Today we celebrate Epiphany, the day the wisemen arrived bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Father Nutter honored Epiphany by fasting and spending the day in the Nave praying with anyone who stopped in. I took time this afternoon to join him there.
Why "blog" about it? I wanted you each to know that the children of this church; your children, our children, are gifts to me. Today, I prayed for them all, by name, in honor and recognition of their gift in my life. I prayed for each of us as parents, that we continue to see how blessed we are to have them in our care.
There are wonderful prayers on page 829 of the Book of Common Prayer that will give you the words if you struggle to find your own.
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
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