“Prayer is a force as real as gravity! As a physician, I have seen patients, after all other therapy had failed, lifted out of disease and melancholy by the serene effort of prayer. It is the only power in the world that seems to overcome the so-called ‘laws of nature.’ The occasions on which prayer has dramatically done this have been termed ‘miracles.’ But, a constant quieter miracle takes place hourly in the hearts of men and women who have discovered that prayer supplies them with a steady flow of sustaining power in their daily lives.”

I often wish I had penned those words, but they are from a 1941 Reader’s Digest article by one of my surgical heroes, Nobel Laureate, Doctor Alex Carrel, the father of transplant surgery. Although Doctor Carrel established techniques that have saved countless lives, his life was somewhat of a contradiction. He was raised a Catholic, became an agnostic, and later in life developed a deep spirituality and faith. There is hope for all of us!

Doctor Carrel had found something in prayer and he strongly recommended it: “If you make a habit of sincere prayer, your life will be very noticeably and profoundly altered. Prayer stamps with its indelible mark our actions and demeanor. A tranquility of bearing, a facial and bodily repose, is observed in those whose inner lives are thus enriched. Within the depths of consciousness, a flame kindles. And man sees himself. He discovers his selfishness, his silly pride, his fears, his greed, his blunders. He develops a sense of moral obligation, intellectual humility. Thus begins a journey of the soul toward the realm of grace.”

As I read Doctor Carrel’s commendation to make prayer a life habit, I am reminded of the philosophical statement by Rene’ Descartes, cogito ergo sum, “I think, therefore I am.” It seems to me that Doctor Carrel has transcended Descartes' philosophy to a higher plane, which can be rephrased as, “I pray, therefore I am.”

To ensure that their families are able to be physically present with them that morning, we are reserving space for them and delaying slightly the general sign-up for this service. Of course, we will continue to stream the service on Facebook. Please keep these young adults and their families in your prayers as they transition into the next phase of their lives and remind them that Saint Paul's will always be their home.  

Our Conflict Transformation Report and Liturgy with Rev. Becky Rowell and Rev. Melanie Lemberg is scheduled for May 17 and 18. A separate notice with instructions for reservations is being sent. Should you have questions about attendance, please contact the Parish Office.  

If you have not completed a pledge card, please complete this year’s annual stewardship appeal and return it to the church as soon as possible, or pledge online on our website at saintpauls.org/pledge-card/. If you did not receive a pledge appeal in the mail or have simply misplaced yours, please email the parish office or contact by telephone at (706) 724-2485 ext. 225.

as of 5/05/21

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.