Garvin Moore: The Navigator

I was raised in the Methodist Church down South, which meant going to Sunday School every Sunday with the rest of the kids. It was interesting, full of good stories, but not much different from going to regular school during the week. I didn’t go to church much during two years in the Navy, of four years of college. I didn’t make a personal relationship with Jesus until I went to a religious camp for a week at the invitation of a friend from work. While there I met a young man from a group called the Navigators. He was able to make Jesus real for me. He also invited me to attend a Billy Graham rally in New York, where I went forward with others to commit myself to Jesus.

I graduated from MIT, but needed to lean on Jesus for support when I got into difficulty as a graduate student, and battled depression for years. HE helped me get my life back on track during a career as an engineer with the Raytheon Company, and later on when I battled lymphoma contracted on my eightieth birthday. Since my Billy Graham experience, church has been a vital part of my life. I try not to miss it.

Ray Lemieux: Finding Calvary

For several years my wife and I were looking for a new church that would help us to feel close to God again. We were checking on the Internet, and talking to others about their churches. After a while, we even thought that we might go back to our former church and try to make a go there. In 2009, through God’s hand (we believe), we found out there was a town-wide Thanksgiving Ecumenical service being held at Calvary.

We decided to attend the service to see what Calvary was about. The first thing that we noticed was how friendly the people were. We barely got in the door when someone approached us and asked if we were new or “eight o’clockers”. We mentioned that we were from another church and the welcome was quite appreciated. During the PEACE, we were asked by several other people if we were new. The moving around and greeting others during the PEACE was new to us. We asked a few questions of those that approached us, and everyone was very up-beat about Calvary. After the service we got to meet Rev. Thea and she asked if we were visiting.

We fell in love with Calvary that day and came back the next week. After a few weeks, Rev. Thea asked if she could talk to us in her office. Although, we both are usually quiet and reserved, after talking to Thea, we volunteered to be ushers, and the rest is history.

We trusted God to show us the way, and He did.
This photograph of the altar at Calvary Episcopal Church was taken by Greg West.

Sally Gamble: You are not Forgotten

Many years ago in the early 60’s I was in a bad place. I was married but had lost my first two children. With my third I had to spend 6 months in bed. What a miracle, I had a beautiful healthy son. But, the cycle continued. Two more losses and I had 1 more son. This continued until finally I had one more son and a daughter but had spent almost 2 years in bed in the process. I had prayed for children but thought had God was punishing me in some way by taking my children. Counseling was not offered at that time, you just got through it on your own. I felt lost and thought that he had forgotten me.

A few years later when I was on Vestry we had a vestry retreat day. We were asked to tell the person next us something that troubled us but nobody knew about. I was lucky enough to have John Joyce as my partner. He listened carefully and was very comforting and made me feel as if someone cared. About a month later Donna called and invited me to a healing service for people who had lost children. It was just what I had needed and I will forever be grateful to her for her kindness. I learned that God did care and was helping me in a way I hadn’t realized. I highly recommend it to anyone who has lost a child. It was a great help in my healing process.

Gina Burke: Comes the Dawn

Comes the Dawn by Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.
you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn...
With every goodbye you learn.

This poem has always reminded me about my relationship with God and it seems to resurface at the exact moment I need it the most. I trust that God will help me find strength through adversity and although I am not promised an easy road, or even an uncomplicated one, I always have the opportunity to start again. When I read this poem I remember that my trust in God is really about his belief in me.I trust God to be my source of strength so that I can “accept my defeats” and “decorate my own soul”. I trust him to remind me that we all need to cultivate resilience because if we don’t get up after being knocked down we can’t live lives that honor him. If we don’t learn from our mistakes and trust God to open those proverbial windows then we won’t be able to experience the happiness that is intended for each of us.

Most recently I heard this poem at a colleague’s memorial service. The woman we gathered to remember had experienced her share of defeats and setbacks. What struck me throughout the service was how many friends she had from all walks of life. There were countless stories shared about her warmth, her generosity, and her love of life. Her ability to persevere and give to others made her a truly wonderful person. I trust that God will be there with me throughout my life to remind me that I have the strength to be the kind of person she was, the kind of person that I want to be.

Bill Hooper: Saying Goodbye

The theme of the Lenten Blog is "Trust in God" which may be more easily said than done. Barbara, Joan and I recently had an opportunity to place our trust in God's plan for us.

