Mark 9:33-40

Then he came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:33-35)
      Holy Spirit, please help us know the desires of our hearts for what they are and bring them into alignment with what Jesus desires for us.

Then he took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37)
      Father, please help us receive every child and every baby Christian you send us; help us take them into our arms and into our fellowship with the love that Jesus has for them.

Now John answered him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is on our side.” (Mark 9:38-40)
      Jesus, the question is not, “Are they following us?” but “Are they following you?” Please help us get past blind denominationalism and see and recognize with joy all those who follow you. Help us daily enter into fellowship with all our brothers and sisters in the kingdom. Thank you.

Monday: 35; Exodus 4:10-20(21-26)27-31 1 Corinthians 14:1-19; Mark 9:30-41
Tuesday: 124, 125, 126, [127]; Exodus 5:1-6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20-33a, 39-40; Mark 9:42-50

      Notes from the Front Line

***** One of the most exciting things we saw last week while in Northern Ireland is The Dock Church. This is a new initiative to reach the Titanic Quarter of the city of Belfast. The area where the ship Titanic was built had deteriorated into rubble and ruin. It is now an area of exciting re-development with new business buildings, a metropolitan college, apartments and much more. This is a section of the city with no churches. A young Church of Ireland (Anglican) clergyman, Chris Bennett is heading up this ministry. Check out the web site: http://www.thedockchurch.org/
This ministry is intended to include other denominations as a way of making a new beginning from the “Troubles” of the recent past. There are several delightful videos you can look at. Please pray for this ministry.

***** Please pray for Bishop Bill and Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina and the other faithful bishops attending the House of Bishops meeting this weekend.

Albany Intercessor

Health care reform

Inspiration for this prayer came from Jim Chosa, a Native American intercessor–

Psalm 94:20-23 (Amplified Bible)
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You–they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under [the sacred name of] law? They band themselves together against the life of the [consistently] righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge. And He will turn back upon them their own iniquity and will wipe them out by means of their own wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.

Abba Father, the throne of iniquity over our Nation will not hide its unrighteous doings under the sacred name of the law!
O Lamb that was slain, standing with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, the sevenfold Holy Spirit, You have been sent into all the earth. With Your Blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. With Your Blood You purchased men and women from the Congress of the United States of America.
We as One Body of Christ, release in the power of the Word, Spirit and Blood, the Blood-covered Justice and Judgment of our King into the spiritual heart of the Congress of the United States of America. Amen.
Psalm 94:20-23, Revelation 5:6,9

Luke 20:9-19

Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.” (Luke 20:9)
      Jesus, please help us acknowledge that you are the owner of the vineyard and that we are only tenants.

“Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.” (Luke 20:10)
      Lord, help us repent of our hardness of heart; help us yield up the fruit you are looking for.

“Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.” (Luke 20:11)
      Jesus, we have not listened to your servants as we should, we have not listened to your word to us in Scripture: open our ears and our hearts.

“And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.” (Luke 20:12)
      Father, we have wounded your servants you have sent us — we have not listened to their words as we should have. Have mercy on us and help us repent of this.

“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’” (Luke 20:13)
      Holy Spirit, so many times we have praised Jesus with our lips but our hearts were cold; have mercy on us and warm our hearts with your fire.

“But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’” (Luke 20:14)
      Jesus, please help us repent of thinking the church belongs to us; it is yours. Help us repent of our stony hearts.

“So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?” (Luke 20:15)
      Lord, we have killed off so many of your initiatives and the work you have wanted to do in our hearts and minds. Bring us to new life in you.

“He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!” (Luke 20:16)
      Lord, there is a terrible destruction coming for those who do not repent; help us daily turn to you.

“Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Luke 20:17-18 )
      Lord Jesus, have mercy on us and turn our hearts into your ways.

And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on him, but they feared the people–for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. (Luke 20:19)
      Jesus, have mercy on the Presiding Bishop and all the bishops of the Episcopal Church and draw them to yourself. Move among them with your Holy Spirit at the House of Bishops meeting that is going on right now.

