Dear friends,
This was our collect last Sunday -
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your grace that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Collect Proper 13, BCP 2019
Running in the heat and under COVID restrictions is HARD. Simon’s been experimenting with how to ‘mask’ and run - but restricting your breathing when you are running - especially in DC heat just makes it all even harder! I admire his perseverance and just keep hoping he comes home after every run 😀
I don’t know about you but when it comes to the topic of prayer I often feel like I’m not running but more stumbling along - with a mask …. But as we’ve read our gospel passages the last few weeks I’ve loved how often Jesus seems to sit quietly when he wants to be with his Father. There's generally a lack of striving, an intentionality of presence rather than a flood of words.
And so as we ready ourselves for a COVID-affected Fall, I invite you to prepare with me by exploring your habits, practices, hopes and expectations around prayer.
This is going to be a conversation: and that means I’d love you to join in too!
Do you have questions about prayer?
Do you have favorite prayer habits?
What makes you mad/sad/happy/frustrated/delighted/excited/hopeful/doubtful about prayer?
And what about your friends, family and colleagues?
Could you invite a friend to join us in this conversation? Who do you know who thinks prayer is a waste of time? Or that God never speaks? Or that prayer is a crutch for people who can’t do things on their own? Or that they don’t deserve to speak to the Creator of the universe? Or that they are too bad or too smart or too savvy to talk to Him?
We all have questions - please bring them to the conversation! Email me now - your question/thought doesn’t have to be clean, neat or tidy - just tell me what you love or hate about prayer! Send me your ideas. Let’s wrestle with this together.
AND: could you send me photos of the place where you like to pray? Send photos of these everyday prayer moments, or post them to Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #IACprays.
In other news:
Wild wonder continues. Do you know families with young children who are hungering for connection and who might enjoy to explore wild wonder with our kids?
Garden Churches are a way to worship in-person with a small group if you want to!
Community reflections do you have a thought you'd like to share? Why not send me your 'reflection' - we'd love to publish it!
Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
With love
~ Liz
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