A blogger reflects on Lambeth and prayer

While browsing the web tonight looking for the latest blog entries about Lambeth, particularly trying to find perspectives a bit “off the beaten track” and from folks other than TEC and CoE bishops (who seem to be monopolizing the Lambeth blogosphere), I came across an intriguing blog entry by a woman who gave a workshop on intercessory prayer to the Lambeth Spouses Conference.

The whole post is interesting, but it was the final section that caught my eye and I thought I’d post here as food for thought.

So much is commented and speculated about Lambeth in the church at the moment, and so I had my spiritual antenna well and truly primed to the general atmosphere and to any hints of bishoply scraps. There were none of the latter, I’m afraid (if you were hoping for some sensationalist news), and the atmosphere was actually very hope-filled. The ladies in my seminar thanked us Canterburians for praying for them, and asked us not to stop just yet(!), but I thought the whole thing got put rather sharply into perspective when the Congolese lady said could I ask my friends to pray for her country because there have been decades of war, there is terrible poverty, women are routinely raped and there isn’t enough food. I know the doctrinal issues are important, but for some people they really must pale into insignificance compared to what they see around them on a day-to-day basis.

It felt right and truly powerful to say that those of us from other parts of the world would pray for Congo in a new way after meeting her. If Lambeth does nothing except bring the worldwide Anglican Church together so that leaders can stand shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters from struggling, lonely situations and pray for them, then it’s got to be worthwhile hasn’t it?

[the full entry is here]

Anyway, these words made me realize how often I only focus on praying for Global South bishops and their Provinces when there is a major Anglican event (Primates’ meeting, GAFCON, Lambeth, etc.)

What if we were all to allow the Lord to direct us to a particular Global South Primate, Province, bishop or diocese that we would REGULARLY commit to upholding in prayer, that we would get to know in depth about their needs and concerns beyond the “hot button Anglican crisis issues” we spend so much time in prayer about. Hmmm. I know many of us come from churches with companion diocese relationships, but how much is prayer a part of those relationships? What about a companion diocese prayer movement? Just wondering…

(posted by Karen B.)

Update re: link for ACNS Daily Lambeth Prayers

ACNS has slightly reorganized its Lambeth Daily page, and there is now a separate category listing for its daily prayer posts. However, it still seems that they post each day’s prayer at the end of each day, rather than at the beginning. Today’s prayer was not yet posted when I just checked (18:30 UTC).

Suggested Prayer Topics for Lambeth at the Common Cause Prayer blog

Our friends at the Common Cause Prayer Blog have a great section of suggested topics for prayers for Lambeth today:

Prayers for the Lambeth Conference

For all CCP Bishops who are present (from on-site intercessors)

* Courage, boldness, strength, stamina, clear concise thinking and speaking; to say what they mean and mean what they say.
* To have the Mind of Christ.
* Protection against surprises from the media.
* That they remain calm and on course in the midst of any storm that may suddenly arise.

For media and bloggers

* To seek and articulate the truth, with wisdom and courage and diligence
* Spiritual protection: to be full of good cheer and wisdom, rather than demoralized over events that occur or do not occur

Special petitions from the Archbishop of the Sudan

* We pray that God will heal us from the spirit of division.
* We pray for God’s strength and wisdom so that we might be built up in unity as the Body of Christ. The Most Revd Dr. Daniel Deng Bul

Special petitions from the Diocese of Sydney (linked by Anglican Network in Canada)

* Bishop Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney and Commissary of the Diocese of Sydney, has called upon the people of the diocese to be in prayer for the Lambeth Conference which starts this weekend in England.
“You will remember that when Archbishop Jensen announced our painful decision, in conscience, not to attend Lambeth, he also assured Archbishop Williams of our prayers for the conference. We grieve at the failings and defections from orthodox Christian behaviour and teaching in our Communion and fervently pray that things may yet be healed. We pray that both Lambeth and the GAFCON movement will be used by God to help churches throughout our communion move forward in love and truth.”

Our worthy opponent journalists

Episcopal News Service is at the heart of the press organization at Lambeth Conference. I don’t know how many folks they have on site and how many are working from 815. The Director is James Solheim; the Deputy Director is the Rev. Jan Nunley, and the Communications Assistant is Daphne Mack. Jim Naughton is there from the Episcopal diocese of Washington DC. Katie Sherrod is there, but I don’t know whether she is a representative of ENS.

Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Almsgiving

During our prayer campaigns, we regularly feature almsgiving, which along with prayers and praise, is a pleasing sacrifice to our God.

