Tanzania

Tanzania has elected a new primate, Bishop Valentino L. Mokiwa of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam.  Today’s psalm seems so appropriate, I will simply post it.  May Bishop Valentino dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

 Psalm 91 NIV

 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust.”

 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.

 4 He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 5 You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 7 A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

 8 You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 10 then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.

 11 For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;

 12 they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.

 16 With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation.” 

Mark 6:45-52 and Luke 18:41

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent the multitude away. And when he had sent them away, he departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and he was alone on the land. (Mark 6:45-47)
      Jesus, please help us be at the task you have given us.

Then he saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. (Mark 6:48)
      Jesus, so many of your intercessors for the Episcopal Church are weary from straining at the oars and the wind is against us. Have mercy on us and come to us as you came to these disciples.

And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; (Mark 6:49)
      Jesus, when you visit us, we shall probably be surprised (and frightened) as the disciples, but come anyway.

for they all saw him and were troubled. But immediately he talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. ” (Mark 6:50)
      Holy Spirit, please help every intercessor for the Episcopal Church hear these words of Jesus and take comfort from them.

Then he went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. (Mark 6:51)
      Jesus, please help every intercessor for this diocese know in some tangible way that you are with them.

For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:52)
      Father, we too often lack understanding because our hearts are hardened. Please let the continual dew of your Holy Spirit come down upon us and soften our hearts. Thank you.

“‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, that I may receive my sight’” (Luke 18:41).
      Lord, help us in the Episcopal Church receive our sight.

       A word received: “Come to me all that travail and are heavily burdened.” Offer your burdens to me.

Praying the Nicene Creed daily: 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.

Friday: 91, 92: Genesis 47:1-26; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 6:47-56
Saturday: 136: Genesis 47:27-48:7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Mark 7:1-23

Albany Intercessor

Mark 6:30-44 and Comfortable Words

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And he said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (Mark 6:30-31)
      Holy Spirit, please guide Bishop Bill and the leaders and teachers of this diocese into a place of quiet waters where they may find rest for their souls.

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. (Mark 6:32)
      Jesus, please help all the priests, deacons, and lay leaders of this diocese strive to enter your rest. (From Hebrews 4:11)

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. (Mark 6:33)
      Father, grant that your people throughout this diocese will show the same zeal in seeking out your son Jesus.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
      Jesus, help us have your compassion for all those who come to the prayer table: so many are like sheep having no shepherd. Help us introduce them to you.

When the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 6:35-36)
      Lord Jesus, help us look to you and your resources and not our own as we seek to minister to those who come to us.

But he answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37)
      Jesus, we so easily lose sight of what you can do.

But he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” (Mark 6:38)
      Holy Spirit, help us bring every resource we have to the table for your work and ministry.

Then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fish he divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. (Mark 6:39-42)
      Father, as Jesus did, we look to you to multiply our loaves and fishes to feed your people.

And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. (Mark 6:43)
      Jesus, please gather up the fragments of our lives.

Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. (Mark 6:44)
      Jesus, thank you for doing for us what we are unable to do in our strength.

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him.
* COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. St. Matt. xi. 28.
* So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John iii. 16.
* Hear also what Saint Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15.
* Hear also what Saint John saith. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins. 1 St. John ii. 1, 2.

Praying the Nicene Creed daily: 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.

A word received: I AM with you; keep your eyes on me. Let me be Lord of your circumstances — give me the details of your life.

Thursday: 85, 86: Genesis 46:1-7,28-34; 1 Corinthians 9:1-15; Mark 6:30-46
Friday: 91, 92: Genesis 47:1-26; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 6:47-56

      Notes from the Front Line

***** CLARIFICATION. The Healing Service for the Hudson and Metropolitan Deaneries is this Thursday, Feb 28 at St. Peter’s, Albany. The remaining Lenten Healing Services are
      Mon, Mar 3 - Messiah, Glens Falls (Southern Adirondack & Upper Hudson Deaneries)
      Wed, Apr 9 - St. Mark’s, Malone (Northern Adirondack & St. Lawrence Deaneries) - reschedule of postponed service.

