Transfiguration confession

We confess our spiritual harlotry. We have equated sexual gratification with personal fulfillment.
Forgive us for disregarding Your Holy Word.
Our authority as a church has become disengaged from the principles that shaped our character and purpose.
Rather than saying the Word is not relevant to us, may we in the Church make ourselves relevant to Your Holy Word.
We have allowed our own ideas of sexuality to constitute the primary definition of who we are.
Through the reading of Your Holy Word, may we behold by faith the countenance of Jesus, the Living Word.
‘What is man that Thou art mindful of him?’ You are Spirit, and we were created in Your image.
Order our understanding of our identity as spirit-beings. Strengthen us to bear our cross and be changed into the likeness of Jesus. May we subsume Your Holy Word into our spirits and transform our minds into the mind of Christ, Your Living Word. Amen.

Reference: Love Without Reason? by Fr. David Curry

A Lovely Lenten prayer

Amy at Splendor in the Ordinary has a lovely prayer and reflection in preparation for Lent:

“Teach me your way, O LORD…give me an undivided heart…” (Psalm 86:11 NIV)

And so, this becomes my Lenten prayer:
An Undivided Heart.
A Heart that wills one thing.
A Heart detached from vain comforts that do not satisfy.
A Heart Uncluttered. Body and Soul. Our home. Our routine. Our affections.
All United to His will.

Amen! Go read Amy’s full post here.

Lenten Resources

Greetings all,
It’s been quite some time since I’ve done any blogging here at L&B. My work and ministry situation has changed quite dramatically in the past 8 months, and my time on the internet has of necessity been severely curtailed.

So, I doubt I will be doing much, if any, Lenten devotional blogging this year, unfortunately. But I did want to at least provide a few links to past resources:

All Lenten-themed blog entries
Lent Devotionals
Lent Prayers
Lent Quotes
Lent Resources
Lent: Family & Children

Also, don’t miss the long section of Lent links and blog entries on the sidebar of the blog.

A blessed and holy Lent to all of our readers!

Karen B.
Lent & Beyond founder

Psalm 99

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved! (Psalm 99:1)
      LORD, move our hearts to awe and wonder at all that you have done and are doing among us now.

The LORD is great in Zion, and he is high above all the peoples. (Psalm 99:2)
      Father, come and move the hearts of those in the Episcopal Church with your greatness.

Let them praise your great and awesome name–he is holy. (Psalm 99:3)
      Jesus, your name is above every name; please write your name on our hearts.

The King’s strength also loves justice; you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. (Psalm 99:4)
      Holy Spirit, please help President Obama and those who rule over us to love justice; establish equity, justice, and righteousness through them.

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool–he is holy. (Psalm 99:5)
      Holy Spirit, please help us exalt Jesus and worship at his footstool.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and samuel was among those who called upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. (Psalm 99:6)
      Father, move the hearts of all the clergy of this diocese to call upon the name of Jesus.

He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; they kept his testimonies and the ordinance he gave them. (Psalm 99:7)
      Holy Spirit, help all our clergy embrace your testimonies and ordinances.

You answered them, O LORD our God; you were to them God-Who-Forgives, though you took vengeance on their deeds. (Psalm 99:8 )
      Jesus, please help all our clergy come to you in humility and find you to be “God-Who-Forgives”.

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. (Psalm 99:9)
      LORD, please help us in every parish in this diocese to offer you true worship this day. Thank you.

Sunday: 114, 115; Ecclesiasticus 48:1-11 or Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Luke 9:18-27
Monday: 9, 15; Proverbs 27:1-6,10-12; Philippians 2:1-13; John 18:15-18,25-27

Albany Intercessor

Connecticut

Connecticut state flag–On a field of azure blue is an ornamental white shield with three grapevines, each bearing three bunches of purple grapes. The states motto “He who Transplanted Sustains Us” is displayed on a white ribbon. The vines stand for the first settlements of English people who began to move from Massachusetts in the 1630′s. These settlements were thought of as grapevines that had been transplanted.

John 1:5 NLT
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Dear Jesus,
You are the True Vine. May the state of Connecticut remain in You and be fruitful. This state was transplanted and established by You. We cry out that it be sustained by You. Amen.

Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, February 13, 2010, 9:20 -10:30 AM Torre Bissell and Dave Carlson

+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

+ Teresa — When asked what she wanted us to pray for she responded, “I don’t care” – she thanked us for praying for her

+ Brown — asked prayer for “everything”

Jim — Jim is one of our regulars that comes for prayer almost every week – he wanted to give thanks for how far God has brought him with his mental health

+ Teddy — asked us to pray “for a good day” – we prayed that the Lord would meet all his needs

+ Roselle — a mother with ++2 sons (1 middle school age, 1 high school) – stopped to ask prayer for her family

+ Francisco — he got a cell phone so he can keep in touch with his sister but has had trouble activating it; Torre called the phone company this morning and entered all the required info to get the phone working; Francisco was very grateful for the assistance and told us that a while back he was being threatened by someone in the neighborhood for no apparent reason; he came for prayer once at the prayer table and the threats ceased;

+ Melinda – asked prayer for a job; we asked the Lord to provide just the right job for her, one that would provide for her and her family

+ Marlene – one of our repeat visitors to the table, Marlene is a committed believer and said she is trusting God for financial provision – believing that 2010 will be her “year of Jubilee” – the Lord has given her several temp jobs lately for which she gave thanks

+ Kyron – and his middle-school age son + Antonio were waiting at the bus stop – they came over to the prayer table and Kyron asked prayer that he will be a witness for the Lord at work (he works in a barber shop)

+ Howard – asked prayer for a couple situations at work – he works as a maintenance man and he lost his set of work keys – we prayed that they would be found; he also has a difficult work relationship with his supervisor – we asked the Lord would bring peace into his work environment and help him to get along with his boss

David

Albany Intercessor