Morning Prayer, Thursday 4th April 2024 - Easter Thursday

Welcome to the Garden Congregation KZbin Channel!
Thank you for joining us!
This Easter Thursday join Dean Robert ("The Green Dean") and partner Fletcher (in Upstate New York) as they take a couple of days off from public engagements to catch up with old friends and with correspondence.
(Please forgive one or two sound issues in the broadcast - when we left Canterbury we asked Chapter if we might purchase the camcorder we used for the 26months of broadcasting each day but sadly this was refused; hearing of this and being very upset by it, one of our lovely members of staff bought a beautiful replacement one which we treasure more than we can say because of the kindness and thought behind it but which sadly has one or two issues which we hope to iron out!)
The Garden Congregation:
When the Archbishop decided to close all churches to their clergy because of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, in addition and separately to the closure of churches to their congregations - which did make sense to stop the spread of the virus - the then Dean, Robert Willis, although not governed by the Archbishop (Deans of medieval cathedrals are crown appointments and sit outside of the church and are effectively on the same level as their bishop to serve as a check and balance to them), decided that out of loyalty to his fellow clergy he would also stop broadcasting from inside the cathedral. Instead he and his partner Fletcher held a daily communion inside the cathedral each day in a rotation of different chapels to ensure the tradition of a daily service which dates back to the time of Augustine was upheld and unbroken and also took to filming daily services in their garden through to May 2022. Usually joined each day by at least one of their cats (Monkey, Lilly, Tiger or Leo) and a whole host of their own menagerie from pigs and chickens to hedgehogs and newts and whilst sitting in the gardens through all seasons, this is a wonderful way to switch off and meditate whilst listening to a mix of poetry, recitals, current affairs, music - and of course the daily psalms and readings from the bible which are then explored and unpicked by Dean Robert. The original intention by Fletcher was to connect with "one or two members of our community who might be feeling lonely" and they could not have known that they would in fact connect with hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths and none from every part of the world who named themselves the Garden Congregation. Although initially the broadcasts were all on the cathedral website and other platforms, when they were unexpectedly caused to leave Canterbury Fletcher transferred their films to this new site so that they might still be enjoyed by anyone in the future.
SUBSCRIBE: Please be sure to subscribe to the channel by clicking on the "Subscribe" icon, which will ensure that you can find the broadcasts easily in future OR BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK HERE / @gardencongregation sub_confirmation=1 - this is absolutely free and is just a way of you bookmarking the site and it also helps us to have more functions on KZbin which will make our service to you even better (so get as many of your friends and family to subscribe as you are able!).
Thank you again for visiting this Channel and we hope that you will enjoy the films if this is your first time here - and if so then welcome to the Garden Congregation!
For Morning Prayer Dean Robert uses the Church of England book, “Common Worship Daily Prayer 2005” (Church House publishing). The bible is the English Standard Version (Collins), and occasionally - though always stated - Dean Robert uses the New Revised Standard Version or the King James.

[@taykemp-pherson8102]

So Beautiful! Snow does make everything so peaceful, so pure, that we can be still and hear the voice of God! Thank-you for this lovely Morning Prayer; am so very grateful to both of you! God Bless!

[@user-iw6un9qh6c]

Thankful again for prayers together. Stay safe and warm 🙏

[@user-gn8hs7id1l]

Thank you so much for another beautiful broadcast, my heart is bursting with love for you all and all the congregation, I am so thankful for this connection again!

[@ethelperry4529]

Thank You ❣

[@matthewhartt5887]

The silence of the snow!!!! Beautiful Father!

[@janeclarke1006]

Thank you both again for braving the snow to hold morning worship with us all.

[@KarenEkelund]

So excited to start my day again with Dean Robert and Fletcher. Thank you for lovely thoughts and wisdom once again.

[@drewk3402]

Snow transforms the landscape and you transform my day, Dean Robert and Fletcher, with Morning Prayer. It is always a blessing to hear your voice and your teaching. Thank you both for braving the cold and snow, you must have been cold!!

[@kathykeating1661]

I am so grateful to pray with you again. God bless you and Fletcher 🙏

[@marciafisk9323]

Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher for braving the elements and sharing God’s love with us today! I pray still that God might open a way for you to continue sharing with us. Your ministry means so much.

[@sonifranc3551]

❤❤❤. Thank you dear Dean Robert for being this fountain of nourishment to all of us .

[@susandumbrell3315]

What a blessing to be gathered together with the Garden Congregation again and have Dean Robert lead us. Thanks to Fletcher for his photos and videos. Bless you both.