***** Please pray for Bishop Bill as he prepares to attend the House of Bishops Spring Meeting at Camp Allen, Texas, March 7-12.

Albany Intercessor

Diocesan conventions

This weekend the dioceses of New Jersey and Louisiana will convene.

Genesis 46:2 NIV

 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
      ”Here I am,” he replied.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Speak to Your people that meet this weekend.  Open their ears to hear Your voice and their hearts to obey.  Amen.

For an unborn child

This weekend the diocese of Louisiana will vote whether to dissociate from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 

Gracious Father,We are Your offspring.  In You we live and move and have our being.  Dwell in (name of pregnant woman)’s body.  Fill her womb with Your Holy Spirit.  Surround her baby with the light of Christ.  Lord, You are our strong tower.  Be the shield and buffer around this unborn child that it may be safe.  Amen.

Proverbs 18:10, Acts 17:28

Dallas bishop election

On March 29, the diocese of Dallas will elect a bishop suffragan.  This prayer came from their website.

Eternal God, we give you thanks for the gift of the resurrection of you Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, and praise you that for our sakes, He gave us the Apostolic ministry. Make us worthy stewards of this trust. And guide us as we seek a Bishop Suffragan, who will be called to be one with the Apostles, in ministry, witness and teaching; that your Church in this Diocese may be built up and your Son glorified in all we do; this we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 81:8-16

“Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to me! (Psalm 81:8)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)

There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. (Psalm 81:9)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:11)

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17)

“But my people would not heed my voice, and Israel would have none of Me. (Psalm 8111:)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:29)

So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. (Psalm 81:12)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:6)

“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! (Psalm 81:13)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:13)

I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. (Psalm 81:14)
      ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:22)

The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to him, but their fate would endure forever. (Psalm 81:15)
      LORD, strip away every pretense of the Episcopal Church.

He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.” (Psalm 81:16)
      Jesus, you are the rock of our salvation; help us taste of you and see that you are good. (From Psalm 34:8)

A word received: What is true then is true today. I AM the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I long to pour out my Holy Spirit on you.

Praying the Nicene Creed daily: 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.

Wednesday: 81, 82: Genesis 45:16-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29
Thursday: 85, 86: Genesis 46:1-7,28-34; 1 Corinthians 9:1-15; Mark 6:30-46

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:33:06
From: Sister Mary Elizabeth
Subject: Prayers for the Welcome Home Initiative
Dear Torre and Jean–
      Please ask our Intercessors to continue to pray for the first Welcome Home Initiative healing retreat upcoming March 17-19 at Christ the King Center in Greenwich. Seven combat warriors and their families have signed up to date, including a mix of chaplains and regular servicemen. In particular, pray
*      for God to continue to lead combat veterans to participate in this first retreat,
*      for preparation, planning and team formation including consultants and program leaders, direct ministry prayer teams, greeters and hosts to help extend a welcome to these families, an auxiliary program planned for youth accompanying their parents during the retreat, and formation of an intercessory team (on and off site),
*      for reasonable (though seasonable) weather for the three days including safe travel for participants and team,
*      for an abundant harvest of healing during the retreat — both in a release of pain and grief from the hearts of men and women who have sacrificed much for our country and freedoms and through an infilling of the spiritual grace of the love and peace of Christ, and
*      for an after effect of continued healing and strengthening of individual and family lives after the Welcome Home retreat is over.
      If you are a combat veteran, or know a combat veteran, please pray about attending or suggesting that others attend the retreat.
      If you would like to write a “letter of appreciation” or a “note” to a veteran serving your country (similar to palanca in Cursillo or other renewal programs) please send your letter to the Welcome Home Initiative, Christ the King Spiritual Life Center, 575 Burton Road, Greenwich, NY 12834.
      There will be a Closing Ceremony at the conclusion of the three days to which the whole diocese is invited to show their appreciation to these combat veterans. If you wish to thank you these men, women and their families for their service to us, be at the Great Hall at CtK Center at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19, to say “Well done! Welcome Home!”
      If you wish to serve as an Intercessor, e-mail me at melizcsm@aol.com. If you are able to serve in other ways, contact Sandra Lester at SLester@christ-the-king-center.org.
Sister Mary Elizabeth, CSM, for the Oratory of Christ the Healer at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY

Albany Intercessor

Repentance

We cry out for our church, O Lord.  When we lift up our hands in prayer, do You hide Your eyes and close Your ears? 