Our Family had a Siberian Husky named Shamrock, a gentle giant who loved to take walks and never, never missed a meal or snack. He had been rescued more than four years ago but now, at age 14, found life a struggle. God intervened, made us more aware of Shamrock's needs and guided us through the decision to end Shamrock's life. Simply put, we had to trust our hearts.

What might have been an emotionally devastating day turned into a spiritually uplifting event. The Knitting Ministry and other congregants became involved in Shamrock's last days by providing a Prayer Shawl and heartfelt wishes of support. Rev. Thea agreed to offer a special blessing on Shamrock's last day. The beauty of God's plan quickly became evident when we wrapped Shamrock in the Prayer Shawl while Rev. Thea spoke the blessing for our faithful animal companion and for ourselves as good stewards of God's creatures.

We continued on to the Animal Hospital where the staff greeted us with kindness and compassion understanding the difficult decision we were undertaking. They did not know how much easier the decision was once we placed our trust in God. Again, we wrapped Shamrock in the Prayer Shawl and held him to help calm his fears while the medicine was administered. God took him quickly and quietly. The staff withdrew to give us the time we needed to grieve the loss of a loyal dog. When we were done, we symbolically covered Shamrock with the Shawl to return him to God's Domain.

The day ended with each of us remembering our animal friend's life and last day. The day also ended with joy in our hearts knowing we had placed our trust in God and He had rewarded our trust by making us comfortable with the one decision beneficial for Shamrock.

Later that day a phrase from a song I heard years ago crossed my mind. It seemed to reaffirm our need to trust in God: "Don't let the light go out. Let it shine through our love and our tears."

Thanks be to God for all of His creation.

Diane Kessler: Stitch by Stich

The women sit in the parlor in a loose circle. It is Tuesday morning and time for the prayer shawl knitters to gather. Their hands are busy and they visit about this and that until someone – and it can be anyone in the group – announces, “Let us pray.” All quiets as a candle is lit. There are many prayers for prayer shawl communities. The prayer chosen always seems to be appropriate for the day, even if only through a line or two within it. I sit quietly and listen with my heart open and my mind at peace. This is the group (along with the choir) that did so much for me when I was lonely and afraid, that welcomed me in with open arms and taught me not only how to knit, but also how to re-enter a faith community. This is a group that lives by faith and knits it into every shawl produced. They are ready to wrap anyone in need in warmth and love. I am a grateful recipient of their bountiful gifts, and I give thanks for what they have done to rebuild my trust in God stitch by stitch every Tuesday morning.

Nancy Gilman: That Little Voice

After saying I would write on the subject of “Trusting God” I quickly found I was not sure where to begin. To me one of the greatest gifts of my faith has been the freedom to “let go and let God” as the saying goes and experience a certain amount of freedom from worry, glimpses of what it must be like to live as a lily of the field. When I see a friend without a spiritual path struggling with the weight of the world on their shoulders, my heart goes out to them while I thank God I am on a different journey. Yet I find myself just as often being humbled by my failure to trust God, and thanking God for being more persistent than I am obstinate.

As a child it seemed obvious and easy to turn to God for the big stuff, a favorite relative dying, moving 500 miles away, getting my own room etc…As a teenager it seemed that God was there but as distant and disconnected from the daily details of my life as the societies of biblical times were from modern America. If one were careful one might catch glimpses of God during Holy Week but certainly not when trying to decide what’s for dinner. However in college as I did crazy things like do a junior year abroad and still finish a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT in the 3 years remaining, a series of blessings came to me, and I became convinced that the Holy Spirit had to be looking out for me. There is something about being perpetually short on sleep that makes it easier to believe that the little voice might be divinely inspired. It is a belief that has continued to serve me well, however imperfectly I listen. It was then that I fell in love with Lent, as a time to make changes and clean my spiritual house, so that I could hear that little voice from my heart over the din of the many voices in my head.

Fast forward to Epiphany 2010. Our family was without a church home. I had the naïve idea that we didn’t require all that much. A church that would accept all of us as we were; my loving passionate 6-year-old who wanted her communion her way, my precocious 9-year-old who had out grown the concept of God as a Santa Claus figure and wanted more than pretty pictures from Sunday School, my husband the musician, and me the cradle Episcopalian with a preference of congregations that are prepared to embrace change and grow. I went online and made a list. Something about Calvary’s Website that caught my attention, but it was SO far away. We spent Lent going to the closest fit of those that were close but that little voice was hesitant to declare the search over and after a most unsatisfying Easter service, we started anew. We gradually started increasing the distance but didn’t find anything we liked better. I was rather mad at that little voice and thoroughly discouraged by this point. I can remember telling God “IS IT REALLY TOO MUCH TO ASK!!"

