Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 20: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 88; Evening, Psalms  91, and 92:

 Esther 8:1 to  8, and 15 to 17; or Judith 13:1 to 20; Acts 19:21to 41; and  Luke 4:31 to 37

“If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’ When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.”  (Acts 19: 38 to 41)

The unnamed “town clerk” calls for order and rational conduct in accordance with established protocols. Perhaps he is concerned for people and their property on both sides of the argument.  Where is our town clerk of today?

The better question should be, where are our clergy?  Hey!, that’s me.  Like the town clerk, clergy are called to be outside of the political fray and seek order and peaceful resolutions. Clergy must also remember, and be an advocate for all sides of human oppression or discrimination.  Sure, let us be there for minorities and women, but we must also advocate for white men and police persons too.  Too often in our zeal for corrective action we allow the pendulum to swing too far to the other side. 

Maybe more attention should also be given to scientific evidence regarding climate change.  This subject should not be considered a political agenda, but rather, an earth agenda. The town clerk in our Acts reading is one of their own but takes a stand in order to calm things down.  Today, in America, people are protesting which too often morphs into rioting that destroys family businesses.  The town clerk tells his own people that “we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”  Maybe I should be doing more of this kind of work. Town clerk or town clergy, more of us need to step up and take a stand against rioting and vandalism. As I write these words I will ponder more deeply what the Holy Spirit of God is saying to me about these matters. I invite you (clergy or not) to do the same.

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God, teach me to not stand idle in the midst of irrational behavior but to bring peace and calm to those who are disturbed among us. Make me an instrument of your peace and a voice of reconciliation. In Your most holy Name I pray: Amen

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 20: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 146 and 147; Evening, Psalms 85, and 86:

Esther 7:1 to 10 or Judith 12:1 to 20; Acts 19:11 to 20; Luke 4:14 to 30

“Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, ‘Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.’ And the king said, ‘Hang him on that” (Esther 7:9), and also:

 “She [Judith] came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, ‘Give me strength today, O Lord God of Israel!’ Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off his head” (Judith 13: 7 and 8).

I have deliberately skipped over the Esther and Judith readings these past days for two reasons.  The first, is that I am so fascinated with what was happening in the Acts of the apostles.  The second, is that I wanted to wait until the climatic parts of these two Hebrew women’s stories came into view; the parts where they cause the destruction of evil men. I did skip ahead with Judith.  The part that I share from Judith today is actually from tomorrow’s reading of Judith.  But I wanted to bring these two stories together to show these two faithful and powerful women.

Sometimes we overlook how God works through us in sometimes wrathful ways.  Haman in Esther; and Holofernes in Judith, were self-serving men of position.  Interestingly, there are other-serving  eunuchs (considered less than men due to their mutilations), in both stories.  These eunuchs play important roles in the fulfillment of God’s wrath (albeit in Judith’s case, unaware).

We tend to play to our strengths, sometimes as if we had no weaknesses. But we do indeed.  And God is aware of our weaknesses.  Arrogance blinds us to our weaknesses.  Often God uses those, thought to be weak by our calculations, to illumine for us our short comings, our weaknesses. I don’t think such illumination is to our death, but it is often emotionally painful. We should use it as a growth moment.

Esther, Judith and the respective eunuchs are examples of God using the weak to overcome the strong.  These stories are similar to the David and Goliath story of 1^st Samuel 17.  God is never concerned about human strength, position or power.  God loves us and God wins every time.  

Today our Church remembers Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop and Scholar (26 September 1626 and can be found at: Lancelot Andrewes (satucket.com). I particularly like Andrews significance of Thursdays (like today).

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God, Creator of Compassion and lover of all souls, help me see where I fall short, where I need the help that you provide in those around me. Let me never be arrogant or haughty in my dealings with others. And when it happens, help me repent and put things right. In your most sacred Name I pray; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 20: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120;and  Evening, Psalms 81and 82;

Esther 6:1 to 14; or Judith 10:1 to 23; Acts 19:1 to 10;  Luke 4:1 to 13

“He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” (Acts 19: 8 and 9)

Paul shows that there are some people that just won’t believe. And we know that this is still true today. The only thing we can do in such a situation is leave.  I would add that we should still keep them in prayer.  Also, it must be remembered that God loves them even if they don’t believe the way we do. But it serves no good purpose to stay and argue for the sake of arguing.

