Primates

An intercessor suggested this Bible verse for the primate prayer campaign.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

O Father,
We humbly beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit to each of the Anglican primates in these days leading up to the meeting in Alexandria. Prepare their hearts for Your good work. Teach them. If their hearts are not teachable, lead them to repentance.
We pray that they will devote themselves to Bible study and prayer. May songs of praise stay on their lips. Be fully present in their schedules. Speak to them through chance encounters and unexpected sources. Bring to their remembrance all things that Jesus said to His disciples. Amen.

Psalm 98

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have gained him the victory. (Psalm 98:1)
      Jesus, win the victory in our hearts!

The LORD has made known his salvation; his righteousness he has revealed in the sight of the nations. (Psalm 98:2)
      Father, reveal your righteousness to the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church and make your salvation known to them.

He has remembered his mercy and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psalm 98:3)
      Holy Spirit, help us in this diocese remember Jesus’ faithfulness and his mercy, and plant in all our hearts the hope of salvation.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. (Psalm 98:4)
      Jesus, please help us come into your sanctuary with joyful shouts and songs of praise.

Sing to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, (Psalm 98:5)
      Father, please help us sing with joy all that you have done for us.

With trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. (Psalm 98:6)
      Holy Spirit, fill the sanctuary with songs of praise and joy because of what you are doing in our lives.

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; (Psalm 98:7)
      LORD, your whole creation sings your praise.

Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, (Psalm 98:8 )
      Father, restore your creation that it may joy in you.

For he is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness he shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98:9)
      Come soon, Lord Jesus; come soon!

A word received for a Sunday School on Daniel 6 this morning: I AM calling my people back to me. I AM calling them to speak words of hope to one another. I want you to be a people of hope. I want you to look at every “lion” and know that I can deliver you from it.

Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11), 98; Isaiah 47:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-31; John 5:2-18
Monday: 41, 52; Isaiah 48:1-11; Galatians 1:1-17; Mark 5:21-43

Albany Intercessor

PRAYER TABLE REPORT

(Sat., January 24, 2009 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in front of Christ Church, Schenectady; Torre Bissell, David Carlson and Deacon Alan Hart.)

a–indicates anointed with Holy Oil.
t–indicates received one of the wooden crosses Torre gets from Dennis Adams of North Carolina.
c–indicates received one of our yellow Christ Church cards.

      Note: Before I (Alan) left for the Table this morning, my wife Deacon MaryCarol prayed aloud with her hand on my arm for God’s anointing on His Table this day. She reminded me that “…Prayer is usually a last resort to a lot of people when, really, it ought to be the FIRST resort.” That thought and encouraging prayer has stayed with me all day!
      This was a very blustery morning which swept through us and our visitors and made it feel a lot colder than it was (27 degrees at start), but … people came!

a,a,a,t — TRACY — This very young Mom stopped with her two children, BIANCA and CODY. We prayed for her to be the woman and mother God intends her to be. We anointed her as well as the two children and prayed that the kids will grow up to follow in Jesus’ path.

ROGER — This was a young man who was the front seat passenger in a car driving by but slowing at the light in front of the Table. He rolled down the window of his side and asked us what we were doing, and we answered that we were praying for people. David asked “Would you like us to pray for YOU?” and he told us his name and said “Please do!” We prayed for him as the car drove away.

LINDA – This nice lady is a weekly visitor to the Table who stops on her way to get the bus on the corner. We prayed for her continued safety and provision.

JUNE and t–CHAMPAGNE — These two young women stopped for prayer. June is a repeater, proudly wearing her cross. Champagne wanted prayer for her friend LYNETTE, but did not go into details. JUNE asked for prayers for “her family.” Later, these women returned with a woman who appeared to be the mother of June, but she rejected our invitations for prayer despite June’s encouraging to get prayer.

