Good Friday

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your
family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be
betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer
death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set
your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and
our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and
grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy
Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life
and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live
and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Discipleship and Following Jesus

from the "indexed" blog:
(hat tip to Scott at "Seven Whole Days"...)



It being Holy Week and all, I am reflecting a bit on what it might mean to "take up your cross and follow me," - this is often said, and perhaps easily explained superficially, but for many of us in the United States, and many of us in The Episcopal Church, we are not so ready to take up the challenges of discipleship. We yearn for wealth, for comfort, for privilege but may not often recognize the importance of discipleship.... of getting in touch with poverty, with discomfort, and the underprivileged -- and also getting close to our own inner poverty, discomfort and lack of privilege.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey