BLOGGING-THOMAS

I just finished Morning Prayer, using the online version at the www.MissionStClare.com website. I’m not a morning person, so Morning Prayer has never been my long-suit. But for four years when I taught seminarians at Sewanee we had required Morning Prayer which I attended every day. I can still sing the Canticles in my head; they’re simplified Anglican chant and are part of the Service Music you flip past to get to the hymns in the Hymnal 1982. So when I actually manage to do Morning Prayer on my own, I’m grateful to Marion Hatchett for insisting that faculty join students for this daily discipline.

The Daily Office is a time, too, to remember the “saints” in the church calendar, and today’s saint is St. Vincent de Paul. According to James Kiefer: “In 1625 he established the Congregation of the Mission (now known as the Vincentians, or the Lazarists), a community of priests who undertook to renounce all ecclesiastical advancement and devote themselves to work in the small towns and villages of France. … On one occasion, a noblewoman of the court, furious with Vincent because he refused to nominate her son for a position as bishop, threw a stool at him. He left the room with a stream of blood pouring from his forehead, and said to a companion who was waiting for him, “Is it not wonderful how strong a mother’s love for her son can be?” He died 27 September 1660.”

So today I’m praying especially for all those clergy in small and easily-forgotten churches — and even some in bigger better-known places — who have chosen “to renounce all ecclesiastical advancement” out of their devotion to the work of the church. What would it look like, I ask myself, to live like this in my life?

Blogging-Thomas is now tweeting at TweetingThom.  Check it out.

Well, it’s the start of a “new year” in churchland – our official St. Thomas’ Parish “Kickoff Sunday” in 9/12.  You can see all our ministries on display after our 11 a.m. worship.

But we’re taking a nice running start on Saturday night with a free champagne reception from 7-9 p.m. on 9/11 for all of our families, friends (old and new), and neighbors (near and far) who want to hear more about our plans for a fantastic new worship space to be build adjacent to our current structure, which we’ve outgrown.

Bishop Gene Robinson will be there as Honorary Chair of our Grow With Us campaign to raise the money for this huge project.  Our architect, Matt Jarvis, will be showing off the current design.  Our Senior Warden, John Johnson, will join our Rector, Nancy Lee Jose, to welcome you and answer your questions.

What a great way to learn about this project, and our Parish, and perhaps find a place to make a spiritual home for yourself.  And raise a glass with friends.