t–REENA — This one is a whopper and a keeper! Reena approached us from Swan Street and seemed surprised to see us out by the sidewalk. She sat right down at Torre’s invitation and said she wanted prayer for her niece SHAKTI, who was involved in a car accident a few days ago. We then prayed for Shakti, but Reena afterward said ‘No, you don’t understand. I want you to come to our apartment and PRAY for her there!” Reena did not know about the Prayer Table; she had expected to go to our church door and ask a clergyman to come over and pray with the girl. So … Deacon Alan got up and walked with Reena to the apartment where the four women live upstairs, took off his shoes inside the door as reena did and went in and prayed for Shakti, anointing her forehead with Holy Oil. (She said her head is what hurts the most, although she had a black cast on her right arm.) It was very clean and orderly there, and I could see our church plainly from their front window. What an amazing thing that Reena came to Christ Church for help from God! What a holy honor to be able to do a “house call” and work in His name!

a,t,c — LAURIE — This woman, middle-aged, came back today after visiting us two weeks ago. She drove in and parked in our lot. Lauirie is seeking to be free from addiction to smoking. After we prayed for her, she got back in the car and drove away. (She KNEW the Table was there for her!)

(We prayed from a distance for a man on University Place who was collecting bottle and cans for the nickels he obviously depends upon so desperately. He has stopped before; his name is Tom or Bill or something … we forget. He didn’t stop this time but we prayed for him anyway. God protect him.)

A man carrying heavy bags — This pleasant man nodded at us and thanked us but said he was too busy to stop but wanted us to pray for him. We did — to be safe, provided for and protected.

CONNIE — Asked for prayer for two friends who have died this past week. One was JOHN, who Alan remembered as having been a former basketball star for Mont Pleasant back in the 1980s. John died of cancer and was only 38. We also prayed for Connie to be strong and and steady.

BOB and JEANNETTE BALLARD — They stopped and asked for prayer for EVELYN, who is having fluids drained out this morning at the Ellis campus on McClellan (former St. Ckare’s) and for peace of mind for Bob and Jeannette.

LESTER — Our friend who stops each week and is trying to battle his addiction to alcohol stopped for prayer very willingly this time. (The past two weeks we have had to hail him over when he was trying to avoid us and hoping we wouldn’t see him.) He cheerfully said “I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner” as he plans to attend our Neighborhood Meal.

STEVE — We prayed for provision for Steve; that God will protect him and provide for him.

YOFFI — Came right to our Table from a block away, heading right for us carrying a cup of coffee he bought at the corner convenience store. Yoffi asked for blessings for himself and his family.

Albany Intercessor

Mark 5:18-20 and Ephesians 6:17-18

And when he got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged him that he might be with him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:18-19)
      Holy Spirit, help each of us to do as Jesus has directed: to tell our friends all that he has done for us and how he has had compassion on us. Thank you for this help.

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. (Mark 5:20)
      Jesus, help us to be as faithful as this man was.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– (Ephesians 6:17-18 )
      Father, we ask you to clothe all of us in this diocese with your full armor so that we can go forward, confident of our salvation in Jesus, to intercede with perseverance for all the saints — our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus around the world. Thank you, Father, for bringing us to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

Saturday: 30, 32; Isaiah 46:1-13; Ephesians 6:10-24; Mark 5:1-20
Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11), 98; Isaiah 47:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-31; John 5:2-18

      Notes from the Front Line

Please pray for us on the prayer table this morning: it is cold and windy.

Albany Intercessor

Joseph Kony

This article details the spirituality of Joseph Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army. It is a syncretistic mixture of witchcraft, Christianity, necromancy, and Islam.

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1

O Lord, we do love You. We look to You for our strength and our wisdom. We shun knowledge from other supernatural sources. It is You alone we want. You are our hearts’ desire.
Joseph Kony has turned his back on You. He has sought knowledge and power from idols and dead spirits and the demonic. Can his gods save him?
O Lord, shall not Your soul be avenged upon such an army as the Lord’s Resistance Army?
Kony does not fear You. He does not tremble at Your presence. Destruction upon destruction is cried throughout Uganda, southern Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Consume this abomination amidst Your people, we pray. Amen.

Diocesan conventions

This weekend diocesan conventions are being held in Alaska, Southwestern Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Central Florida.

Dear Heavenly Father,
May the priority of the delegates to these conventions be to seek the mind of Christ. May their words and deeds be a witness to Your glory. Amen.

