Hi Folks, I hope you are not being too overwhelmed with all the things coming to your inbox, but it really is good to be in touch, and to strengthen our sense of community and belonging.
I can imagine that many of us have settled in to some sort of order to our new and very different lives, and have moved on from just wishing the hours and days away.
My hero St Benedict has a great deal to say about order and routine, and I want to briefly share a little with you, as it is very fitting.Benedictine Monk take among other things three vows, Stability, Continual Conversion and Obedience to the Gospel.
Stability is about being content with where you are, not wishing you were somewhere else, doing something else. We might think of it as ‘Being in the moment’ or ‘Living in the present’.
I currently find that really helpful. We gain nothing by just wishing things were different, but we gain wonders by being alive to the presence of God now.Continual Conversion is about allowing God to speak to us in the moment, and having an openness of heart, mind and soul, so that we do not block whatever he is saying to us. We all know that God often speaks in the silence.Obedience to the Gospel is about discerning, and putting in to practice what we believe Jesus teaches us.
As we speak, we will be thinking of loving, caring, embracing, including and praying, and we do well to make the most of all that.
Fr Rodney has circulated a brilliant document called ‘Praying in lock down.’ I commend it to you. It has got some great resources in it, and I love the idea of the Labyrinth.I will tell my story about Labyrinth worship another day.
But here are a few more tips from the Benedictines. They pray seven time a day as well as having a daily Eucharist.Vigils: Observed by those who are awake at night. Use the darkness simply to be with God, aware of his Holy Presence in your quiet hours.
Lauds: Wake to thank and praise (laudate) God.
Prime: Take a moment to look over your plan for the day, asking God to be in all you do.Terce: Midmorning break. Deeply breathe in God’s Spirit before returning to you daily tasks.
Sext: It is now mid day. A time to consider the whole world and its needsNone: In the afternoon we close down our work activities. It is a time for forgiving, asking for forgiveness and letting go of the events that are getting in the way
Vespers / Compline. Close the day with peacefulness. Entrust your life to God until you greet him again in the morning with thanksgiving.
Please be assured that our Clergy team are keeping everyone and everything in their prayers, and we ask that you remember us in yours.
Just so that you know, I shall be giving a little order to the amount I share with you.On Tuesdays and Fridays I will send out an email like this one, with any Chaplaincy or diocesan updates.
On Wednesdays and Saturday (for Sunday) I will be loading a video on to youtube, and circulating the link.On Sundays puregold.fm – Costa Blanca 94.1fm -Playing the greatest hits of all time 6-8pm with a special church slot at 7pm
But please feel free to contact me whenever you want to. I am around all the time.
Bless you and yours.Keep safe,
Fr Marcus