Mtr Taylor Devine

Dear friend,

Over the past four days I have been facilitating the Orientation of the Beloved in the Desert Episcopal Service Corps program. We have a few more days to go before they begin their volunteer service in partner non-profits. In this very short time I have been so excited to see how seriously these five young adults take the prayer component of the commitments of the Episcopal Service Corps. Justice, service in solidarity, vocational discernment and simple living are other core tenets, but I am so impressed by the commitment to grounded and routine morning and evening prayer together. I trust that all of the other commitments will flow out of this commitment to pray together, mulling over the same passages, praying in the same seasons. We are all getting used to each other, eventually it will become clear-who leads the Psalms when they are chanted, who comes in at the last minute, whose pacing is different. However, beginning each day with “Lord, open our lips” and the response, “And our mouth shall proclaim your praise” has been how they have approached their 10.5 month commitment to simplicity, service and community. This phrase comes from Psalm 51:16 “Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” It states what we know, we were made to pray. 

Mtr. Taylor