Mark 4:35-41

On the same day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
      Jesus, please help us follow wherever you lead.

Now when they had left the multitude, they took him along in the boat as he was. And other little boats were also with him. (Mark 4:36)
      Holy Spirit, help us take Jesus just “as he is.”

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (Mark 4:37)
      Father, a great financial windstorm has arisen and many are sinking; have mercy on us. Grant wisdom to the world’s leaders in dealing with this. Grant us clarity in our own personal responsibility as we deal with this at the individual level.

But he was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 )
      Holy Spirit, please help all of us personally know the care and love of Jesus.

Then he arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)
      Jesus, speak your words, “Peace, be still!” to our hearts and to the financial windstorm. Thank you.

But he said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
      Holy Spirit, renew our faith as we confront the windstorms in the economy and in the church.

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him!” (Mark 4:41)
      Father, please help us know Jesus better. Thank you.

A word received: Speak my word; pray for my people to hear and speak my word.

Friday: 31; Isaiah 45:18-25; Ephesians 6:1-9; Mark 4:35-41
Saturday: 30, 32; Isaiah 46:1-13; Ephesians 6:10-24; Mark 5:1-20

Albany Intercessor

The Lord’s Resistance Army

And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I’ll see your full stature and live heaven on earth. Psalm 17:15 The Message

Sweet Jesus, You are the bright morning star. Your eyes are upon the ways of men. You see all their steps. There is no darkness or deep shadow where workers of iniquity may hide themselves. They cannot hide themselves in the Garamba Forest, in DR Congo, Sudan, Uganda, or the Central African Republic. For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. Reveal the hiding places of the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Bright Morning Star, dawn in Africa! Joseph Kony is reported to be a spiritual medium, and You came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. Shine Your light upon this evil and destroy this work of Satan. Amen.
Job 34:21-22, Mark 4:22, 1 John 3:8

O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God: Bring Cross-shaped love to the Anglican Primates’ Meeting

O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God,
“We bless you for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life;”

make us to love thy sacred word;
Fulfill Jesus’ promise, and come to remind the Primates of His words. Help them to love “vertically”, adoring the Father, Son and You in unity of substance and Trinity of Persons.

the holy flame of love impart,
You appeared as fire above the Apostles in Jerusalem. Show yourself present with the Primates in Alexandria.

that charity may warm each heart;
Give the Primates the more excellent way of sacrificial love, the eternal cardinal virtue of the Church. Help them to love “horizontally,” putting others before self and placing the good of Christ’s people above all.

O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.
“…the Paraclete himself, the Holy Spirit of truth, the Lord, the life-giver, who spoke through the law and prophets and apostles, who is present everywhere and fills everything, who on his own authority and not as a servant works sanctification on whom he wills…” *

Words: Johann Niedling, 1651;
trans. John Caspar Mattes, 1913

* Liturgy of St. Mark (Alexandria, 13th century)

Mark 4:21-23 and Prayer Table Report

Also he said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?” (Mark 4:21)
      Holy Spirit, let the light of the gospel and the fire of your love shine forth clearly in the Episcopal Church; don’t let it be hidden any more.

“For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.” (Mark 4:22)
      Jesus, please help us bring everything in the Episcopal Church to the light of the gospel.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:23)
*      Father, we pray that you will open our ears to the full truth and power of the gospel.

*      Holy Spirit, we pray that every parish in this diocese will see by the light of your fire.

*      Jesus, make the gospel of salvation visible and known to every man, woman, and child in this diocese.

*      Jesus, thank you for being the light to bring us through this time of darkness in the church and in the nation. Please help us take each step by your light. Thank you.

A word received: Pray for my people to return to me. Pray for new life in my body. Pray for a renewal of your first love for me.

Thursday: 37:1-18; Isaiah 45:5-17; Ephesians 5:15-33; Mark 4:21-34
Friday: 31; Isaiah 45:18-25; Ephesians 6:1-9; Mark 4:35-41

      PRAYER TABLE REPORT
(Weds., Jan. 21, 2009, 1 p.m.-1:40 p.m. in front of Christ Church, Schenectady; Soon-Deacon-To-Be Scott Underhill and Deacon Alan Hart.)

