I received this as a random fax, so don’t know who to give credit to, but it resonated with me.                                                                                                               

                                                   A Parishioner’s Prayer

    My parish is composed of people like me.  

 I help make it what it is. 

It will be friendly, if I am. 

It will be holy, if I am.

Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.  

It will do great work, if I work.

It will be prayerful, if I pray.  

It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.

It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them.

It will be a parish of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, 

of compassion, charity and mercy, 

 if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.

Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task 

of being all things that I want my parish to be.  Amen