Prayer Changes Things!

Looking for a Simple Way to Pray during the Day?
Observant Jews have structured prayers three times a day. Muslims stop for specific prayers five times. Monks and nuns gather for prayer anywhere from four to seven times each day - depending on their community. What's an ordinary follower of Jesus to do, especially if you feel the need to pray on the fly? Try this - when you first wake up, when you stop for lunch, on your drive home or at bedtime:

• Hear what our Lord Jesus says: You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)
• The Lord’s Prayer
• The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forever. Amen.
  

Want some pointers for reading the Bible?
Bishop NT Wright offers several suggestions in this brief video.

Daily Prayer

Praying each day, no matter where you are, is part of Christian faith. While prayer is speaking and listening to God in whatever words or images work best for you, the Prayer Book provides a structured way to do that four times a day in what is called the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer and Compline - bedtime prayers at the completion of the day). You can find the Daily Office in the BCP starting on page 37; short forms are on page 136.

You can pray the Daily Office on-line at the
Brotherhood of St. Gregory 
app, which you can also download to your phone; or at the
Forward Movement website.
They both provide the Bible readings, psalms and canticles for each day, and you can personalize some of the settings.

Prayer for the Search and Election of our Next Bishop
Bishop Beckwith retires in September 2018, and we have been asked to pray for and with our Diocese of Newark.
Gracious God, we, your people in the Diocese of Newark, give you thanks and praise for your work among us and through us, generation to generation. Lead us in the months ahead as we prayerfully search for our next Bishop. Raise up for us a steadfast steward who will embrace our broad and blessed diversity and uphold the apostolic heritage of your Church. Guide us to a faithful witness who speaks the Gospel truth in love and joy, and intimately knows your Word and world. Direct us, your disciples, in our discernment so our faith may increase and our works glorify your Name. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

The Cornerstones of our Faith

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is our primary liturgical and worship resource.  It is in our pews and available online. During our services we also make use of the following musical resources: Episcopal Hymnal 1982, Wonder Love and Praise, Lift Every Voice and Sing II (African-American hymnal), and My Heart Sings Out (hymnal for children).

Sunday Scripture Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL).  We usually have the readings printed in our bulletins. We also have Bibles in our pews. You can also look up the Sunday Scriptures and those for feast days online.

A place for prayer and reflection

The church has been my sanctuary over the years and members of my support group.

---

The doors All Saints' Church are open from Sunday to Friday for prayer, reflection and meditation.  Our Memorial Garden behind the Church is also a place to reflect and pray in a peaceful setting. The Parish Clergy are available for conversation, counseling and prayer, and individual confession. 

We have a Prayer Chain ministry, led by parishioners, who pray for emergency and long-term needs. Information shared with the Prayer Chain is confidential.

Laying on of Hands for Healing Prayer is available weekly at the 7:00 am Thursday service and the third Sunday of the month during the 10 am service. You may also contact the parish clergy for a time of individual healing prayer.

Our connections
As an Episcopal parish, All Saints' is part of a larger family of Christians who share the same spiritual heritage. We are part of the Diocese of Newark ,made up of congregations in Northern
New Jersey. 

The Community of St. John Baptist (CSJB) in nearby Mendham, NJ is the American branch of one of the oldest women's religious order in the Anglican communion.  Their convent chapel, retreat house and 75 acres of wooded grounds are available for groups and individuals.  All Saints' and CSJB have close ties and support each other's work.

The Episcopal Church (TEC) is our denomination that includes all 50 states and 14 other countries (including Haiti, Honduras and American congregations in Europe). 

The Anglican Communion, our worldwide fellowship, is made up of more than 80 million members in 44 regional and national member churches around the globe in more than 160 countries that all draw their history from the Church of England and are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

All Saints' Episcopal Church - 15 Basking Ridge Road, Millington, NJ 07946 - Phone (908) 647–0067 - Fax (908) 647-7349