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This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.

St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr

Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, and subsequently the bishop of Smyrna in the mid-2nd century. Having lived into his eighties before he was martyred by fire, Polycarp is an important link between the Apostles and those of the early Church, as he knew John the Evangelist, who knew John the Apostle, who knew the resurrected Christ.

Learning about early Christians shows to us that our Faith is grounded on historical fact. Polycarp prayed for his persecutors at his martyrdom, making him a good example for us. We, too, need to pray for those who mock the Christian faith, that by prayer and good deeds the enemies of the Cross of Christ may be converted to the Truth of the Gospel - no matter the cost to us personally, remembering the words of the epistle, that "hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 

The Collect.  
O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly festival of blessed Polycarp thy Martyr and Bishop: mercifully grant that, as we now observe his heavenly birthday; so we may likewise rejoice in his protection. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 John 3:10-16
10 Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

The Gospel. St. Luke 21:9-19
9 When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

This Office of Morning Prayer can be found on our Facebook livestream. Each episode will prefaced with an informal coffee talk about various and sundry topics, which starts at 8:00a.