April 7th: The Light of God
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
Tonight, I hope you'll join us for Compline online at 9pm. If you haven't been to Compline before, it's an ancient form of night prayer. For centuries, this is the way that monastic communities have closed the day. Compline can be said or sung - and tonight, it will be sung. You can download the bulletin here so that you can sing and follow along.
Because we hope you'll join us for compline, the invitation today is to add candles to your altar. To add light. For thousands of years, the church has lit candles and lights on the altar, to remind us of God's presence and to show us more clearly the mystery of the sacrament. Tonight, light candles on your home altars. If your kids are going to bed earlier than that, then do it earlier with them. If you're on your own, light candles just a few minutes before 9pm and join us online for Compline. Let this light warm your soul and fill your heart. Let it remind you that God's light always shines in the darkness. And that there are candles being lit by people you love in Wilton, Weston, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, all over Connecticut, and all over the world. This light and these prayers will connect us tonight.
God loves you. And so do I.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
O God, with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light: Quench our thirst with living water, and flood our darkened minds with heavenly light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 1:5-9
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.