Several evenings during the week the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (www.SSJE.org) live-streams its Compline service. Always included is a short biographical reading about one of the deceased brothers of the society. During these five minute vignettes, a history of the SSJE comes into fullness.
This Anglican society was started by Father Richard Meux Benson (1824-1915) in Oxford England. For a time there were chapters throughout the world; brothers would leave they home country to live and serve in India and South Africa, and other places. Today the Society of North American Congregation resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Through these stories, besides learning about the society, I am hearing about personal callings and how individuals lived out their vocations. The other evening the story was about a brother called to be an intercessor: as an intercessor, he mentioned everyone by name. As someone who continues to be surprised that God has called me to pray for people, this was an extremely powerful comment. It’s what I try to do; lift up individuals by name.
It is one thing to pray for categories of people—those working for democracy, or the environment, or Covid cure, or teachers, or gun safety. But ‘all the people on my prayer list’ doesn’t feel like a stand alone category. They are individuals; each has name; I know them.
This Anglican society was started by Father Richard Meux Benson (1824-1915) in Oxford England. For a time there were chapters throughout the world; brothers would leave they home country to live and serve in India and South Africa, and other places. Today the Society of North American Congregation resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Through these stories, besides learning about the society, I am hearing about personal callings and how individuals lived out their vocations. The other evening the story was about a brother called to be an intercessor: as an intercessor, he mentioned everyone by name. As someone who continues to be surprised that God has called me to pray for people, this was an extremely powerful comment. It’s what I try to do; lift up individuals by name.
It is one thing to pray for categories of people—those working for democracy, or the environment, or Covid cure, or teachers, or gun safety. But ‘all the people on my prayer list’ doesn’t feel like a stand alone category. They are individuals; each has name; I know them.
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