General Convention menu

The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in the environs of Los Angeles, California, from July 8-17, 2009. Father Rob Eaton is recruiting intercessors and posting updates at GC 09 Intercessors.

Resources
Deputation listing
General Convention schedule
Fr Rob Eaton’s essay on how to pray for General Convention.
Fr Timothy Fountain’s reflection on praying for General Convention.
The Anglican Ecumenical Society has a chat room prayer session on Wed, Thur, and Fri at 1 p.m. Pacific time. Also, they offer bulletin inserts.
Anglicans in the Wilderness is offering a skype-based group prayer.
Twitter users: #pray4TEC

Call2Fall

Pray for an Explosion of Evangelism –

Gracious Lord, please fill us with a burning passion to pray for and witness to the lost. Cause our eyes to weep for souls that we may reap in joy.
(Luke 19:10; Acts 1:8; Romans 5:5, 9:1-3)

Between the narrow places

In traditional Judaism the time period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av is called ‘bein ha Metzarim’ which is translated between the narrow places or dire straits. It comes from Lamentations 1:3: ‘Amidst affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS’. This phrase IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS can also be translated ‘between the straits or narrow places’. It is traditionally a 3 week mourning period in Judaism commemorating the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem on the 17th of Tammuz and the destruction of the Temple on the 9th of Av. It is a time of mourning with no weddings.
This period commences July 9 and overlaps with General Convention.

O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Thank You for Your goodness in the narrow places. Help us to walk in faith and in love, and not in fear and grief.
Our desire to please You is muddled with our fleshly desires. Help us to narrow our desires. Sanctify us for Your service. We have not walked this way before. We want to follow You. Draw us into that place where You are leading.
We want to heed Your call. Help us to see the opportunity that You provide in a different way. Open our ears so that we may rise up today and enter in through the corridor that is the narrow way.
Narrow our desires now so that we may break through to the place that You have for us. Amen.

The presence of the Lord

O Lord,
May Your presence remain within the hearts of the godly people attending General Convention, especially ____. Bless them and their entire households. Amen.
2 Samuel 6:11

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (Psalm 1:1)
      Father, please help our deputation to the General Convention and all other faithful deputies to avoid the counsel of the ungodly. Keep them from the path of sinners and the seat of those scornful of faith in your son Jesus.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
      Holy Spirit, please give your faithful people at General Convention delight in your law and help them meditate on your ways.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)
      Jesus, prosper the words and the work of your faithful people at General Convention and let it bear fruit in the hearts of those who hear them.

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. (Psalm 1:4)
      Holy Spirit, drive away the chaff in the Episcopal Church.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (Psalm 1:5)
      Lord, we cry out to you for those who walk apart from you that you will raise up witnesses that they can hear and respond to.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)
      Jesus, even now rescue those who are perishing — help them accept you as Lord and savior — help them confess their sins and receive your forgiveness. Thank you.

      A word received: Call my people to surrender their lives to me anew. Call them to place their trust and their hope in me. I AM waiting for my people to turn to me.

Monday: 1, 2, 3; 1 Samuel 15:1-3,7-23; Acts 9:19b-31; Luke 23:44-56a
Tuesday: 5, 6; 1 Samuel 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43; Luke 23:56b-24:11

Albany Intercessor

General Convention

O Lord,
How we have profaned our world. You have created our beautiful bodies to be temples, dwelling places for the Holy Spirit.
The children of Israel ministered before the ark continually, offering regular sacrifices, thanksgiving, and sacred song. During the construction of the temple, the stone was made ready prior to transport to the buiding site so that no hammer, ax, or any tool of iron was heard. Even the airwaves were set aside and holy!
The children of the Episcopal Church are so careless with our words, our music, our media. We are thoughtless with our food and with the care of our bodies and spirits. Take pity, Lord, for we are fallen creatures.
Have mercy. Restore us to holiness. Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Chronicles 16:37-42, 1 Kings 6:7

Call2Fall

Pray for Unity in Churches and Families –

Holy Father, please bring us to loving unity in our churches and a deep harmony between our churches. Help us tear down the strongholds of bickering and disunity that so ravage Your Church.
(John 13:34-35, 15:12, 17:20-22)

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, £we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)
      Father, thank you for the peace, grace and mercy that we have found by faith in your son Jesus. [Grace is getting what we don't deserve; mercy is not getting what we do deserve.]

