Order of Urban Missioners

Sponsored by
THE DIOCESE OF MARYLAND
(For Lay and Ordained people)

The Maryland Chapter of the Order of Urban Missioners will hold their 2010 Liturgy of Covenanting on Saturday, September 18. Those wishing to join or to renew their annual membership will gather for sharing of prayer requests and a liturgy at the Cathedral from 11 A.M. to about 2:45 P.M. The Very Rev. Van Gardner, retired Dean of the Cathedral, will preside and preach. Please bring one lunch item to share. New members will receive an OUM cross while supplies last, and are asked to donate $60.00 if possible toward the cost. From October to May, we will gather at Holy Nativity, Pimlico (Baltimore), usually on third Saturdays, from 9:30 to 1:15. To RSVP and obtain more details, please write MaryHTDavisson@aol.com, or call Mary at 443-610-1553 (daytime) or 410-866-6922 (evening). Read Mary+'s letter sent to all Missioners.

The Order of Urban Missioners offers spiritual support for those able to gather one Saturday a month, but also for those unable to join us.

If you can't meet with us but would like to add your urban parish or ministry to our prayer list, please send a paragraph or so about your prayer requests to MaryHTDavisson@aol.com.

If you're interested in helping to organize a weeknight group, please be in touch.

If you're already part of another group which supports you in some of the ways indicated by our Covenant (enclosure), let us know if it's open to others. We'd love to share information about spiritual communities whose membership includes lay and clergy members, not limited to a single parish.

If you've been having trouble finding a spiritual director or retreat center, we can offer suggestions.

As Urban Missioners

We Vow:

To give our fears and prejudices about urban living and ministry over to God

To open ourselves to Christ's redeeming love, especially in the city

To live in a state of love

To this end, we vow:

1) To take our calling to urban ministry seriously, and to covenant with the Order the length of time and the location to which we feel called;

2) To take care of our bodies, our minds and our souls that we may be a useful instrument for God:

To read and meditate on the Bible daily
To pray constantly, to pray for each other by name, and to pray for Christ's work in the city
To make confession, receive spiritual direction and spend time on retreat in a regular manner
To participate in worship, a daily office, and in the Eucharist as often as possible
To take to heart the admonition Ephesians to "put on the whole armor of God" (Eph. 6:10)
To take appropriate rest and time off, to exercise on a regular basis, and to eat properly

3) To support each other in our various callings:

To gather together for Eucharist on a regular basis
To share our stories and mutual support, guidance and for the increase of our faith
To sing together whenever possible as a joyful way to send the demons scurrying
To share in educational programs appropriate to our needs and ministries

4) To commit ourselves to good works and acts of love, and to allow that God will bless us and change us through this calling:

To treat all people equally as God's people
To listen to God's people and to be open to new ways of sharing Christ's love
To wear a visible sign of our Order

5) To establish a Mother House (or Chapter House) as a place:

For some Order members to be in residence in the city
To be a meeting place and a holy space for gathering together, worship, education and breaking bread together for all members of the Order

Meetings are held monthly

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY NATIVITY

4238 PIMLICO ROAD
BALTIMORE, MD 21215
9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Short Meditation and silence
Noon day Prayer
Lunch
Sharing Urban Ministry's joys and concerns
Eucharist

From our Spring 2009 meetings, a sample meditation

For more information contact:
The Rev. Mary Davisson
International Seafarers' Center
1439 Wallace Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410 685 1240
MaryHTDavisson@aol.com

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Website maintained by the Rev. Madeleine Beard
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updated July 14, 2010