Mark 2:13-17

Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to him, and he taught them. (Mark 2:13)
      Jesus, teach us as well.

As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And he said to him, “Follow me.” So he arose and followed him. (Mark 2:14)
      Holy Spirit, help us hear Jesus’ words to follow him, and then do it.

Now it happened, as he was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. (Mark 2:15)
      Father, thank you for all of the outcasts and sinners who come to the prayer table. Please help us draw them inside for the heavenly banquet Sunday by Sunday.

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16)
      Jesus, thank you for the support we receive from the leaders and teachers of this diocese and our parish for the prayer table ministry.

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17)
      Holy Spirit, help us minister healing and repentance throughout this diocese and at the prayer table.

A word received: Pray for my people; pray they will come to me with their wounds and their griefs.

Friday: 16, 17; Isaiah 42: (1-9)10-17; Ephesians 3:1-13; Mark 2:13-22
Saturday: 20, 21:1-7(8-14); Isaiah 43:1-13; Ephesians 3:14-21; Mark 2:23-3:6

Albany Intercessor

President bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East

Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt was elected President Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East in 2007. The diocese of Egypt has many young Sudanese refugees. Bishop Anis is fluent in Arabic, knowledgeable of the Koran, and committed to dialogue with the Muslim community.

A delegation from TEC visited Egypt and met with several Muslim leaders. They discussed the issue of homosexuality with the Muslims. Bishop Anis said to the delegation

We should have the courage to acknowledge that we are walking in a completely different directions. Our own diocese, spreading from Algeria in the west to the Horn of Africa in the east, faces a variety of cultural pressures of its own. In parts of Africa, including my own diocese, multiple wives and even concubines are still widely accepted and considered culturally normative. So we also face great pressures to ignore the biblical standard of the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman and to yield to the prevailing cultural notions of what is acceptable. However, we understand that part of what it has meant to be faithful Christians over the past two thousand years has been to be countercultural by standing in faithful witness to the Gospel and its demands, and therefore, in opposition to ever changing cultural norms and fashions.

While Anis has been critical of the Episcopal Church concerning human sexuality issues, he also declined to attend the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem, saying that it was neither the right time nor place for such a meeting. The upcoming primates meeting takes place in his home diocese.

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”  

Psalm 16:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father,

The land of Egypt served as a place of refuge for the family of Israel when famine gripped the land. It served as a place of refuge for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus when Herod sought the death of the Messiah. Now it serves as a place of refuge for the Sudanese.

The leaders of the Anglican Communion will soon assemble in Alexandria. We cry out for them, Lord, for the sorrows of the Anglican Communion are multipled. May the primates always set You before them.

Stay at President Bishop Anis’s right hand. Be his counselor and instruct his heart, even at night. Do not abandon him. Bless Bishop Anis with the wisdom to recognize Your voice and follow Your instructions.

A long time ago, the Christ child may have called Alexandria his home.  May the primates call the Christ their home and flee into His open arms.  Amen.

Covenant Design Group

Rev. Dr. Ephraim Radner has written an open letter to the Covenant Design Group, asking them to work better in the midst of ecclesial disintegration. The following is a prayer for the Covenant Design Group by Dr. Peter Toon:

Almighty God our heavenly Father, we rejoice that your Incarnate Son is the Head of your Church, and that it is your will that the Church on earth should be not only in name but also in practice one, holy, catholic and apostolic in its character and nature.

We ask you mercifully to look upon that branch and jurisdiction of your Church, which is The Anglican Way, and which at this time is experiencing a severe crisis of identity, especially as it seeks ways in maintaining orthodox faith to express both autonomy and interdependency by its provinces. Especially do we pray for the Covenant Design Group, which has the important and urgent task of preparing “An Anglican Covenant” to be a means of binding together in faith, love and ministry the provinces of the Anglican Communion of Churches.

We pray that its members:

The Most Revd Drexel Gomez, West Indies
The Revd Victor Atta-Baffoe, West Africa
The Most Revd Dr John Chew, South East Asia
Ms Sriyanganie Fernando, Ceylon
The Revd Dr Kathy Grieb, USA
The Rt Revd Santosh Marray, Indian Ocean
The Most Revd John Neill, Ireland
The Revd Canon Andrew Norman, England
Chancellor Rubie Nottage, West Indies
The Revd Dr Ephraim Radner, USA
Ms Nomfundo Walaza, Southern Africa

and
The Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, London

will be the faithful recipients of your wisdom and grace and know such a sweet fellowship and common mind that their work will lead to a successful conclusion for the edification and peace of the Church, and for the glory of your holy Name; through the same Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Diocese of Lake Malawi

This diocese has been without a bishop for several years. The last election was disputed, and court cases are outstanding. I don’t pretend to understand all the politics, but the issues of sexuality, the Anglican crisis, foreign-born vs. native-born bishops, and economic aid are factors.

From History of Likomo Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral are many articles which connect it with many historical events and distant places. For example, the cross hanging over the pulpit was made from a piece of wood from the tree under which David Livingstone’s heart was buried in Zambia; the staff at the bishop’s throne has a piece of wood from the staff of Bishop Charles Mackenzie’s staff, and ivory which chief Zimchaya had paid as compensation when his people had killed an innocent man of God, Atlay; and, to satisfy their desire of building a new Jerusalem in the heart of Lake Malawi, some soil was brought all the way from Jerusalem and was placed underneath the high altar in the Cathedral.

Dear Heavenly Father,
The river of the water of life flows through the New Jerusalem, and there stands the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. We cry out for the Anglican Diocese of Lake Malawi. Grant this diocese the healing of the nations.
We know You are waiting to be gracious to them. On the basis of God’s Holy Word, empower these people to confess their sins and forgive their enemies. May they return to You, rest upon You, and in quietness trust in You. Through their adversity, may they come to behold You, their Teacher, and hear Your word behind them, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
Without a cause, a curse cannot find a resting place. Wash away the curse of this rebellion.
Raise up for them a bishop pure in heart, that he may see the face of God, a bishop who shall reflect the light of Christ. In the name of the Prince of Peace we plea for Lake Malawi. Amen.
Proverbs 26:2, Revelation 22:1-4, Matthew 5:8, Isaiah 30

UPDATE: I am told, via e-mail, that Likomo Cathedral is in the diocese of Northern Malawi, which separated from the diocese of Lake Malawi in 1994-1995. Thanks for all your help, readers!