Weekly Reflection - 11/20/2023
St. Mary's Reflection:Barbara Bernard, Vestry Member
A General Thanksgiving
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonderful life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
Frequently, I encounter challenges in my attempts at prayer. They say there are no hard and fast rules to prayer—just a simple invitation to come as you are, to open your heart. And yet, at times, my words seem inadequate, unable to capture the depth of what I wish to convey to the Lord and Jesus. That is why I love reading The Book of Common Prayer (The Book). Those prayers are beautiful and heartfelt. They are deep, well-articulated and there are prayers for all occasions and all needs.
A favorite of mine is A General Thanksgiving which can be found at the end of The Book. This prayer is simple, yet it expresses. gratitude for God’s gifts and love. It also asks God to “Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him know”. Recently, as I read these words, it dawned on me how robust God's spirit is at St. Mary’s.
Six years ago, I came to St. Mary’s and found more than a place of worship; I found a home. During this time, our congregation has been through a lot- weathering storms and celebrating victories together.
The Lord blessed us with new and skilled leadership in Reverends David, Kira, and Kathy.
During the pandemic, our congregation learned to pray together and help others in brand new ways, even when physical distance kept us apart.
Our teenagers embarked on a transformative mission trip to Kenya, radiating the light of Christ at the Nambale Magnet School. Their stories and reflections enriched not only their lives but ours as well. St. Mary’s aspires to inspire the next generation of Episcopalians, yet it is they who inspire us with their passion and purpose.
Our financial resilience is gradually recovering from the pandemic-induced loss of parishioners, with individuals prioritizing contributions to St. Mary's to sustain our vibrant community life.
We are also seeing many new faces of all ages at services.
Through our participation in the Vital + Thriving program, the Lord has opened our hearts to the power of listening, guiding us to discover different ways of knowing Christ and making him known now and in the future.
And as we gather in gratitude, we find ourselves offering thanks with four services on Sundays.
These instances are just a few of many that come to mind. St. Mary’s isn't just a church; it's a place that rocks and rolls, where the journey is embraced with laughter, music and joy. Personally, I am so thankful for the privilege of considering this church a home. Above all, I am grateful for the presence of the Lord’s spirit that enriches our shared journey here.
Barbara Bernard,
Vestry Member
