I would have been fired. As it turned out, albeit much later, I repented of my callous ways and begin to take work responsibilities more seriously. I matured both morally and spiritually.

God brings us in with kindness and patience. Wrath may be in store for some, but we have choices. Let us not behave only to avoid wrath, rather, let us be brought to our knees in tearful sorrow and the need to amend our lives. Sadly, we can learn a lot about ourselves through experiences we can’t go back and change. However, we can learn from them and make a real change in the way we go about our lives moving forward. I have learned this from my dad, from Clyde Hampton and from the stories of our saints in Christ Jesus.

Today we remember Joseph, Earthly Father and Guardian of our Lord, and his information may be found at: St. Joseph.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, guide us to reflect on words or actions or inactions we regret. And, as we reflect on such matters, help us, we pray, in our resolve to be a more loving, compassionate and responsible people. Be with us dear Lord, please lead us and guide us daily. Amen.

Daily office Readings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68;
Jeremiah 2:1 to 13; Romans 1:16 to 25; John 4:43 to 54:

“The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he himself believed, along with his whole household. ” (John 4: 53)

Jesus has just complained about the people not believing unless they saw signs and wonders. In fact, he had just said this to this royal official and father of a dying child. I find it strange that the word faith is not mentioned in the Gospel of John in any English translation, at least not one that I have seen. My thought is that faith was too mild a word as a noun. The tellers of the Gospel of John wanted an action word, a verb. Faith is something you have, or don’t have. Believing is something you do, or do not do. What you believe is made manifest in your action or inaction; or, it should be.  

I know that for me, I try hard to live into what I believe, which is based on my faith and I also have hope, a lot of hope.  Today we do not get to talk to a human Jesus. We do however, get to talk to a Risen Jesus. It’s the same Jesus. The signs and wonders still happen today.

The father in today’s reading verified his so-called belief by inquiring about the time the healing happened. When he got proof, he felt more comfortable in his belief. Perhaps this is not the way it should be. Maybe we first believe and then let science catch up. This is what Arch Bishop of Canterbury Anselm (1109) said: “I first believe in order that I might later understand.”  Faith, belief, trust and love must be first. Understanding comes later, in this life, or the next.

Sometimes however, science disputes what the ancient writings and what our predecessors have said, to wit: the earth is not flat, nor is it the center of a universe that revolves over it. But then I remember, the father in this story didn’t base his belief on the ancient writings but rather on the very word of our Lord Jesus. I pray too that I first believe and then let science substantiate my faith, hope, trust, love and belief. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Where are you in this story?  Do you believe first no matter what?

Today we remember Cyril of Jerusalem Bishop and Theologian (March 18, 386), and his information may be found at: Cyril of Jerusalem.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Almighty God, You have planted faith in our hearts in order that we might believe in You. So let us reap a rich harvest of righteous works, most pleasing in Your sight as we live our lives according to Your desires for us and love You, and one another, now and forever: Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalms 56 and 57; Evening Psalms 64 and 65;
Jeremiah 1:11 to 19; Romans 1:1 to 15; John 4:27 to 42

“The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”  (John 4:36 to 38)

I must have read this passage following the story about the woman at the well at least a hundred times, and yet, I am getting a whole new message now. 

I study the saints of God. Many of them are my spiritual heroes. They were the sowers of my faith. They labored in the spiritual fields. I read their works and benefited from their labors. I am so blessed and thankful.

Jesus talks about eating the instructions of God as his food.  He lives to obey God. It seems Jesus and the saints eat to live; I, on the other hand, too often, live only to eat my next meal. I can, and will, do better.

I like thinking that I have entered into the labor of those holy people I have read about, and there are many. They planted, I harvested. I entered with them in their labor, in the work God has assigned “us” and this pleases me. I look through “A Great Cloud of Witnesses: A Calendar of Commemorations; by Church Publishing;” everyday.  It is a starting point that I use to go deeper with other sources.

Whose spiritual shoulders have you stood on?  Do you alter your life on the words of Evelyn Underhill, or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Bede, or Richard Hooker, or Anselm as do I? If so, you have joined with them in their labor. You are one with them in Christ Jesus. What an honored place to be. Listen to their testimony, their words, their life. Hear what these saints are telling you. They have planted, they have sown, you are now reaping. But if you listen to them and amend your life with their help you are with them as one in Christ Jesus. What a wonderful place to be.

