Zachary Andreas Ould

Many of you know Rev. Peter Ould, Anglican priest and blogger. He and his wife Gayle had a son, who has now died in utero. The boy had Edwards Syndrome (also known as Trisomy 18), where an extra chromosome 18 was present in all of his cells. The son’s name is Zachary Andreas (”God has remembered”, “Man”).

Jehovah God,
By Your word were the heavens made. All the hosts of heaven were made by the breath of Your mouth. The vast Whirlpool Galaxy exuded from Your being, its heart from Your heart. Your breath exploded with subatomic particles; every electron spin comes from Your heart.
Your love unfailing fills creation. Where can we escape from Your Spirit? Where can we flee from Your presence?
You know Zachary Andreas through and through. Every cell adhesion protein molecule reverberates from Your heart. Every day in his life is recorded in Your book.
You have rescued him from the domain of darkness and brought him into the kingdom of Your dear Son. Your way is perfect. You have remembered Zachary Andreas. You have re-membered his genome; Your word is flawless. You spoke him into being; You created him in Your image.
How precious are Your thoughts, O God. They cannot be numbered. We do not understand the brevity of his life, but we trust in You because we know that all things are held together in Christ Jesus.
Genesis 1:26, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 33:5-6, 139:15-17, Colossians 1:17

Some of the ideas for this prayer came from Louie Giglio.

Luke 5:1-11

So it was, as the multitude pressed about him to hear the word of God, that he stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then he got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:1-4)
      Jesus, help us hear your words of direction to us.

But Simon answered and said to him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)
      Holy Spirit, please move in all of our hearts so that we will respond to Jesus’ word as Simon Peter did.

And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (Luke 5:6)
      Father, bring all the parishes and ministries of this diocese to such obedience to Jesus’ words that there is a great catch.

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:7-8 )
      Holy Spirit, please help all of us throughout this diocese respond in humility as Simon Peter did when we see the evidence of Jesus’ work among us.

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:9-10)
      Jesus, help us go forth at your word to be fishers of men.

So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed him. (Luke 5:11)
      Holy Spirit, please help us let go of everything that hinders our following Jesus. Thank you.

      A word received: Look to me, my people.
      Keep your attention on me.
      Look to me — heed my word to you in Scripture.
      Let me write my word on your hearts.
      Let me give you a heart of flesh for your heart of stone.
      Look to me; return to me.
      Renew your covenant with me.

Sunday: 66, 67; 2 Kings 17:1-18; Acts 9:36-43; Luke 5:1-11
Monday: 89:1-18; 2 Kings 17:24-41; 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Matthew 6:25-34

Albany Intercessor

His eyes

Psalm 66:7
He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah

Hubble telescope images that look like an eye:
here, here, here, and here.

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report September 19, 9:15-10:30 AM Torre Bissell and Don Foust
+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.
It was another beautiful, crisp autumn morning in Schenectady.

We see the effects of the Prayer Table on the people of the Neighborhood in a number of ways: from passers-by wearing Dennis Adams’ wooden crosses, to people for praying for the ministry of the Prayer Table, to folks giving us words of encouragement, to those in cars waving to us, to people trying to start Prayer Tables in their own organizations, to people regularly stopping by the Table for pray, and especially in the changes in peoples lives. On Saturday, we saw all of these signs.

The Prayer Table has become a regular stop for a number of folks in the Neighborhood, and we have added their names to the bottom of the Prayer Table Report.

+Teresa–”I certainly could use some prayer”; Teresa gave birth to Meagan 2 days ago. Prayed that Teresa would grow into the wife, the mother, the woman, the child of God that the Lord was calling her to be.

+Keith– Keith was reluctant to stop; he was playing with his dog Princess. We prayed for healing for Keith’s leg (he walked with a limp–the result of a recent operation). Prayed for protection for both Keith and Princess.

+Miguel–Did not speak English. Prayed for blessings in his life.

Man across the street–Stopped and prayed for us, then continued on his way. We also prayed for this unknown man.

Man on a bicycle–Said, “Keep up the good work”, as he rode by.

+Joseph–Looking for his lost, white dog “Disco“. Prayed for his protection and success in his search.

+Charlette and +Claude–prayed for health and protection for this couple.

Jim (regular)–Jim offered a prayer to God for “all the gifts in his life”. What a change we have seen in Jim’s life–from a man who was hurting and kept to himself, to a person who eagerly stops by the Prayer Table to praise God. Pray for continuing healing in Jim’s life.

+Chuck– Chuck got off the bus to meet his friend Kai. He saw the Prayer Table and directly came over. We prayed for his family and for protection.

+Kai (Chuck’s friend)–had a Bible in hand. We prayed for provision and for his family.

+Michael–young man from Syracuse–Prayed for healing of his hand (He just got out of the hospital). Chuck also has a lung problem (COPD–Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). We prayed for healing of this disease. On Michael’s return trip down State Street, he was smiling and wearing his new wooden cross. We again prayed for healing of the COPD.

Howard–Howard attends the Seventh Day Adventist Church across the street and was wearing one of Dennis Adams’ wooden crosses. We prayed for his family. He prayed for our continuing ministry in the Neighborhood. Howard related a story about the Salvation Army in Schenectady. He had experienced our Prayer Table and had wanted to start a Prayer Table at the Salvation Army. What eventually was instituted was a “Prayer Basket“. People would write prayer requests on slips of paper and drop them into the basket. Typically 10-15 prayer requests are submitted every week. Howard commented that there are many different ways to spread God’s Word. Sometimes people “push” it on you; other times, you have quiet invitations like the Prayer Table and the Prayer Basket. Please pray for those spreading God’s Word in the city of Schenectady.

Ishan–This young man is a Moslem form Morrocco who has stopped at the Prayer Table many times. He gave us copies of the Quran and we gave him a copy of the Bible. Ishan is drawn to the Prayer Table, pray that he will discover Jesus.

+Theodore–teen-age boy. We prayed for protection and for his family. He asked that we pray for Sarah Moore. Sarah (a 25 year old woman from Schenectady) was arrested this summer for the arson-related death of a 10 year-old girl (Avion Bell) on Congress Street.

Prayer Table Regulars

Kayla– Pray for healing in her life after being raped. Pray for her mother Laura, her son Nassir, her brother Josh, and Josh’s son Deanthony.

Jim–Pray for healing in his life from abusive parents and for his personal peace after the death of his 31 year old son Robert.

Bill–Pray for his health and no more epileptic seizures.

Lucinato and Eddiberto–Pray for protection for their family

Paulette and her children Monique and Taishawn–Pray for provision for this family

Clarence–Pray for direction as he seeks to change his life.

Linda–Pray for her family in Guyana

Albany Intercessor