From the RectorDear Parishioners and Friends, In our Lenten Learning series on Tuesday, we took a look at the history of the Book of Common Prayer. We talked about the "monastic era" of the church, which came to an abrupt end in England with Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. This great part of the life of the Church lay dormant for centuries (at least in the Anglican tradition), but saw a great resurgence in the nineteenth century. Religious houses began to spring up in England once again, and naturally extended across the pond to the Episcopal Church, which by that time was well-established. Religious orders have come and gone, but one that has withstood the test of time is the Community of St. John the Baptist, which came to the US in 1874. Originally located on New York's lower east side, the sisters now operate out of a bucolic site in Mendham, NJ, and are known for providing spiritual direction. One of the sisters with whom I have spent some time with is Sister Monica Clare, an unassuming figure who has "nuntheless" risen to TikTok celebrity via her presentations on spirituality which have been nicknamed #NunTok. Click on http://impact.tiktok.com/ and go on "Stories" at the top of the page to find Sister Monica Clare and hear a short description of her online ministry. (You don't need the TikTok app). You can also click on the order's own website https://www.csjb.org/ to learn more about religious life in the Episcopal Church. Blessings,
Father Rick
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