Note: Extremely cold, windy, uncomfortable day to be at the Table. You will see quickly that strictly in terms of numbers, it was not a success. We only had two people stop for prayer, although we took heart that quite a few people waved at us and smiled from the comfort of their heated cars and trucks. We cut it a little short today because of the cold. Scott and I did not get discouraged, however.)

DANIEL — This was a boy of about 12 or 13 who stopped for prayer of thanksgiving that Barack Obama is our new president. We were glad to oblige and lifted up hope that Mr. Obama will not only be a good president for our country but will be a great world leader as well. We also prayed for Daniel to grow into the man that God intends him to be and that he will be protected and made safe and provided for. We gave him one of the crosses Torre Bissell gets from Dennis Adams of North Carolina. Nice young man.

JAMES — James is a Guyanese man who is a regular to the Saturday morning Table and is a member of another area church. He was waiting for a bus to Albany but came over and spoke with us for about 15 minutes. A very interesting man; he said he accepted Christ as a 20-year-old and has been a Christian now the past 44 years, almost 45. He asked for prayers for continued health and strength. James says he gets inspiration daily from the story of Daniel in the lion’s den and that he feels protected in the same way that Daniel of old was protected.

Also … a young man riding on a bike in the bitter cold waved and yelled “God bless you guys!” as he rode past us.

One last note from which I hope you will take inspiration and increased faith: Before I (Alan) got to the church today I helped out at the Protestant service at Ellis Hospital. Prior to the service I visited with BERNICE, the 91-year-old woman I have been telling you about who was a childhood friend of my Dad and his family in Carman in the 1930s. Two weeks ago, she had a severe stroke and doctors prepared Bernice’s family for the worst and it appeared Bernice was down to her last days, if not hours. Family from all over the Northeast gathered to say goodbye to her in her room on the B6 floor that week. But … she fooled everyone! She made it through the weekend and has strangely gotten better each day. Today her eyes were wide open and she tried to communicate with signs and groaned-out single words to me. She ate a meal at breakfast! God apparently had other ideas about her immediate future than the doctors did. I prayed for her to have continued healing and to let God have His way on all this.

Albany Intercessor

The Lord’s Resistance Army

Latest news article reports that the Ugandan military has killed 11 fighters of the Lord’s Resistance Army in resumed air strikes on rebel positions in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after a two-week lull.

And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I’ll see your full stature and live heaven on earth. Psalm 17:15 The Message

Jehovah-Sabaoth,
We thank You that this joint military campaign has weakened the Lord’s Resistance Army. We thank You that captives have been released and that five officers have been captured.
We are weak, but You are strong. We are small, but You are great.
Stand over the Garamba Forest in the fullness of Your stature. Surround the LRA with Your host of warring angels. Break down this stronghold of evil and bring rejoicing to the land. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and Uganda as it is in heaven. Amen.

Roe v. Wade

Thirty-six years ago today, the Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade. We mourn the killing of an estimated 50,000,000 unborn humans and the suffering of their mothers.

O Father,
If only we could love as You! Your love is steadfast; ours is mercurial. Your love overflows with tender mercies; ours is riddled with unforgiveness. Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!
We are a nation of death. We sacrifice our children to convenience. We export arms and violent films to our neighbors for our own wealth. We are an offense to You, the Author of Life. We are an abomination. Take pity!
We ask You to love our nation in its sinfulness. You know our needs. Bless us, Lord, in Your infinite wisdom. Bless us in Your judgment. Bless us in Your mercy. Amen.

Psalm 38:1-10

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your wrath, nor chasten me in your hot displeasure! (Psalm 38:1)
      Lord, we plead with you for your mercy for the Episcopal Church.

For your arrows pierce me deeply, and your hand presses me down. (Psalm 38:2)
      Jesus, your church is pressed down and pierced with many arrows; have mercy on us.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. (Psalm 38:3)
      Holy Spirit, you know all the sin in the church; move among us and restore us to health as the body of Christ.

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalm 38:4)
      Father, show us how to leave the burden of the Episcopal Church at the foot of the Cross.