Anglican Relief and Development has a program for Sudan for Primary Teacher Training
Amount: $18,475
Implementor: Khartoum Diocese, Episcopal Church of Sudan

Sudan, and especially the southern part of the country, has one of the lowest educational enrollment rates in the world. As part of the wider Episcopal Church of Sudan’s Teacher Training and School Development Program, this project will provide training to primary school teachers in Sudan to help alleviate the critical shortage of well-equipped teachers. 40 primary school teachers will be trained during the 10 week training course in Khartoum.

I’m having trouble with the link from my computer. However, some folks are not. A check may be sent to Anglican Relief and Development, Anglican Communion Network, 535 Smithfield Street, Suite #910, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. If you want it earmarked for Sudan, write Sudan on the memo line.

From our archives – A hurricane liturgy, for all in Hurricane Dolly’s path

Hurricane Dolly

As our regular readers will know, we at L&B have often posted prayers in times of natural disaster (especially the Asian Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina), and several of us follow hurricanes quite closely. Hurricane Dolly is very close to making landfall this morning on the Mexico / Texas border.

Brownsville Texas looks to be facing the brunt of the storm (which is currently just below Category 2 strength, it’s strengthened rapidly overnight). There are many poor areas with substandard housing in the Brownsville area, and so this storm could bring much suffering.

So, it’s time to dust off the wonderful hurricane liturgy from the archives of our original blog site and repost it here. Please pray for all in Dolly’s path today.

***

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Christ, have mercy.
C: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord, have mercy.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of peril and apprehension, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of mighty winds, thunderous sounds, strong rains, and surging waves, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of complete uncertainty, as well as concern for our loved ones, here or elsewhere, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of our own vulnerable mortality, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For the strength that God alone can give us, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For all that it takes to keep our children calm and safe, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For faith that can move mountains and remove all fear, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For trust in God’s loving presence in our midst, even at this very hour, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For trust that in life and in death, God will not abandon us, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Almighty God, we poor creatures place our lives into your hands that you might protect and guide us according to your will; Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Do not hold our sins against us, but remember us in our faith and love for you; Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Be our light in the darkness, our hope in the storm, our peace in the chaos, our trust in the unknown; Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Mighty are your works, O Lord, and mighty is your saving hand.
Turn your ear to our petitions and supplications; Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear, our prayer.

L: God of heaven and earth, God who carries our lives and the lives of our whole community in your hands, be with is in the peril of this day/night. Help us to release our anxieties and fears into those same caring hands, knowing in faith that your will for us is life and everlasting good. Send your holy angels to watch over us and guard us. May they spread their holy wings to give us shelter against the storm. For you alone, O God, are all good, all life, all love, and that love is for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

Prayer for Lambeth, July 23

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, ignite in the Anglican Communion bishops your holy fire; strengthen them with the gift of faith, revive your Church with the breath of love, and renew the face of the earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (adapted from CoE Common Worship Collects)

Selected Passages from today’s lectionary:

Ps. 119: 57, 58  The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. 58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

Rom 14: 17-19  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

***

The latest daily prayer bulletin (#6) from the Pray Lambeth site is here.

All of Lent & Beyond’s Lambeth prayers and resources are here. We’ve also got a post with links to a number of other Lambeth Prayer Resources, here.

(posted by KB)

Psalm 49:5-9

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? (Psalm 49:5)
      Holy Spirit, you are closer than any fear or enemy. Thank you.

Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, (Psalm 49:6)
      Jesus, let our boast be in you — in your cross and resurrection.

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him– (Psalm 49:7)
      Jesus, you have paid the full cost for our redemption. Thank you.

For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever– (Psalm 49:8 )
      Father, you have called us to do good works, but we are not saved by those works, we are saved by the shed blood of your son Jesus. Thank you.

That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit. (Psalm 49:9)
      Holy Spirit, please help us live in the hope of the resurrection. Thank you.

A word received: I AM with you: that is sufficient.

Wednesday: 49,[53]; Joshua 8:30-35; Rom. 14:13-23; Matt. 26:57-68
Thursday: [59,60] or 66, 67; Joshua 9:3-21; Rom. 15:1-13; Matt. 26:69-75

Albany Intercessor

God is able

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:4

Lambeth — A Prayer for the Primate and Bishops of Sudan (updated with picture)

Update: I discovered the Rev. George Conger has a fantastic picture of Abp. Deng on his blog, so I just had to update this post to include the Sudanese Primate’s picture!

