Expelled

The film Expelled is a fascinating intersection of science, religion, and politics. I highly recommend it.

Dear Lord,
We lift up the film Expelled and pray that it will serve the common good and the pursuit of freedom in our faith communities, in institutions of higher learning, in the public square, and in our nation.
Bless it, dear Lord. Bless it. Amen.

Uganda Christian University

From the Uganda Partners website:

A Collect for Uganda Christian University
Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, make this school a real community and may whatever is just, pure, lovable and gracious abound and flourish here. Keep for the school an unspoiled name, develop it for wider usefulness; and may we value it as an instrument for bringing glory to your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Collect for Uganda Christian University Partners
Heavenly Father, we ask you to continue to bless the good works you have begun through Uganda Christian University Partners. We ask that you guide and direct our every thought and action that it may truly be your will and truth that prevail. We thank you for the opportunity to participate in spreading your Gospel to “the ends of the earth.”

Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

From The Seed and Harvest:
We bid your prayers for:

Students (academics, finances, health), their spouses and their children, especially families whose lives have been uprooted.

Graduating Seniors and their families as they prepare to leave Trinity for ministry elsewhere.

Alumni, whether by one year or 25+, that they may continue to pursue holiness through Christ and the perpetuation of the gospel through them.

International students, who sacrifice time away from their families for the sake of their call, and whose lives and safety are often at risk because of their faith. Pray especially for peace in Kenya, and for those who live and serve in East Africa.

Trinity’s faculty and staff – each one plays an important part in the students’ lives and therefore in the spread of the gospel.

Our donors – who provide for us with their financial support, continued prayers and encouragement; please also pray for increased financial provision for the School.

Those exploring a call to seminary and ministry, that God would mold and orchestrate the events of their lives according to his will, and that if and when they choose Trinity, we would be humbly ready for their arrival.

The Search Committee for Trinity’s next Dean/President, and the person God has already chosen.

We thank God for Ambridge!

Obedience

If you live according to my laws and obey my commands . . . I will live among you in my sacred Tent, and I will never turn away from you. I will be with you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. Leviticus 26:3, 11, 12

If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. John 14:15-17a

Lord, make speed to help us in the Anglican Communion. Send Your Spirit to her leaders, especially Rowan Williams, to reveal the truth about God and to help them live in obedience to Your commands. Amen.

The Anglican Communion

Heavenly Father,
You are a God of power and great deeds. You shelter Your people and guide them. Through the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ, You provide us with living water. It is a great mystery. You send Your Holy Spirit and it flows like a river.
We in the Anglican Communion have been unfaithful to You. Have mercy. Hold back Your anger and restrain Your fury. Remember that we are only mortal beings, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 78:4, 14-16, 38-39

Servants and saints

For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants.
They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt:
I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 25:55

Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
to me the least of saints,
to me allow that I may keep even the smallest door,
the farthest, darkest, coldest door,
the door that is least used, the stiffest door.
If only it be in Your house, O God,
that I can see Your glory even afar,
and hear Your voice,
and know that I am with You, O God.
St Columba

Polycarp

This intercession by Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor in the 2nd century, is a good one for the Anglican Communion.

We pray that God, the Father, and the eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, may nurture us in faith, truth and love, and grant us our portion among the saints, and all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for all the people of Christ, for rulers and leaders, for all the enemies of the cross, and for ourselves that our fruit may increase, and we be made perfect in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Hat tip: RichardKew@aol.com

Prayer resources

Two collections of prayers, Prayers for a Sorry Mess and For Joy, Prayers for a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient can be ordered online. Also available is a spiral desktop calendar, Sacred in Time, using the fixed days of the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar.

Depths of grace

The ocean depths raise their voice, O Lord; they raise their voice and roar. Psalm 93:3

In the 19th century Felix Mendelssohn visited a lonely Scottish island composed of basalt columns and climbed into its vast cavern. The breaking of the waves in Fingal’s cave inspired the composition of “The Hebrides Overture.”

Dear Heavenly Father,
Your glory fills the earth. Waves of tender mercy lap at our feet. Your grace was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ Your Son. His resurrection breaks over us, delivering us from our sins. He is the Life. He delivers us from our distress. Kindness without regard to merit reverberates through creation. We thank You for the forgiveness of our sins. We honor You for our adoption as Your sons and daughters. We praise You for the newness of life, for every gift you have bestowed. Our hearts swell with the roar of Your Spirit of Grace.
Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Amen.

Canadian Network

The Canadian Network National Conference is meeting. The theme is ‘For Christ’s love compels us.”

