Morning Prayer -- A New Tradition

Do you ever wonder whether you spend too much time within one organization?  Sometimes I wonder whether I spend too much time at church.  A friend, and current president of Canterbury, commented "I feel like I live at Church.  Not that that's a bad thing."

She's right.  St. Paul's offers a plethora of ways in which to get involved.  And now there's one more!  Thanks to our new ministry intern (who came to use from Duke as a graduate student), St. Paul's now offers daily Morning Prayer.  The service begins at 8am and lasts approximately one half-hour, held in the Chancel.  

Traditionally, Morning Prayer occupies one of the two major daily offices within the Anglican Church; and it is also sometimes referred to more directly as "Matins" or "Mattins."  Yet unlike the Eucharist (and several other liturgical services), Morning Prayer may be led by a lay person; and is sometimes even recited daily by an individual in private.  Interestingly Wikipedia's brief history of morning prayer suggests that in several areas, the recitation of Morning Prayer became a devotional exercise practiced prior to the celebration of the Eucharist.  A sort of centering service to focus the mind. 

If you're interested in reading up a bit more on this service, you can find great articles on Anglican Morning Prayer and Matins by clicking the hyperlinks.  Should you find yourself free one morning and would like to join us, please feel free.  The service begins around 8am.  After all, it is early, and this is a college town.  Location is St. Paul's Memorial Church on the Corner:  1700 University Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Just enter through the main doors on the street facing side and you'll see some people milling about up there in the chancel.  Hope we see you sometime!