Morning prayer is held in the chapel of Saint Paul & the Redeemer Church every Wednesday morning at 8.00 am. The service takes about 20 minutes, and coffee and bagels are served afterward.
Morning prayer brings together a diverse and faithful community around the idea of radical hospitality, radical prayer, and radical action.
The word “radical” comes from the Latin radicalis, which means “of or having roots”. Since the 1650s it has been used in English to describe actions that “go to the origin or the essence”. We seek to “go to the origin” in three ways:
Radical Hospitality – At Saint Paul & the Redeemer, everyone is welcome, regardless of background, race, gender, or sexuality. At morning prayer we go back to the origins of hospitality in the form of a simple breakfast in which we share our diverse stories and experiences over coffee and bagels.
Radical Prayer – The Daily Office is one of the oldest Christian practices, going back to the earliest days of the church. In observing that tradition of reading, prayer, and reflection, we join together with millions of Christians in different denominations across the world.
Radical Action – In the Bible, prayer is inseparable from action. At morning prayer, we encourage each other in action that targets the origins of suffering and injustice. Recent activities have included letter-writing and prayer vigils in support of undocumented immigrants, and participating in the Good Jobs campaign on the south side of Chicago.
