31 October 2020
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy All Hallows Eve! (Halloween)
Greetings to you on this chilly morning. I am praying for you all, and hope that you are warm and cozy, and that you are enjoying the day. A few notes related to worship tomorrow, as well as some upcoming events.
Reminder - We set our clocks back tonight! “FALL BACK”
Online Worship tomorrow at 9am
All Saints Day, including the reading of the necrology
November 1, 2020 ~ 9am
Click HERE to join the worship at 9am
In Person Indoor Worship tomorrow at 10am
All Saints Day, including the reading of the necrology
November 1, 2020 ~ 10am
Click HERE to find the service broadcast on “YouTube Live”
If you want to see how the church has been rearranged, you can see some photos which I posted on our website HERE, just to give a sense of the distancing efforts. A summary of our indoor worship guidelines is posted below
Bishop’s Pastoral Letter
Our Bishop has written an extensive and though-provoking message to the Diocese of Pennsylvania, entitled: How will your vote reflect Jesus? The entire message can be found HERE on our church’s website. I encourage you to read his thoughtful message.
Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
One of Bishop Gutierrez’s suggestions is that we incorporate the Prayer Attributed to St. Francis into our worship tomorrow, which we will. Also, I recorded a YouTube video of myself saying the prayer which you can find HERE on YouTube, or HERE on our Website. The Prayer Attributed to St. Francis can be found in the Book of Common Prayer on page 833 and I have also posted it on our Website, as well as at the end of this message.
A Focus on our Baptismal Covenant
In this time of pandemic, social unrest, work for justice for all people, and a time of tension and stress, it is a key time to reflect upon and reaffirm our Baptismal Covenant and the sense in which we each work to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourself.” As a part of this effort, you will note that I have repositioned our Baptismal Font to a more prominent place in the Nave, for the time being.
St. Mary’s Church Nave Open for Prayer on Election Day
November 3, 2020 ~ 10am - 3pm
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, guide and direct, we humbly beseech thee, the minds of all those who are called at this time to exercise the responsible duty of electing fit persons to serve in the government of this nation. Grant that the effect and right issue of their choices may promote thy glory and the welfare of your people; and to all those who shall be elected, give them we pray thee, the spirit of wisdom, courage, sympathy, and true godliness. All this we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Special Online Service From The Washington National Cathedral
A SERVICE OF HEALING, UNITY & HOPE AFTER AN ELECTION
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 | 12:00pm
The Bishop of Washington, The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, and Dean Randy Hollerith will lead a mid-day service of prayers for the nation in the wake of the election. As ballots are counted and winners and losers determined, we will pray for a renewed sense of national unity, calm and perseverance for the challenges that lie ahead. This will be broadcast on the National Cathedral YouTube channel and website.
Prayer Attributed to Saint Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.
Peace and Blessings to you all,
In Christ’s Love,
Peter+