      A word received: Pray that my people will recognize that they are in a desert and cry out to me for streams of living water. Pray for living water — streams in the desert.

Sunday: 145; Exodus 3:16-4:12; Romans 12:1-21; John 8:46-59
Monday: 35; Exodus 4:10-20(21-26)27-31 1 Corinthians 14:1-19; Mark 9:30-41

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Please pray for Bishop Bill and Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina and the other faithful bishops attending the House of Bishops meeting this weekend.

      Pray that there will be streams of living water flowing through the Diocesan Convention.

Albany Intercessor

Lent Quotes: Frederica Mathewes-Green – Repentance is the doorway to the spiritual life

Repentance is the doorway to the spiritual life, the only way to begin. It is also the path itself, the only way to continue. Anything else is foolishness and self-delusion. Only repentance is both brute-honest enough, and joyous enough, to bring us all the way home.

Frederica Mathewes-Green, The Illumined Heart:
The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation

hat tip: Creedal Christian (where there is a fuller excerpt)

Prayer Table Report and Meditations on the Woman at the Well by Deacon Howard Smith

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, March 20, 2010, 9:30 -10:30 AM Chuck Rinaldo and Dave Carlson

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

Today is the first day of Spring! It was warm and sunny and many folks were out walking and taking advantage of the nice weather.

Clifford — he told us the last time he came for prayer he was in a “bad way” but today things are much better; I remembered him from the previous time and he looked so much better today; he asked prayer for his family

++ Joe — asked prayer for his health and his family – asked for an extra cross

+ Sasha – did not want prayer, stating that “life is going well” for her; she did accept a cross though

Jose – we asked if we could pray for him – he said “sure” but kept walking; we prayed that he would know the Lord and draw close to Him

+ a man stopped to get one of our crosses; I remembered his face from a previous visit, but not his name; I said “I forgot your name, sir” – his response was “I didn’t give it to you” – we prayed for him as he walked away that the Lord would meet his needs and draw the man closer to Himself

Arthur — another man who has come before – very cheerful man – he said “I already have 5 of those crosses. Things are good. When you have the Lord in your heart, things are good.” We prayed for the Lord’s continued blessing on Arthur and his family.

++++Virginia – walked up right after someone had declined prayer and said “I definitely want prayer – please pray for my kids who are in jail” – she said she has 3 kids and they’re all in jail currently. We prayed for encouragement for Virginia, that the Lord would protect her kids while they are in jail, and get a hold of their lives. We assured her that God loves them and has a plan for them. She took crosses for herself and all 3 kids. She also said she and her sister are interested in visiting Christ Church some time for a service. We gave her a card with our church info.

+ Joanne and young daughter + Stephanie – as they were walking by the table we greeted them and offered prayer; the little girl laughed and the mom seemed to not understand; we gave them each a cross and asked the Lord to bless them (we assumed there was a language barrier); a while later they were walking back the other way and this time stopped for prayer. They did speak English and they did want prayer. Joanne asked us to pray for her kids (Stephanie, who is in kindergarten, and her 7-year-old son + Louis). Stephanie picked out a cross to give to her brother.

+ 2 middle-school-aged boys – seemed suspicious of us (which is understandable since we are strangers to them), did not stop for prayer but one of them did accept a cross

A gentleman walking by in a hurry – when we asked how he was doing he said he was “blessed” – he did not stop for prayer but said we could pray for each other; another man walking by said he was not feeling well and had to get home – we prayed for the Lord’s healing

+ Delores – a woman walking by pushing a small cart, on her way to the nearby Dollar General store; she was very cheerful and said she was pleased that she was able to get out and walk to the store; we prayed for the Lord to strengthen her, provide for her, and protect her

We prayed for the people ministering in front of the Planned Parenthood as part of the ’40 days for Life’ – this ministry has been going on throughout Lent and will continue through Palm Sunday – it’s not too late to get involved (for more info go to http://40daysforlife.com/schenectady/)

David

Meditations by Deacon Howard Smith at Christ Church Schenectady:

Thirsty At The Well: Where is my Community?
Meditation 4
March 12, 2010
John 4:7-43

Dedicated to the glory of God and to the loving memory of Beverly Rose.

