Eucharist For Recovering People - Fellowship of the Prodigal

Worship for people in recovery that reflects the 12 steps that are central to the work of many recovery groups. Some 10 different recovery groups meet here each week. The Eucharist For Recovering People - Fellowship of the Prodigal meets every second Wednesday in the Lady Chapel of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. All are welcome.

Please note that our worship starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until 6:45 p.m. Right now, Eventbrite won't accept that closing time. Eventbrite also requires us to create free tickets for this service.

Forgiveness is an important part of recovery. We all have people whom we need to forgive – as well as those whom we feel should seek our forgiveness. Consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ most powerful parables on forgiveness. It is also one of the most perplexing parables in the Bible, for it can be studied from the father’s perspective, or that of the lost younger son, or of the dutiful older brother, or even the neighbors who would have been scandalized. Some of our neighbors seem willing to criticize us for forgiving too freely. They prefer those who judge harshly and punish without compassion or forgiveness. Thing us, it’s not us they are criticizing – it is Jesus.

Recently, some pastors who preach on what Jesus said and did have reported a disturbing trend. Some who say they are following Jesus objected to sermons quoting Jesus – they said it made Jesus “sound too woke.” The idea of “turning the other cheek” was “just too woke.” I wonder what fault they would find with the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Jesus is all about forgiveness: about forgiving us for our mistakes as well as calling us to forgive others for their mistakes. Part and parcel of this is facing and forgiving ourselves for our sins. Forgiveness is an essential element of walking the path of Jesus in 21st-century America. It is also fast becoming a lost art.

The good news is we can strengthen our ability to forgive simply by practicing forgiveness.

It can be as simple as praying the prayer that Jesus taught us and pausing to reflect on both our trespasses as well those who have trespassed against us. As the anonymous author of the Gospel of Mark wrote in verse 35 of Chapter 11, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Jesus is all about forgiveness. And we should follow in his footsteps. For just as we are forgiven for our weakness, so we are to forgive others for theirs.

Please join us as we explore the path of and seek forgiveness.

Fr. Tom

Rev. Tom Jackson, Vicar

Host or Publisher Fr. Tom Jackson