Dear La Côte Church family and friends,
This coming Sunday we will commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Francis of Assisi: founder of the Franciscan Order of Poor Friars, and one of the patron saints of Italy, as well as the patron saint of animals and the environment. Since his death he has continued to inspire people of all spiritual traditions and of no religious faith, through his life, faith and teachings. In his day, he was a prophetic voice who encouraged dialogue for peace-making, during the crusades. Well before his time, he viewed everything in the created order as co-creatures, powerfully expressed in his Canticle to the Sun, where he praises God through Brother Sun and Sister Moon. (Click here to read it all.)
Francis sought to shake up the Church from within, placing himself on the edge but inside, to engage with those at the centre of power. Everyone is welcome to join us on Sunday afternoon to recall Francis’ way of “seeking the Kingdom of Heaven”, which still renews and inspires us today. .
Here is an adaptation of the well-known prayer, attributed to St Francis, “Make me a channel of your peace”.
Divine Love, open my life that your peace may flow through.
Where there is fear let me learn to trust.
Where there is apathy let me bring hope.
Where there is slander let me speak kindly.
Where there is wrong-doing, let me show mercy.
Where there is prejudice, let me show welcome.
Where there is injustice let me work for freedom.
Where there is cynicism let me bring vision.
Where there is suffering, let me bring comfort.
May I seek to be more grateful that to grasp:
To love the world more than have the world love me;
To follow the call in my heart more than follow the crowd.
For it is because I am loved that I can love,
Because I have been forgiven that I can forgive.
Open my life that your peace may flow through, this day and always. Amen.
(The Celtic Wheel of the Year, Tess Ward, 2007)
Holding you all at La Côte Church in my prayers and love,
Carolyn Cooke
