St. John's Episcopal Church - Columbus, Texas

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Forward by Day

FRIDAY, August 14 JONATHAN MYRICK DANIELS, Martyr, 1965

Acts 7:26. The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, "Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?"

Jonathan Daniels experienced a profound conversion in an Episcopal church in Boston on Easter 1962. Shortly after, while in seminary, he watched Martin Luther King Jr. on television, asking people to come to Selma, Alabama, to help secure voting rights for all citizens. Jonathan answered the call, staying on to protest segregation, tutor schoolchildren, and integrate local churches. He was jailed for picketing. When he was released, he and his companions walked to a nearby store. As young Ruby Sales reached the top step of the entrance, a man with a gun appeared and cursed her. Jonathan pulled her aside and was shot dead.

Jonathan Daniels put his faith into action, standing up for righteousness on behalf of those suffering from injustice. He carried on the tradition of Stephen, who spoke up for his colleagues before the council and was stoned for it. We give thanks for the witness of Jonathan Daniels. As today's collect encourages us, "we pray that we, following his example, may make no peace with oppression." Amen.

MOVING FORWARD: How will you make a stand for the persecuted?

PRAY for the Diocese of Awori (Nigeria)

Ps 102 * 107:1-32 | Judges 14:20--15:20 | Acts 7:17-29 | John 4:43-54

08/14/2026

For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BCP

08/13/2026

Forward Day by Day

THURSDAY, August 13 JEREMY TAYLOR, Bishop and Theologian, 1667

John 4:39a. Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony.

Who in your life knows you best? If we live with someone long enough, they get to know us inside and out, anticipating our moods, communicating without words. But sometimes we may hide things, even from those closest to us, for fear of rejection.

We never have to fear how God will react to those things in our lives that we're afraid to bring out into the open. Consider Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. After one conversation, she feels he knows everything about her, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And he accepts her.

Do you struggle with past experiences or secrets you want to keep buried? Are you trying to keep them from Jesus, too? You might as well come clean, because you already are clean as far as Jesus is concerned. He knows every part of you. That's not a threat; it's an invitation to relate with the lover of your soul in a totally open, honest way. No secrets, no reservations, no holding back.

MOVING FORWARD: In prayer today, offer up to Jesus the secrets you've been hiding.

PRAY for the Diocese of Awka (Nigeria)

Ps 105:1-22 * 105:23-45 | Judges 14:1-19 | Acts 6:15--7:16 | John 4:27-42

08/13/2026

Trust in Jesus

Holy God, your knowledge of me exceeds what I grasp or see in any moment; you know me better than I know myself. Now, help me to trust in your mercy, to see myself in the light of your holiness, and grant me the grace that I may have true contrition, make an honest confession, and find in you forgiveness and perfect remission. Amen.

BCP

08/12/2026

Forward Day by Day

WEDNESDAY, August 12 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, Nurse, 1910

John 4:9a. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?"

How do you identify yourself? By the stripes of your faith, career, politics, age, race, ethnicity, or orientation? White middle-aged married moderate male. Retired Black evangelical mother. Single young gay Asian professional. Progressive Episcopal activist. Who are you?

Jesus talks with the woman at the well about how labels create barriers and divisions. Samaritan/Jew. Christian/ Muslim. Republican/Democrat. Gay/Straight. Evangelical/ Mainline. Rich/Poor. On and on. But as we experience the love of God through Christ, labels that separate us can dissolve into the reality of the Spirit, who binds all believers into one body, who makes us all brothers, sisters, siblings, through Jesus Christ—who pays no attention to the distinction of Jew and Samaritan and male and female.

Jesus says the time is coming when labels won't matter. That time is now. The only thing that matters to God, Jesus says, is who you are and how you live. God is Spirit, and God relates to our spirit, above and beyond the labels.

MOVING FORWARD: What labels do you have for yourself and others?

PRAY for the Diocese of Awgu/Aninri (Nigeria)

Ps 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144 | Judges 13:15-24 | Acts 6:1-15 | John 4:1-26

08/12/2026

For the Human Family
OGod, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BCP

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

Countless lives changed right here in these seats. We want you to be a part of our story! Come as you are and experience community with us this Sunday at 10:30.

08/11/2026

Forward Day by Day

TUESDAY, August 11 CLARE OF ASSISI, Monastic, 1253

Acts 5:29. Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."

As they huddle in a locked house on Easter evening, the disciples fear that they themselves will face a death sentence, as their rabbi did. Now those fears are being realized here in Acts 5: the temple police bring the disciples before the council, accusing them of breaking their orders to shut up and go away.

And how do the disciples respond now? Not with the fear they experienced, huddled on that Easter night, but with boldness, filled with the Spirit: "We must obey God rather than any human authority!" And then they get to preaching. In the face of this hateful authoritarianism, they are not shutting up. They are not going away.

What a difference between the locked room in John's Gospel and the council courtroom in Acts! Those cowering, fearful disciples now speak truth to power, witnessing to Jesus's miraculous resurrection and God's gracious mercy and forgiveness, in the face of authoritarian leaders who deny the way of God. Do we dare follow their example?

MOVING FORWARD: There are many ways to respectfully speak truth to power. Pick one today.

PRAY for the Diocese of Awerial (South Sudan)

Ps 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95] | Judges 13:1-15 | Acts 5:27-42 | John 3:22-36