THE COMPANIONS

JOIN US IN PRAYER

This month we emulate our founder, Emily Morgan’s practice of calling the May Intercession Paper the Thanksgiving Paper. Every year, back to our early days, the May issue has held thanksgiving prayers from cover to cover.

In this monthly feature of our blog, we select some prayers from this month’s booklet full of gratitude. If you’re so inclined, please join Companions in noticing beauty, grace, mercy, and loving kindness wherever we find them, and thanking God.

 

May Thanksgiving Paper, Selected Prayers

 

ON THE COVER

Still much stunned are we, that He,

The author of all things beautiful

So clothed in light,

Still treads the hallways of the night,

Still makes His way through tombs and death,

Triumphing.

So now with voices raised, we praise,

The Lord who in the midst of war

Does share in hell,

Glad with us on earth to dwell,

Hail Him through every tear and breath,

Hallowing.

Lynne Nelson, SCHC

New York Chapter

 

THANKSGIVING: SUNDAY AND EVERY DAY

Thanksgiving is one of the objects of our society,

and every May our paper is one of thanksgiving only.

Thanksgiving is one of the greatest sources of happiness,

and it is strange we do not cultivate it more.

It is the language of Heaven, but we must first learn it here.

Emily Malbone Morgan, SCHC 1884-1937

Letters to her Companions

These give I love and praise

as they have graced my days,

 

The smell of summer fields

the chaparral

the eucalyptus wind

and silence.

And God.    Here.    Now.

Dorothy Weld Coxe, SCHC 1980-1986

“Psalm,” Poems by Companions

 

MISSION IN GOD’S WORLD: MONDAY

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs

of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence;

and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give,

may be faithful stewards of your good gifts;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit

lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

The Book of Common Prayer

Collect for Stewardship of Creation, p. 259

God, for the power of your love working in us and through us,

for the invitation to mission, we thank you.

Lynn Edwards, SCHC

California-Southern Chapter

 

UNITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE: TUESDAY

Most loving God, we are grateful that you lead us to wisdom;

to the realization that we can only find your true path when we walk together,

even when we sometimes feel alone.

Teach us to tenderly care for all members of your family,

knowing that we are all your children.

June Truitt, SCHC

Providence Chapter

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE: WEDNESDAY

Reach out to transgender folks

with a wave or a smile and a compliment.

Say you’re glad your paths crossed; tell them they look fabulous;

tell them their smile made your day.

And give God thanks

for the many gifts transgender folks bring us.

Laura Ricard, SCHC

Berkshire Chapter

 

PEACE & RECONCILIATION: THURSDAY

We thank you, Lord,

for words uplifting, simple, clear, and strong

crying out for us to right so many wrongs,

for prayerful words from open hearts no striving can outlive,

for truthful words that work to reconcile and do forgive,

for blessing words and words that heal,

powerful words that make peace real.

For words we cherish that make us better,

and words of kindness that endeavor

in faith and hope, to make amends

to strive for justice, and in the end

to redeem us all, and bring us back together.

For words of love that last forever,

we thank you, Lord.

And bless your holy name.

Paula Lathrop, SCHC

Hartford Chapter

 

GROWTH IN SPIRITUAL LIFE: FRIDAY

We give you thanks, Holy One, for the silence from which you speak to us,

the silence from which life and love and peace emerge in our being,

the silence in which we experience the miracle of breath and awareness itself.

May gratitude fill our hearts in this moment.

Anne Ogden, SCHC

Far & Near Chapter

 

PRAYERS PERSONAL AND GENERAL: SATURDAY

O Lord, teach us to be thankful for many kinds of

dark that come from time to time into our lives:

for the dark of hardship, developing spiritual muscle;

for the dark of criticism, providing self-examination;

for the dark of emptiness, that you may fill;

for the dark of uncertainty and fear,

that your Spirit may guide;

for the dark of quiet worship, that you may disclose

your being to our prayer-filled souls.

Elizabeth Randall-Mills, SCHC 1961-1993

“Thanksgiving for Darkness,” The Love That Prays:

A Centennial Collection of Prayers by Companions

 

Photo: Easter Station, ceramic tile by The Rev. Ralph Carskadden. Photo by Lynn Adams