——–

Sudanese Primate, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul

It has come as something of a surprise in the last 24 hours to read of the bold statement passed by the Province of Sudan at the Lambeth Conference. The Sudanese bishops, and their new Primate, the Most Reverend Dr. Daniel Deng Bul have created huge waves at Lambeth by calling for the resignation of bishop Gene Robinson, as the press coverage today demonstrates. (Here are a few links to some of the articles that have appeared in the last few hours: Telegraph, Christian Today, Guardian, Times Online, Anglican Journal (how interesting to note the absence of US Press coverage so far!)) Archbishop Deng Bul gave a press briefing today which you can read here.

As I read this news and think about the stand taken by the Sudanese bishops, I’m reflecting on the crisis in Sudan. I have close personal friends who have worked in Darfur. I know quite a bit about the suffering and need in Sudan. How much easier it would have been for the Sudanese bishops to ignore the problems in the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion and be consumed by their own needs. How easy it would have been for them to close their eyes to the actions of TEC and NOT make waves, so as to continue receiving much needed gifts from wealthy Episcopalians. And yet, that is not what they’ve done. They have done the opposite.

PLEASE read the statement issued by the Province of Sudan and the reports of Abp. Deng’s press conference. A few of the excerpts as reported by Cherie Wetzel of Anglicans United are striking:

“I am here talking to my brothers and sisters in America. We have experienced offense by their actions. I am not trying to offend them in return but tell them that I love them. We have had a painful experience and they must ask for forgiveness so we can go on together. [...]

“This issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion has a very serious effect in my country. We are called ‘infidels’ by the Moslems. That means that they will do whatever they can against us to keep us from damaging the people of our country. They challenge our people to convert to Islam and leave the infidel Anglican Church. When our people refuse, sometimes they are killed. These people are very evil and mutilate and harm our people. I am begging the Communion on this issue so no more of my people will be killed.

“My people have been suffering for 21 years of war. Their only hope is in the Church. It is the center of life of my people. No matter what problem we have, no material goods, no health supplies or medicine; no jobs or income; no availability of food. The inflation rate makes our money almost worthless and we have done this for 21 years. The Church is the center of our life together.

“The culture does not change the Bible; the Bible changes the culture. [...]

***

Last week I wrote a post focused on the Lord’s charge to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous.” It seems the bishops and Primate of Sudan are such bold, strong and courageous leaders. Thanks be to God for their witness and example!

What gives this kind of boldness? The reality of knowing Christ’s power to save and deliver us from sin! One of the Church Fathers, St. John Chrysostom writes of this:

Blessed is God . . . who makes all things and renews them. Those who were captive yesterday are today free persons and citizens of the church. Those who were formerly in the shame of sin now have boldness and righteousness. They are not only free, but saints; not only saints, but just; not only just, but sons; not only sons, but heirs; not only heirs, but brothers of Christ; not only brothers of Christ, but his co-heirs; not only his co-heirs, but his members; not only his members, but temples; not only temples, but instruments of the Spirit. — John Chrysostom

I think boldness also is given as a special gift to those who have been persecuted, and those who have tasted of the Lord’s goodness and strength even in great suffering. (And certainly Sudanese Christians have been persecuted and know suffering!) An alternate translation of Psalm 138:3 says “In the day when I cried out, you answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. ” In Acts 4, we read of the disciples praying for continued boldness upon Peter and John’s release from prison, even as they acknowledged the threats against them:

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

And likewise, in Ephesians 6, we see the Apostle Paul exhorting believers to pray that he would continue to be bold, even while he was in chains for the Gospel!

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Please join me in offering prayers of thanksgiving for the Sudanese bishops, and the other Global South leaders they represent, and the bold stand they have taken at great cost. Pray too for continued wisdom, strength and protection for the Sudanese bishops in the face of opposition, accusation and persecution.

God of power, whose Holy Spirit renews your people. May the boldness of the Spirit transform the bishops and Primate of Sudan, the gentleness of the Spirit lead them, and the gifts of the Spirit equip them to serve and worship you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Adapted from CoE Common Worship collects)

Lord, we thank you for the Bishops of Sudan and other Global South leaders who are taking a bold stand for the unchanging truth of Your Gospel. We know that they will face attacks for their stand. Help them to continue to find their strength in your might. Clothe them with your full armor: put on them the shoes of the preparation to share the gospel of peace; gird their loins with your truth; put on them the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation; put on them the shield of faith with which to quench every fiery dart of the evil one; place in their hands the sword of your Spirit which is your word; help them to speak and pray boldly as we are commanded we ought to, and having stood all to stand. Amen, so be it. (From Ephesians 6:10-20) (Adapted from a prayer written by Torre Bissell, one of my L&B colleagues)

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon the Sudanese bishops, and all other Anglican leaders who are taking a bold stand for the Gospel, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace: and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, prayer for bishops)

(posted by Karen B.)