Join fellow parishioners and Fr. John Symonds as St. James’ offers one of the beloved daily offices from the Book of Common Prayer that does not share in the routine worshiping cycle at most parishes: Compline. “An Order of Prayer for Compline,” beginning in page 127 in the BCP, will be offered Wednesday evenings throughout the Season of Advent beginning at 9:00 p.m. in the nave in front of the Altar. The first such Wednesday is November 30th and the last December 21st.
This will be another opportunity for parishioners and newcomers to the church to deepen their weekly prayer life as worshipers participate within the “pattern of prayer at the time of going to bed,” as the service is described by liturgists Lois Weil and Charles Price (Liturgy for Living, Morehouse Publishing, 2000, Revised Edition). This reflective, non-Eucharistic prayer service can be a perfect addition to one’s spiritual disciplines for the penitential Season of Advent. If you have never worshiped Compline before, as our bishop diocesan, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez like to say of opportunities in general within The Episcopal Church, “Come and See!” If you are interested in leading a service or perhaps in assisting, please contact Fr. John. Participants can expect to be on the road home once again by 9:30 p.m. All are welcome!