Then one day when I was already late to work but needed that one thing from the grocery store, I parked next to a white car with a Calvary bumper sticker. The first time I saw it, it merely reminded me of how mad I was at God so I went in and got what I needed. The second time I saw it I was “too busy” and Danvers too far away so I threw my bag in the car and started on my way. As I was leaving, my eyes were drawn to the bumper sticker a third time and finally I decided to trust one more time and I turned around and went back and left a note for the owner of the car and it felt good. And so we found ourselves at Calvary for the first time at Pentecost, celebrating the gift of Holy Spirit, as present in our lives today as in the lives of the disciples 2,000 years ago.

Carol Pechinsky: The Faith of a Child

The spiritual foundation and childlike faith I was given as a child are what give me the foundation to live my life. If only as an adult it were so easy to still hang on to this faith and trust. As I’ve grown older I find the corners of my mind contain many doubts and questions. My faith greatly varies in its degrees of strength and weakness. It is at times like these that I realize the childlike faith I felt as a child makes me more vulnerable and needy as an adult. My mind wants to be in control. Yet thankfully, God always seems to creep in and take over.

During the summers we spend in Wolfeboro , N.H. at our camp built by my grandfather in 1938, I find I am often restored to that feeling of childlike faith. Walking in the woods early in May and coming upon numerous ladyslippers (last year 80+)—some still white and maturing and others fully pink and mature. (I used to tell our sons when they were young that unexpected moments like these were “Thank you God" moments.) So also is the feeling I get when I walk down to the lake in early morning and the fog is just lifting off its surface. Sunlight is just creeping over the mountains across the lake and the first words that come to me always are, “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help is in the name of the Lord who hath made heaven and earth.” It is so simple to feel God’s presence there. (Thank you God.)

Last June as I was standing in the early morning on our dock (dressed in old jeans and a sweatshirt), my 38 year old son ( dressed in old jeans and a t-shirt) came quietly up behind me and said, “Mum, aren’t you going to church?” (It was 7:50 then, so I guess I hadn’t planned on going.) My reply was “Well, we usually go at 8. “ He replied, “Come on, I’ll go with you. ” (Thank you God.) And off we went dressed as we were. Of course we were late, but somehow I don’t think God really cared.

And probably the most precious time I feel God’s presence is the time I spend with our two grandsons—5 and 15 months. Whether we’re in Wolfeboro or home in Georgetown, their innocence and trust brings me back to that time of life. Their comical antics and responses, their vulnerability and sweetness do make ME a child again. (Thank you God.) In all these ways God reveals his presence to me and my doubts and questions have vanished! I indeed DO trust God!

The two most restorative prayers I pray every evening are in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer:

O Most loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee, who carest for us; Preserve us from faithless fears and worldy anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal and which thou hast manifested unto us in the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (For Trustfulness….pg. 596)

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (For Those We Love….pg.597)

Henry Witham: The Birth of Love

Trusting God is something I have not always understood. Between numerous battles with depression and the self doubt associated with it I have often had trouble trusting in anyone or anything. However in recent years I have been trying more than in the past to find my way in God. In this time I have found a peace that I believe has allowed me to find the love of my life and marry her. It has allowed me to grow closer to my oldest daughter and be prepared to welcome my youngest. In all this I had to learn to trust that God was guiding me both now and in the past and I am the stronger person I am now for the troubles I went through before.

As most of you all know my youngest daughter was born last March 15. What you may not know is that there were some serious difficulties. My wife developed a serious case of pre-eclampsia and as a result we were told that an emergency C-section was necessary. The C-section itself went fine for my wife. The medicine they used to stave off seizures in her caused the baby’s immune system to be depressed to where she struggled to breathe on her own at birth. As you can imagine this was a very scary, harrowing time.

I remember going outside once my wife was in recovery and the baby in the NICU. I remember just crying for a few minutes trying to understand what had just happened before calming down and calling the family to let them know what had happened. Through this I kept thinking of the blessing we had gone up for in church the week before, knowing that the birth was imminent. How God was watching over us and how I had to trust that he would guide everything to be fine.

