Housekeeping and Prayer Requests

Hey, readers. This isn't a post exactly, but I wanted to give you all some updates.

First, I don't think I'll be posting a lot during Lent. I'm not going on hiatus precisely -- in fact, I'm planning a new series -- but I have a lot of other irons in the fire, particularly a story I'm working on that is approaching completion, and it's been correspondingly difficult to keep up with my prior output.

Second, I've made a few changes in the sidebar to your right. (Well, and my right.) I've added the weekly Collects of the Anglican Use Catholic missal, because they're quite beautiful prayers and I like them, and often exhibit the mysteries of the faith with a poetic clarity. I've also changed the link lineup a little bit, mostly based on what I find myself actively following (sorry if I'm not reading your stuff!). Disappointingly, I had added The Dish only a few days before Andrew Sullivan announced his retirement; I'll miss his inimitable even-handedness and conviction a great deal.

Third, speaking of prayer, if you all wouldn't mind praying for me and my loved ones. I personally have been having rather a hard time of late, spiritually; my prayer life is lackluster (I really need to go on a retreat), I'm finding it a real chore to keep up with my sacramental obligations, and I'm feeling out of sorts with God in general. A lot of this is because of, well, pretty much what you'd think it would be because of, but there are other factors too. In any case, I'd welcome your prayers for that. Additionally, my sister recently had follow-up treatment for thyroid cancer (she had to have her thyroid removed about two years ago), and is doing fine, but prayers never hurt; and some close friends of mine who recently had a baby -- man, so many friends with babies -- have been having a rough time financially, and, while there's never a good time for that exactly, "recently after having a baby" is a special bonus bad time. Lastly, there are some catechumens at my parish planning to enter the Church at Easter -- at least four, I think -- and prayers for their spiritual well-being are of course welcome. (We have the privilege of housing a very small first-class relic of Saint Edward the Confessor at my parish, so, if you appeal to the saints, he's a good one to go to.)

Fourth, my good friend Ben Y. Faroe has released his first book! It is titled The Stone and the Song: A Fairy Tale, and is available here on Amazon. Mr. Faroe is one of my favorite writers -- he and I met through a group we both participate in, and I've had the pleasure of listening to a magnificently imaginative, hilarious, and at times deeply poignant novel he is working on, whose publication I anticipate with immense excitement.

Lastly, I don't say this much, but thank you all for reading, commenting, e-mailing, retweeting, sponsoring, and praying for me. I'm grateful for the feedback I get -- it's very rewarding to know that I make something that's meaningful and helpful to people.