Number 16:46-48 and Isaiah 65:13-19

So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. (Number 16:46-48)
      LORD, incense is the prayers of your saints (Revelation 5:8). Help us with Aaron carry that incense between the living and the dead and stop the plague which is afflicting the Episcopal Church.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: (Isaiah 65:13a)
      Holy Spirit, help us hearken to what you are saying.

“Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry;” (Isaiah 65:13b)
      LORD, your people wander here and there and are not fed by their shepherds.

“Behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty;” (Isaiah 65:13c)
      LORD, the shepherds of the Episcopal Church have muddied and made foul the water your people should be drinking. (Ezekiel 34:18)

“Behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed;” (Isaiah 65:13d)
      LORD, we grieve for your people in the Episcopal Church; come soon and deliver them.

“Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and wail for grief of spirit.” (Isaiah 65:14)
      LORD, we weep for your people in the Episcopal Church; help us in the midst of our sorrow turn to you where true joys are to be found.

“You shall leave your name as a curse to my chosen; for the Lord GOD will slay you, and call his servants by another name;” (Isaiah 65:15)
      Even now, LORD, many of your servants no longer call themselves by the name of the Episcopal Church. There is great confusion among your people, help us walk by the light of the gospel.

“So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth;” (Isaiah 65:16a)
      Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life; help us seek your blessing day by day and walk in your ways, and find new life in your Spirit.

“And he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.” (Isaiah 65:16b)
      LORD, help us return to you so that our former sins may be put away from us as far as the East is from the West and you remember them no more.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)
      Jesus, we long to see your new creation; we long to see the Episcopal Church washed and cleansed, without spot or wrinkle, a bride prepared and ready for you.

“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” (Isaiah 65:18)
      Father, please help us keep our attention on you and your ways so that we can rejoice and be glad. There is a joy in your Spirit that does not depend on circumstances; we long to be people of that kind of joy.

“I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” (Isaiah 65:19)
      Jesus, we await your victory among your people with hope. Thank you for the joy that comes with hope.

Praying The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
      Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
maker of heaven and earth,
      Thank you, Father, for your creation. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to be better stewards of your creation.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. (3 John 4)
      A word received: I want my children to walk in the truth — the whole truth of the gospel. The Gospel contains the whole truth of man’s sin and fall and my redeeming love on the cross to make a people acceptable to my father. Present the whole gospel — all of it.

Dec. 31: 1 Kings 3:5-14; James 4:13-17;5:7-11; John 5:1-15
Eve of Holy Name: 90; Isa. 65:15b-25; Revelation 21:1-6
Holy Name: 148; Isa. 62:1-5, 10-12; Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 1:18-25

Albany Intercessor

Standing Committee, Rio Grande

With the resignation of Bp. Steenson, the standing committee is the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese of Rio Grande.  The members are Rev. Canon Dr. Colin Kelly, Rev. David Luckenbach, Rev. Brian Winter, Ms. Betsy Yost, Canon Paul Shoemaker, and Ms. Diane Butler.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Your Son.  We praise Your holy, life-giving name. 

We ask You to fill Colin, David, Brian, Betsy, Paul, and Diane with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual understanding and wisdom.  We pray that they live lives worthy of You and please You in every way.  May they bear fruit in every good work and lead the diocese of San Joaquin to grow in the knowledge of You.  May they be strengthened in You to have great endurance and patience during this time of transition.  Giving thanks to You in all circumstances, may they guard the kingdom of light, that of Jesus, our Bright Morning Star, within this diocese.  Amen.

Colossians 1:9-13

Luke 2:25-32

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Luke 2:25)
      Father, please help us have the steadiness and endurance of Simeon while we wait for your victory and consolation in the Episcopal Church. Please let your Holy Spirit come upon us as he did upon Simeon.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:26)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for the revelation you gave Simeon. Please speak plainly to this generation and point our lives to Jesus as you did with Simeon.

So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, (Luke 2:27)
      Father, please guide us by your Holy Spirit so that we enter fully into the new life you have for us in Jesus.

he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said: (Luke 2:28)
      Jesus, as we receive you into our hands this morning at the Eucharist, please help us bless our God and father as Simeon did.

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;” (Luke 2:29)
      Jesus, please help us receive the gospel which was preached by your apostles, by which we are saved: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Thank you for giving Simeon a foretaste of the glory that was to come. Help each of us depart this life in peace, according to your word. (From 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30)
      Father, when we look at Jesus as Simeon did with eyes of faith, we see the salvation you have prepared for us.

“Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples,” (Luke 2:31)
      Father, you have made your son Jesus the way to salvation for all peoples.

“A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32)
      Holy Spirit, please let the light of Jesus be revealed to the Episcopal Church and to your people Israel. Thank you.

A word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
      Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
      maker of heaven and earth,
      and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      the only begotten Son of God,
      begotten of his Father before all worlds,
      God of God, Light of Light,
      very God of very God,
      begotten, not made,
      being of one substance with the Father;
      by whom all things were made;
      who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
      and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
      and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
      he suffered and was buried;
      and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
      and ascended into heaven,
      and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
      and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead;
      whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
      who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
      who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
      who spake by the Prophets.
      And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
      and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

First Sunday after Christmas: 34; 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 7b-28; Col. 1:9-20; Luke 2:22-40
Dec. 31: 1 Kings 3:5-14; James 4:13-17;5:7-11; John 5:1-15

Notes from the Front Line

Note from Torre: I would like to commend a book to you. Its title is the Roots of Endurance. It is by John Piper, published by Crossway, copyright ©2002. I got it on Amazon. It looks at the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce and what it was that enabled each of the men to endure through decades of hostility and opposition to win through to victory. The battles we are currently fighting in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion will not be over in just one or two years. There is no quick fix for their problems and issues. We have need of endurance. See what enabled these men to endure.

