Constance Merritt

This is one of the goals my partner and I set together and luckily we have found the faith community we want to be apart of. In many ways it feels as if we already belong to this community, though if all goes according to plan our membership will be formalized in February.

Funny how one thing leads to another. Because I had agreed to write and deliver the Prayers of the People for church last Sunday and needed to meditate on Sunday’s readings in preparation for writing the prayers, I discovered one of the online lectionary sites and ended up getting up early every morning last week to read the daily devotions readings and the Daily Forward meditations. Then Sunday during the inquirer’s class, someone mentioned that there were online resources for praying the daily office which of course I had to check out. One of the best most peaceful times in my life was a week spent in a convent in upstate New York. So this week I am praying the Daily Office and my morning and daily routine is taking shape around the four prayers.

5:00 – meditation followed by morning prayer

6:30 or so – crawl back into bed to awake with my love and sleep or rest while she prepares for work

8:00 – breakfast, dressing, housework (a single task)

9;00 / 9;30 – reading

12:00 Midday Prayer, followed by lunch

1;00 – reading

4:00 – start preparations for dinner, listen to music, news, leisure reading

5:00 – Evening Prayer

5:30/6:00 – Dinner, dishes

7:00 – leisure, blogging, meditation class, Taize, walking, library, etc

9:00 – Compline, prepare for bed

Only two days in and our house feels peaceful. That beautiful paradox: when one takes one’s time, time expands; when one rushes, time contracts.

Funny how one thing leads to another. Because I had agreed to write and deliver the Prayers of the People for church last Sunday and needed to meditate on Sunday’s readings in preparation for writing the prayers, I discovered one of the online lectionary sites and ended up getting up early every morning last week to read the daily devotions readings and the Daily Forward meditations. Then Sunday during the inquirer’s class, someone mentioned that there were online resources for praying the daily office which of course I had to check out. One of the best most peaceful times in my life was a week spent in a convent in upstate New York. So this week I am praying the Daily Office and my morning and daily routine is taking shape around the four prayers.

5:00 – meditation followed by morning prayer

6:30 or so – crawl back into bed to awake with my love and sleep or rest while she prepares for work

8:00 – breakfast, dressing, housework (a single task)

9;00 / 9;30 – reading

12:00 Midday Prayer, followed by lunch