Forward Day by Day

If you looking for an easy-to-use way to take a few minutes everyday to read some scripture, read a short commentary, and pray, Forward Movement Publications has several formats that you can use. This company

is an official, non-profit agency whose mission is to reinvigorate the Episcopal Church day by day. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.

Forward Day by Day is a small booklet which is available at all of the worship locations in the parish at no cost.  Each day it lists recommended readings from the Psalms, the Hebrew Scripture, New Testament letters, and Gospel.  There is a short reflection on one verse or short section of one reading exploring the meaning of that passage.  There is also a request to pray for a diocese, program or service related to the Anglican Communion across the globe.  You can use as much, or little, of these materials as you desire or have time.  If you read the all of the scripture passages over a period of three years, you will have read through the Psalms and Gospels several times, and covered significant portions of the Hebrew Scriptures and letters. 

The authors of the scripture reflection change each month, so there is a chance to experience a variety of perspectives and writing styles.  Writers include ordinary people as well as church professionals.  For this month, there is a very powerful writer, described as an

Oklahoma prison inmate who first wrote in these pages in 1998. He was paroled in 2003 and is now working as a substance abuse counselor.

If you prefer an electronic option, you can read Today's Meditation on your computer, friend it on Facebook, follow the Twitter feeds, and soon they will make it available in various mobile platforms.  This is convenient, since you can also access the scripture readings digitally rather than need to carry around your Bible. There is also the option to read and leave your own comments about the reflection of the day on the web page.

There are a variety of other resources provided, including How to Use, a Morning Resolve, and a Prayer Chapel which includes a place to submit a prayer request, light a digital candle, and a library of prayers from the Book of Common Prayer and other sources.

I use the booklet myself to read, mark and inwardly digest scripture everyday, and highly recommend these materials.

Bruce Calvin

Praying into the Night

Many people find the morning, when they are newly awake and alert, as the best time for prayer. They are able to focus better before the activities of the day overtake them. By the time evening descends and the sun sets, they feel exhausted and without the desire or ability to focus their thoughts.

For others, time at night is when all the other voices and claims are finally quiet. They are able to carve out time for prayer. Prayers that are offered in the night have a different emphasis from those of the morning. They have the focus of relinquishing or letting go of the burdens of the day. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) contains some of my favorite evening prayers. The following one is from the office of Compline.

Keep Watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for our love’s sake. Amen (BCP pg 127) 

In the section of Prayers found toward the back of the BCP is an evening prayer, written about 1876 based upon a sermon by John Henry Newman. It was first included in the BCP in 1928.

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP pg 833) 

Last Sunday, during the service of Choral Evensong at the National Cathedral, this prayer was offered.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen 

Recently while on retreat, I found myself awake during the night and I sought to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to me in the hours of darkness. What people, what parts of my life, did I need to commend to God, and what in my life needed to be hushed and given a holy rest?

Fr. Showers