What Shall I Give Thee?

Considerations on the Free Gift

A Lenten Quiet Day
with
The Rev’d Gerald Keucher

Saturday, February 27, 2010

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

in the Parish Hall and Common Room

The Quiet Day is a miniature retreat, compacted into a single day, but offering some of the features and taste of a retreat at a monastery. We gather for the Angelus and Morning Prayer, as monks and nuns have for centuries. There will be a couple of talks, and then another office of prayer at noon. We will have a nice lunch (provided by the parish at no cost) and then another couple of talks. The day will conclude with the Eucharist. There will be ample time for silence, prayer and meditation. There will be books available, a copy of the list of the names of those who have asked our prayers will be available, and people can trace the Stations of the Cross. When the notice is posted, please sign up for the Quiet Day so that those planning it will know how many people to welcome.

Although we speak frequently of gifts and presents, most of us have very little experience of real gifts in our daily lives. We usually receive or expect something in return for our “gifts”. Since God deals only with real gifts, we misunderstand and distort our relationship with God and the Church if we think in terms of exchanges, rewards or punishments. This day will be an exploration of what a real gift is and what the implications for our lives might be if we begin to give and receive real gifts.

Leader: The Rev’d Gerald Keucher is a native of Connecticut and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. He has served parishes in New York City and in Yonkers and was on the Bishop’s staff for thirteen years. He has represented the diocese of New York as a deputy to the General Convention three times and is the author of the book, Remember the Future, published in 2006. Many will recall his memorable sermon illustrated by the canister full of colored balls which was the highlight of our stewardship campaign in 2007.