My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. (Psalm 38:5)
      Holy Spirit, give us your wisdom in place of our folly.

I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. (Psalm 38:6)
      Jesus, teach us to mourn because of our sin and turn to you for cleansing and healing.

For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. (Psalm 38:7)
      Lord, I am troubled for your church; have mercy on us.

I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. (Psalm 38:8 )
      Father, help us recognize our true condition and turn to Jesus in repentance.

Lord, all my desire is before you; and my sighing is not hidden from you. (Psalm 38:9)
      Jesus, hear the cry of our hearts for your church.

My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. (Psalm 38:10)
      As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

A word received: Wait for me; let me be your guide.

Wednesday: 38; Isaiah 44:24-45:7; Ephesians 5:1-14; Mark 4:1-20
Thursday: 37:1-18; Isaiah 45:5-17; Ephesians 5:15-33; Mark 4:21-34

Albany Intercessor

The Lord’s Resistance Army

Latest report tells that one more rebel commander has been captured, bringing the number of rebel commanders captured to five. (The chief leaders, Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen still evade capture.) Over the weekend, the rebels burnt hundreds of Christians to death at a church in Bima, DR Congo.

You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. Psalm 17:14b

Lord, we cry out at the injustice! They profane Your name by calling themselves The Lord’s Resistance Army. They profane Your name by murdering hundreds of Christians inside Your own church. They profane Your name by abducting Your children. They profane Your name by destroying the homes and the crops of Your people.
Their leaders and arms dealers and drug dealers and money launderers grow rich.
We cry out! By Your sword, free Your children from their clutches. With Your bare hands, break these mortals!

Archbishop of Sudan

The Most Revd Daniel Deng Bul was enthroned April 2008 as the fourth primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. There is a long history of exploitation of this nation–gold, slaves, and now oil.  The nation has been independent since 1953.  From the outset, there were tensions between the North (Muslim, desert, better education, and better infrastructure) and the South (Christian and animist, better soil).  That was before the oil was discovered (in the South, concentrated around Abeyi). 
The first pipeline was completed in 1999.  As a result of the oil profits, what used to be two rag-tag armies fighting a bush war became an asymmetric war, with one side having sophisticated armed support.  The conflict caused immense hardship for the civilian population of the oil areas, as they were looted, displaced and killed by the thousands.
The Episcopal Church of the Sudan is the largest Church in Sudan: there are estimated to be some 5 million members. It has played a prominent role in the peace process.  The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005.  The South obtained a referendum on self-determination after a six-year interim period, during which the oil revenues were to be split 50-50, while Islamic Sharia law was to be upheld in the North. 
The current regime has sought to protect its control over the state and the economy and delay elections. It still wants a partnership but one that neutralizes the southern Sudanese as a national challenger and defines it as a purely Southern-based junior partner. The oil industry is poorly supervised and highly politicized.  China is the main export destination of Sudanese oil.  China has obstructed US and European efforts to impose UN economic sanctions and arms embargo on Sudan because of crimes against humanity in Darfur.  In 2005 China’s arm sales to Sudan were worth $83 million.
Dr Deng warned Lambeth Conference that the “non-implementation to date of the Abyei Protocol constitutes a serious threat to the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement]” and asked for “vigilance” from the international community to bring compliance from the warring parties so that a “just and sustainable peace” will come to the Sudan.  Also at Lambeth, he said that Bishop Gene Robinson should resign for the good of the church.

O Lord, when Cain slew Abel, the voice of Abel’s blood cried out to You from the ground. Our spirits faint at the thought of two millennia of conflict in Sudan. How many voices of innocent blood cry out to You from Sudan? The cries of anguish reverberate through our spirits. O Lord, take pity. Have mercy on Your children in this land. We beseech You, let the innocent blood on this ground be covered by the blood of the Lamb.

We bind unto this land the strong name of the Trinity. Your name is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe. We claim Your name over Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul in proclaiming the Good News in Jesus Christ and in his advocacy for a lasting peace in Sudan and in the Anglican Communion.  Amen.

Lambeth call for VGR to resign
Applauds withdrawal of troops
Visit to the Diocese of Kajo-Keji