St. Paul's Knowlton

10/12/2026

Thanksgiving Monday- Had Enough Joy Yet? Monday October 12, 2026

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord. Loved ones, 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to an agreement in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I’m also asking you, loyal friend, to help these women who have struggled together with me in the ministry of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the scroll of life.“In the midst of life, we are in death” says the Book of Common Prayer Burial service. We never get pure joy, nor do we get unadulterated sorrow. The cup of blessing is also the cup of grief. Joy is often met with trial. Deal faithfully with the sorrow, grief and trial, but remind yourself of the joy and blessing.

10/11/2026

Joy and Thanksgiving

10/11/2026

Joy and Thanksgiving

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Had Enough Joy Yet? Friday October 9, 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 2 12-18

Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!
Both/And- Carry out your salvation with fear and trembling- BUT it is God who enables. Fear and Guilt (I have not done enough), Apathy and Cowardice (I can’t/won’t have to do anything) have no place in the Christian life. “PRAY as if everything depended on GOD! WORK as if everything depended on YOU!” St. Ignatius of Loyola. But ultimately, Jesus is Lord of Everything.

10/08/2026

Had Enough Joy Yet? Thursday October 8, 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:9–11:Therefore, God highly honored him
and gave him a name above all names,
so that at the name of Jesus everyone
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Good News/Bad News- Jesus is Lord (Good News)/You are not (Bad News), Jesus is Lord(Good News)/Your most powerful and best desire is not (can feel like Bad News), Jesus is Lord/Your Politics are not. Jesus is Lord. PERIOD.

10/07/2026

Had Enough Joy Yet? Wednesday October 7, 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:5–8:
Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:
Though he was in the form of God,
he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
But he emptied himself
by taking the form of a slave
and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

“Jesus is Lord”(the Ultimate Authority) was the first creed of the early church. This passage was one of the first hymns. It is poetic in its original language. If Paul wrote Philippians in the early 60’s AD, this suggests that Jesus was revered as God and already a part of their worship. To be a Christian is to say and sing with Thomas- “My Lord and my God.”

10/06/2026

Had Enough Joy Yet? Tuesday October 6, 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:3–4: Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.

Humility is not about thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less (and others more as though you have something to offer.) CS Lewis.

10/05/2026

Had Enough Joy Yet? Monday October 5, 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:1–2: Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other.

Joy is found in mutual responsibility. We are responsible for one another’s joy. Christian maturity is never entirely private. Consider whether your conduct makes fellowship easier or harder. Are you waiting for everyone else to agree with you before you can be joyful?