[@karenvknight6516]

Beautiful in black and white

[@penelopewarren3168]

What a delight to sharing in Morning Prayer again. Thank you both for gathering the GC again.

[@lindasigmund9572]

I'm so happy to have morning/daily prayer back❤

[@user-jv4rc6mg3j]

Rejoicing that you are creating new beginnings and bestowing the Lord’s grace upon your beloved Garden Congregation through renewed morning reflections💒 Tears flowing remembering the years of fellowship in the garden of Canterbury Cathedral which you so graciously shared with thousands of virtual pilgrims to Canterbury. May the Lord bless you and embrace you with His loving arms🐑💒❤‍🔥

[@annalisapoirel7409]

It’s still Lent for us, Eastern Orthodox, and what a help to have our dear Dean with us, reminding us where we are headed ! Thank you Fletcher and Dean Robert !

[@jessiemacintosh6627]

Its wonderful to join with you again, thank you.

[@selinaolawoye7764]

Amen and Amen 🙏,my words are not enough to express my joy in hearing your voice again.Please keep warm.

[@danbradford55]

So glad Dean Robert and Fletcher are back in production again!

[@carolingimundson1392]

Thank you again Dean Willis Such a wonderful morning prayer in the beauty of the snow & the silence TBTG🙏

[@berylgrove9538]

Thank you. 🇦🇺

[@Mark-xv5lb]

If the garden is in your heart, there will always be a garden wherever you go, even in the snow.

[@maryannehibbard5686]

So true! I relish looking out our kitchen window throughout the growing season, at our garden... but it's also a delight watching it sleep, hidden, under a blanket of snow - really a benediction of winter snow. As God's truth grows hidden in our heart's garden...

[@eileen6928]

Hello my goodness such devotion by Dean Robert and Fletcher to bringing us together in prayer. Thank you from my heart and soul . 🦘 .

[@Luxecakeart]

So grateful for you and Fletcher, bringing morning prayer to us so much this week. I’ve missed it, so it’s wonderful! And I have no idea how you can sit outside in the snow for so long. I’d have been shivering within 5 minutes!

[@user-jr8fd9yr5o]

What a beautiful, stark contrast, the white snow, the dark trees & Dean R in black cassock. Fletcher's photography talents never cease to amaze. Hope it wasn't too cold but thank you thank you thank you ❤❤ for words of encouragement !! 😻😻😻

[@celestialvoices4531]

Where is your scarf, your hat and gloves??? You and Fletcher brave the elements to lift our spirits. God bless you! Now, back inside by the warm fire! ❤❤❤

[@adriennebeecker5000]

So happy to hear you recite ‘The Bénédicte “ in this beautiful setting. So appropriate! Bless you and Fletcher for bringing us one of the loveliest of Morning Prayers during Easter Week.

[@greenstair]

Thank you so much for your time and effort in recording and sharing these again; it is lovely start and end my day with these gentle, but genuine lessons. It is lovely to see and hear you again. Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher. May our Lord God bless you and keep you.

[@nancyphillips1825]

Oh how good it is to hear you! I hope you and Fletcher will bring back daily time with us!

[@user-dy3yc4yy4p]

Again, many thanks for providing the Morning Prayer office for the members of the Garden Congregation! What a wonderful way to begin the day with Dean Robert and Fletcher! You have touched so many thousands of lives and being back together as the Garden Congregation means so much to us!

[@skyeg8387]

Agreed!

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Thank you Dean Robert.

[@eldonnamay6946]

Dear Dean Robert: I was overjoyed to receive notice of your April 1st morning prayer video, then that joy doubled on Wednesday with another video. Now, on Friday, I am blessed in treble measure with today's video! God bless & keep you and Fletcher for your unwavering ministry and service. And welcome to "Spring" in upstate New York! Hopefully, one day soon you'll come to Motown and visit Christ Church Grosse Pointe, St. John's - Detroit, and historic Mariner's Church - Detroit! 🙂❄️🥶🙏🕊❤️

[@tony8074]

Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher.

[@maryannehibbard5686]

Ah, the storm you were experiencing yesterday, hit us a few hours earlier with mighty roaring winds, living in regions to the west, but calmed to only a few flurries of snow. However, you're blessed with a soft, silent covering of snow this morning! Enjoy the peace of a springtime snow. And thank you for sharing Morning Prayer in such a lovely setting in God's creation!

[@joantooby3670]

What a surprise and a shock when I first saw the snow scene! I thought I had somehow arrived in the wrong place. Bless the Lord, indeed! Bless the Lord for the beauty of the earth and all creation. The service was absolutely beautiful - so encouraging and perfectly reflecting the peace at the beginning of a new day.

