Episcopal News Service
Toward Columbus: 2nd Article in Series on the 75th General Convention
Friday, April 7, 2006
Prayer octave set to precede General Convention Eight-day cycle will begin with Pentecost, conclude Trinity Sunday
[ENS] An Octave of Prayer for the 75th General Convention will open on Pentecost Sunday and conclude Trinity Sunday, just as deputies and bishops begin to gather in Columbus, Ohio, for the June 13-22 legislative sessions.
Patterned on a similar recent observance in the Diocese of Maine, the octave will feature daily meditations as well as prayers reflecting the General Convention's theme of "Come and Grow."
Prayers and related resources will be posted online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ by early May, planners say.
The idea was conceived at the joint meeting of the Councils of Advice for the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies.
The Very Rev. George Werner, president of the House of Deputies, has named the Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber of the Diocese of Ohio to chair the effort.
"It is significant that the octave will begin on Pentecost, the Church's 'birthday party,' and continue through Trinity Sunday, the Church's 'family reunion,'" Svoboda-Barber said.
The hope of the planning group is that both individuals and congregations would participate in the octave to provide prayerful support to the General Convention proceedings.
Themes for the daily observances are as follows:
* Pentecost, Sunday, June 4: Grow in the Spirit * Monday, June 5: Grow in Hope * Tuesday, June 6: Grow in Love * Wednesday, June 7: Grow in Understanding * Thursday, June 8: Grow in Gratitude * Friday, June 9: Grow in Service * Saturday, June 10: Grow in Peace * Trinity Sunday, June 11: Grow in All Ways into Christ
Related resources are available on the Episcopal Church's visitor website, http://www.comeandgrow.org/
For more information call Svoboda-Barber at 740.427.2187.
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