Sunday, February 25 11a.m. In-Person and Online
“Searching for the Perfect Peace: The god of St. Francis”
Tommy Hughes
The Saint Francis Prayer asks us to turn inward and see what we can do for others and asks us to be more understanding, compassionate, and caring human beings. St Francis said, “Since you speak of peace, all the more so must you have peace in your own hearts. Let none be provoked to anger or scandal by you, but rather may they be drawn to peace and good will, to kindness and unity through your gentleness. We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” The Saint Francis Prayer, or Peace Prayer, is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, an Italian monk born in 1182. The prayer was first published in France in 1912 and was publicized widely during both world wars, and because of this it is also often called The Peace Prayer. Today we will examine what this prayer says to us and what it asks us to do.
Tommy Hughes is so glad to be speaking with all of you today. Although he doesn’t have a long resume of missionary or charity work that can be listed, he values the connections that we share when we discuss our faiths and that which is beyond our understanding. It is that value that brings him here today. He owes a lot of his spiritual development to his wonderful wife Dianna who not only encouraged him to put value in finding a spiritual community, but also tempered his beliefs with wise ways of thinking about our role in society that aren’t always the most obvious. This influence led Tommy to a Christian mystic church and many of his interpretations of Christianity.