St. Paul's Episcopal Church » Daily Prayer

February 9 – St. Teilo of Wales

Eric — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:30:12 +0000

Not found our our Episcopal Church calendar, but venerated today (Feb 9) by our Anglican brothers and sisters in the Church in Wales is St. Teilo of Llandeilo, an early saint of Christianity in Wales. An appropriate prayer for his remembrance is this collect for a missionary from Exciting Holiness:

Everlasting God, whose servant Teilo carried the good news of your Son to the people of Llandeilo: Grant that we who commemorate his/her service may know the hope of the gospel in our hearts and manifest its light in all our ways; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For more about St. Teilo, click here.

February 8 – Cuthmann the Builder

Eric — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:30:22 +0000

Not on our Episcopal Church calendar, but venerated in the Roman traditions and in some parts of the Anglican Communion today is St. Cuthmann the Builder, to whom this prayer is attributed:

Father Almighty, you have brought my wanderings to an end; now enable me to begin this work. For who am I, Lord, that I should build a house to name? If I rely on myself, it will be of no avail, but it is you who will assist me. You have given me the desire to be a builder; make up for my lack of skill, and bring the work of building this holy house to its completion.

For more information about St. Cuthmann, see Wikipedia, or this page from an English Roman Catholic priest.

February 7 – Cornelius the Centurion

Eric — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:30:34 +0000

O God, by your Spirit you called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles: Grant to your Church such a ready will to go where you send and to do what you command, that under your guidance it may welcome all who turn to you in love and faith, and proclaim the Gospel to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For a list of the Scripture readings for this commemoration, or to learn more about Cornelius the Centurion, click here.

February 6 – The Martyrs of Japan

Eric — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:23:42 +0000

O God our Father, source of strength to all your saints, you brought the holy martyrs of Japan through the suffering of the cross to the joys of eternal life: Grant that we, encouraged by their example, may hold fast the faith we profess, even to death itself; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For a list of the Scripture readings for this commemoration, or to learn more about the Martyrs of Japan, click here.

February 4 – St. Anskar

Eric — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:03:43 +0000

Almighty and everlasting God, you sent your servant Anskar as an apostle to the people of Scandinavia, and enabled him to lay a firm foundation for their conversion, though he did not see the results of his labors: Keep your Church from discouragement in the day of small things, knowing that when you have begun a good work you will bring it to a fruitful conclusion; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

To learn more about St. Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg and missionary to Scandinavia, click here.

February 3 – The Dorchester Chaplains

Eric — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:52 +0000

Holy God, you inspired the Dorchester chaplains to be models of steadfast sacrificial love in a tragic and terrifying time: Help us to follow their example, that their courageous ministry may inspire chaplains and all who serve, to recognize your presence in the midst of peril; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Find out more about Lieutenant George Fox, Lieutenant Alexander D. Goode, Lieutenant Clark V. Poling, and Lieutenant John P. Washington by clicking here.

February 2 – Feast of the Presentation

Eric — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:36:14 +0000

Today (Feb 2) we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple: “Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (From the BCP 1979, page 239)

To learn more about the Feast of the Presentation, click here.

February 1: St. Brigid of Ireland

Eric — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:42:10 +0000

Everliving God, we rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed servant Brigid, and we give you thanks for her life of devoted service. Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Read about St. Brigid here.

19 January – St. Wulfstan of Worcester

Eric — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:25:24 +0000

Today we remember the 11th Century Bishop, St. Wulfstan of Worcester: “Almighty God, your only-begotten Son led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like your holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage; and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (From Holy Women, Holy Men)

For more on St. Wulfstan, click here.

Annual Meeting Sermon Now On-Line

Eric — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:28:22 +0000

The sermon preached on the Second Sunday of Advent, January 15, 2012, which also served as the Rector’s report to the 195th Annual Parish Meeting is now available on-line at the Rector’s blog. Click this link to read it.