“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

The Book of Common Prayer, Contemporary Collects, page 236

I want to share with you my faith journey, which started when I was baptized at six weeks of age with my twin sister at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. I was taught to say the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23 soon after learning to speak. I still say them for my daily devotions as well as reading my Bible every day.

We moved to the United States in 1970 when I was a young boy. Two weeks after our arrival, I began serving as an acolyte at the Church of St. Mark in Brooklyn. After a couple of years, I became the acolyte director. I also became a licensed lay reader and a chalice administrator, and served on the Vestry.

I moved to Silver Spring with my family in 1982, continuing my church activities–first at the Church of Our Savior, then at Grace Church, and now at St. John’s.

I cherish this journey–my prayer life and involvement in the church–and will continue to cherish it forever.

James Doyle

Appointed readings for today: Genesis 17:1-8, Psalm 105:4-11, John 8:51-59