Staying Safe and Staying Connected
Good Morning Saint Stephen’s Church,
Today is Easter Monday
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Today’s Prayer
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look
Book of Common Prayer, p. 291
favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred
mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry
out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world
see and know that things which were cast down are being
raised up, and things which had grown old are being made
new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection
by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
From Our Prayers of the People
Today, let’s pray:
For the peace and unity of the Church of God; for all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the truth.
For all affected by the coronavirus around the world. For comfort and healing for all who are affected by the Coronavirus, and for physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the sick and the suffering, may God grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience, and may God keep them healthy and safe.
Our Church Leaders: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, William Love, and Daniel Herzog our bishops; James and Dennie our priests; Pat our deacon and Allison our Lay Reader
For those on the Parish Prayer Chain: Barbara, Frank, Jeanne, Chris, Walter, Theresa.
For those who are homebound: Stephen, Pauline, Joan, Janet and Marilyn.
Those who are imprisoned: those particularly vulnerable at this time, especially the women in the Schenectady County Jail.
For those in need of healing: Mark, the Guiles family, Cindi, Peter, Mary Frances, Debbie, and Joe.
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One
For all who have died: especially Irene, David, Frances, George, Howard, Hazel, William, Marjorie, Mary and Fred.
For one another.
Something to share
Yesterday we asked for pictures of your Easter Sunday. This morning we share the spirit of Easter with the attached collage of pictures. Many thanks to Susan Lohnas!! Perhaps you could give us an encore?
With God, we are like butterflies out of the cocoon, former caterpillars now spreading stained-glass wings, the pattern of God’s fingerprints dusted all over them. Our fragility becomes our strength because God restores our broken places. The Lord transforms our scars into works of art.
Ken Woodley, Forward Day by Day
These object of mercy – you and me and everyone else we know – are more valuable than any museum piece. Our tender places are where we feel the strength of God most closely in this life. They are the compass needle guiding us toward the broken places of others with the balm of God’s grace and mercy.
News and Updates
Our Organist, Susan Lohnas, made the Daily Gazette. Article link below.
No Mass, no problem: Organist improvises Easter celebration
Reminders
If you have an update/news, a prayer or poem or something inspirational you would like us to share with the congregation, please send it to us. Please also send us any prayer requests. We will incorporate these into the Morning Prayers as best we can.
Our church campus is closed. All parish meetings and gatherings are canceled and postponed until further notice.
Our goal is for all of us to stay in touch and connected in this time of isolation.
Share this news, and spread some love, not the virus!
Be of good courage. We are in this together, and we will be together again soon. God bless you and may God be with us in the days ahead.
Peace,
James+