As we all do our part to maintain physical distance for the common good, we also find ourselves trying to settle into new routines of worship and prayer. So much of our life as church is rooted in communal prayer and gathering. To use technology as a means of connecting for worship and study is new for many of us. Yet, the blessing of this time can be to rediscover the fact that church is who we are, not only the building where we gather. May these resources help you during this time.
Daily Prayer Resources
Morning Prayer
Begin your day with a service of morning prayer. The service includes prayers, Scripture reading, and a brief meditation on the readings.
- St. David’s, Agawam: Morning Prayer @ 8:00 am
- Washington National Cathedral: Watch live at 7 am, or later at your convenience Monday–Saturday, on the Cathedral’s Facebook page. (Note: this service is not signed for the deaf and hard of hearing.)
Noon Prayer
- St. Mark’s, East Longmeadow via Youtube
Compline
- Pray Compline each evening with Bishop Fisher or another priest from the Diocese. A password is required to join; it is noted in each of the instructions on how to join.
Dial in by phone+1 646 876 9923Meeting ID: 714 336 095Password: 806374
- St. Philip’s, Easthampton every night @ 8 PM via YouTube
Online Meditation Chapel
- This interfaith online meditation community has groups meeting throughout the day. The groups range from centering prayer groups, to Christian meditation groups, and general meditation groups. Because of the number of groups that have been added recently, you are asked to check in just 2 minutes before the start.
https://meditationchapael.org/our-groups/
Our Facebook Verse of the Day
- These brief verses, posted every morning on the St. John’s Facebook page, are meant to comfort you, encourage you, and remind you of what is true.
Forward Movement Daily Prayer
- Read and comment on today’s Forward Day By Day meditation.
- Pray the Daily Office (Morning, Noonday, Evening Prayer, and Compline each day).
- Access three different versions of The Liturgical Calendar, including the Book of Common Prayer, Lesser Feasts & Fasts, and A Great Cloud of Witnesses.
Daily Meditations
- Washington National Cathedral clergy offer a meditation each day. Click here for today’s meditation.
Weekly Prayer Resources
Sunday Services
- There are a number of services sponsored by churches around our diocese taking place live between 8 am and 11 am. There are services that use Morning Prayer, or liturgies using Rite I, or Rite II. You will find services that use internet connections (via Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook live) and/or telephone conference calls. You can find the complete list of Sunday services around the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts here.
For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- The Sunday liturgy at the Washington National Cathedral begins at 11:15 am. You can find it on their website or on their YouTube channel. It is signed for the deaf and hard of hearing on their website; closed captioning and signing are found on their YouTube channel.
Cultivating Habits of Grace
- Join our presiding bishop, The Most Rev. Bishop Michael B. Curry, each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.’ A new meditation is posted on Mondays through May. Previous posts are also available for viewing.
Other resources
Forward Movement
- Forward Movement offers an array of free resources to support individuals, families, and groups as they worship and pray at home. For more information, click here.
Praying with Icons
- If you have ever wondered how to pray with icons, you can find an explanation on how to pray with these sacred images here.
Lectio Divina
- Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”) is a traditional monastic practice of praying the Scriptures that leads us deeper into God’s Word. For more information click here.
Praying the Anglican Rosary
- The History of Prayer Beads and Rosaries
- How to pray with Anglican Prayer Beads