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Some thoughts on prayer.
Clergy are often asked by their parishioners about prayer. “I don’t know how to pray,” or “I’m not sure I’m doing it right,” or “Will you pray for me because your prayers are closer to God?”
Episcopal clergy are sometimes asked by folks from other denominations why we don’t spend more time saying prayers in our church services? Meanwhile, St. Paul says, “pray without ceasing.” All of this can make folks feel like failures right out of the gate when it comes to prayer.
So, let me say a few words about our Episcopal way of prayer. First of all, besides the Bible, our most treasured book is the Book of Common Prayer. Note that last word. The BCP is full of prayers, but not all of them start out with “Dear God…..”
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Near the back of the BCP (p. 845) is the Catechism, also known as An Outline of the Faith. The Catechism is in a question-and-answer format and addresses such topics as The Sacraments, Sin and Redemption, God. On page 856 you can find the section on prayer. In answer to the question “what is prayer?” the Catechism answers, “Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.” And it goes on to explain that there are several kinds of prayer - adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition. Many folks only think of intercession when they think of prayer, but we have a much broader understanding of prayer, as you can see.
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Note that the Catechism says that prayer might be deeds or might not have words. This is how we pray without ceasing. We live our lives as if everything we do is a prayer, everything we do is an offering to God or a response to God, because we know that everything we have is a gift from God. We drive down Monument Avenue seeing the gorgeous colors of the leaves and we say Wow (as Amelia reminded us that Anne Lamott teaches), and that is a prayer. | |
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We hug our families and friends and feel the love between ourselves and others and that is a prayer. We smile at the checkout person at the Kroger who is used to just being mostly ignored all day and that is a prayer. That is how we pray without ceasing.
As far as prayer in church goes, sometimes the priest says a prayer, sometimes the whole congregation says a prayer, often a lay person (intercessor) leads the prayers of the people which is usually interactive. Some things are called prayers that do not start with “Dear God,” like the Eucharistic Prayer (also called The Great Thanksgiving) which we all do together, priest and people. Reading the Psalms is prayer. We really do pray a lot because we understand prayer to take many forms.
| Another thing that clergy often hear is that someone is disappointed that we did not pray for something that they would like us to be praying for in church. While the BCP directs us to pray for specific things (the church, the world, the sick, the dying etc) and we have some set forms of prayers we use during the prayers of the people (which is almost always intercessory prayer), there are always places in those prayers where folks in the congregation are asked to bring forth the things they particularly want to pray for. Maybe since the bulletin was printed, there was a shooting or a war started or someone you love died, or maybe there is a group of people or a situation you want to lift up to God. I encourage you to bring these prayers to church with you and say them (out loud or silently) to yourself if they have not made it into the written prayers. There are so many things and people and situations we could and should pray about, and also we know we can’t include them all. There will always be a space in the prayers of the people for you to add your own intercessions and thanksgivings, because these are the prayers of the people and really a starting point, not a whole and final sealed package of prayers. | |
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And of course it’s still always good to ask folks to pray with you or for you, especially when you are grieving or upset. That’s one of the reasons why we offer prayers in the chapel during the Eucharist.
But also I hope none of you really think that clergy prayers are somehow more special to God than your prayers are. God knows us each by name, can count the hairs on our heads, and none of us have a special HOV lane into God’s heart. If you would like practice in becoming more active and confident in your prayer life, just open up the BCP and find a prayer that you like, and go. You’ll find whole sections of thanksgivings, of prayers for the sick (including prayers for use by a sick person), prayers at night and at meals, prayers for government and armed forces and cities and towns and children and elections and travelers and birthdays. Some of these prayers are hundreds of years old now, while others are more recent, and all are inspired by the Holy Spirit in the creation of them. You can find a listing of prayers and thanksgiving starting on page 810, but there are also many lovely prayers in other sections of the BCP such as the Daily Offices. Before you go to bed, check out the prayers in the middle of page 134. I invite you to explore the wonderful resource that the BCP is, especially in these days of conflict and polarization that don’t seem to be letting up.
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And if you can’t find or muster the words to pray even with the book, that’s ok, too. St. Paul tells us that The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, and that very Spirit intercedes [on our behalf] with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26). What a comfort that is.
Meanwhile, know that I pray for you all every day, and I hope that you will pray for me and for our St. James’s community every day, too.
Blessings,
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Saturday, November 11
Young Family Social, 4-6pm
The parents have as much fun as the kids at these socials. St. James’s will provide snacks, water, and juice. Parents are welcome to bring a favorite adult beverage if you wish. We''ll gather at the home of Allison and Joe Marchetti
25 Albemarle Ave.
Tuesday, November 14
Tuesday Men's Bible Study - 7:30 am, Valentine Hall
A weekly hour of fellowship, discussion of the bible, and good food.
Contact: Patrick Strickler, jpstrickler@verizon.net
Stephen Spraker, stspraker@gmail.com
Women & Wisdom Bible Study (WWBS) - 5pm
Michaux House Room 302 or via Zoom.
This Bible study meets twice a month to read together through a biblical book
or theme one at a time.This year we're studying the Book of Isaiah using the
Interpretation Bible Studies Series on Isaiah to guide us.
We explore when and under what conditions the passages were written. Please
bring a bible with you to each meeting, along with the guidebook.
Contact: Becky DeCamp, rahylton2@gmail.com
Wednesday, November 15
Living Faith Bible Study - 10 to 11:30 am
Currently on Zoom (in person gatherings TBD)
This opportunity for spiritual refreshment and enlightenment begins with fellowship, a prayer followed by study and discussions that help to make our Christian faith a “living faith” and apply the witness of the Scripture to our everyday lives.