Today we remember Patrick of Ireland (March 17, 461) and his information may be found at: St. Patrick.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The prayer for All Saints’ Day, BCP p.245)                        

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday in Lent: Year C

 Luke 13:31 to 35:

“Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” (Luke 13:31)

With assistance of Fred B. Craddock writing for Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching; Luke; Craddock also shows that not all Pharisees should be grouped into a Hate-Jesus group. Craddock writes, “In fact, according  to Luke, Paul himself acknowledged near the close of his ministry, not “I was a Pharisee” but, “I am a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6).  (Craddock; Interpretation 1990; Luke; p. 173). Craddock goes on to say that some of the members of the early church were indeed Pharisees.

This is the idea I quickly came to as I read the opening of this passage. These particular Pharisee were not trying to trick Jesus.  They were trying to warn him.  Herod Antipas of Galilee had already beheaded John the Baptist and there was talk that Jesus was a reconstituted John.  Herod now wanted to be done with this once and for all.  But Jesus knew that in spite of Herod’s yearning, prophets are killed in Jerusalem and nowhere else. Jesus even taunts him sending the message that he will be in his territory for three more days and then on to Jerusalem. So there, Herod.

This lesson about the Pharisees is like the one about “The Jews” as written especially in the Gospel according to John where the term is used as if to say that all Jews were instrumental in the death of Jesus.  The term “The Jews” actually points to the Temple authorities only.  And, perhaps, not even all of them.  This leads to the focus of my pondering.  We need to own the deep level of understanding God has given us in order to look deep into the heart of people, and the groups to which they belong.

Today we tend to be as divisive as we can be. Sometimes this happens only for the sake of being against the other group or team. We do this most effectively with labels. We label the others, progressive, conservative, liberal, literal, fundamentalist, democrat, and republican; Baptist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Muslim and back to Jew again.

Jesus calls Herod a fox even as he himself identifies as a hen wanting to protect her brood. We are all familiar with the disaster of the fox in the henhouse.  Jesus uses a term that labels Herod as one who harms, and himself, as one who protects. One can be a fox within any of the labels mentioned above; progressives, conservatives, liberals, literalists, fundamentalists, democrats and republicans, can all be a harmful fox as well as Baptists, Episcopalians, Catholics, Muslim and Jews. To copy Jesus is to become the hen who protects the innocent, even at the costs of one’s own life. I think it’s ok to wear the exterior label, even Pharisee, if we are hens on the inside. After all, these Pharisee were trying to protect Jesus, God Incarnate. Perhaps the hen in us becomes a hawk when fighting a fox. We’ll never know if we don’t spread our wings of protection over the helpless.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: BCP p. 218

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalm 55; Evening Psalms 138 and 139:1-17;  
Deuteronomy 11:18 to 28; Hebrews 5:1 to 10; John 4:1 to 26 

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  (John 4:24)

For me, this verse is the most profound in all Scripture, that God is Spirit, not male or female. God is not only beyond any human identifier, God is beyond anything we can begin to understand. Anselm, (Archbishop of Canterbury 1109), rightly proclaimed, “God is that than which nothing greater can be thought.” Anselm is so correct. I think we are so proud of God’s creation of us, that we began to think God was looking in a mirror in creating us. I don’t think so.

I believe the Spirit of God was patient enough to see how the God-Spirit host would evolve and then, in the fullness of time, God would come among us regardless of what we look like, or how many variations we are. It’s weird I know. And while none of us can capture the concept of God, as Anselm informs us, that also means none of us can be refuted. First and foremost, “God is Spirit, and those who worship [God] must worship in spirit and truth,” to the very best of our ability.

I have read many different daily readings from the Saints of God. One such is “Readings from the Daily Office from the Early Church” by J Robert Wright (1991)  For yesterday, Friday, He featured “A reading from a commentary on the Song of Songs by Gregory: Bishop of Nyssa [c. 394]. The opening of  this article reads:

“No one who has given thought to the way we talk about God can adequately grasp the terms pertaining to God.  “Mother,” for example, is mentioned [in the Song of Songs 3:11] instead of “father.” Both terms mean the same, because there is neither male nor female in God.  How, after all, could anything transitory like this be attributed to the Deity, when this is not permanent even for us human beings, since when we all become one in Christ we are divested of the signs of this difference along with the whole of our old humanity?”  (p. 132)

You have no idea how good it feels when a person of strong faith and intellect, from so long ago, shares my exact beliefs about our Creator. I will never cease from pondering.

