Christmas Day - Office Closed
Merry Christmas! The office is closed in recognition of the birth of Jesus Christ. May you be safe celebrating his arrival into the earthly world!
O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-prayer for joy in God's creation, Book of Common Prayer
Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed
Happy Thanksgiving! The office is closed to commemorate the holiday. Offer up your thanks and praise with the following prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. May you enjoy great food and safe celebration!
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
Reading Rocks! Walk-a-Thon
The annual Reading Rocks! Walk-a-Thon will take place all day Saturday, October 17. Staff and altar guild may park in the back in the church, as the streets will be closed at the entrance in celebration.
Office Closed - Labor Day
The parish office is closed in observance of Labor Day. Have a blessed and safe holiday! Remember to thank all those who labor in your life.
Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation:
Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer, prayer for the conservation of resources
Office Closed - Observance of Independence Day
The church office will be closed July 3 in observance of Independence Day. Have a blessed and safe holiday!
Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage:
We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer, prayer for our country