Over the next 16 hours my wife got back to herself and the baby slowly came around slowly being weaned off of the oxygen and being able to breathe fine on her own. She was born around 11:00 PM on March 15, and she was finally wheeled into the room to her mother for the first time around 2:30 PM on March 16^th. I was allowed to pass Erin to Renee and I remember feeling all the love of heaven pass through me as I handed her to her waiting mom. If ever there was a divine moment in my life this would be it. A couple days later my other daughter joined us in the hospital and I remember sitting back and watching the three of the together. I remember feeling a love in me I never thought was possible, a love I now feel every day, a love that could only be made possible by God.

June Connolly: Through the Storms

I wrote this poem to express who God has been in my life:

Life has its ups and downs,
Life has its smiles and frowns.
With God’s help we go on,
Facing each and every storm.
God is our friend, you know -
Jesus has taught us so.

Fran Weil: An Inspired Journey

Recently, I met a delightful woman named Louise, who came to the Calvary Perfect Paws Pet Ministry from some miles away to see what we were all about.

Louise -- a spritely and articulate widow -- lives with her devoted Yorkshire terrier, Coco.

And, like her self-assured little dog – all four pounds of her --Louise is wonderfully calm, self-contained and self-reliant.

So, Louise told me, when her church offered to draw together a group of five women volunteers to travel to Haiti to help with relief efforts that are still going on, a year after the devastating 7.0 earthquake it sustained, she raised an enthusiastic hand and opted to go.

Why? “Why not,” she laughed.

Her children were concerned. They worried that Haiti was so far away, communications were so difficult, and that conditions would be challenging and downright unpleasant. They worried that their Mom would be too much at risk.

But Louise was determined. Neither the threat of political unrest, nor the coming rain season, nor the danger of cholera or the many other serious diseases that rage in the devastation that is Haiti today, were going to deter her from going and doing something to help.

So, she left Coco with a relative and off she went, to do something she had never done before: help build wooden shelters for refugees who lived in tents, to help them survive through the coming rainy season.

What impressed her the most, she says of this “life transforming experience,” as she reverently refers to it, was the unquestioning faith and pure trust in God that she witnessed from the people who suffered all that devastation. In their daily lives, yes, and in their regular and deeply felt worship services, the people of Haiti Louise got to know, displayed the truest, most unshakable trust in God.

My new friend – a confident spiritual being – was amazed to see how firmly and matter-of-factly the Haitians she met displayed their trust that God would lead them out of misery and provide better days.

There were no recriminations; no anger or cries of ‘why us?’ Instead there was a solid trust that God would be at their sides while they rebuilt.

“Some people live lost,” said Louise. “It’s hard to live God 24/7.” But the Haitians -- ravaged by loss by earthquake -- took comfort in living ‘found and cared for’ by God. “There is comfort in the feeling of not having to do things alone. They have God, and they trust in Him.”

I can’t help but think that God puts people like Louise directly in our path to remind us to live ‘treasured and cared for’ by God … and most of all, to trust.

It’s like the unknown scribe said, “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace."

Nance Proctor: Songs of Faith

When the 9/11 tragedy happened - when my younger sister died a painful death with pancreatic cancer -----I had a destroyed "Trust in God".

How did I recover this important outlook for my life?

From the age of 10, I have sung in a Church Choir. The Music Ministry was fun and meaningful for me. Not that my voice is a great contributing talent, but it FEELS GOOD to sing out the familiar songs. When "Trusting God" became questionable for me, I would HEAR the words to the hymns I was singing.

Lyrics like "My faith looks up to thee" (#691 in THE HYMNAL 1982)----may thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart-----"or Beethoven's Hymn to Joy------"melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of clouds away". Great healing for a troubled heart!

Listen to (#664) "My Shepherd will supply my need-----He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake his ways---" How can anyone know Psalm 23 set to music and be uninspired?

Tears (of joy) spill from my eyes when we sing the beautiful German melody-----"fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature----thee will I cherish----my soul's glory, joy and crown." ( #388 in our Episcopal Hymnal.)

So many wonderful ways to praise God - TRUSTING GOD.

Bob Linden: If You Feel Your Knees Getting Weak (Stogie's story)

I was barely four years old when my mother walked me over to the Church of the Holy Name in Swampscott. She held my hand and explained that "This is where we go on Sunday mornings to learn about God and his son Jesus. You'll be in Mrs. Walker's class with some of the other boys and girls your age." My mother admonished me that I should pay close attention to what Mrs. Walker said. She was often joined by Mr. Cummings, who looked and talked importantly. the older people at church and at home around our dinner table referred to Mr. Cummings as "Our Rector". For the next dozen years almost all of my activities centered around the Church of the Holy Name and a gathering of friends and family that came to dine at my mother's table.

