Armor bearers (updated)

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27

There is much transpiring in this time:
–At the ACC, there is a plenary on ecumenism this morning. The afternoon is free. The vote on the covenant is tomorrow.
–The Province II synod for provincial networks and General Convention deputies and alternates convenes today in Albany.
–South Dakota elects a bishop this Saturday.
–The San Joaquin litigation is at a critical juncture.

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
May we praise Your holy name throughout the Anglican Communion!
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
May the light of Christ blaze forth from the empty tomb throughout the Anglican Communion.
Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
You are a holy God, and You cannot share Your glory with lies.
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Oh, how we have fallen short of Your glory!
“Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
Oh, Lord, that the Anglican Communion would be a holy priesthood and offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to You by Jesus Christ.
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge.
Yes, Lord, the glory of Your name resounds across the plains of South Dakota, the San Joaquin valley, the Gulf of Mexico and the island of Jamaica, and the Mohawk River and hills of Albany.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
Yes, Lord, we have sinned. You are God. You are our God. Our only hope is in You.
Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
We give thanks for Your glory. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in creation. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in Your Son Jesus Christ. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in the Holy Spirit. Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
We call upon You. Deliver the Anglican Consultative Council in Jamaica, the synod in Albany, the diocese of San Joaquin, and the diocese of South Dakota! We honor the name that is above every name in heaven, on earth, and under the earth–Jesus!
But to the wicked, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:
O Lord, we have indeed cast Your words behind us. Our lives are strewn with cast off admonitions and the wreckage of broken trust. Take pity.
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.
Lord, anoint the Anglican Consultative Council, the Province II synod, and the dioceses of San Joaquin and South Dakota with a spirit of praise. Stir their hearts with holy songs.
The boy David played holy songs on his harp. The evil spirit would depart from King Saul, and he would be refreshed. Saul appointed David his armor bearer.
Send us armor bearers! Fill the air with hymns. May we sing as we work and play. Send holy songs over the radio. Use electronic devices. May Anglicans gather in worship around the world.
Commission Your holy angels to sing over these gatherings. May the songs of the communion of saints surround them. May the songs of the 40 million aborted babies hover in the air.
Let each note reflect Your glory. Let each note purify their hearts. Let each note bring healing to our church. Amen.
Psalm 50, 1 Samuel 16:19-23

Exodus 34:5-7

Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. (Exodus 34:5)
      Father, please come and visit us and write your name on our hearts; help us keep your name holy.

And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 34:6)
      Father, thank you for your goodness and mercy and grace towards us. Please help us grow in the fruit of your Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

“keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:7)
      Father, thank you for Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection; thank you for giving us a way to victory over sin and death. Father, our sins are terrible and great; please help us forgive as you forgive so that we may be forgiven. Thank you.

Thursday: 50; Wisdom 5:9-23 or Exodus 34:1-17; Col. 2:8-23; Luke 6:39-49
Friday: 40, 54; Wisdom 6:12-23 or Exodus 34:18-35; Col. 3:1-11; Luke 7:1-17

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for the debates and discussions in the business meetings of the Diocesan Convention so that a spirit of love and generosity prevails among the deputies to the convention.

Albany Intercessor

Songs

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Psalm 119:54
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

O Father,
Your blessings never cease. How thankful we are for Your statutes! How precious is Your Holy Word! You send it forth, and it does not return to You empty but achieves the purpose for which You sent it.
Fill Your children at the Anglican Consultative Council and the intercessors around the globe with Your Spirit. Fill their hearts with song, giving thanks always for all things unto You, in the name of Your precious Son. Fill their mouths with songs based on Your Holy Word.
Then we will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Your renown, Lord, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed. Amen.

119:49-56

Remember the word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope. (Psalm 119:49)
      LORD, help me to be a man of hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life. (Psalm 119:50)
      Holy Spirit, please help me to abide in the new life you have given me.

The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from your law. (Psalm 119:51)
      Father, please help me keep my attention on you and not those who hold me in derision.

I remembered your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself. (Psalm 119:52)
      Jesus, please help me daily find my comfort in your good judgments.

Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. (Psalm 119:53)
      LORD, I cry out to you for those who have departed from your ways; draw them back to you.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. (Psalm 119:54)
      Holy Spirit, help me sing the songs of Zion.

I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and I keep your law. (Psalm 119:55)
      Jesus, your name is above every name, help me to keep it holy.

This has become mine, because I kept your precepts. (Psalm 119:56)
      LORD, write your Torah on my heart — give me a heart of flesh and not of stone. Thank you.

