July 10, 2012 Good Shepherd Friends, Tomorrow, July 11th, is the day when the Church remembers the life of St. Benedict of Nursia, considered to be the father of western monasticism. He was born about 480 A.D. and lived in a time when the Roman Empire was collapsing. In a time when the world was coming to an end as it had been known, Benedict gathered a community around him dedicated to vows of "stability, amendment of life, and obedience." In the Rule of St. Benedict, those who wished to follow the Rule were encouraged to listen with the ears of their hearts, to greet each guest as the Christ and to order their life in such a way to acknowledge the daily practices of liturgical prayer, sacred reading, work, eating and sleeping. In other words, St. Benedict taught a spiritual life able to be sustained over the long haul.  The spirit of Benedict did much to shape the English Church and the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. Along with weekly Eucharist, our daily life is shaped by daily prayer, with the 1979 Book of Common Prayer offering us a prayerful rhythm of Morning Prayer, Noonday, Evening Prayer and Compline. When we pray these prayers, we reclaim our deep Benedictine roots. Tomorrow, July 11th, is also the day this year when we will offer the Burial Service for The Rev. Deacon Janie Catron. Janie's ministry as a deacon was cut short by illness, but even in weakness she continued to greet others as the Christ. It is fitting that Janie and Benedict will be present to our hearts and minds tomorrow as we gather for prayer, Resurrection proclamation and Eucharist. Pray for the daily renewal of the community of Christ that remains in our world while surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.  Peace,