Albany Intercessor

A word received on the Nicene Creed

A word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
      the Father Almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth,
      and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      the only begotten Son of God,
      begotten of his Father before all worlds,
      God of God, Light of Light,
      very God of very God,
      begotten, not made,
      being of one substance with the Father;
      by whom all things were made;
      who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
      and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
      and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
      he suffered and was buried;
      and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
      and ascended into heaven,
      and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
      and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead;
      whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
      who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
      who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
      who spake by the Prophets.
      And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
      and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Dec. 29: 18:21-50; 2 Samuel 23:13-17b; 2 John 1-13; John 2:1-11
First Sunday after Christmas: 34; 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 7b-28; Col. 1:9-20; Luke 2:22-40

Albany Intercessor

2 John 1-11

The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, (2 John 1)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for helping each of us know our own personal need for redemption from sin and death. Thank you that in knowing this we can love all the brethren who are also in the same need.

because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: (2 John 2)
      Father, thank you for your abiding truth; your word is truth, help us receive your word into our hearts, minds, and spirits.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (2 John 3)
      Jesus, thank you for your grace, mercy, and peace which you have brought us from God our father.

I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. (2 John 4)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for giving us the joy of knowing brothers and sisters who walk in the truth. Thank you for your servants, Bill, Dan and Dave, who have helped us walk in the truth.

And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. (2 John 5)
      Jesus, please let our wisdom and love first be pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (From James 3:17)

This is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. (2 John 6)
      Father, the hearing of so many in the Episcopal Church has grown deaf; restore our hearing of your commandment so that we may walk in it.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 7 )
      Lord, many such deceivers have gone through the Episcopal Church; have mercy on us.

Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. (2 John
      Holy Spirit, please help each of us examine ourselves to see if we are losing those things we have worked for; help us receive our full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)
      Jesus, please help us throughout this diocese to abide in correct doctrine about you.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; (2 John 10)
      Holy Spirit, guide each parish of this diocese and all of our diocesan institutions so that we receive among ourselves only those who speak and teach the truth about Jesus.

for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 11)
      Father, please help those who have brought false teaching among us repent of their evil deeds.

Dec. 29: 18:21-50; 2 Samuel 23:13-17b; 2 John 1-13; John 2:1-11
First Sunday after Christmas: 34; 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 7b-28; Col. 1:9-20; Luke 2:22-40

Albany Intercessor

Isaiah 54:17, A word received

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from me,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)
A word received: Call my people to listen to this word to Isaiah: they are too easily wounded; they need to look to me to protect them in the battle ahead. Look to me, turn to me my people. I can make you prosper when even battle rages around you. Keep your eyes on me — I will defend you.

Holy Innocents, December 28: 19,126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16
Dec. 29: 18:21-50; 2 Samuel 23:13-17b; 2 John 1-13; John 2:1-11

Albany Intercessor

Mark 10:13-16

Then they brought little children to him, that he might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. (Mark 10:13)
      Jesus, in too many parishes those who bring little children are made to feel unwelcome. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to welcome children into every parish in this diocese.

But when Jesus saw it, he was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14)
      Holy Spirit, please help us have Jesus’ priorities as our priorities, and his agenda as our agenda.

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
      Father, please help us come to your kingdom as little children and enter it.

And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:16)
      Jesus, I too come as a little child to receive your blessing.

Holy Innocents, December 28: 19,126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16
Dec. 29: 18:21-50; 2 Samuel 23:13-17b; 2 John 1-13; John 2:1-11

Albany Intercessor

A word received

A word received: Pray for my people — their hearts are filled with anger towards one another. Pray that they will relent of their anger and know that they are just as much in need of my mercy as those they are angry with. Pray for my people to know my “Amazing Grace”. I want this to be heart knowledge, head knowledge, spirit knowledge. I want my people in every part of their lives to know their own personal need for redemption. There is not one — no not one — who can be justified by his own righteousness. The Episcopal Church on all sides is awash with self-righteousness that leads to death.

      Lord, reveal to me my own self-righteousness. You know my blindness — restore my sight.

St. John, December 27: 145; Isaiah 44:1-8; 1 John 5:1-12; John 13:20-35
Holy Innocents, December 28: 19,126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16

Albany Intercessor

1 John 5:1-3

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves him who begot also loves him who is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)
      Father, our love in the Episcopal Church has grown cold as disbelief and denial have sapped our strength and our love.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. (1 John 5:2)
      Father, our love for one another in the Episcopal Church has grown cold — we no longer keep your commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
      Holy Spirit, please help us bear the yoke of the Father’s commandments so that we can grow in love for him and for one another.

      Jesus, I want to be yoked with you in keeping your father’s commandments.

St. John, December 27: 145; Proverbs 8:22-30; Isaiah 44:1-8; 1 John 5:1-12; John 13:20-35
Holy Innocents, December 28: 19,126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16

Albany Intercessor

The unsearchable greatness of the Trinity

Appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began,

Hallowed be Thy name

The First and the Last,

Hallowed be Thy name

Rejoicing before the Lord always.

Hallowed be Thy name

The King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts,

Hallowed be Thy name

Who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ the Messiah,

Hallowed be Thy name

And He Who bears witness to His baptism and His death, the Holy Spirit, Who is the Truth.

Hallowed be Thy name

The three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One.

Hallowed be Thy name

Besides You there is no God. 

Hallowed be Thy name

Proverbs 8:22, 23, 30, Isaiah 44:6, 1 John 5:6-7