The Joy of Being Together
Since I began my ministry here in Northern Carleton County I have been praying the daily office. I owe much to my predecessor who said it every day in Florenceville. I however decided that I would have a morning service (9:00) in Florenceville and then in the evening (4:00) in Centreville, with the next day being Glassville and Greenfield's turn. Wednesday I would have a Eucharist in the evening with an early morning (8:00) service in Florenceville. Since I'm on a role :-) ... I also have a lectionary bible study in the rectory on Thursday morning at 10:00 to 11:30, before which I have morning prayer at my coffee table. The next few days I have off or use for study.
Unfortunately in my previous parish there was no interest at all in meeting for the offices, thought I did try in the first few months with my lay readers. Alas no time to be made for these services amoung the faithful.
Here, I have yet to be alone! At every service of Morning and Evening prayer there has been at least one other. Last night in Centreville I had four others accompany me. This morning there were three others.
I described it today as having my "heart leap" when I am in the presence of so many, and different people, who worship the "hours." It supports the prayer life of the world and selfishly supports me in my ministry. These services are often forgot by clerics, though a promise to say these prayers daily is demanded by our vocation. So many give up because they are not in "community". It is why the monastic movement was "spiritually" so popular, prayers were said in communion with others. Mutual support was there by the presence of others. If it were individualistic it would probably be the same with few taking up the task of daily prayers in the church.
I find that the time in prayer is wonderful yet so is the time before and after as relationships are developed, often in small talk, sometimes with quite important issues and news. The fellowship gained is our love of God and of neighbour. I wish that many of you could have the opportunity to worship the weekday offices as I have been doing this past month, you're heart would leap as well.
Today, I was chatting away at a visit, when I noticed I was going to be 15 mins late for Evening prayer in Greenfield. I gave my apologies and ran off at 120kph. As I reached the hill I could see that one person's car was there. As I turned into the lot I saw another car was there. As I got in I saw Jean, as I ordinarily do on Tuesday evening, and a nice woman smiled and greeted me with three others beside her. I thought that these must be people from Greefield I have yet to meet. When I turned to face them and greet the rest I almost keeled right over. Here was a woman I had last seen in her home who was unable to get around. I had just put her in my visitation calendar for the Eucharist. Here in the church, for the first time in five years, was a woman I had been praying for these past four months. Flossie Ritchie was in church and worshiping with her daughter, granddaughter and care giver. What a joy! We had Evening prayer with a distribution of the Reserved Sacrament. We sang the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis and ended with "The Day Thou Gavest Lord."
So far a former priest and a woman "shut-in" have blessed us with their presence in these quiet reflective services of prayer and thanksgiving; which happen NOT on a Sunday! No longer are these "offices" just a formality or a task to be followed because they are required, they have become for me a form of evangelism telling the community that we are a worshiping body, alive and fulfilling the Lord's work of prayer and fellowship. Again I say, what a joy!
Unfortunately in my previous parish there was no interest at all in meeting for the offices, thought I did try in the first few months with my lay readers. Alas no time to be made for these services amoung the faithful.
Here, I have yet to be alone! At every service of Morning and Evening prayer there has been at least one other. Last night in Centreville I had four others accompany me. This morning there were three others.
I described it today as having my "heart leap" when I am in the presence of so many, and different people, who worship the "hours." It supports the prayer life of the world and selfishly supports me in my ministry. These services are often forgot by clerics, though a promise to say these prayers daily is demanded by our vocation. So many give up because they are not in "community". It is why the monastic movement was "spiritually" so popular, prayers were said in communion with others. Mutual support was there by the presence of others. If it were individualistic it would probably be the same with few taking up the task of daily prayers in the church.
I find that the time in prayer is wonderful yet so is the time before and after as relationships are developed, often in small talk, sometimes with quite important issues and news. The fellowship gained is our love of God and of neighbour. I wish that many of you could have the opportunity to worship the weekday offices as I have been doing this past month, you're heart would leap as well.
Today, I was chatting away at a visit, when I noticed I was going to be 15 mins late for Evening prayer in Greenfield. I gave my apologies and ran off at 120kph. As I reached the hill I could see that one person's car was there. As I turned into the lot I saw another car was there. As I got in I saw Jean, as I ordinarily do on Tuesday evening, and a nice woman smiled and greeted me with three others beside her. I thought that these must be people from Greefield I have yet to meet. When I turned to face them and greet the rest I almost keeled right over. Here was a woman I had last seen in her home who was unable to get around. I had just put her in my visitation calendar for the Eucharist. Here in the church, for the first time in five years, was a woman I had been praying for these past four months. Flossie Ritchie was in church and worshiping with her daughter, granddaughter and care giver. What a joy! We had Evening prayer with a distribution of the Reserved Sacrament. We sang the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis and ended with "The Day Thou Gavest Lord."
So far a former priest and a woman "shut-in" have blessed us with their presence in these quiet reflective services of prayer and thanksgiving; which happen NOT on a Sunday! No longer are these "offices" just a formality or a task to be followed because they are required, they have become for me a form of evangelism telling the community that we are a worshiping body, alive and fulfilling the Lord's work of prayer and fellowship. Again I say, what a joy!
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