Life and time went on. Our country went to war. I joined our Army. This meant I had to go over to Europe on a big boat, the Queen Mary, with 17,000 other soldiers. When I said good-bye to my mother, she simply said, "God bless" and "If you feel your knees getting weak, just get down on them." I thought about God and Jesus quite a bit.

I was about 19 years old and near a railroad station in Rudolstadt, Germany when my army pal and squad leader Cpl. John Stojik, known as "Stogie", and I emerged from several weeks in the Thuringian forest. We were part of company E, 346th Infantry, 87th Division and had encountered the German army after we crossed the Rhine river. We had captured and secured most of the city of Rudolstadt when Stogie took our squad into the center of town near the railroad station. He asked me to check out a small railroad signal house about 50 yards down the tracks. I looked in the front door and window, and came back to report that I had found nothing threatening. Stogie said, "Good, I'll check it out." He disappeared around the corner of the building and I heard two sharp cracks. Another man in our squad ran back to me to say that Stogie had been hit. I rushed up to him. He was down, gurgling blood, and couldn't speak. He had two massive wounds in the chest. I couldn't stop the bleeding with two compresses. I was crying.

Stogie's last word was, "Mother," as I cradled him in my arms. I could hear my platoon sergeant yelling for me to come back to where he was. I was stunned, but I got down on my knees. For how long, I don't know. The final moment of Stogie's life was very special and private for me. Today I choose to believe that the attendees were select: God, Stogie, two mothers, me and just one other man who peacefully said, "Amen."

Paula Noyes: Seeing God's Hand

I don't think there was ever a time I didn't trust God. I think and somehow know that God has a path for each of us and his bigger Path that only he knows. I feel at almost 59 I have a vantage point on my life and my path where I can see his hand in my small life and in the lives of my family and generations. The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed 50 million people. This was a terrible event, especially at the end of World War I. Many experts claim that event separated the ‘wheat from the chaff’ as it were and left the hardy, ‘never say die’ Greatest Generation that defeated the Axis powers in World War II. God’s mighty hand is there because that flu had nothing to stop it. There were no medicines; it just stopped when everyone that could be consumed was consumed.

God’s hand was with us when we chose Thea as our ‘shepherd’ and when we chose our previous rectors. Good, bad or indifferent they each have played their role in the Divine Plan. Not to say there isn’t free will – but that is a story for another time.

Yes, I trust God and let him guide me and comfort me daily.

Priscilla Gerrard: A Sweet Silence

For me it was a feeling.

We have been members of Calvary Church for many years. There was a time several years back when I took a hiatus from Calvary. It was a very difficult thing for me to do, but at the time it was a necessary point in my life. Through this time, I attended services at other churches but was never able to commit to them.

I was out one beautiful evening, taking a walk. My route took me past my beloved Calvary. I missed attending and felt a tug to go up the front steps. The door was open and I stepped into the Narthex. I was met with silence. I went into the very back of the church and sat in this silence. As I sat quietly, taking in all of those familiar sights and smells, I felt the sensation of a soft, warm shawl being draped over my shoulders. I was enveloped in an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. This sense is difficult for me to describe but it was so profound. It was at that moment I knew God was with me and would remain with me always.

Melissa Healy: Days of Grace

Throughout high school there have been a series of days where I have learned to put my trust in God; I call them snow days. While there are many people who dislike snow days because it means difficulty getting to work (when they are still obligated to go), young ones are unable to attend daycare, the driveway needs to be shoveled, etc., I find that snow days are a blessing from God. There will come a time when I will probably have to worry about those things as well, but for now I get to enjoy those rare moments when my parents shut off my alarm clock on a school day. Since I am in what is known as the most difficult year of high school, I definitely treasure the times that God gives me that 24 hour break from the stress of school and homework. They always seem to come when I need it the most, so I’ve learned to trust God in that He will help me out. I understand that snow days may not be as big of a deal to others, but for me it is the best feeling when I look out the window and see the beautiful white blanket outside that has yet to be touched by dirty (although helpful) plows. Winter is my favorite season because of this, so how could I not trust that God will give me those days of grace?