[@HirshAllyson-oh5vc]

Thank you Reverend Robert Willis and Fletcher for the prayer videos this week. Please let me sponsor the equipment for morning prayer. I have continued watching and enjoying the original GC videos each day. I appreciate the time and thought given in each video. Prayers for healing and a safe trip. Love, Allyson 🙏😇

[@creoscribe3371]

God bless your big hearts xx

[@jenni48.32]

Good morning to a magical world of snow. How welcoming to the silence of prayer. Thoughtful grace.

[@dougmackey448]

Count me among those joyful with these new installments, Fletcher and Dean Robert! ❤

[@margaretinsydney3856]

It is so lovely to start my day with the Dean's Morning Prayer. Thank you both for doing this, even in the snow! 😊

[@elizabethtallman3280]

I love the picture of Fletcher holding the newborn baby . There is nothing like being given the privilege of holding such a little one, looks like Mabel will be a good nanny!

[@joannejohnson]

Thank-you Dean Robert and Fletcher for this morning prayer in this beautiful setting I hope you didn't get too cold I love the footprints,in the sand poem.I have,it,on a book mark .

[@mspocahontas46]

Thank you for braving the storm to give us your wisdom!

[@choosekindness5677]

Beautiful message on this snowy morning. Thank you. 🙏 ❤ 🌎 🕊

[@margaretnewton5985]

I am just thrilled to be sharing Morning Prayer again with you both. This is such a gift. Today where I live in Southern Alberta we were sharing the same snow. For us it is a real blessing as our fields, trees, swales all need rain and moisture. Blessings and grateful thanks. 🙏

[@rogerh1744]

I would like to add that I am absolutely delighted to discover the return of Dean Robert at Morning Prayer time, as I am sure is true for many thousands who remember his time at Canterbury. In a recent sermon Dean Robert mentioned his well remembered time in Saisbury, Wiltshire, UK. (A point of small interest, I was confirmed by a former Bishop of Salisbury in my school church in Dorset, a county just to the south of Wiltshire). I want to commend the work of a young musician who has been inspired to visit many old Churches near Salisbury (some dating back more than a thousand years !) At each Church he plays the organ in a weekly video that includes interesting history of each Church viisited. Qualified in music at Oxford Univeristy I commend highly his weekly video concerts dislaying his love of Church music. His name is Ben Maton and all his high quality videos are made by himself with no staff or support. They include many views of the beautiful Wiltshire countryside and the old Churches (inside and scenes around). This link may help kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXerdZKLZc-Da7s

[@098anne]

Oh how I’ve missed this rhythm of the morning prayers with you, Dean Robert and Fletcher! Thanks and blessings to you both! I am only missing all your critters 😂

[@eileentindall9678]

Wonderful to have you back …. Please stay warm and don’t catch a cold ! We need you .

[@sprite-9316]

Starkly beautiful. Well taken, Fletcher.

[@Bobbi-cm2bk]

Thank you!

[@chrishall62]

Another beautiful scene for Morning Prayer

[@juliecate1396]

Thank you so much Dean Robert and Fletcher.

[@allsaintsmillington3200]

Christmas and Easter... Incarnation and Resurrection!

[@julieressler1301]

This is so beautiful! Thank you so much!

[@jeanash9502]

I'm so delighted to find you again bless you. During the Pandemic your words from grounds of Canterbury Cathedral were such a comfort to me here in Canada blessings 🙏 Jean Bernice

[@dianebolles1253]

So wonderful to share morning prayer together as the garden congregation with you and Fletcher. Whenever you can, it is greatly appreciated. Bless you for your service and finding a way to carry on in this new phase of your life. I thank God for your life.

[@maryfilippou6667]

What a gorgeous scene to be praying in; God's beautiful Nature.

[@victoriaoliver9958]

What a landscape transformation!

[@johnaromeri4337]

What a great gift from both of you. Please pray with us from time to time. The week at St Thomas Church was priceless. I have listened to them over and over! Thanks you!

[@staceys1870]

Much appreciation to you Dean Robert and dearest Fletcher for giving us this morning prayer. My mom and I are keeping you both in our prayers while you create these videos and travel. Stay warm. What a gorgeous setting. I have never lived in the snow!! = )

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Praying for Divine wisdom to world leaders .

[@David-bv9ul]

What a beautiful setting for the morning prayer! Thank you so much for the new episodes and for the teachings on new beginnings! ❤🙏

[@petermorgan9928]

Thank you both so much are hearts are with you.

