Dear Friends,

At our annual Council meeting in February Bishop Haynes addressed three key areas she feels that we as individuals and congregations need to focus our attention. These three areas are: prayer, service and community. Ironically, this fits perfectly with our mission statement which includes worship, outreach and fellowship.

As we enter the Lenten season which begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5, I thought this may be a good opportunity for us to focus on the discipline of prayer. Most individuals will say that their prayer life is better when going through a personal struggle or challenge but it should be good every day. Daily prayer as a practice is something to be developed with intentional focus. Implementing this practice during Lent helps to turn the routine into a habit over the course of the forty days.

A great place to start a routine prayer practice is with the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The Daily Offices (Morning Prayer: Rite I, page 37 and Rite II, page 75. Evening Prayer: Rite I, page 61, Rite II, page 115) are intended for our weekday worship. You may read the prayers from the BCP or listen online at the following sites: mydailyoffice.org or missionstclare.com. During Lent we will be offering Morning Prayer at 8:45 AM every Wednesday in the Church.

Also in the BCP (page 136) you will find Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families. I find these to be great for beginning and ending the day. From “In The Morning”, one of my favorite pleas comes from The Collect – “and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose;”. Starting on page 810 are Prayers and Thanksgivings for most occasions.

Whether or not I am using the BCP for my daily worship, I always make sure to include the five areas of prayer that I refer to as my “finger” prayers: 1. For my family and for me. 2. Intercessions for others. 3. Praise and glory to God. 4. Forgiveness of my sins. 5. Thanksgivings.

Another important consideration is having a set place for your prayers. Many folks have shared with me that they have a prayer chair or space in their home dedicated for worship. The space doesn’t have to be anything spectacular, but it is nice to have a place with fewer distractions.

Our prayer postures are another area of focus for a better prayer life. The Rev. Summer Joy Gross stated in her article “Praying Through Busyness”: “Prayer postures are invitations to stay present to deep inner work as our bodies remind our hearts to pray.” Prayer postures can include kneeling, leaning forward, unfolding legs and placing hands palms up, folding your hands and bowing your head, lifting your head face up, standing with or without arms raised and many others. The intentional act of changing your posture is a wonderful starting point for your personal prayer time.

Useful tools for praying can be using the Anglican Rosary, holding a prayer cross, prayer beads or labyrinth.

If you have any questions or want to explore the areas I have highlighted above, please let me know. This Lenten season I think that you will find me in the new Prayer Garden at church very often. I hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Gini+

Dear Friends,

Not very often does the Feast Day of The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, February 2, fall on a Sunday. Rita and I have been waiting for this to occur so that we can observe it with a traditional Candlemas. This is a service that includes a procession with candles. I have only participated in one other of these services which was for the Installation of our current Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Susan B. Haynes in 2020. We hope that you will enjoy the tradition and deep meaning of this during the 10 AM service.

Candlemas commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of Mary forty days after Christmas. This is the final feast of the Epiphany season. In Luke 2:22-39 we learn that this was also the occasion of the meeting of Jesus with Anna and Simeon. 

The first observances of this service dates to Jerusalem in the fourth century. There is record of regular services in Rome by the seventh century which included a blessing of candles and a procession that brings the name Candlemas. The candles that we will use in our service on February 2 are from the Holy Land and are fragranced with honey. The candles represent the light of Christ in the world today.

During the procession we will have the singing of the Canticle, Nunc Dimittus. This Canticle is based on the proclamation of Simeon, who recognized the infant Jesus to be the Messiah. You may recognize the words from the Song of Simeon that are part of the Evening Prayer and Compline services in the Book of Common Prayer.

Traditionally, this is the date when the creche is to be put away ending this Christmas season. 

On a secular note, legend holds that if the sun is shining on February 2 during the service the winter season will be extended. If it is cloudy and the candlelight is brighter, winter will soon come to an end. Does this sound familiar? Groundhog Day, also on February 2 gets its origin from this Christian observance.

I hope that with this history and background you will better understand and enjoy this service on February 2.

Blessings,
Gini+

Dear Friends,
2025 is going to be an exciting year for Manakin Episcopal Church. We will have a yearlong observance and celebration of our 325th anniversary as a church community. I am thankful for the leadership of Craig Akers and the 325th Anniversary Committee who have been working hard to provide meaningful opportunities for education, fellowship and worship. Throughout the year we will have educational programs during our family forums. Starting January 26 at 9 AM, Ann Woodlief will join us to give an overview of the Huguenot history.

During the year we will look not only to our history but will have a focus on who we are today and how God is calling us in the future. We will need your input as we discern this, and our vestry will start with this as one of our discussion points at our vestry retreat on January 11. In August we will have a great fellowship and learning opportunity on a pilgrimage to discover our Anglican and Huguenot roots in England and France. If you have not already seen the brochure of information, please contact the Church office or Elisabet Goodwyn.

The year will conclude with our Founders Day observance on December 7th . Our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Susan Haynes will join us, and an invitation has also been extended to the Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Sean Rowe.

As you see our new logo that will be used throughout the year, please remember the many folks from the past 325 years who have made our church what it is today and reflect on the impact you can have in the coming years.

Blessings,
Gini+