Thursday, April 30, 2020

From Bishop Jake


Click here for Looking for a Familiar Face.

Virtual Worship this Week

Por la Manana via Zoom
May 3, 2020 09:30 AM Central Time

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Zoom Morning Prayer
May 3, 2020 10:30 AM Central Time

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Zoom Evening Prayer
May 6, 2020 05:30 PM Central Time

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The Beatitudes

Jesus’s sermon on the mount is a concise summary of the Good News. The core of that message is the Beatitudes. Comforting words today and always. Matthew 5:1–12 May these words bring you peace.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

A word to the church from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. April 2020.



How to Keep Going

Bishop Jake's Reflection this Wednesday - How to Keep Going: We'll be discussing how to keep going and how to thrive in uncertain times. Click here to see it now.


Join Bishop Jake at 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday on Facebook or drop by afterward (here or there) for the video. The Bishop would love to hear your thoughts, reflections, and questions. And think about sharing with friends! We've got a great community forming!

Evening Prayer










Topic: Evening Prayer
Time: Apr 29, 2020 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

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¡Visitantes Bienvenidos!

Almost every post here can be found in Spanish on the Facebook page of Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas. Visitors welcome!

Casi todas las publicaciones aquí se pueden encontrar en español en la página de Facebook de la Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas. ¡Visitantes bienvenidos!

Click here to visit - https://www.facebook.com/LaEsperanzadeFamiliasUnidas


Upon Hearing a Birdsong



Yesterday we reflected on God opening our lips in praise. Today’s prayer is from the book Every Moment Holy. It is from the section called, Momentary Liturgies for Practicing the Presence of God. This prayer for a very particular moment – Upon Hearing a Birdsong.

Upon Hearing a Birdsong

You draw praise
From the frailest of things.
So also draw praise
From me.

Amen. Peace.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

From Bishop Jake Owensby

The clergy of the Diocese received this today from Bishop Owensby...

COVID-19 Phased Reopening of Churches



Please read the following letter from the bishop. A note on virtual clergy conversations and meeting information for tomorrow is also below.


April 28, 2020

Dear Friends,

Yesterday Governor Edwards announced that, if the metrics required by the health profession are met, Louisiana will perhaps move into Phase I of the return to public interactions May 15. Like you, I hope that we meet the necessary metrics to begin moving toward our new normal of public life even as I recognize that it will require a great deal of preparation. To that end, I have asked Canon John Bedingfield to prepare for you a document outlining the parameters of Phase I and the preparations of Phase I will require. You will find that document attached. We will be discussing it together at tomorrow’s Zoom meeting. Please look it over. And remember that we are here to help you in any way that we can.

I have been touched and inspired with your responses to this very difficult time. Your love and creativity have kept your people mindful of Christ’s healing presence. You’ve offered comfort and wisdom, insight and humor. Thank you!

As you read through the attached guidelines, you may feel overwhelmed by the tasks set before us to get ready for and to live into Phase I. Many of us are already pushing about as hard as we can. Now we anticipate continuing virtual worship but also offering in-person worship under controlled conditions of physical distancing and sanitation. In other words, I recognize that you will be stretching yourselves thin once again. So I bid you, take care of yourselves. Recognize that you need rest, that you will make mistakes, and that you can only do the good that you can do.

As I mentioned above, we will discuss these guidelines and seek your input tomorrow. Please review them. And know that we are all in this together.

In Christ’s Peace,

+Jake

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD
4th Bishop of Western Louisiana



Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - Lord, open our lips.



Today is Tuesday, the twenty-eighth of April.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. Each day we begin morning prayer with the words, Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Even in the most desperate and hopeless times, we are called by the living Spirit within us, to open our lips and sing God’s praise. Remember that we are a people who proclaim, All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. May God open our lips this day. May we sing God’s praise today and always to a world desperate for Good News. Amen.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Monday, April 27, 2020

When I was a child, one of my favorite sayings of Jesus is found in the Gospel of Matthew. Now that I am old,  and especially now, it is still one of my favorites. I hope that this is comforting to you today. 

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Zoom Morning Prayer

Church today - St. Alban's, St. Luke's, St. Patrick's, St. Thomas' and visitors! FUN! 

So good  to "see" you all!


Saturday, April 25, 2020

Friday, April 24, 2020

Rest

Photo by Chris Eby

Join Us!



Join us for Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer
April 26, 2020 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada) - The Third Sunday of Easter

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Rest

God created the Sabbath as a day of rest. In Judaism, the Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday. Here is a beautiful prayer for rest from the Book of Common Prayer in Compline, page 133.



Thursday, April 23, 2020

Christ our Passover

One of the Invitatories in Morning Prayer especially appropriate for Easter Season is Christ our Passover or Pascha nostrum. You can find it on page 83 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Eastertide

Today We Remember

Today, April 22, Earth Day, the Church remembers,,,

John Muir, Naturalist and Writer, 1914, and
Hudson Stuck, Priest and Environmentalist, 1920

John Muir
Born in Scotland in 1838, John Muir immigrated to the United States in 1849, settling in Wisconsin. Muir sought the spiritual freedom of the natural world. As a college student, Muir studied botany, of which he later said, “This fine lesson charmed me and sent me flying to the woods and meadows with wild enthusiasm.”