This type of arguing brings up another important problem to deal with.  And that is, the “speaking evil of,” about the Way.  I think it is okay to, “not agree,” but why do people then have to demean those whom they don’t agree with?  I think it was Patrick Henry or Evelyn Beatrice Hall,  who said, “I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  Regardless of who first said it, the greater point is the respect of the speaker without a sense of contempt for the speaker.  I often tell my listeners that whatever they believe, it is what it is for right now.  In an hour, or a year, it could change or evolve.  It has, and continues to be so for me.  We are all a work in progress. We must be patient and respectful of one another.  We are all created in the Image of God. 

Like Paul and his disciples, we can take our arguments elsewhere and continue.  I really like being a citizen of these United States.  Sometimes I forget that we are a country of fifty United States. That means that different states have different values and priorities.  And even those priorities and values change over time.  We can stay where we are and strive for incremental change and improvement, or we can move to where likeminded people already live.  We are a free country under one federal system where our vote rules.  We elect our state Governors, representatives and senators based on the majority of our values and then continue to argue for an even better life.  We don’t all agree on any particular issue but hopefully, we don’t, (or will stop), lowering ourselves to demeaning those who differ from us.  We must be open to God appearing in them, and in their words also.

Today we remember Sergius of Radonezh; Abbot of Holy Trinity (25 September 1392). His bio can be found at: Sergius (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Almighty God, who created the heavens and humanity, come and stay in our hearts and minds as we listen to one another. Keep us ever mindful that others don’t have to be wrong for us to be right. As you love us all, help us to also love us all; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 20: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 78; 1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;

Esther 5:1 to14 or Judith 8:9 to17, 9:1, 9 to7 to 10; Acts 18:12 to 28; Luke 3:15to 22:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.  And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.” (Acts 18: 26 to 28)

Apollos spoke boldly in the synagogue but with limited and often incorrect understanding.  However, he was smart enough to listen to good counsel.  We all could benefit from the example of Apollos.  If we think we know it all and are opposed to listening to others, we could err in our speaking and in some cases, do more harm than good.

Perhaps the best way to practice our faith is to live a life of life-long learning.  I know that for me, seminary showed me how much I did not know. Since seminary I have continued my theological studies.  Education for Ministry (EfM), a program of study from the School of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, continues to be a good source of Christian education for me. While EfM is a four year program, I am an EfM mentor and therefore I continue to learn every year as I mentor participants in the program. Also, clergy conferences, and Bible studies as well as one on one dialogue with people who God puts in my path, helps me to learn more and more. 

All of this informs my understanding of what God is doing in the world, and in my own life.  I just have to follow Apollo’s’ example and listen to the people God sends to me.  How about you?

Today we remember Anna Ellison Butler Alexander; Deaconess and Teacher (24 September 1947) and her information can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/anna_alexander.html

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord Jesus, as you taught us daily as part of your ministry to us, keep us ever inquisitive about what we don’t know in order that we might still strive to learn more and more about how to love one another. Teach us still dear Lord as we journey through life until we are with you in joy and peace forever and ever, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 20:Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77:

 Esther 4:4 to 17 or Judith 7:1 to 7 and 19 to 32; Acts 18:1 to 11; and Luke 1:1 to 4 and 3:1 to 14:

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”  (Luke 3: 1 and 2)

 Wow!, Really? Look at all the prestigious titles of human achievement exhibited here.  We have the Emperor of Rome, Tiberius by name.  We have Pontius Pilate as Governor of all Judea. We have the puppet king Herod figure head, called the king of Galilee, and his brother Philip who lost his wife to his brother Herod as witnessed by John The Baptist.  Philip was the ruler of two small sections of the occupied Palestinian area of Judea; and we have Lysaniaas, ruler of Abilene.  In addition to these, self absorbed government rulers, we have the self absorbed clergy also, Annas and Caiaphas as high priests. 