Wednesday: 119:49-72; Wisdom 4:16-5:8 or Exodus 33:1-23; Col. 1:24-2:7; Luke 6:27-38
Thursday: 50; Wisdom 5:9-23 or Exodus 34:1-17; Col. 2:8-23; Luke 6:39-49

      A word received: Don’t be afraid. Turn to me in the midst of the storm. Invite me in to the areas of difficulty; let me be your guide.

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for those considering attending the Diocesan Convention that they will hear and respond to God’s call to them.

***** I have posted the words received since the beginning of the year on http://albanyintercessor.blogspot.com/2009/05/words-received-since-beginning-of-2009.html, I commend them to your reading and prayerful reflection.

Albany Intercessor

Examination prayers

provided by the Church of England.  Hat tip:  T19.

The believer’s glory

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7

Dear Jesus,

We cry out for hearts in the ACC that are open to You.  You are our glory!  We cry out for You to sing back to the Father through their hearts.  No silent hearts!  We cry out for hearts full of thanksgiving.  You are our strength!  You are our life!  May You be within their hearts for only in You can our wailing turn into dancing.  Remove our sackcloth and clothe us with joy.  Amen.

Psalm 30:11-12

May our worship go up and His grace pour down

Job 36:27-29 (New Living Translation)

He draws up the water vapor
      and then distills it into rain.
The rain pours down from the clouds,
      and everyone benefits.
Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
      and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

Sweet Jesus, You are our liberator, redeemer, and deliverer.  What a mighty warrior You are!  O Lamb of God, we thank You for the joy of life and the hope of glory.  We praise Your holy name.  Holy is the Lamb.  Salvation and glory and honor and power be unto You, O Lord. 

O Lord, may the worship and praise of the intercessors for the Anglican Consultative Council rise into Your throne room in heaven, and may Your grace pour down to the benefit of the whole Communion.  Amen.

Graduation invocation

Last year, my husband, Rev. George F. Woodliff III, delivered this invocation at our daughter’s high school graduation.  I posted it on Lent & Beyond, and it has remained our single most frequently read prayer.  On Googling “graduation invocation,” it is at the top of the list! 

Father, we invite and invoke Your divine presence at this graduation ceremony and to be with these graduates.
We ask that from this day forward You help them to remember Your Son Jesus and His words:
–As they walk out the door of _____ and through other doors in their lives, help them to remember that Jesus said, “I am the door.”
–As they seek enlightenment through greater knowledge, help them to remember that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
–As they seek their path through life and are tempted by many distractions, help them to remember that Jesus said, “I am the way.”
–As they seek to understand the deeper and ultimate meaning of their lives, help them to remember that Jesus said, “I am the truth.”
–As they seek fulfillment and the pursuit of happiness, help them to remember that Jesus said, “I am the life–abundant and eternal life.”

Father, watch over them, protect them, provide for them, guard them, guide them, and give them Your grace to enable them to persevere to the end. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

UPDATE: Those who wish to use this invocation as written have permission to do so.

San Joaquin

Anne Kennedy has requested prayers for the diocese of San Joaquin, standing in a lonely place.

Ephraim was a trained heifer
   that loved to thresh.
Passing by and seeing her strong, sleek neck,
   I wanted to harness Ephraim,
Put Ephraim to work in the fields—
   Judah plowing, Jacob harrowing:
Sow righteousness,
   reap love.
It’s time to till the ready earth,
   it’s time to dig in with God,
Until he arrives
   with righteousness ripe for harvest.  Hosea 10:11-12

O Father,

I thank You for the beauty of Your people in the Anglican diocese of San Joaquin, for their hearts full of love for You, for their zeal for Your glory.   I thank You for their courage and willingness to risk so much for You.

Anoint their praise and worship.  We pray that the music coming forth from this diocese will open hearts for the good seeds of righteousness and that the preaching will break the hard ground in peoples’ hearts. 

May they seek You in this time of grief.  Shower righteousness upon them.  We cry out for an abundant harvest of love, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  Amen.

Perspective from the Scriptures

These passages from today’s lectionary spoke to my heart and gave me needed perspective regarding the ACC meetings:

Psalm 45:6
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

Psalm 48:9-11
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!

Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

***

Father, I confess to being dismayed by earthly power struggles and what appear to be unrighteous decisions even within Your Church.  Thank You that You are the Righteous Judge, and that You are the head of Your Church.  You hold all authority and dominion.

