“And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between me and my vineyard.” (Isaiah 5:3)
Jesus, we are your vineyard and we have produced little fruit for you.
“What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4)
Father, we in the Episcopal Church have called the bad grapes good and the good grapes bad; have mercy on us.
“And now, please let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.” (Isaiah 5:5)
Holy Spirit, this is already happening now to the Episcopal Church; please guide your faithful people through this time.
“I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. i will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” (Isaiah 5:6)
Holy Father, help us return to our first love for Jesus.
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. (Isaiah 5:7)
Jesus, thank you for hearing our cries; guide this diocese and its people during this time of oppression in the Episcopal Church. Thank you.
Words Received for a Sunday School lesson on Daniel 6 later in January:
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (Daniel 6:10)
A word received: Remember what it says (2 Chronicles 6:21): “And may you hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” That was Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. Daniel continues to pray to me “toward this place.” He was faithful. I want your hearts to be inclined toward me as his was.
Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. (Daniel 6:11)
A word received: I want you to be willing do what Daniel did: he publicly confessed me before others by his prayers.
Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. (Daniel 6:17)
A word received: They did the same thing with my tomb (Matthew 27:66) — they made it as fast and secure as they knew how but I rose from the dead and overcame their plans. I did the same with Daniel: I brought him forth alive from what was intended to be his tomb.
Jan. 7: 103; Isaiah 52:3-6; Revelation 2:1-7; John 2:1-11
Jan. 8: 117, 118; Isaiah 59:15-21; Revelation 2:8-17; John 4:46-54
Albany Intercessor
Lent & Beyond 