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
      Jesus, thank you that we know the joy that comes from hope in God.

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (Romans 5:3)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for this time of tribulation that we are going through in the Episcopal Church: please produce in us the fruit of perseverance.

and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:4)
      Father, our character has been bent out of shape by sin; use our perseverance to reshape our character and make us into a people of hope. Father, we have hoped in so many lesser things and people for the Episcopal Church over the past decade, and one by one they have disappointed us. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to place our hope in you where true joys are to be found.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
      Jesus, help us cast all our cares on you, for you care for us. Thank you for loving us so much and giving us hope by your Holy Spirit — hope that will not disappoint.

      A word received: Cry out to me for my people. They are wandering — pray for the shepherds of the flock to lead them back to me. Pray for my people to receive new strength to resist the traps of the evil one. Pray for my people; cry out to me for them.

Sunday: 146, 147; 1 Samuel 14:36-45; Rom. 5:1-11; Matthew 22:1-14
Monday: 1, 2, 3; 1 Samuel 15:1-3,7-23; Acts 9:19b-31; Luke 23:44-56a

Albany Intercessor

General Convention

O Lord,
Keep Your children in the Episcopal Church faithful to You. Guard them from disobeying Your word. Protect their minds from lust and their bodies from sexual impurity. May they seek guidance from You alone. Amen.
1 Chronicles 10:8-14, 1 Samuel 31:8-10

Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report July 4, 9:15-10:30AM Torre Bissell and Don Foust
+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

+Hector — for direction.

+Joseph–”thanks for guiding me, for my wife, my children, my friends”

+Cornealius–young man, for serenity and the peace of God

+Earl–young man, stopped while riding his bicycle–”I am always in need of prayer”–described himself as a “prodigal son”–looking for direction in his life–looking for a Church

+“Lieutenant” Williams–teen-age young man, member of the Police Explorers, crossed the street, had a grass trimmer over his shoulder– on his way to help his family. Prayed for protection and the ability to discern.

+Tamara–10-year old girl. Prayed for her family. When she walked back by the table, she had a big smile and showed us the new cross she was wearing.

Marlene–repeat visitor. Prayed for protection for her. Also prayed for her friend (Sarah Moore), recently charged with arson and murder in the death of a 10-year old girl.

Lydia –(regular)–prayed for protection and her 4 children back in Guyana.

+Roberto–prayed for return to health and freedom from alcohol.

Man walking by–”you already prayed for me”

Friend of Roberto–”No thanks brother, I am a Muslim”.

+Samita (mother) and Alvin (2 year old son) — very shy little boy. Prayed for blessings on this family.

+Everett– young man, prayed for family and friends.

Young man on other side of street– protection

Young father with child in stroller (in a hurry) – Prayed for this family

John–you prayed for me last week

+Tony–Prayed for family. Found out he had emigrated from Liberia–immediately connected with Torre (who had been a missionary in Liberia for 10 years). Tony’s wife is also from Liberia. Came to the US 6 years ago–lived through Civil War in Liberia–prayed for peace of mind in regard to past memories.

