Brother Fire

With the onset of fall, there is plenty of excitement here at   the Order of Sts. Francis and Clare as we prepare for the   Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th.   It will undoubtedly include the Transitus , typically held on the eve of his Feast Day.   The Transitus is an annual Franciscan devotion remembering Francis’ passing from this life into the Reign of God.   In addition, on October 6 th , the Sunday following the Feast Day, along with one or more church communities here in Charlotte, NC,   the Order will participate in Pet Blessing of the Animals. While Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of all creatures great and small, his influence on Franciscans around the world is his vow to be humbly Christ-like in all things:   his discipline, his spirituality, and especially his prayer life.      For centuries Franciscans have embraced a four-fold pattern of prayer that enables them to partner with Chr...

Dear God, Ruler of All Nations – we ask for Your Blessing during this 237 th Anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence. Help us to be a compassionate nation – one that treats its citizens with dignity, that respects the self-evident truths that patriots penned :   “that all [women and] men   are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”   God we ask that you inspire our vision to continue to build a nation that is truly free -- free from chains, free from greed, free from the hypocrisy of those who would use Your name to oppress.     We ask that You keep us from using blind patriotism to disregard the values that make this nation great:   love, freedom, democracy, individualism, equality, diversity, progress and change.  Strengthen us Most High – make us a channel of Your peace.    Give ...

 "Whenever I meet someone in need, it's really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” -- Mother Teresa As many of you know, I often visit the Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook -- a parking lot/picnic area beside the airport's busiest runway. I find it to be a wonderful place to relax, pray, write, and enjoy the magic of watching planes takeoff and land. I also feel a great connection to God, to the Queen City, and to the rest of the country as I pray, welcome and bless planes as they arrive and take off to parts unknown. I'm at the Airport even now as I write this and I just had one of those God experiences that reminds me that Jesus is with us always. Shortly after arriving this evening it began to rain -- a steady light rain that blurred the view through my car's windshield -- but not enough that I couldn't see the dozen or so jets lined up ready to take off.  The humid air in my car was becoming stale and stuffy, so I opened my windows despite th...

What horrible news ! Over 3,100 are dead. Millions are homeless and have lost everything! A country already fraught with hunger and poverty, Bangladesh needs our prayers and our help with resources. Sometimes it's hard to understand how & why such tragedies happen. Jesus, please protect those who've lost their homes and are vulnerable to the elements and to disease. Comfort them as they suffer so much loss. Give them relief from their troubles. Please give them strength that they may rebuild their lives. And give us strength that we may be able to help them the best way that we can. Peace. Cash contributions can be mailed to: American Red Cross (Bangladesh Relief & Development) P.O. Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 Consulate General of Bangladesh Chief Advisor's Relief and Welfare Fund 211 East 43rd St. Suite 502 New York, N.Y. 10017

This was forwarded to me from the Long Island Council of Churches : National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East Tel/Fax: (360) 652-4285 E-Mail: usicpme@aol.com Memo To: Key Local Jewish, Christian and Muslim Leaders - Nationwide From: Ron Young, NILI Prayers for Peace: Pre-Annapolis Peace Conference At a meeting of NILI Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders on Friday, just before our meeting at the State Department, we decided to encourage nationwide prayers for peace in the Middle East at worship services on the weekend before the Annapolis Peace conference convenes. While the date is not yet announced, since the conference is expected to take place in late November or December, including prayers for peace in community Thanksgiving Services would also be timely. Attached are six "Prayers for Peace in the Middle East" by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in a format for easy duplication and distribution (copy back to back and cut in half) - ...

A flow of pictures from many missional areas set to Leeland's Tears of the Saints.