Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was known for his passionate prayers. He involved all of our human senses into his prayers so that his entire being was reaching out to make contact with God. Here's an example:

"Lord, with my mouth I touch and worship Thee, With all the strength I have I cling to Thee, With all my love I plunge my heart in Thee, My very life-blood would I drawn from Thee,- O Jesus, Jesus! Draw me into Thee!

How Sweet Thy savor is! Who tastes of Thee, O Jesus Christ, can relish naught but Thee; Who tastes Thy living sweetness lives by Thee; All else is void-the soul must die for Thee; So faints my heart,-so would I die for thee."

You get the flavor of his prayers. As the Caring team began planning our annual prayer vigil the theme of tasting and savoring filled our prayerful senses.

So in the prayerful tradition of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the 9^th Annual Prayer Vigil has this theme:

Coffee, Donuts, and Prayer

During a planning session, Alice Ann Nilsen told us about the importance of donut holes and coffee for those who were praying late into the evening and the wee early hours of the morning at last year's vigil. The donut holes were gobbled up in no time. This led Alice Ann to suggest that donut holes be served throughout the day and the night. We loved her idea.

Little did Alice Ann know that donut holes are an important part of the JCPC DNA. In the early formative days of Church of the Hills, donut holes greeted worshipers as they departed from Sunday morning worship. Those tiny donut holes packed a wallop perhaps in the same vein as Saint Bernard's statement; "How Sweet Thy Savor is!"

At the 9^th annual, that's right, 9^th annual prayer vigil on March 8^th-9^th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. you will experience both the sweet savor of donut holes and prayer! Come pray with us and savor the taste of Coffee, Donuts, and Prayer!

Fill our senses with your presence O Lord, so that as we pray we will come to know you more fully and connect with you more deeply. Amen.