Night Prayers

When we saw that the roads were unsafe for travel to church for worship today, our Curate, Alan+, and I decided to livestream the Office via St. Mary’s Facebook pages.

While Alan+ was praying Morning Prayer via Facebook at eight, I was joined by parishioners at the Rectory who had come to help me finish moving as many belongings as possible upstairs.  Cypress Creek had flooded again, and waters were rising closer and closer to home.

In a couple of hours, the house was as prepared as it could be, and wearing my pretty turquoise boots, a gift from a friend during the Tax Day Flood a year ago, we hiked out through a neighbor’s yard to dryer ground.

At noon, I put on my collar and prayed Noonday prayers from the dining room table of dear parishioners, the Akard, who have offered me hospitality.

At five, Alan+ prayed Evening Prayer, and at eight, we ended the day back at the Akards’ table praying Compline.  John, an acolyte at St. Mary’s, lit a candle.  We prayed one of my favorite prayers, from the New Zealand Prayer Book:

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.

My neighbor has reported that water has indeed entered the Rectory, already at a level a few inches higher than the Tax Day Flood.  It continues to rain.  We pray for unexpected joy and possibility tomorrow.

May the Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.  AMEN