In the voice and person of the Pastor of the Church of Sychar at the funeral of the Samaritan Woman.

I thirst.
I am thirsty.
One wouldn’t think that going to the well and back would leave one so thirsty.
Visiting the well today was a fitting way to remember our dear sister. She will be remembered forever as the Samaritan Woman who went to the well in the heat of the day. Here is the woman who literally brought our town of Sychar to Jesus, and for this we are eternally grateful.

I speak to you today as your friend and your pastor. But I haven’t always been your pastor. The day our Samaritan Woman met Jesus I was a prominent merchant in this town. I used to sell to our Samaritan Woman when no one else would speak to her. When all shunned her and when most other reputable merchants wouldn’t sell to her at all. Please note I am not patting myself on the back. For I told her back then to only come to my store when none of my good customers where around. Sometimes she would pass by my store many times before she could buy unnoticed. In spite of how I treated her she appreciated my willingness to sell to her. And that I charged her a fair price and treated her better than most. But even then I knew in my spirit, I didn’t treat her right. But, I was motivated by fear and what others might think of me and my own puffed up notions of myself.

I remember the day she met Jesus. She actually sought me out. I had a line of customers and she came running up the street screaming like a mad woman. She came in and pushed some customers out of the way to get to me. She grabbed me by the shirt and yelled, “He told me every thing I have done! Everything I have done!” And then she ran off yelling, “I have found the Messiah! I have found the Messiah at the well! Come quickly before he passes us by!”

I said thoughtfully out loud, “’He told me everything I have done. He told me everything I have done?’
Coming from her?
How can that be good news?”

Then I left everything and went to the well. Like many others I begged Jesus to stay and I hung on every word. And like many others I said to our Samaritan Woman, “Now I believe not because of what you said, but because I have heard for myself.”
The rest is history.

Now here lies our sister. And we rejoice that, “she will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Like all who believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Him, even though they die, they shall live, for everyone who believe in Jesus will never die. So we rejoice in the hope of glory. Yet we mourn for our momentary loss. Her presence here will be dearly be missed.

She lived as an example of the transformation of what Jesus does in our lives. He transforms the darkness into light, fear into hope, hate into love, and isolation into community.

I mourn for our loss, but to be totally honest, I am heart stricken today for my loss. The loss of my opportunity. You see my brothers and sisters, I never loved her like family. In my heart there was a division between her and I, much like the one I had prior to Jesus. Back when I was a merchant and she was the customer I condescended to.

You see, it was enough for me to have a relationship with her in church, only.

It was enough to sit at the Lord’s Table with her, it was enough to eat with her at church potlucks, but I never dreamed of inviting her to my house for supper at my table.

It was enough to pray for her in church and listen to her fears, hopes and dreams. But I have never asked her to pray for me in any meaningful way or share my fears, hopes and dreams with her.

It was enough to be a professional Christian to her and not dirty my hands with her life.

Brother and sisters, tolerance, ….. tolerance is not, has never been, nor will ever be… a Christian Virtue. And I want to confess the sin of tolerance to you today. For truly, I have only tolerated her and never loved her, in an incarnate way.

I have come to realize in our loss that not loving her, was not loving Jesus and the work he was continually doing in her life.

My hope is in the resurrection. That at the last day the trumpets will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. The living will be caught up with Christ. We will be given new bodies. And in my flesh, and in my flesh, and in my flesh I shall see God! Then I will love God perfectly. Then I will love our Samaritan Woman perfectly.

But until that day I can seek Jesus and walk with Him. I can see the Kingdom of God break through into ordinary people and ordinary circumstances. I can love Jesus at work in all people and love the least of these incarnately.

