Please pray for Bishop Bill

Please pray for Bishop Bill as he attends the Province II Bishops Meeting January 11-13.

Albany Intercessor

Healing

Torre’s wife is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

Habakkuk 3:4 NLT
His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.

Dear Jesus,
You are the bright morning star, the light of the world. May Your awesome power come to Jean through the hands of the intercessors and the hospital staff. Amen.

Hebrews 1:1-4 and Deuteronomy 31:7-8

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (Hebrews 1:1)
      Holy Father, please us heed your word to us by your prophets; write the words of David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and all your prophets on our hearts.

has in these last days spoken to us by his son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)
      Dear Jesus, continue to speak to us and to your church; help us hear what you are saying.

who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3)
      Jesus, let the brightness of your light shine forth through the Diocese of Albany and throughout the Episcopal Church.

having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:4)
      Holy Spirit, help us bring honor to the name of Jesus today. Thank you.

Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8 )
      Father, as you enabled Moses and Joshua to go forth at your word, help us in our generation to go forth into all that you have prepared for us to do. Thank you.

Monday: 4, 7; Genesis 2:4-9(10-15)16-25; Hebrews 1:1-14; John 1:1-18
Tuesday: 10, 11; Genesis 3:1-24; Hebrews 2:1-10; John 1:19-28

Albany Intercessor

The First Amendment

Amendment 1 – Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices:
Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for our nation can be found at this Roman Catholic website and this evangelical ministry. An Episcopal novena for our nation is found here.

Fr. Nigel Update

Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 7:51 pm
From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+
Subject: update
Dear faithful prayer partners,
      Again I write to thank you all for your heartfelt prayers. I can now climb the stairs of my house (slowly) and sleep in our bed. I am starting to feel “normal” again. To be free of a hospital bed for 3 months to the day is amazing. Sleeping without oxygen is a little frightening. I am encouraged to use it when moving and to remove it when stationary. Slowing one’s breath down at night is a little uncomfortable and reminds me of the close shave I have had with death. Funny how much we take so much for granted. This morning I caught my wife just looking at me. Smiling when I caught her. She said it is so good to have you back, it is so good that you are alive. We wept. I have had a lot of opportunity to weep over the past three months.

      The band aids are off my throat and feeding tube area. The stage three pressure sore is now half what it was. Will be starting a new medical protocol on Monday. I do not want my lungs to be subject to a general anesthetic so I am avoiding surgery at all costs. here is still a hole, but it is closing from the inside out as it should. Thanks be to God. Having had yet another close shave with death my emotions are rather fragile. My prayer life is amazing. I feel so close to Jesus. Just knowing that so many prayed for me when I was in a coma,the prayers of the people literally carrying me to life, just moves my soul to the amount of love that has been poured out in and by so many.

      My friends in Christ keep praying, pray for your loved ones, pray for the sick, pray for peace, pray for the church. You know its time we all got back on our knees. When was the last time you got on your knees with your spouse to pray? I strongly recommend that you continue what the Lord has put on your heart over the past three months. Pray. Pray without ceasing. Use one part of your brain for daily functions and conversations and use another part of your brain to simultaneously pray. Pray a simple prayer. Pray a prayer of a child, pray the Lords prayer, pray for protection, pray for your own health and the health of those you know and don’t know. I put it to you to look at what the Book of Common prayer states on page 137 in the daily devotions for individuals and families. Three quarters of the way down the page it writes “Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.” The BCP suggests that we pray for ourselves first and then others. Just a thought.

      I send you all such love, those I know, those I do not know, those who have head me speak, those who have sent beautiful prayer shawls, and wonderful quilts, get well cards and letters. We have been so swamped and I so sick that I do apologize to those I should have sent thank you cards. I have been remiss please forgive me. Please know that you are deeply appreciated as we store up treasures in heaven. It is so good to be alive, thank you all, thank you God, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit, thank you Holy Trinity.

Be well, do good works and for the sake of God love one another. Keep on praying dear souls… May God bless you richly, Fr. Nigel+

      Notes from the Front Line

O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever. (Psalm 131:3)
      A word received: Hope in me; I AM your strength.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13)
      A word received: How do you make me the beginning and the end of your day?
      What do you do to give me that place in your life?

      A word received: Hear me, listen to me, let me be your daily guide.

      A word received at Christ Church Schenectady:
      You say to me, “Remember your people…”
      I not only remember you, I know you.
      I know you so well that I know your very thoughts — before you speak.
      I AM here — I AM calling you.
      Do you hear me? Are you even listening to me?
      If you listen you will hear me — I want to be in every part of your life.
      You can choose to listen for me and to me.
      Choose life.
      Come to me; I will never turn you away.

Monday: 4, 7; Genesis 2:4-9(10-15)16-25; Hebrews 1:1-14; John 1:1-18
Tuesday: 10, 11; Genesis 3:1-24; Hebrews 2:1-10; John 1:19-28

***** My wife, Jean, will be having shoulder replacement surgery at Saratoga Hospital on Tuesday, January 12th. She is expected to return home on Thursday. It has become “painfully clear” that the surgery is necessary.

Albany Intercessor