Thanksgiving and Blessing

Thursday, November 22, 2012 -- Week of Proper 28, Year 2
Thanksgiving Day
Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c. 280
Clive Staples Lewis, Apologist and Spiritual Writer, 1963

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
 
EITHER Thursday of proper 29 (p. 993)
Psalm 105:1-22 (morning)     //     105:23-45 (evening)
Malachi 2:1-16
James 4:13 - 5:6
Luke 17:20-37

OR Thanksgiving Day (p. 1000)
Morning Prayer:  Psalm 147,   Deuteronomy 26:1-11,  John 6:26-35
Evening Prayer:   Psalm 145,  Joel 2:21-27,   1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

from J. Neville Ward...

It is Christian conviction that life in itself is neither meaningful nor holy, but that it can be made meaningful and holy.  Thankfulness consecrates it, makes it meaningful and holy.  Jesus and his friends were brought up in world of thought in which to bless a thing and give thanks for it were one and the same.  The idea is familiar in Christian tradition in grace before meals.  The meal is blessed, that is to say, made holy, when God is thanked for it.  Life is also blessed and made holy when it is received with thankfulness.  It is not necessary that the thankfulness be always put into prayer or indeed into words at all.  What matters is the thankfulness of the mind.

from The Use of Praying, Oxford University Press, New York, 1977, p. 21

Happy Thanksgiving,

Lowell
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Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

About Morning Reflections

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

-- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

is to explore and celebrate

God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life: 

We aspire to...

    worship weekly

    pray daily

    learn constantly

    serve joyfully 

    live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Fayetteville, Arkansas