Restoring the Foundations Welcome to Michaelmas at Imago! Michaelmas Term is an expression that comes from the traditional English university system as a title for what we in America often refer to as “Fall Semester.” The name Michaelmas is a refer- ence to the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (September 29) which is the first major feast that marks the beginning of Autumn. We are still in the midst (only really a bit over half way through) the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Yet many of us, especially students, teachers and parents, experience the impact that the beginning of the school year has upon our rhythm of life during this season. Even those who are not impacted by school calendars recognize that the season has changed! The air is chillier in the morning, the leaves are beginning to change. Likewise, in the Church what has shaped and formed us over the first half of ordinary time remains, yet there is a qualitative shift here too as we embrace a new rhythm of life with the Fall. Embracing the idea of Michaelmas Term is a helpful way to mark the change that has come upon our experience of Ordinary Time. This is a change of season within the season. Yet plotting our position by way of a feast day like Michaelmas keeps us rooted in the Church year and not just the secular academic calendar. During this Michaelmas at Imago we are going to begin by reading together from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. Bible scholar D.A. Carson, when asked to publish a brief exposition on Philippians said he could come up with no better name than, Basics for Believers, because in this letter, St. Paul introduces foundational subjects that are, “so much at the core of Christian faith and life.” I am titling this series, “Restoring the Foundations”. This is both a reference to the series we just considered as a community from the book of Nehemiah and his work of “rebuilding for revival”. But this title also draws on this idea from Carson that what Paul presents us with in Philippians is a foundation that we as believers are built upon but which we never move beyond. We are called to press more deeply into it but we can never allow ourselves to think that we have somehow moved beyond it. So, I invite you to walk with us at Imago through Michaelmas, as we see the ways St Paul invites us to put the gospel first and foremost as THE orienting principle of our lives. How he will lead us to focus our lives and our identity around the Cross of Jesus. How St. Paul will challenge us to adopt the Cross as the litmus test of our own outlook on life, as well as the way he holds up worthy Christian leaders as models of the Christian walk and leaves us with the challenge to “never, never, never give up.” You can prepare to walk with us into this season by prayerfully asking: • What is the orienting principle of my life right now? • What do I most value? • What do I most fear? • What impact does the cross of Jesus have on my daily life? Ponder these questions and others that may spring from them over the course of this Michaelmas journey. Fr. Steve + What is Imago’s Common Prayer? Imago’s Common Prayer is simply a collection of Scriptures set to prayer and is intended to be a guide to help us foster encounter with God. As we pray, we let the Living Word reorient our lives and circumstances around the truth of the Gospel. We submit our souls, minds, and emotions to be formed more clearly into the likeness of Jesus. We repent and recieve mercy that is new every morning. We use our authority to pray for the church and the world, for our needs and those of others, expecting the Kingdom to come. How Do I Use This Book? Prayer Simply follow the flow, paying attention to the italics which provide sugges- tions. You can pray all three movements throughout the day, or abridge the prayers as needed depending on your time constraints and the ages of those praying. Above all, we are aiming for enjoyable prayer. Scripture Read the passages, feeling free to prayerfully pause when something stands out to you. Be in the Lord’s presence and ask, what are you saying to me here? And, what will I do about it? Alone or with others? Time alone with the Lord is essential, but we also invite you to engage with your spouse and/or children in daily prayer this season. Begin to create or refine rhythms of prayer in your household that fits your season of life. Engage your senses • Consider creating a sacred space by simply lighting a candle before you begin and inviting the Holy Spirit. • Add a seasonal hymn or chorus to your prayer time • Journaling, artwork, listening to or playing music, etc. can be helpful for some people as they pray. Opening Sentences Spend two minutes in silence, quieting your soul, and invite the Holy Spirit. Read one or more of these sentences of Scripture slowly O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Psalm 26:8 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Psalm 43:3 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15 The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 An Order for Morning & Evening Prayer Confession of Sin Leader Here in your gracious presence we confess our sins to you Holy Father. Take a few moments and let the Holy Spirit search your heart. With confidence, confess your sins and acknowledge your need for God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. we have offended against your holy laws. we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness Leader We thank you Lord for pardon and peace; that being delivered and cleansed from all our sins, we will serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. End by giving thanks that God delights in showing mercy and that he has forgiven and cleansed you in Jesus. Rest in his delight over you. The Invitatory Now move into a time of praise and thanksgiving. Leader O Lord, open our lips; People And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Leader O God, make speed to save us; People O Lord, make haste to help us. Leader Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; People As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Leader The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. People O come, let us adore him. ◊ For families: What are you thankful for? Read the Venite or Jubilate in the morning and the Phos Hilaron in the evening. The Venite (O Come) O come, let us sing unto the LORD; * let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and show ourselves glad in him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God * and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the depths of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down, * and kneel before the LORD our Maker. For he is our God, * and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. The Jubilate (Be Joyful) O be joyful in the LORD, all you lands; * serve the LORD with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be assured that the LORD, he is God; * it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.