I have found the Messiah and he has told me everything I have done.
This is truly Good News.

******************************************

Thirsty at the Well – Where do I Worship?
Meditation 5
March 19, 2010

In the voice and person of a modern day worshiper.

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.

I’m thirsty for more than coffee and tea…
Soda, Red Bull and energy drinks.

I am thirsty for an encounter with the Messiah,
I am thirsty for a well greater
than what our ancestors have dug.
I am thirsty for more
than what I have dug for myself.

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.
I’m thirsty to worship Him in spirit.
I’m thirsty for more than just a mountain top experience.
I am thirsty for more than just Holy Week Services.
I’m thirsty for more than a new favorite worship song.
One that makes me feel like my old favorite
used to.
I am thirsty for more than just an emotional high.
I thirst.

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.
I am thirsty to worship Him in truth.
I am thirsty for more than the next book
that is supposed to change my life.
I’m thirsty for more than just Jesus
on the radio and tv,
…cd, mp3 or dvd.
I am thirsty for more than the next teaching series
or Lenten Meditation.
I am thirsty for more than just a religious experience.
I thirst.

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.
I am thirsty for a new paradigm.
I am thirsty for new assumptions;
the ones necessary – to even begin –
to understand the equation.

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.
I am thirsty for faith to even begin to believe that there is a harvest,
and that it can possible be ready.

Why, why,
oh why does the Samaritan Woman try so hard
to keep Jesus out?
Why don’t the disciples want to do more
than just eat?

Why don’t the people of Jesus’ hometown
honor him?
Why do the people who should know Jesus best,
not get him at all?

I thirst.
I’m thirsty.

I’m thirsty for more than coffee and tea…
Soda, Red Bull and energy drinks.

Am I ready to meet Jesus at the well?
To be held – in his eyes?
To be touched – by his word?
To experience new creation?

Am I ready for a Jesus
who asks me for water?

Jesus give me this water,
so that I will not be thirsty
or have to come here again.

Albany Intercessor

Virginia

The first Thanksgiving occurred when Captain John Woodlief led the newly-arrived English colonists to a grassy slope along the James River and instructed them to drop to their knees and pray in thanks for a safe arrival to the New World. It was December 4, 1619, and 38 men from Berkeley Parish in England vowed:

“Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

Psalm 100:4 NLT
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Almighty God,
We pray that the people of Virginia will hearken to their beginnings. May they continually enter into Your presence, give thanks, and praise Your holy name. Amen.

Juba, Sudan

Juba is a city in Sudan, the regional capital of Southern Sudan. From 1899 to 1956, the Juba was in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan jointly administered by the United Kingdom and Egypt. British hopes to join the southern part of Sudan with Uganda were dashed in 1947 by an agreement in Juba, also known as the Juba Conference, to unify northern and southern Sudan. In 1955, a mutiny of southern soldiers in the city sparked the First Sudanese Civil War, which did not end until 1972. During the Second Sudanese Civil War, Juba was a strategic location that was the focus of much fighting. In 2005, Juba was handed over to the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army.
The indigenous tribe of Juba is the Bari. Bari Folklore tells us of how long ago the land flanking the Nile was full of strings of villages spread out to the horizon, as far as the eye could see. The slave traders reduced the Bari villages to a miserable few. Ever since then, recovery has been difficult, considering also the fact that the civil wars in 1955-1973; and 1983-2005 have further taken their toll on the Bari.

Isaiah 41:18-20 (New International Version)
I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Holy Father,
We plead with You to make Yourself known to the people of Juba. As You continue to heal the land and heal the hearts of the people on a greater scale than we can even dream, cause the people to see and know and consider and understand the ways of the One True and Living God. Let them see Your hand at work among them.
We claim the spilled blood of Jesus over the land of Juba. May His name be magnified in creation and in the hearts of the people. We plead with You to make Your Son known to the people of Juba. Amen.