[@jjs6674]

So glad to see you back online!

[@johnanderson3700]

Fascinating to hear the birds in this snow.

[@christinesimpkin570]

Thank you for this Morning Prayer and your words. The snow looks amazing and the bird song beginning around Dean Robert sounds absolutely beautiful 🙏🕯️🕊️

[@hilarydrinkwater5392]

Yes, blessed be the Lord, and yes, he will be remembered forever. What Our Lord proved over a lifetime will actually determine what is remembered and what is not.

[@TheHermitage-en1go]

Thank you both so much.

[@petermuller3530]

I very glad, that most Reverend Dean Robert is back with the morning prayer. Thank You.

[@lyntomkins1624]

Thank you once again It’s a little cold here in Canberra this morning 🇦🇺God bless you both

[@user-sx4vr8jp3o]

Thankful for you both.

[@reneelascala5050]

Strong Roger Deakins energy on the long shots, Fletcher. ⭐️for keeping all tracks out of the foreground. Well done.

[@johnanderson3700]

Thank you for braving the weather to give us food for our souls.

[@virginiaminella9081]

It's beautiful to see you again and to listen to your wise words full of hope once again I can't wait to see the cats too 😊

[@jeangerow7177]

The best possible way to begin my day. Thank you Dean Robert for braving the elements (even the beautiful snow) to share Morning Prayer with us!

[@vickizivafrappollo7655]

It brings me such joy to be able to pray with you! Thank you, Dean Robert and Fletcher, for this beautiful gift!

[@maryfilippou6667]

The scenery reminds me of a silver- tint.

[@sonifranc3551]

❤❤❤ Thank you , Fletcher for the scenery you capture .

[@sisterpamop]

We have snow in WISCONSIN also. I always enjoyed the early spring flowers of the Dean's Garden in Canterbury. ❤

[@judywilson9757]

Beautiful ! Thank you for the lovely “reflections.” I certainly hope you have warm underclothes on under your cassock! 😘

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Amen.

[@magnoliabird]

Dean you must have been freezing ❤

[@richardsails]

What a treat! Love that you did this, but for goodness you need a hat. Blessings all around.

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Amen

[@1sweffling]

What a stalwart couple you are to bring us prayer outside in the snow. Thank you for such a beautiful few minutes:)

[@dariaSorhaindo]

So very glad to have you back. It’s such a warming feeling to hear and pray together with you.🤟🏽

[@MyChannel-rf8ic]

Thank you so much for braving the elements to make this important message. Every one of your videos is so unique but this is my favorite for now. Wishing you all the best and hoping you don't catch cold! Happy Easter.

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Amen. Our Father

[@ellen823ful]

Hello!!!!! ❤

[@jenniferbate9682]

The sound is strange but thank you again for the lovely broadcast.

[@teganwillow466]

This was wonderful. Thank you. You must have been so cold!!

[@clarewatson4660]

I love snow and to pray with you all and share that beautiful landscape transformed in white has been a joy. Thank you both and I hope your hosts warmed you with hot drinks and a hot breakfast.

[@swanthracooke3268]

Thank you soooo much Dean Robert and Fletcher for praying with us in the snow and cold! I pray you don’t get a cold as a result. May God bless you!

[@5333snw]

Thank you for traveling to the US. I also appreciate your sermons at Saint Thomas church.Seeing you at the service made my dream come true.Please keep warm!

[@staceys1870]

You are so fortunate to have seen Dean Robert at Saint Thomas! What a beautiful church. Cheers from the west coast. Someday I will get to experience NYC.

[@margaretinge1834]

What a blessing to start my day with you again. 🙏

[@AnzalnaSatar]

Goodmorning everyone.

[@sonyaparkin7841]

Thank you 💚💛🙏🌳

[@gloriangarner9146]

I've been reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer for our Methodist Church bookclub. The writing is one of reverence and prose which makes me think of you and Fletcher. I miss you but you have left us with episodes that guide and keep us on the path

[@cynthiastory-cs1vm]

Morning, to a transformed world indeed. Pleased to notice the lovely coffee pot etc, but i was i am concerned about the snow envelloping you both? Hoping you are not suffering from the cold and damp? The scene was exquisiite, lifted my heart and spirit like a beautiful art work! Bless you and your whoĺe team, your generosity of spirit. ❤ Cynthia, south Australia xx

[@magnoliabird]

Dean Robert what brings you to NY? I’m so glad to see you❤

[@rogerh1744]

Heard in Australia 8.00 am Friday 5th April 2024 with concern for the health of Dean Robert in the cold weather and hoping he is now warm and remaining well ?