The gift of teaching is also involved, not only in my books, but in the studies, retreats, and even these blog postings I write. The process involves being open to the ‘whispers of the Eternal’ and discovering the link between the lives of our spiritual ancestors and our faith journeys today. My writing is another strand of the rope of ministry. Being chapter president involves similar gifts of administration and teaching as well as a servant’s heart to carry out the Rule of Life of the Order: Prayer and Service and Evangelism to women and girls. Then there are the various named ministries I am involved in, such as Daughters of the King. One is in my work-a-day world as an administrative assistant, using gifts of organization and administration to keep the behind the scenes tasks of the Cathedral running smoothly. There are at least 3 ways I use the gifts from God to proclaim the Kingdom of God. In taking up the challenge to write an Ember Day letter, I discovered that my own life is rather like a braided rope with three interconnected strands of ministry that use my gifts in different ways. As the Ember Day guidelines point out, “It is important for you to know and to explain your own spiritual journey for it is in that way we begin to understand and empathetically respond to another’s journey.” Most of us don’t live in monasteries and the majority are not members of lay orders, either. So, why is it important to look at our lives in terms of our ministry or calling? Putting your Rule of Life down on paper is a time honored discipline of monastic and lay orders.

(You can hear the sermon itself here:, scroll down to Sept. We were encouraged to look at our lives in terms of that ministry or calling to see what works and what is not so joyful about it. John's was challenged to write an Ember Day letter outlining our ministry or calling and how well we feel we are following it.

Where are you today? What works? What is hard and why?”ĭuring the sermon on Holy Cross Day, everyone at St. Guidelines for these letters say, “It is not enough to say that you read a book or took a course, but how did it affect you? Did you learn something that you didn’t know before? Was it helpful or challenging? Are you struggling with long held beliefs that no longer seem tenable? If you are like most of us, your spiritual journey has ups and downs. Rogation Days are the three days receding Ascension Day, especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.In the Episcopal Church (and probably some other denominations), Postulants and Candidates for the diaconate or priesthood are required by canon law to report to their Bishop in writing at each of these seasons.

Ember Days and Rogation Days may also be kept this way.įasting, in addition to reduced consumption, normally also includes prayer, self-examination and acts of mercy.”Įmber Days are set aside for prayers for those called to Holy Orders, and occur on the following Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The weekdays of Lent and every Friday of the year (outside the 12 Days of Christmas and the 50 days of Eastertide) are encouraged as days of fasting. Maundy Thursday is observed with rites recalling the Last Supper and betrayal at Gethsemane. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and Good Friday, the day of our Lord’s Crucifixion, are traditionally days of special devotion and total abstinence.

Ember days episcopal