Erica Leigh French: Hope in the Lord

In 1999, I completed a marathon (26.2 miles) in Alaska to raise money for the Leukemia Society of America through their Team in Training program. Thanks to the generosity of my community, including many from my Calvary family, I raised double my fundraising goal of $3,000. But I was a couch potato and as the time to leave for the trip approached, panic began to set in.

My mother found a stamp with the words from Isaiah 40:31 and presented it to me along with a pin she had made of an eagle’s wing. But still, I landed in Anchorage convinced I would never be able to complete the marathon, half of which was through the woods on a path of hard packed dirt with many a stick and stone in the path and the final quarter mile up a steep hill.

And then, I came around a bend to see ahead of me a sign on the side of the road with the words “Those who hope in the Lord…”; further along another “…will renew their strength.” Every half mile another section of the verse appeared and I heard the message loud and clear – I would finish the marathon because I was not alone; all I had to do was put my trust where it belonged to find the strength I needed.

I was rewarded for that realization by the most amazing journey – scenery so beautiful I still dream of it; meeting a fellow marathoner who gave me the angel pin he was wearing; the cheering of strangers as I crested the hill; the unbelievable well of emotion as I crossed the finish line; and the sure knowledge that I can accomplish anything if only I remember to always trust God is with me on my path.

Rob Normyle: Making the Leap

There have been so many times in my life when I had to go on faith and trust in God. In 1994, I made my only bungee jump and, upon clearing the line and looking down from the 75' platform, I remember saying to myself "Boy, do I trust you, God." Another instance came in 1996 when I had developed a lesion on my tongue and had it biopsied. I had survived HIV for 11 years at that point, a close friend had just died of AIDS a few months prior and there were still no effective medications to treat HIV. When the results showed that it was a KS lesion, my heart sank and it took all my faith to ward off thoughts of my being next. My doctor told me, "This could be the only one you ever get" and, thank God, it turned out to be. A few months later, (HAART) the "cocktail" to treat HIV came out and, a few months after that, the viral load test came out. When I first took this test, my viral load was around 500K which is pretty high. I started taking the medication and my viral load dropped to 10K; it has been undetectable for several years now. Throughout this time, I prayed for strength and guidance with gratitude for my life and I know in my heart that the Lord got me through this. For me, lent is a time to truly seek God - although I believe one should do this at all times, and I acknowledge that sustaining this focus is challenging at best.

This year I'm striving to walk ever more close and humble with the Lord and to thank God for the gift of each day every morning.

Claire Jordan: Day by Day

Every morning, I start my day
with the lovely little "Day by Day" prayer
of St. Richard of Chichester (c. 1197-1253):

Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray -
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
day by day.

Ginna Coulson: Taking a Breath

Trusting God is easy as taking a breath - in the middle of an asthma attack.

We want to do it with all our heart and soul, yet sometimes it evades us.

Our wants and needs become so important to us, we forget all we have.

Yet waking in the morning to a beautiful sunrise can bring us back to easy breathing.

Appreciating the constant order of the universe, the miraculous functions of our bodies,

the ebb and flow of the tide, the exact formation of our

star system....you get the drift....all came about through a loving, orderly, forgiving God.

He sent His spirit to live with us; He sent His Son to teach us of his Love and His Word.

When we do embrace the spirit of His word, we are free from worry and anxiety.

Our needs lose their importance.

But too often, life interrupts us, and the interruption can cause panic.

Time seems too short, the seasons pass too quickly.

Children grow, and grandchildren come.

Situations happen that prove we have no control.

And so we take that deep breath, and trust God.

We know He loves us; we know He knows us.

Trusting God frees us to live giving thanks and praise to Him who created us and our world.

Let the Holy Spirit flow through you to others in prayer, devotion and service.

God trusts you.

From Rev. Thea: Welcome to Lent

Lent is a special time to look at our lives and notice God's abiding presence. We dedicate these 40 days to reflection and prayer. We carefully teach our hearts about God, so that when Easter comes, we are ready to trust God's amazing promise of new life.

During this holy season, members of Calvary Episcopal Church have agreed to share the moments, the stories, the poems and the prayers that teach them how to trust in God.

I invite you to:

• Read and reflect on each day's offering.
• Add comments to posts to support and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ. It takes courage for them to offer their stories to you.
• Share this blog with your friends. What better way to show people what Christian community is all about?
• Write your own story or prayer. Maybe reading other people's thoughts reminds you of something you would like to share. I still have days open, so please email me at revthea@gmail.com and I'll find a place for your entry.

May God bless us as we make our journey together towards the depths of the cross and the joy of Christ's rising.