A Positively Poetic Priest

11/22/17 "Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." - Thanksgiving Day, BCP 246 As we prepare for tomorrow's Thanksgiving feasts, either mentally or physically, let us also remember those who we are interdependent on for all the aspects of our Thanksgiving. None of us are alone in this community, we are dependent on others and we pray for their work and their needs. Especially as we turn from Thanksgiving into Black Friday and the shopping season in preparation of Christmas, let us be mindful of those who do not have the ability to serve a feast or buy presents. For the farmers and rancher...

11/17/17 "Bless, O Lord, this food to our use and us to thy service. Keep us ever mindful of the needs of others, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen." Growing up as a child, this was the grace I learned to say before every meal. At first, each of us, my brothers and I, would rotate as to who was sitting in the 'grace chair' and had to say grace before the meal. It was always interesting to see how each of us said the same thing slightly differently. One of my brothers was a speed demon and said the words so fast we couldn't always understand what he was saying. Because of this, our family started a tradition of being mindful of the knees of others, not necessarily their needs... though as my Dad, a man with reoccurring knee problems, likes to say, everyone's knees do need the prayers and help. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday and think about all the things we are thankful for in this world, we have to give thanks for the food we eat on a daily b...