Dear Brothers and Sisters,
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
This week’s lovely collect could hardly come at a better time, as our nation celebrates Independence Day and looks forward to the 250 anniversary of our founding. As I read it, I am startled to see that perhaps much of what we are concerned about in our country and in the world as a whole might be addressed if we all took it to heart!
What would life be like if we all loved God and loved our neighbor? If you love someone, you will be concerned about their well-being. You will do everything you can to see that they are not hungry. That they have a decent place to rest their heads. That their illnesses are tended. And that there is support for their concerns and loving listening to their sorrows and worries. I wish that John Lennon had written his famous song Imagine
with that theme. “You may say I’m a dreamer…” And not just me. I firmly believe that Jesus dreamed this dream!
But, of course, we are human. And it’s only a very rare one of us who can be that loving. So we have to pray that the Holy Spirit will give us the grace to be loving. Or, perhaps more realistically, that the Spirit will give us the grace to WANT to be, which surely is the first requirement. Could we try? Just for a day? Or even for an hour? Imagine……
Praying daily with you, for our nation, our parish, and the world,
Mo. Laura
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COMING UP!
- July 6 1:30 Monthly service at Legend, lots of singing old-time hymns—ALL WELCOME!
- July 7-11 Music Camp, student show at 6:30 on Friday. FREE!
- July 20 9:00 service, Canon Barbara Harrison Seward ‘s Visitation
- August 11-15 Music Camp, student show at 6:00 on Friday. FREE!
- **Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00
- **Saturdays, Seventh Day Adventist congregation, 9:00-3:00