Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
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Regathering for In-Person Worship
Spiritual Resources for this Time of Crisis and Fear
Announcements / Resources
If you live in the Penn Wynne area and need help or know someone who does, or if you’d like to volunteer to help visit:
www.pennwynne.care or call 484-362-1322
Regathering for in-person worship
- Starting June 21st, we will offer small, socially distant in-person worship gatherings.
- Sign up to attend services
- Everyone will have an opportunity to worship–more services will be opened up if necessary.
- Read the plan below:
Spiritual Resources in this time of crisis
In this time of crisis, we put our trust in the promises of God. Here are some resources to help us remember God’s promises and to shape our minds and hearts toward trusting in the God’s invincible love and mercy.
Scripture
The Bible Online: Biblegateway.com
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
Jesus said, Remember I am with you always, to end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b)
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18a)
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)
[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
[Jesus calms the storm] (Mark 4:35-41)
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
The Psalms
The version of the Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer
Psalm 23
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
Psalm 40
I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry…
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *
O LORD, make haste to help me.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
Though its waters rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Psalm 86
In the time of my trouble I will call upon you,
for you will answer me.
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty…
He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter
and from the deadly pestilence.
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
Prayer
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus prayer is simple and meant to be repeated over and over again. Sometimes, in moments of extreme anxiety, we may not be able even to read a long passage of scripture, but the name of Jesus is our anchor and refuge, our first and last recourse, the thing to hold onto no matter what.
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”
or
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
Say it again and again. There is power in the name of Jesus. Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)
Morning Prayer
A service leaflet for Morning Prayer that you can use at home is found here.
The Daily Office: A Beginner’s Guide from the SSNF is an excellent resource if you want to learn to pray straight out of the Book of Common Prayer.
Forward movement produces an excellent Morning Prayer Podcast called, A Day at the Office
The Mission of St. Clare has a good website and phone app version of Morning and Evening Prayer
Compline
Compline is a short prayer service to prayed right before you go to bed. It is found in the Book of Common Prayer on page 127. Or here.
I have found that Compline is an effective pathway through anxiety to a peaceful night’s sleep. Here’s what I try to do: before bed I put away my phone for awhile and stop obsessing over the news. Then, my household prays compline together. It takes 5 minutes. It’s simple. I can guarantee you it will be helpful.
Collects
In Time of Great Sickness and Mortality (adapted from the 1928 BCP)
O most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee unto You for our help and strength. We beseech You to deliver us from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the medical means by which healing and cure are sought; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leads to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Parish
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish, for our neighborhoods, and our neighbors. Protect this place and its inhabiitants, strengthen the faithful, and bring those who are lost to an understanding of your love and mercy. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Raise up for us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression; that peace may prevail here, and that your presence may be known throughout the land. In the powerful name of Jesus, who became human on our behalf. Amen.
The Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayers of the People for 3/15/2020
Act of Spiritual Communion
Trinity Episcopal Church in Princeton has provided this lovely service of Spiritual Communion you can do in your home.
Announcements/Resources
Update from Bishop Daniel Gutierrez (March 12, 2020)
Coronavirus Update from the Rector (March 11, 2020)
Church of the Holy Apostles 