In 1868, Muir arrived in Yosemite Valley, California, which he called “the grandest of all the special temples of nature.” During a hiking trip through the Sierras, Muir developed theories about the development and ecosystem of the areas. Some years later, Muir took up the cause of preservation, eventually co-founding the Sierra Club, an association of environmental preservationists.

Muir, an ardent believer in the national parks as “places of rest, inspiration, and prayers,” adamantly opposed the free exploitation of natural resources for commercial use. This position put him at odds with conservationists who saw natural forests as sources of timber and who wanted to conserve them for that reason.

Muir was influential in convincing President Theodore Roosevelt that federal management and control were necessary to ensure the preservation of the national forests. Today, he is revered as an
inspiration for preservationists and his life’s work stands as a powerful testament to the majesty and beauty of God’s creation.

Hudson Stuck
Hudson Stuck was an Episcopal priest and explorer. Born in England in 1863, he came to the United States in 1885. He graduated from The University of the South in 1892. From 1894 to 1904, Stuck was Dean of the Episcopal Cathedral in Dallas, Texas. In 1905 he moved to Fort Yukon, Alaska, where he spent the rest of his life, serving as Archdeacon of the Diocese of Alaska.

With a group of fellow explorers, Stuck was the first to completely ascend Denali (Mt. McKinley). He later wrote of the experience as a “privileged communion” to be received in awe and wonder. Upon reaching the pinnacle of Denali, Stuck led the climbers in prayer and thanksgiving.

Archdeacon Stuck died in 1920.

Source: A Great Cloud of Witnesses, 2016

Evening Prayer

St. Alban's is inviting you to a scheduled Evening Prayer via Zoom at Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

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Earth Day 2020

Earth Day 2020 - This prayer for the Conservation of Natural Resources in on page 827 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

A Prayer for Evening

A prayer from An Order of Worship for the Evening, page 113.

When Will the Church Be Back in Her Buildings?

Please read the following letter from the Bishop April 21, 2020 Dear Friends, The Church is alive and well. Across the Diocese—and throughout the Episcopal Church—the Church has been gathering for worship, enjoying coffee hour, studying scripture, and finding ways to make an impact on our communities. And the Church has been doing this outside of our buildings using electronic platforms. Thank you for your creativity, faithfulness, and perseverance. And here’s a thank you for something you may not realize you’ve done. You’ve become effective evangelists. Many have reported to me that the numbers of virtual participants in worship have actually exceeded the average size of previous in-person gatherings. And yet, I know that we all miss being with our friends and gathering in our familiar spaces. We all share one question. When will the Church be back in her buildings? Previously, I stated that we would not return any earlier than April 26 and that I would discern a way forward before that. Within hours the Governor extended that date for us to April 30. Most observers anticipate an additional extension. So, with this email, I am extending suspension of in-person gatherings until further notice from me. There is an end to this, but it would be imprudent and would raise false expectations to project a specific date. Additionally, please be aware that experts project a phased return to public gatherings. In other words, we will probably return to public worship initially while also practicing physical distancing. That means that in the initial phase of return there are likely to be limits and restrictions with respect to numbers in relation to a space’s square footage. At the beginning of the pandemic—when we anticipated the ability to gather—I shared guidelines for safely worshipping together. Once we are together physically, assume that those guidelines will be in effect. I will provide more detail at a later date. Much of that detail will have to wait until the Governor issues guidelines. But for now, I urge you to continue to worship, study, pray, connect, and serve through electronic means. Wait in confidence that Jesus is in our midst. And strive always to love one another as he loves us. Peace in Christ, The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD 4th Bishop of Western Louisiana

Monday, April 20, 2020

O Gracious Light

O Gracious Light, the Phos hilaron, is a beautiful prayer for light said everyday as part of Evening Prayer. It is on page 118 of the Book of Common Prayer.


Sunday, April 19, 2020

Morning Prayer from Bishop Jake Owensby.

Morning Prayer for The Second Sunday of Easter from Bishop Jake Owensby is available to watch by clicking here.


Friday, April 17, 2020

Friday in Easter Week

Evening Prayer via Zoom

St. Alban's is inviting you to a scheduled Evening Prayer via Zoom at Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

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Morning Prayer via Zoom

St. Alban's is inviting you to a scheduled Morning Prayer via Zoom on Sunday, April 19 - The Second Sunday of Easter at 10:30 a.m. CDT.

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Retraction of Virtual Holy Eucharist



Retraction of Virtual Holy Eucharist



Please read the following letter from the bishop.


