"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32, NRSV).

"Greet Prisca and Aquila ... Greet also the church in their house" (Romans 16:3, 5, NRSV).

Saturday, January 26, 2008

A Day with Robert Benson


V. The Lord be with you.

R. And also with you.


Let us pray.


After the day spent with Robert Benson, that seems the only proper way to begin this post. Thanks to Jim McKinney for arranging this mini-retreat and to he and Jan for so graciously opening their home to us. Thanks to Robert for sharing heart, mind, and spirit so passionately and eloquently with us. And thanks be to God for his gifts of brothers and sisters with whom we may share the journey, for the Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation and the prayers of the Church to nourish us on the way, and for our Lord Jesus Christ -- the means of grace and the hope of glory. I will forever treasure the sharing of the Eucharist with each of you this day.

Several of you expressed an interest in learning the "mechanics" of the daily office. I have added a link to the blog (Daily Office: Mission St. Clare) which will guide you through the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. This site is useful in a stand-alone manner or as an introduction to the Book of Common Prayer, itself.

We mentioned several prayer book resources today. Information on Robert's latest book of the Daily Office may be found under Links, below. The Presbyterian book of prayer mentioned today is titled Book of Common Worship Daily Prayer and is published by Westminster/John Knox Press (W/JKP). It generally is available in stock at Cokesbury Book Store. The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer is always available at Chapter and Verse Bookstore (under the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee in the telephone book) and often at Cokesbury Book Store, Cedar Springs Book Store, and even Borders. You will want the 1979 version rather than the 1928 (probably).

An excellent introduction to and resource for the liturgical calendar may be found in Liturgical Year (Supplemental Liturgical Resource 7) published by W/JKP. I got my copy of this at Cokesbury several years ago; I do not know if they stock it routinely, but I'm certain they could order it.

I thank each of you for your contribution to this day and look forward to next time.


Peace of Christ,
John




1 comment:

Jimmy D. said...

I echo these words of thanks to Jim and Jan, Robert, and all of you. A great day indeed.

Yesterday, Betty Horton mentioned the book Ancient-Future Time by Robert Webber (Baker Books, 2004). It is subtitled "Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year". It is written not for the scholar, but for the people in the pew.

Again, a great day together. Looking forward to the next time we meet.