+Teshwan–teen-age young man wearing a NY Jets football jersey–prayed for him to pass his class so he can play on the football team

Albany Intercessor

Call2Fall

Pray for Fervent Prayer to Sweep Our Land –

Righteous God, grant to us a burning hunger for Yourself and a passion for fervent prayer. Help us draw near to You and seek You with all our hearts. Lord, cause us to hunger and thirst for You above all else. Help us lead our churches to become houses of prayer for all nations.
(Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 5:6, 21:13; Acts 2:1; Philippians 2:13; James 4:8)

Deliver us from intellectualism

2 Corinthians 10:4 (New Living Translation)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Jehovah-Sabaoth,
Teach us how to pull down the spiritual strongholds that bind our church. We confess our intellectualism, rationalization, pride, ego, and idolatry of the mind and claim the name of Jesus against these spirits.
Knock down these strongholds during the General Convention. Overnight, Gideon knocked down the altar of Baal. In one day, Elijah defeated all the priests of Baal. Raise up mighty men and women of valor to pull down the lies that constrict and constrain Your children in the Episcopal Church. Deliver us, we pray. Amen.

Luke 23:39-43

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39)
      Jesus, you are the Christ and we trust you to save us.

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (Luke 23:40)
      Holy Spirit, please help us recognize the depth of our sin and that it is only by the grace and mercy that comes from Jesus death on the cross and his resurrection that we escape our just condemnation.

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41)
      Father, bring a saving knowledge of Jesus to those who claim he was a sinner like us. Thank you that he was the spotless lamb who bore our sins for us on the cross. Thank you for sending him to live and die for us and for his willingness to do that.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)
      Jesus, remember me now and at the hour of my death.

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
      Jesus, thank you for your words of comfort in our hour of need.

For Independence Day: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
      Holy Spirit, help us to humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways.

For the General Convention of the Episcopal Church: “O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
      Jesus, guide your faithful deputies to the General Convention; help them keep their eyes upon you.

      A word received: You need to be faithful by training people to be my disciples.

      A word received: You are in my care.
      Lord, we look to you; help us to be steady in you.

Saturday: 137:1-6(7-9), 144; 1 Samuel 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19a; Luke 23:32-43
Sunday: 146, 147; 1 Samuel 14:36-45; Rom. 5:1-11; Matthew 22:1-14

      Notes from the Front Line

***** From the Diocesan Update
      This coming Monday, July 6th, the eight members of the Diocese of Albany Deputation and I will be traveling to Anaheim, California, for the 176th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Our diocesan deputation includes: The Rev. Scott Garno, The Rev. Ellen Neufeld, The Rev. Canon Robert Haskell, The Very Rev. John Scott III, David Beaulac, Deborah Fish, Beth Strickland, and Sue Ellen Ruetsch. I ask you and every member of the Diocese to please keep each of us and all those attending General Convention in your prayers. As we all know, The Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion are deeply divided. There are several proposed resolutions coming before General Convention, that have the potential, if passed, of bringing even greater division and destruction, both within The Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion. Please join me in prayer and fasting, asking the Lord through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to touch and transform the hearts and minds of each member of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, cleansing and purifying us of anything that is not of God, that we might hear His voice clearly as we attempt to discern His will, and then act in obedience to His will and always to His honor and glory in all that is said and done at General Convention. The members of the Albany Deputation and I will be returning to Albany on Saturday, July 18th. Thank you again for your prayers. God Bless You!
      Faithfully Yours in Christ,
            +Bill

***** Pray daily for Bishop Bill Love and our deputies to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church:
      Canon Bob Haskell
      Rev. John Scott
      Rev. Scott Garno
      Rev. Ellen Neufeld
      Sue Ellen Ruetsch
      Beth Strickland
      David Beaulac
      Debbie Fish
Pray for our deputies, Bishop Bill Love, and others to speak to the truth of the gospel and the faithfulness of Christ.

Albany Intercessor

Praise

1 Chronicles 16:23-33 (New International Version)

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.

24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy in his dwelling place.

28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,

29 ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.
Bring an offering and come before him;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

33 Then the trees of the forest will sing,
they will sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.

Call2Fall

Pray for Boldness, Holiness and Power in Our Pastors –

Mighty God, please come upon our pastors with deep repentance, dynamic power and renewed passion for Yourself. Grant to him a mighty wall of protection from the world, the flesh and the devil.
(1 Timothy 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:4)