Dear Friends,
At our staff meeting this morning, I noted that there is not a week from now to August 23 when all of our staff will be together again. Between vacations, study leave, out-of-town weddings, sabbaticals, and conferences we are coming and going in a multitude of directions. This summer is not a mirror image of the summer of 2020! Thank goodness! I am sure that many of you are also traveling this summer for the first time in many months.
As we all are coming and going this summer, I offer you one of my favorite prayers. It is a prayer attributed to Francis of Ireland and is often called St. Patrick’s Breastplate. The following is the latter half of his prayer.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
God’s heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
May Christ be with you!
Ron
P.S. I hope to see you in worship this Sunday if you are in town.