Now, here is the striking part; The Word of God by-passes all of these self absorbed men and goes to the selfless John hanging out in the wilderness sustaining himself on whatever the earth can provide.  He is the empty cup that God can fill because he has room to be filled.  The lesson here is that if we are full of ourselves, there is no room for God.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (Collect for Sunday closest to September 21: Proper 20; p.234 BCP) It seems fitting for today.

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 20: Year B

Mark 9:30 to 37:

“He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9: 36 and 37)

The last person to board a cross country bus is the Bus Driver.  After separating us from our luggage, he or she takes his or her seat at the controls and takes us to our destination. The bus driver is our servant. Without the driver we can’t get there. However, none of us remembers his or her name. Yet, they get us where we need to be. Such is the call of the Christian; we are to work hard, perhaps only to have our names forgotten. Our call is to bring people to God. Occasionally, we help them lose the bad luggage that holds them back while keeping the good.

I have also looked at Christians as Airline flight attendants. While such high flying personal assistants help us with blankets if we are cold, with a pillow for sleeping, or with a bottle of water to quench our thirst, and so on. What the flight attendant does not do is give us an application to work for the airline; this would be something perhaps you would want to do.

Many Christians tend to want to make everybody Christians. Maybe that’s not what was intended. Just like seeking self-glorification, our Christian Call is not about others liking us, or being like us. It is about being good for goodness sake.

Perhaps the real point that Jesus is trying to make is not to even want to be first or best. Maybe just being present and helpful for folks is the prize. I have been among people helping others.  And later, when the group of helpers was proudly discussing their “achievement,” I was not mentioned as one of the helpers. I like it. I call it the humility of invisibility. And this is ok; they didn’t remember Karl our bus driver either.  God knows and sees all.  

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 19; Year 2

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23, and 27:

Esther 2:5 to 8 and 15-23 or Judith 5:1 to 21; Acts 17:16 to 34; and  John 12:44 to 50

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.”  (Acts 17:24 and 25)

Paul explains to the people who believe in gods that there is only one God and God is unknown and not in need of human support or shelter. This means that if we humans did not exist, God is still God. God gives to us, not we to God.  Paul goes on to say “For “In him we live and move and have our being,” (Acts 17:28).

Paul is speaking to an educated people.  These are learned philosophers and people who strive to seek more knowledge.  Paul also speaks about human ignorance.  He says, “While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”  (Acts 17:30 and 31)

It is because of this Acts writing, and the understanding that the English word “believe” really has more to do with “trust,” that I crafted my own theological creed which is, “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.” 

We have a wonderful Nicene Creed in our Book of Common Prayer.  And I believe in it.  However, I needed something short that I could both easily recall as a guide for myself, and share quickly with someone while on an elevator if asked what I believe.  I ask you to do the same.  Use mine if you want.  But if you believe in a Supreme Being, write down a simple sentence that articulates your belief.  We have the gift of words. Use this gift to help guide your relationship with our unknown, but very loving God.

Today our Church remembers Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist; St. Matthew (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and 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 Proper 19: Year 2

 Morning, Psalms 69; Evening, Psalm 73:

Esther 1:1 to 4 and 10 to19; or Judith 4:1to 15; Acts 17:1 to15; and John 12:36b to 43:

“And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women,” (Acts 17:4)

The language of the Acts of the Apostles is very interesting.  Christians were first identified as Christians in Antioch as explained in chapter 11, verses 25 and 26.  But I notice that as we move through this chapter the followers are referred to as, “believers.”  I like it.  I like it because I think first of all, as observers of all that takes place in the world; each person must see that there is a Creating and Ordering hand at work in life and in the universe.  Once we acknowledge and “believe” that, we can wrestle with what we want to believe about our Lord Jesus and his relationship to the Creator.  Believing is not limited to one sex or gender.

As the people listened to Paul and Silas with an open mind the Spirit of God began to make sense to them, all of them, men and women.  Some of the women were people with power and it helped Paul and Silas to continue with the work of spreading the word.

