Novena in Quarantine - Rector's Rambling for May 24, 2020

We are in the midst of our Great Novena, nine days, between the Feast of the Ascension and Whitsunday/Pentecost.  During the time after Jesus ascended into heaven, and when the Holy Ghost poured out onto the disciples, Jesus’ followers spent these days in prayer in preparation for the gift of the Paraclete, and the mission that they were about to embark upon.  We are doing the same.

This year everything is different as we continue our Stay-at-Home orders.  Even though we cannot meet at the Prayer Wall, we are still participating remotely in the Thy Kingdom Come by having Evening Prayer and the Holy Ghost Novena every day during Ascensiontide.  It is an important thing that we are doing!

Until March 15, the Prayer Wall was prayed at every Sunday after the 10:00 AM service, and this is a great public witness to those going to the sporting and theatre events around us.  This is why, in former years, we have had our Thy Kingdom Come prayer services outside at the Prayer Wall.  It can be intimidating to try to bring people into this massive stone structure to join us for prayer!  Being outside allows people to observe, say a quick prayer on their own as they pass, and occasionally folks join us for a portion of the service as well.  But everyone who does pass by sees that we are a people at prayer!  This witness is important for increasing our “noticeability” in the neighborhood.  And most importantly, we are PRAYING – always a good thing!

God willing, we will have more opportunities in the near future to pray in our building and witness outside of it as well.