April 17, 2020 

Dear Friends, 

With apologies for this late notification, I am writing to rescind my authorization of virtual consecration of the elements of bread and wine in the Holy Eucharist. After a gracious conversation with the office of the Presiding Bishop, I understand that virtual consecration of elements at a physical or geographical distance from the Altar exceeds the recognized bounds set by our rubrics and inscribed in our theology of the Eucharist. I am grateful for the collegiality of the House of Bishops and the love expressed to me, and to all of us, in the conversations, I have had.

So what shape should our worship at home take during a time of pandemic? Clearly, we will still gather virtually and maintain the rich community we have established using a variety of electronic platforms. We do not consecrate elements virtually. However, our priests—gathering with one or more persons at a safe distance—may celebrate the Holy Eucharist and live-stream those liturgies or post videos after the fact. Participating in those prayers from home draws us into union with Christ and one another. Alternatively, we may worship using Morning Prayer as we have done during the preceding weeks, confident that praying this liturgy together also draws us into union with Christ and his Body.

The COVID-19 Pandemic puts us in uncharted territory. My desire and intention is to respond pastorally to you all and to continue to proclaim Christ in a meaningful, reverent way. For the help my bishop colleagues have provided in my efforts, I offer thanks. Our worship will be better for it. And to the faithful, loving people of this Diocese, thank you for the love and support you show again and again to your imperfect bishop. Please forgive me for any confusion and disappointment that this action has caused you.

You are loved. And you remind me daily that Christ loves us all.

Peace in Christ, 

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD 
4th Bishop of Western Louisiana 

Virtual Worship Times via Zoom


Instructions for Virtual Worship are here
Instrucciones para la Adoración Virtual están aquí.

Peanut Butter Drive

We still managed to collect 235 lbs of Peanut Butter for the Foodbank of NELA. Wade and Rob dropped it off this morning. Great job all!


Looking for a New Normal

Letting go of "normal" from Bishop Jake. Click here.


Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Practicing Resurrection

From Bishop Jake - Practicing Resurrection: We'll be talking about accepting yourself as a work in progress. That's part of what Paul means when he says that we are a new creation in Christ. Hope to see you at 6:00 p.m. CDT each Wednesday for a while. Watch by clicking here now.


Wednesday in Easter Week

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Easter Night

Easter night - Sleep tight - Say a prayer for those neighbors hurt by the bad weather.


Virtual Choir

From The Episcopal Church!

Combining nearly 800 submissions from more than 600 participants all around the world, we invite you to celebrate Easter with us as we come together in one voice to proclaim - The Strife is O'er, the battle won! Click here to enjoy.



And of course, our greatest thanks to each of you who lent your voices and talents to this project. Look for more to come!


Easter Message from Bishop Brown

From seminary classmate and The Bishop of Maine, The Rt. Rev'd Thomas James Brown.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!





Easter Together!

A wonderful Easter celebration from Bishop Jake Owensby - watch anytime! Just click here. Thanks, Bishop Jake!




Light Shines in the Darkness


Happy Easter

From artist and friend, Enedina Vasquez.



Easter 2020 Sermon

If want just today's sermon, it is here...


Easter Day 2020

Happy Easter Day!

 From St. Alban's, St. Patrick's, and St. Thomas'

 Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Good Night on Holy Saturday!


In the Stillness

In the Stillness (Holy Saturday) - Bishop Jake's reflection for this day is now available to watch anytime. Just click here.




Easter with Bishop Jake Owensby

Join us (@bishopjakeowensby) for Virtual Worship Easter Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CDT. Here’s the Order of Worship. Mark your Book of Common Prayer. Don’t have one? No worries! Grab an electronic copy for free at https://episcopalchurch.org/files/book_of_common_prayer.pdf


Holy Saturday

Good morning. Today is Holy Saturday. On Saturday, the Sabbath day, God rested, Jesus rested in the tomb, and we should rest.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Good Night on Good Friday


Knowing Jesus

Knowing Jesus (Good Friday) is now available to watch anytime - just click here.

Thanks, Bishop Jake!


Good Friday


Art from my friend, Enedina Vasquez. 

Wouldst thou learn thy Lord's meaning in this thing? Learn it well: Love was His meaning. Who shewed it thee? Love. What shewed He thee? Love. Wherefore shewed it He? For Love. Hold thee therein and thou shalt learn and know more in the same. But thou shalt never know nor learn therein other thing without end. Thus was I learned that Love was our Lord's meaning.

Julian of Norwich

Thanks for reminding me of this, Rebecca Lyman.
.

Good Friday Sermon

Good Friday Sermon - This was part of our Good Friday Liturgy. You can watch the whole liturgy by clicking here.

The Way of the Cross - El Via Crucis

St. Alban's, St. Patrick's, St. Thomas', and Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas - Bilingual The Way of the Cross - El Via Crucis. 

Watch anytime by clicking here


Good Friday

Good Friday Liturgy from St. Alban's, St. Patrick's and St. Thomas' with Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas was to premiere on Facebook at Noon on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 - but we've posted it Good Friday morning so you can watch it anytime.

Join us at 1:30 p.m. today for our Facebook premiere of a bilingual Way of the Cross - El Via Crucis. (If you miss it, don't worry, it will be posted here too.)