Today we remember Vincent De Paul, Helper of the Poor and Louise De Marillac, Monastic and Worker of Charity, (both 1660) and their information may be found at: Vincent de Paul.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the First Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalms 95, 40, and 54; Evening Psalm 51; 
Deuteronomy 10:12 to 22; Hebrews 4:11 to 16; John 3:22 to 36: 

“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.” (Hebrews 4:12 and 13)

I can remember being counseled, while still a seminarian, about using language like “being naked before God’s scrutinizing gaze.”  I was told that such language might be very uncomfortable to some parishioners. Now I say, “Let the shoe fit.” 

The writer to the Hebrews is trying hard to let the reader know that God breaks us down to the intentions of our hearts.  What we end up saying or doing is one thing. What we intend to say or do makes all the difference.  God will get at what is in our hearts. And God, through God’s experience in the person of Christ Jesus, has fully experienced what it means to be one of us. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

My beloved of the Lord, we are not able to fix our own hearts. God has made us dependent on God alone. So we can, and should, pray. When, not if, we feel we are spiraling down a negative or hateful path, we must stop and petition God to change us. I guess the big decision is, do we want to let go of deceitfulness and hate? If we find ourselves thinking or saying, “I wish I was different,” this then is the time to pray.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p.355; modified to first person)

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of [my] heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that [I] may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalms 19 and 46:  
Deuteronomy 9:23 to 10:5; Hebrews 4:1to 10; John 3:16 to 21:

“So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4: 9 and 10)

Today is Thursday, but the gift of God’s Sabbath begins tomorrow evening. This has not changed according to the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, and even our Lord Jesus observed it.  Worshiping on Sunday is fine and proper for Christians, but I don’t feel we are excused from resting from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Rest is not worship, it is rest.

Sometimes I think the human need to “micro-manage” one another required us to meet together in order to ensure no one was “working.’  However, the  worship team, (clergy and laity) are technically working. I feel we need to have time to ourselves, un-monitored, unsupervised, self regulated, and trusted to truly rest and ponder about God.

I am still working on this shift in my spiritual life.  I’m getting there.  I must remember that our Lord Jesus said on many occasions that it is okay to do the necessary things even on the Sabbath: things like comforting the sick, putting out fires, standing guard against bad people and so forth. We go against the idea of a communal Sabbath rest when we spend time with household chores, organizing get-togethers, and running errands; even participating in public worship.  None of these are God’s idea of Rest. “For those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.” 

The Sabbath should be a time of meditation and perhaps small informal gatherings of very close spiritual friends for prayer, light food and drink, and the sharing of blessings. It is not a time of detailed preparation.  It is a time of contemplative reflection, a time to do nothing. Every Sabbath is a gift of time from God. Let us not refuse, or reject such a loving present. This sharing is in no way an attempt to undermine our Christian worship traditions. But I don’t believe we are excused from obeying God’s instruction to observe the Sabbath Day, the seventh day, which is still understood universally to be Saturday.

Today we remember James Theodore Holly, Bishop and Doctor (March 13, 1911) and his information may be found at: James Theodore Holly.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For Quiet Confidence (BCP p. 832)

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: Year 1

Morning Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening Psalm 49;
Deuteronomy  9:13 to 21; Hebrews 3:12 to 19; John 2:23 to 3:15 

“So I took hold of the two tablets and flung them from my two hands, smashing them before your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 9:17)

Moses has again interceded for the wayward Israelites.  God planned to destroy them and then began again with Moses as their ancient Patriarch instead of Abraham.  But Moses declined and asked God to let him go to the people to bring them back to God.  However upon finding them creating an idol, a false god, Moses broke the stone tablets, symbolizing the Israelites braking covenant with God. Moses remained steadfast in his resolve to bring the Israelites back to God, not just to the promised land, but also their hearts to the ways of God. I think God really liked Moses advocating for the Israelites.

God knows what is in the heart of every person, just as our Lord Jesus does.  This is brought out in our Gospel reading for today.  “But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone;” (John 2: 24 and 25).  Remember,  Jesus already knew what was in Nathanael when Philip brought him to Jesus. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  Jesus also already knew what was in the heart of Judas, his betrayer.  We can fool each other, but we can’t fool God in Christ Jesus, ever.

We get lost and we break covenant and we seek after the things we make with our own hand so much so that they somehow become idols, the focus of too much of our attention.  We must remember that God, through Christ Jesus, knows whereof we are made and what’s on our hearts and minds.  We should always pray for our Lord God to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts in order that we might become a more faithfully focused people.

Today we remember Gregory the Great, Bishop and Doctor (March 12, 604) and his information may be found at: Gregory the Great.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)                       

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.