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
Endless praise now be given
to God, King of heaven;
in his wisdom and his might,
and his works, we delight.
The great Father of glory
began his strange story
in wonderful ways
on the first of all days,
and of all that came later
he is the Creator!
First a roof he erected
which safely protected
the children of earth –
thus the heavens had their birth.
By the might of his hand
he spread out the dry land –
a firm place fashioned well
for the living to dwell.
Endless praise now be given
to God, King of heaven!
Caedmon, c. 680
According to the Church historian Bede, Caedmon was an unlettered cowherd who had no training and no natural gift for verse. He was embarrassed at feasts when friends would entertain one another by passing the harp and stepping forward to sing. On these occasions Caedmon liked to sneak outdoors and seek refuge among the cows. On one such occasion he was sleeping soundly when, in a dream, a man standing beside him called him by name and bid him, “Caedmon, sing me a song.” He declined but the man persisted. When Caedmon asked what he should sing, he was told, “Sing about the Creation of all things.” Immediately, Caedmon began to sing verses in praise of God the Creator.
Caedmon’s newfound eloquence astounded his friends who, suspecting divine intervention, brought Caedmon to see the holy Hilda, abbess of Whitby. Ultimately Hilda was convinced that Caedmon’s poetic skills were a gift of grace. She advised him to give up his life as a herdsman and to devote himself to the service of God. And so he became a monk of Whitby and is known as the first English Christian poet.
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, and 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: Dave, Ruth, Cindi, Mary Frances, Debbie, Joe.
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion: The Anglican Missionary District – Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil (3 Province).
For all who have died: Alice.
For one another.
Something to share
It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed.
I, I am the spirit within the earth.
The feet of the earth are my feet;
The legs of the earth are my legs.
The strength of the earth is my strength;
The thoughts of the earth are my thoughts;
The voice of the earth is my voice.
The feather of the earth is my feather;
All that belongs to the earth belongs to me;
All that surrounds the earth surrounds me.
I, I am the sacred works of the earth.
It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed.
Navajo origin legend – Song of the earth spirit
News and Updates
Schenectady Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Announces Community Survey – The City of Schenectady’s Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative (SPRRC) community survey is now available online to gather additional public input and feedback in accordance with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203. Mayor Gary McCarthy announced the availability of the survey during the 2021 State of the City Address. The survey can be found on the Schenectady Police Department’s website and will be available until Monday, February 15, 2021. Link to the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VQDT8D9
Reminder
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.