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Fr. Robert Fruehwirth joins the podcast again to discuss Acts 6 and the commissioning of the first deacons by the apostles. We talk about how the problems of the Church in this passage and the ministry of the deacons have much to say about the ministry of all the baptized today.

Amy interviews parishioner Edward Wright about his life and work, how his faith has developed through the years, and how he has experienced St. Matthew's.

The first in our series of interviews with parishioners, this week Amy interviews Jennifer Peak and she tells us a bit about her life and how she came to be a part of St. Matthew's. Jennifer also talks Amy about some aspects of the St. Matthew's community she has experienced the most and what life in the parish has meant to her. Jennifer emailed us after recording the episode and asked us to add the following note as an addendum to this conversation:"There is one very important thing that I should have mentioned about  St. Matthew’s that I really appreciate.  That is the amazing music program that David organizes. I have always sung in choirs and the church music is very important to me. Then there is also Faith and the Arts, which is not something one would find in many churches."Our thanks to Jennifer for leading off this great series of interviews! 

We continue our look into the community in the early Church of Acts. This week I'm joined by Father Robert and we discuss the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who lie to Peter about the amount of their money they are giving to the fledgling Church. We discuss why the call to honesty and truthfulness in the church community is so critical and why this story unfolds the way that it does. We also talk about what possibilities might open up for the Church today if we took on a posture of extreme truthfulness and charity within the community.

The first in a new season on community in the Church. Amy and David discuss the early church as described in Acts Chapter 2, shortly after the Pentecost event. The verses discussed are Acts 2:37-47.

Amy interviews St. Matthew's music director David Arcus about music as a spiritual practice. They talk about a range of topics, from the loss of music together to the pandemic to composition as a spiritual exercise. Throughout, Amy and David seek to make sense of why music is such a powerful tool for faith and explore its relationship to prayer.

David interviews Fr Robert Fruehwirth about how to pray the Rosary. He discusses the various prayers involved in the Rosary and explains Marian devotions like the Hail Mary and the Salve Regina to those who are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with them. There are several prayers and resources listed below that are mentioned in the episode.Link to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website: This contains a good explanation and picture of the Rosary to reference during the episode.Link to the Youtube Video for chanted Salve Regina(we could not include the audio in the episode due to copyright laws)Link to Goodreads page for A Doorway to Silence by Robert LlewelynText of the Hail Mary or Ave Maria: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen. Text of the Hail Holy Queen or Salve Regina: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!  V- Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Text of the Glory Be or Gloria Patri:Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Amy interviews Director of Christian Formation Kim Powell about ways families can pray together at home, focusing on forms of prayer that work well with children.Links to resources discussed in this episode:Praying in Color by Sybil MacbethSeeds Family WorshipRain for RootsGetty Kids Hymnalthe Examen

David interviews Mo. Lisa about Ignatian Spirituality and forms of prayer. They discuss the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Examen prayer, and other forms of prayer and practice which help us to "find God in all things." Resources discussed in this episode:Website - https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/Books:https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3579-5/sleeping-with-bread.aspxhttps://www.avemariapress.com/product/0-87793-945-4/Moment-by-Moment/Pied Beauty by G.M. Hopkinshttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44399/pied-beauty

A Morning Prayer Service for the Feast of Pauli Murray. Mother Pauli lived a remarkable life and was the first black woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. She was also a native of Durham, NC.(Note: In the homilette, Amy says "Howard Thurman" when she means "Thurgood Marshall".)Readings for the Feast Day are as follows:Psalm 119:17–24 Galatians 3:26–29Mark 12:1–12Collect of the Day:Liberating God, we thank you for the steadfast courage of your servant Pauli Murray, who fought long and well. Unshackle us from the chains of prejudice and fear, so that we may show forth your reconciling love and true freedom, which you revealed through your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Monday, June 29th marks the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. To mark the day and honor the great apostles, Amy and David prayed a service of Evening Prayer which you can join in with your BCP or simply listen to. Below are the Scripture readings for the Day(only the Psalm & New Testament readings were recorded in the episode):Psalm 87Ezekiel 34:11-16 2 Timothy 4:1-8John 21:15-19Collect for the Day:Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

David interviews St. Matthew's Director of Christian Formation Kim Powell about prayer with icons. We discuss what makes an icon an icon, what it means to venerate an icon, and how icons can draw us deeper into a life of prayer and connection with the communion of saints.Weblinks mentioned in the episode:https://legacyicons.com/https://www.holycross.org/collectionshttps://www.monasteryicons.com/

Amy interviews St. Matthew's rector Robert Fruehwirth about the Jesus Prayer and other breath prayers.

A follow-up to Episode 1. David and Amy pray Morning Prayer Rite II for Monday, June 15th, giving instruction on the readings and some simple guidance to help newcomers to the Daily Office.

Duke interns David and Amy walk through Morning Prayer, Rite II in the Book of Common Prayer, explaining the lectionary for readings, choices of prayers, canticles, and other features of the office. Lectionary resources mentioned in the show:https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/ -- also available as an app for your phone called “Day by Day” -- and if you prefer listening to reading, use their podcast “A Morning at the Office”https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/