Help me, help all of us who are praying about the ACC meetings today think on Your steadfast love and be encouraged and reminded of what is eternal.  Your steadfast love never fails.  Your mercies are new every morning.  I praise You for Your faithfulness, even when I am unfaithful, even when Your people are unfaithful.  May I place my hope in Your unfailing love and trust in Your righteousness alone.  Amen.

Canon Kenneth Kearon

Lord,
You know Canon Kearon far better than we. You formed him in his mother’s womb. You know his needs, his desires, his wounds, his afflictions. Bless him, we pray. Bless him for the establishment of Your kngdom on earth. Amen.

Psalm 45:6-9

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (Psalm 45:6)
      Jesus, establish your throne in our hearts — rule and reign in our hearts.

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (Psalm 45:7)
      Holy Spirit, please help us love what Jesus loves, and hate what he hates. Help us know what things are righteous in his sight and what things are wicked.

All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. (Psalm 45:8 )
      Father, anoint us with the fragrance of holiness.

Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 45:9)
      Holy Spirit, raise up vocations for the Daughters of the King and the Sisters of St. Mary.

“The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.” (1 Peter 4:17)
      Lord, have mercy on us, for we are sinners in your sight.

      A word received: Yield this day to me: let me have sovereignty over it.

      A word received 12/27/2007: Pray for my people — their hearts are filled with anger towards one another. Pray that they will relent of their anger and know that they are just as much in need of my mercy as those they are angry with. Pray for my people to know my “Amazing Grace”. I want this to be heart knowledge, head knowledge, spirit knowledge. I want my people in every part of their lives to know their own personal need for redemption. There is not one — no not one — who can be justified by his own righteousness. The Episcopal Church on all sides is awash with self-righteousness that leads to death.

      Lord, reveal to me my own self-righteousness. You know my blindness — restore my sight.

Tuesday: 45; Wisdom 3:1-9 or Exodus 32:21-34; Col. 1:15-23; Luke 6:12-26
Wednesday: 119:49-72; Wisdom 4:16-5:8 or Exodus 33:1-23; Col. 1:24-2:7; Luke 6:27-38
      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for those attending the Diocesan Convention that they will hear and respond to God’s call to them.

Albany Intercessor

North India

From the Church of North India’s October synod, following the Orissa violence:

Bishop Bijay Kumar Nayak of Phulbani diocese called on Christians around the world: “God and prayer are our strength. Please pray for us.”
Bishop Nayak explained that at least six CNI members including Thomas Nayak, a diocesan executive committee member, are among the 54 Christians who have died at the hands of Hindu fundamentalists in Kandhamal.  Twenty of the 32 ordained CNI pastors and four dozen presbyters working in troubled Kandhamal, he pointed out, have been on the run since late August as Hindu fundamentalists target pastors in order “to strike at the foundations of Christian life”.   Three CNI Bishops were threatened with deadly consequences if they continue their missionary activities in Orissa–The Rt. Rev. Bijay K. Nayak, Diocese of Phulbani; The Rt. Rev. Dr. Samson Das, diocese of Cuttack; and The Rt. Rev. Dr. Christ Kiron Das, Diocese of Sambalpur.

The government began a phased pullout of its forces on January 15.  Most people leaving the relief camps are not returning to their villages because they are threatened.

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.  In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from  us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.  For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality.  Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.  In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.  They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever.  Wisdom 3:1-8

O Lord, may the Church of North India trust in You and be faithful.  Watch over them.  Grant them understanding, love, grace, and mercy.  Amen.

On a level place

A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him

Jesus, you are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.  Go down with the Anglican Consultative Council and stand on the Liguanea Plain.

and to be healed of their diseases.

Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;  clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.   In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.  Ride forth victoriously, Jesus, to the Anglican Consultative Council on the Liguanea Plain.

Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,

Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.  Slay the King’s enemies, Jesus, at the Anglican Consultative Council on the Liguanea Plain.

and the people all tried to touch him,

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.  Reign, Sovereign Lord, at the Anglican Consultative Counsel on the Liguanea Plain.

because power was coming from him and healing them all. 

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Luke 6:17-19, Psalm 45:2-7

Regard for the weak

Psalm 41:1-2

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
       the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
       he will bless him in the land
       and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

O Lord, please bless those persons in the Anglican Communion who are dismayed by the refusal of the Joint Standing Committee to seat the designated Ugandan representative at the Anglican Consultative Council.  Protect and preserve their lives, bless them in the land, and do not let their foes triumph over them. Praise be to You, Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.   Amen and Amen.