AND THE Lord said to Moses,
Say to all the assembly of the Israelites, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2

O God,
We give thanks to You for You are holy and have done wonderful things. You are our judge, and we trust in You.
We are weak, God. We live in a culture that promotes pride and arrogance. We are careless with Your instructions for the Sabbath and religious festivals. We are surrounded by false prophets.
Look to the Canadian Network conference. Guard them from Satan’s snares. Strengthen them where they are weak. Open the eyes of their hearts so that they may find the narrow gate to life in You. Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father,
May the worship, the actions, and the fellowship of the Canadian Network Conference be acceptable in Your sight. May Your Spirit flow through their words, whether in conversation, prayer, or teaching so that those who hear and read them will be compelled by Christ’s love. Amen.

Zimbabwe

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, the Archbishop of Southern Africa Thabo Cecil Makgoba, and the retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu have called for an arms embargo to Zimbabwe, where post-election tensions are high. There is concern that the nation could slide into anarchy.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Your children in Zimbabwe have drunk bitter water for a long time. Cast the cross of Christ into these bitter waters, and change their tears of despair into tears of joy.
Close the door to the bitterness and ungodliness of the past, and bar it with the cross of Christ. Help them to listen to You, to do what is right in Your eyes, and to keep Your commandments.
Heal this nation. May they dwell amidst many wells of living water. Amen.
Exodus 15:23-27

This prayer was posted by commenter Bob K. at StandFirm.

Our Father in heaven, we, your church, beseech you now by the mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the comfort, encouragement, and empowering of your children in the troubled land of Zimbabwe. Since we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers, and rulers of this present darkness, we ask that Your Mighty Holy Spirit and warring angels would be sent forth from Your’ presence into Zimbabwe to fight against the evil schemes of the enemy, and deal him and his forces defeat by the blows and mighty onslaught of Your heavenly power. May Your name be praised, Amen.

Network bishops

Today the Network bishops meet.

In You, O Lord, may Jack, Keith, Robert, William, Mark, John-David, John, James, and Peter put their trust. Guard them from confusion. In Your righteousness, deliver them. Incline Your ear to them and save them. Be their continual fortress. Rescue them from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For You, O Lord, are their hope and their trust. May they lean on You and not on their own understanding. May they continually praise You.

They are derided by many, but You are their strong refuge. Let their mouths be filled with Your praise and honor all day. Do not forsake them when their strength is spent. Their enemies consult together to persecute them, oblivious to Your strength.

O God, be not far from Jack, Keith, Robert, William, Mark, John-David, John, James, and Peter. Make haste to help them.

May their accusers be put to shame and consumed. Let those who try to hurt them be covered with dishonor and scorn.

May the Network bishops hope in You continually, praise You more and more, testify of Your righteous acts and healing works all the day, and go forth in Your strength. Amen.
Psalm 71:1-16

Beulah land

Our parish had lectio divina on Isaiah 55 today–so relaxing and reassuring. Then my husband and I went for a walk. The aroma of the honeysuckle fills the air, and the crickets are in chorus. My thoughts are a tumble of Mississippi spring, Anglican striving, and God. Mostly God.

God, far and near Your word has gone forth to accomplish what You desire. Desire, Lord. Desire the Anglican Communion.
You cannot share Your glory with lies. Clothe her in Truth. May Your healing flow within her and Your salvation radiate from her heart. She wishes to bring You delight.
She looks to the hills from where her help comes, and she praises You. She stands among the trees of the field, and she exalts You. She joins the whispering wind in the pine trees with songs of love. She claps her hands with the wind at the clattering applause of the magnolia leaves.
And she trusts that when, dear Lord, You wish her to advance quickly, she will hear the sound of the marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.
Until that time she waits. For You.
Desire her, Lord. Desire.

San Joaquin

The legal battle continues in San Joaquin.

O God,
Send Your Spirit down upon Your people in San Joaquin like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. May the righteous flourish and the peace that passeth understanding abound. Amen.
Psalm 72:6-7

Network bishops

The Network bishops, Jack, Keith, Robert, William, Mark, John-David, John, James, and Peter, meet in Chicago on Thursday.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the bright morning star, the light of the world. Blaze forth in the heart of each bishop attending this conference. Clear away all strongholds of false philosophies that would impair their vision or harden their hearts. May their understanding be lucid, Your path forward for each bishop be clear, and their hearts be obedient. Send Your holy angels to strengthen them for what lies ahead, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 6:22

Previous prayers can be found here and here.