Freedom from slavery to sin — Wilberforce Commemoration Collect

In the context of Abp. Mouneer’s remarks to the Times Online, (see post below) I was struck that yesterday was the commemoration of William Wilberforce. Perhaps that fact influenced +Mouneer’s remarks re: the slavery to the flesh. In any case, here is the collect commemorating William Wilberforce. Really timely…!

O God our deliverer,
who didst send thy Son Jesus Christ
to set thy people free from the slavery of sin:
grant that, as thy servant William Wilberforce
toiled against the sin of slavery,
so we may bring compassion to all,
and work for the liberty of all the children of God;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

And here is the suggested Post-Communion prayer:

O God our redeemer,
who didst inspire William Wilberforceto witness to thy love
and to labour for the coming of thy kingdom:
grant that we, who in this sacrament share the bread of heaven,
may be fired by thy Spirit
to proclaim the gospel in our daily lives
and never to rest content until thy kingdom come,
on earth as it is in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer for Abp. Mouneer Anis of Egypt (Primate of Jerusalem & Middle East)

The Times Online has posted some commentary about Lambeth by various bishops, including a long excerpt by Abp. Mouneer Anis of Egypt (Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East).

You can read the whole commentary here.

I was stuck most by these words, and so thankful for Bp. Mouneer’s clarity and honesty, and for his concern for the spiritual health of those in North America, and his warning about slavery to the flesh:

I find that many of our North American friends blame us and criticise us for bringing in the issues of sexuality and homosexuality but in fact they are the ones who are bringing these issues in. Here at Lambeth, you come across many advertisements for events organised by gay and Lesbian activists which are sponsored by the North American Church. If you visit the marketplace at the conference, you will notice that almost half the events promoted on the noticeboard promote homosexuality and are sponsored by the North Americans. And in the end, we, the people who remain loyal to the original teaching of the Anglican Communion, which we received from the Apostles, are blamed. They say that we talk a lot about sexuality and that we need to talk more about poverty, about AIDs, and injustice. They are the ones who are bringing sexuality into this conference. It’s not us. We want to talk about the heart of the issues which divide us, not only sexuality. That is just a symptom of a deeper problem.

They talk about the slavery and say that 200 years ago Christians were opposed to the freedom of slaves and they compare us to those Christians for our attitude to gay and lesbian practises. To be honest, I think this is inviting us to another kind of slavery, slavery of the flesh, to go and do whatever our lusts dictate. Sometimes, I think that maybe because of the pressure in Western culture to push the practise of homosexuality, our friends in the West are pushing these issues. But, on the other hand, I see many who live in the West and still want to preserve the faith and the tradition of the Church. Should we allow culture to pressure the Church or should the Church be distinctive, light and salt to the world? Cardinal Ivan Dias said that we didn’t bring the Gospel to the culture we could end up suffering from spiritual Alzheimers.” the rest

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for Abp. Mouneer, that in his vocation and ministry he may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Acts 1:15-22 and Joshua 24:31

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, (Acts 1:15)
      Holy Spirit, raise up bishops like Peter in our day who will truly lead your people.

“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; (Acts 1:16)
      Holy Spirit, as you spoke through Scripture to your assembled body then, speak through Scripture to the bishops at Lambeth and those bishops who could not go to Lambeth for conscience sake.

for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” (Acts 1:17)
      Jesus, there are numbered among the bishops those who betray you now as Judas did.

(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) (Acts 1:18-19)
      Jesus, we grieve for those bishops who are betraying you by their words and deeds — even now, draw them back from destruction.

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’” (Acts 1:20)
      Holy Spirit, as you did with the church then, do in our day and let other, faithful witnesses take up the office of those who have abandoned their office by their unfaithfulness.

“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22)
      Father, raise up bishops in our day who know the saving deeds you have worked among us through your son Jesus.

Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which he had done for Israel. (Joshua 24:31)
      LORD, raise up in our day elders who know your works so that we do not go astray any longer.

A word received: Call my people back to me.

Thursday: 74; Judges 4:4-23; Acts 1:15-26; Matthew 27:55-66
Friday: 73; Judges 5:1-18; Acts 2:1-21; Matthew 28:1-10

Albany Intercessor

Writers’ list

There are many journalists at Lambeth, but no list of names of the journalists. I gathered a list of some writers, mostly from StandFirm’s Around the World page. This list is not intended to be complete, but every prayer helps.

At the foot of the cross

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Matthew 27:55

O Lord, so many women have followed You and come to Canterbury to care for the needs of Your Church. They have been watching from a distance. May they witness Your resurrection power and share the good news with joy. Amen.

Matthias and Mouneer

Today’s lectionary recounts the addition of Matthias to the apostles. Church tradition says that Matthias preached in Judea and Ethiopia and was crucified in Caucasian Georgia. Let us pray for Mouneer Anis, primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East. This province covers Judea and Ethiopia. There is no Anglican province that covers Georgia.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Arise, O God, and come to the aid of Your Church. Speak to Your servant Mouneer who stands at his watch. Speak to him that he may reveal Your words plainly and share them with the Anglican Communion. Pour down Your Holy Spirit upon him. May he plead Your cause and be Your witness at the Lambeth Conference. Amen.
Habakkuk 2:1-2

God is able

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 24,25