The fact that women were included is mentioned again.  Luke writes that, “Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men,” (Acts 17:12).  These new believers were men and women with equal standing in this new form of Judaism, or the Way.  I say Judaism only because Paul and Silas were Jews who branched off from their traditionally male dominated theology, to be open to where the Spirit of our Lord Jesus was leading them, and the new believers, all the believers who followed them.

This leadership is still at work today.  When we take the time to ponder about the love of God and how God came among us as our Lord Jesus, we too, men and women, are still empowered by that same Holy Spirit to continue the work of spreading the word.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia and his companions, (20 Sep 1871) John Coleridge Patteson (satucket.com)

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:                                                                       

Dear Lord Jesus, our Savior and Teacher, help us to break down our resistance to good and faithful teachings so that we too may be persuaded and join with true believers everywhere in order to bring the love of heaven on earth. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 19: Year 2

 Morning, Psalm 71,  Evening, Psalm  74;  

Job 28:1 to 28; Acts 16:25 to 40; and John 12:27 to 36a

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25) 

Imagine, singing uplifting church hymns while being bound after just being whipped.  I have heard that this coping mechanism worked for prisoners of war also. It got them through the most difficult time in their lives, although some were murdered.

Then there was a divine earthquake that released the prisoners.  “When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’  They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.  He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.”  (Acts 16: 27 to 34.)

The jailer was well acquainted with the merciless system in which he lived and worked.  There would be no excuse for prisoners escaping. He moves from beating Paul and Silas with rods to using his own sword on himself.  Death would be better than the wrath he would face, not to mention the demise of his family and home. But Paul, freed from fetters, still feeling the sting of the rod while singing hymns, calls out to save the jailer from himself.  How powerful is this kind of love?  Who today would prevent our tormentor from harming himself given the chance?  Folks, this is Christian love, this is Agape love.  There is nothing else like it in all creation, and it’s ours for the asking.

Today we give thanks for Theodore of Tarsus; Archbishop of Canterbury (19 September 690) and can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Theodore_Tarsus.htm .

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of all humanity, be with us in Psalms and hymns in our troubled times in order that we might overcome such times. Bring us to peace especially with those who seem to hate us and enable us to show them the Way, the Truth and the Life, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 19: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73-96; 

Job 42:1to17; Acts 16:16 to 24; John 12:20 to 26:

“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.”  (Acts 16: 16)

There is so much in this Acts reading. First of all, did the slave girl recognize Paul and his partners as fellow slaves, even though she says they were slaves of the Lord almighty? (Perfect Freedom)

Second, I’m guessing Luke is the silent partner as he records the Acts and says, “While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation;” (Acts 16: 17).  She gave insight to those who did not know salvation, that is, a Way to eternal life, and a path to achieve it. This is “next life” stuff.

Third, “She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour;” (Acts 16: 18).  So we are to understand that Paul, through the Name of Jesus, took away the slave girl’s “gift.”  She was devalued in the eyes of her master.  But she was freed in terms of her own autonomy.

Fourth, “But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities (Acts 16: 19).  So it turns out that it’s all about the money.  Perhaps not much has changed, even for us today.

It is awful the way we use money to misuse others.  It is equally awful the way we retaliate against those who hold us accountable for the dignity of others. “When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods;” (Acts 16: 20 to 22).  This was clearly an anti-Semitic attack on this group of Jewish believers in Jesus, and was only brought about because of the loss of money. 

The lesson for me in all of this is to remember to be decent to others always. We must not look for ways to bring hurt on those who hold us accountable.  We should not have needed it, but if we do, better to be held accountable in this life rather than the “next life.”  Paul removes the spirit that was at work in the girl but does not attempt to use his divine gift to resist or retaliate against his oppressors.  Decency towards others and discernment of the spirit are key here.  We all can do this.

Today we remember Edward Bouverie Pusey,Priest, renewwer of the Church (18 September 1882) Edward Bouverie Pusey (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Collect for Peace (BCP p.99)

 O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.