We confess the sin of supporting abortion and renounce our affiliation with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 

Have pity on us, Son of David.  We are so blind.  Have pity.

Our hands are full of blood, and our sins red as crimson.  Wash us, Lord, and make us clean.  Then our hearts shall be pure as snow, and our prayers shall reach Your ears.  Have pity.  Amen.

Isaiah 1:15-18

Psalm 78:41-53

How often they provoked him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert! (Psalm 78:40)
      LORD, we have provoked you by our sin as the Episcopal Church wanders in this wilderness of its own choosing.

Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. (Psalm 78:41)
      Jesus, just as you could do not mighty work among your own people because of their unbelief, so we too have limited what you can do in the Episcopal Church by our unbelief; have mercy on us and help us repent of our unbelief. (From Mark 6:5-6)

They did not remember his power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, (Psalm 78:42)
      Father, please help us receive the power of your Holy Spirit as we turn away from the enemy and back to you.

When he worked his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan; (Psalm 78:43)
      Father, you have worked mighty signs to deliver your people from the bondage of sin.

Turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink. He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. He also gave up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to fiery lightning. He cast on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them. He made a path for his anger; he did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the plague, And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, the first of their strength in the tents of Ham. (Psalm 78:44-51)
      Father, please help us remember the mighty signs you have worked: restore to the Episcopal Church the living memory of Jesus’ passion, death on the cross for our sins, his resurrection and triumph over death, and the sending of your Holy Spirit.

But he made his own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; (Psalm 78:52)
      Jesus, you are the good shepherd, please guide your faithful people in the Episcopal Church as a flock in the present wilderness.

And he led them on safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (Psalm 78:53)
      Father you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (From 2 Timothy 1:7) As we see all the threats of the leaders of the Episcopal Church, help us pray as the early church prayed: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)

A word received: Pray that my people will forgive their persecutors as Stephen forgave his. (See Acts 7:59-60)

Tuesday: 78:40-72: Genesis 45:1-15; 1 Corinthians 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13
Wednesday: 81, 82: Genesis 45:16-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for the Diocese of Albany Men’s Retreat: April 25 — 27 at CtK Spiritual Life Center. The theme is Perseverance: Running Faithfully the Race of Life. Guest speaker will be Captain Jim Mulligan, author of The Hanoi Commitment.

***** Pray for the Regional Lenten Healing Services. The services begin at 7 PM with Bishop Love and Fr. Mumford leading the services. You are welcome to attend any service that fits your schedule.
      Tue, Feb 26 — St. Mark’s, Malone (Northern Adirondack & St. Lawrence Deaneries)
      Thu, Feb 28 — St. Peter’s, Albany (Hudson and Metropolitan Deaneries)
      Mon, Mar 3 — Messiah, Glens Falls (Southern Adirondack & Upper Hudson Deaneries)

Albany Intercessor

Have pity

On Feb 29-Mar 1, the diocese of Louisiana will vote on dissociation from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 

Have pity, Lord.  Have pity.  Our eyes are like bottomless wells.  They yearn for more and more, the desire digging deeper and deeper into our hearts.  We cannot be satisfied.

Have mercy, Lord.  Have mercy.  Our eyes are not focused on You, the source of life.  Have mercy, Lord.  Have mercy.    As we move away from You, we creep closer to death.  The desires of our eyes and hearts are digging graves for unborn children. 

Have pity.  Amen.

Jeremiah 22:17