Contact: Betsy Trow (804) 282- 4152 or betsytrow@gmail.com
Wednesday Noon Eucharist & Healing Service
held in the chapel located within the sanctuary
THE TASTE
Valentine Hall, 5-7 pm
Come for a night of food, fellowship, and fun,
all the while benefiting our youth mission and outreach partners, with a focus on supporting food insecurity in the Richmond and Virginia.
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Thursday, November 16
Thursday Men's Breakfast Bible Study - 7:30 am, Valentine Hall
Our Bible Study Group welcomes St. James’s members and non-members
It meets every other Thursday morning in Valentine Hall for about an hour.
The group enjoys fellowship and relationship-building with each other
and growth in knowledge of scripture and their faith applied to the here and now.
You're welcomed regardless of your current knowledge about the scriptures.
Contact: Matt Harper, mharper2240@gmail.com.
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Peek at the Week is now on the website (doers.org) too. So if you need to check in on what’s going on this coming week, click on the Peek at the Week banner (The Week's Events) on the home page: doers.org
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This week's eChimes features | |
- The Taste is Wednesday
- U2 Celtic Mass
- Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Annual Pledge update
- Watch Katie and Whit Morris's video
- November Young Family Social
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- Discover the Collect of The Day
- Join Beth Ahabah for a Community Concert of Israeli Pop Music
- Prayers of The People
- Diocese of Virginia
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The Taste
is this Wednesday!
Make room on your calendar ...
and in your fridge.
The Taste of St. James is this Wednesday, November 15th from 5 to 7pm in Valentine Hall – just in time to stock up on Thanksgiving soups, meals and sweets.
Come for a night of food, fellowship, and fun, all the while benefiting our outreach and youth mission and outreach partners, with a focus on supporting food insecurity in the Richmond and Virginia.
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We still need a few more volunteers.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us prepare the food for The Taste.
As we look ahead to the event itself, we still need a few folks, especially to work the tables and help people with their purchases.
You can sign up here to help. Again, thanks to everyone.
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U2 Celtic Mass
Sunday, November 19
at the 9 am service.
We're just a week away from one of our most beloved and anticipated services of the year: The U2 Celtic Mass.
The Guitar Ensemble and The West Gallery Choir will sing music by U2 at the 9 am service on Sunday, November 19. The service also includes Gaelic hymns and a liturgy written expressly for this mass. Join us and bring a friend.
Here’s how U2’s Bono sees the connection between U2’s music and God: There [are] cathedrals and alleyways in our music. I think the alleyway is usually on the way to the cathedral, where you can hear your own footsteps and you’re slightly nervous and looking over your shoulder, and wondering if there’s somebody following you. And then you get there and realize there was somebody following you: It’s God.
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
Our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive supporting FEED MORE is back.
FEED MORE is dedicated to feeding our neighbors who are food insecure across 29 counties and five cities. There is a lot of need in Central Virginia –1 out of every 9 individuals in our service area is food insecure, meaning that more than 165,000 of our neighbors face hunger. And of that, more than 50,500, or 1 in 6 children, are not eating enough. Where there is need, FEED MORE is there to help.
Click here to print a list of FEED MORE's most meeded items.
- Paper bags are available in the Narthex, along with a list of FEED MORE's most needed items.
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You may also use your own grocery bags.
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Return your bag(s) full of food to the Narthex on the Sunday, November 19, before Thanksgiving or at the Thanksgiving Service (11/23).
For more information contact Amelia Arthur, aarthur@doers.org
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Thanks to everyone who has already pledged. We’re at 69% of our goal – and we’re tracking ahead of where we were last year in both participation and dollars raised. But we still have a ways to go to meet our goal. | |
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Every pledge is important.
Please make your pledge today by clicking the link below.
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If you haven’t seen our newest Pledge Video featuring Katie and Whit Morris, please click here. It’s certain to touch your heart.
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This Saturday come for
family fun and fellowship.
The next Young Family Social is just around the corner. On this Saturday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 6 pm we'll be gathering at the home of:
Allison and Joe Marchetti
25 Albemarle Ave.
St. James’s will provide snacks, water, and juice. Parents are welcome to bring a favorite adult beverage if you wish. These socials are for any St. James's family with children living at home. The parents have as much fun as the children at our Young Family Socials.
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Discover the Collect of the Day
on our Social Media.
We recently began posting the Collect of the Day on our social media pages. A collect -- like the Collect for Purity, for instance -- is simply a prayer meant to gather the intentions of the people and the focus of worship into a succinct prayer. The Collects we'll be posting honor Episcopal saints and are a chance for you to briefly focus on your own spiritual life while learning a little church history.
The Episcopal Church's Collects are among the most beautiful set of writings in the English language. We hope they provide you with solace, inspiration and joy whenever you read them.
If you're not following us yet on Social Media, here's where you'll find us.
Instagram: sjec1205
Facebook: St. James's Episcopal Church
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Let's join our friends at Beth Ahabah
for a night of Israeli pop music.
Beth Ahabah has invited St. James’s to join the Richmond Jewish community in a cultural/non-political setting: a community Chanukah concert featuring an Israeli pop star held at Beth Ahabah in our sanctuary. This event was planned well before recent events, and although Micha Biton is from S’derot (an affected region) he is (thankfully) well and plans to do his US tour.
This concert program includes some learning about Mizrahi Jewish heritage (Mizrahi means Jews that never left the middle east and their culture), lighting the Chanukah candles, and of course the actual concert. Chanukah is the traditional spelling of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is celebrated Friday, December 7 to Friday, December 15.
Go here to see the full flier, and the direct link to the registration page: https://jewishrichmond.regfox.com/micha-biton-chanukah-concert-
Proceeds from the ticket sales will be split between the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond (a non-profit Jewish community organization here in Richmond) and Beth Ahabah to cover the costs of the event.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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