Our Bells will be Ringing – Our Prayers Ascending

John Thomas Buchanan has organized a group to ring our church bell three times a day beginning this Friday. The bells will call us to prayer at 8:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. You will notice a pattern to the bell tolls. The bells will toll 3 times, pause, toll 3 more times, pause, toll 3 more times, pause, and then toll a final 9 times. This pattern is called the Angelus and originated in the 11th century as a monastic practice.

The devotion, based on scriptures from the gospel according to St. Luke, was traditionally recited in Roman Catholic churches, convents, and monasteries three times daily. Many churches including some Anglicans and Lutherans still follow this devotion and some practice it at home.

We are joining other churches in ringing our bells and setting aside particular times each day to offer prayer during the coronavirus pandemic. We are dedicating each prayer time to a particular group as follows:

8:00 a.m. – Pray for those who are sick or have died;
12:00 p.m. – Pray for healthcare providers, first responders, and essential workers; and
6:00 p.m. – Pray for the people of the world and their leaders.

Please offer your prayers, as you can, wherever you are.