Staying Safe and Staying Connected
Good Morning Saint Stephen’s Church,
We continue our life of daily prayer. The Lord be with you!
Today’s Prayer
O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, and especially with our brothers and sisters the animals to whom you gave the earth as their home together with us. We remember with shame that we have dominated over them in the past with ruthless cruelty, so that the voice of the earth, which should have risen to you in song, has been instead a groan of pain. Teach us that they do not live only for our benefit, but for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life as much as we do. Amen
Basil the Great, 379
Basil was educated in Athens in the best of Greek and Christian learning, and later settled as a hermit on the banks of the river Iris. He met his university friend Gregory of Nazianzus and they went on preaching tours together. He came out of seclusion to defend orthodoxy against the doctrine of Arianism which considered Jesus as divine but distinct from God Almighty and therefore subordinate to God. Basil spent the last nine years of his life as Bishop of Cappadocian Caesarea. He created a form of monasticism in which a religious community lived around a local church, and engaged in the care of their neighbors in addition to maintaining a life of prayer. He believed it dangerous to seek perfection on one’s own. The monastic buildings in Caesarea included hospitals for the sick and hostels for the poor. Basil was revered for his holiness.
From Our Prayers of the People
For the special needs and concerns of our congregation.
We remember people throughout the world: in places of war and strife, especially refugees and all victims of violence and oppression.
For the just and proper use of your creation: for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For comfort and healing for all who are affected by the Coronavirus: 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.
For all essential workers: for police, firefighters, EMTs, postal workers, sanitation workers, grocery personnel, delivery and transport workers, and all who must report to work because what they do is essential for our well-being, health, and safety.
For all historical acts of injustice and oppression: especially those perpetuated against native, Black, Hispanic and various Asian Americans in this abundant land, that we may recognize racism in ourselves, in our church, in our society, and the times we have failed to take action.
For those on the Parish Prayer Chain Ben, Warren, Cindi, Doug, Hugh, Debby, Irene, Jeanne, June, Theresa, Josh, Amy, Greg, Donald K., Craig, Donald, Joseph, Lorraine.
For those who are homebound: Joan, Janet and Marilyn.
For our Government Leaders: Joseph Biden, President of the United States; Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State; Gary McCarthy, Mayor of Schenectady.
For our Church Leaders: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, William Love, nd Daniel Herzog our bishops; James and Dennie our priests; Pat our deacon emeritus and Allison our Lay Reader.
For those who are imprisoned: those particularly vulnerable at this time, especially the women in the Schenectady County Jail.
For Members who request our prayers for strength and healing: Ruth, Cindi, Mary Frances, Debbie, Joe.
For Scott – today is his birthday!
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion: The Diocese of Alabama – The Episcopal Church (IV (4) Province).
For all who have died: Gladys.
For one another.
Something to share
Love Animals
Love animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work against God’s intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave traces of your foulness after you – alas, it is true of almost every one of us!
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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: james.ross.mcd@gmail.com.
Prayerbook Morning Prayer in Zoom – each morning. Join Dennie and me for an inter-active service of Morning Prayer at 9 am. Time to bring your prayer concerns will be provided. (contact Becky for the link: becky.holder@gmail.com).
If you need a prayerbook, and are not in a position to purchase one, please contact me: james.ross.mcd@gmail.com. I will make sure you have your own Book of Common Prayer.
Our church campus is only partially open due to the current pandemic. Please see our website for further information: https://st-stephens.church/. Most parish meetings and gatherings are canceled and postponed until further notice.
Our office email is: office@st-stephens.church.
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!
Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine upon your face,
he rains fall soft upon soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
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.