House of Bishops

Exodus 20:22-24
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it . . . Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.’ “

Jehovah God,
We have seen the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ. We pray that Your sons and daughters in Camp Allen, Texas (especially _____) will hear and obey His word. May they shun idols of gold and silver.
They are but dust, and to dust they shall return. May they offer to You a pleasing sacrifice–a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Cause Your name to be honored in the tabernacle of their hearts. Come to them and bless them. Amen.

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops is convened at Camp Allen, TX. Hosea 14 is a beautiful passage of scripture. Read the whole thing.

Hosea 14:2-4 NIV
Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.”
“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.”

Lord God Almighty,
You are the high and lofty one. Your name is holy. You live forever.
I have sinned. I have looked to institutional leaders and councils, to manmade devices and plans, for my deliverance. I have turned to fleshly sins for my comfort. These cannot save me.
You are my Father. Only in You can I find deliverance and comfort. Heal my waywardness and love me freely.
The root of waywardness only brings forth sin. You are the source of our fruitfulness; may I be rooted in You.
If You are calling to any bishops at Camp Allen to take words and return to You, open their ears, their eyes, and their hearts, dear Lord (especially ____). Turn Your anger away from them. You revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite. Your ways are right. Your comfort is like the morning dew in a dry land.
O Lord, how could we ever take our eyes off of You? Amen.
Hosea 14, Isaiah 57:15

Mark 9:23-29

Prayer item from the diocesan intercession calendar for today: Vibrant Evangelism in this diocese.
      LORD, give us a heart to joyfully share the gospel.

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
      Holy Spirit, help us believe in Jesus with great faith.

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
      Lord, we believe; help our unbelief!

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” (Mark 9:25)
      Jesus, cast out the unclean spirits that keep us deaf to the call to share the gospel and dumb that keep us from speaking of you when you place opportunities before us.

Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” (Mark 9:26)
      Father, the Episcopal Church is greatly convulsed now and many say it is dead, but we say that just as you raised Jesus from the dead by the power of your Holy Spirit, you can raise the Episcopal Church to new life, and we thank you for that.

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:27)
      Jesus, please take us by the hand and lift us up.

And when he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Mark 9:28 )
      Holy Spirit, please bring us to the place where all of us ask Jesus why we are unable to do the works we see in Scripture and that he has commanded us to do.

So he said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)
      Lord, please bring us to a deepened life of prayer and fasting. Thank you.

      Prayers and Words Received while in Northern Ireland:

      A word received (3/12/10): Pray for my people to reach out to me.

      A word received (3/13/10): I want my people to come to me and bless what I bless.

      A word received (3/14/10): Bless me.

People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mark 7:37)
      Lord Jesus, speak your word to us: unstop our ears and give our tongues words of praise for you.

      A word received (3/15/10): Pray for my people to praise me.

      A word received (3/15/10): Be prepared to share how I have led you in reading my Scriptures. They are my words for my people. I want them to open them with expectation, with hope.

O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. (Psalm 94:1)
      Lord, bring the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church to repentance.

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. (Psalm 94:2)
      Lord, if we received what we deserved, we would all be in trouble. In your mercy bring the leaders and teachers and people of the Episcopal Church to repentance.

How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? (Psalm 94:3)
      Holy Spirit, move in our hearts and bring us to repentance.

They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. (Psalm 94:4)
      Jesus, as you shut the lion’s mouths for Daniel, shut the mouths of those who speak arrogant words to your people to harm them.

They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. (Psalm 94:5)
      Protect the dioceses of South Carolina and Albany and all your faithful dioceses, parishes, and people.

      A word received (3/16/10): Speak what I give you.

      A word received (3/17/10): Thank me for my blessing.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
      Jesus, please help us hear your call to us. Please help us daily deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow you.

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35)
      Holy Spirit, show us each day what we must let go of.

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
      Father, help us to so fear you that we gain wisdom. All around us we see those who seek to gain what the world has to offer and are losing their souls. Have mercy on them and on us.

“Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37)
      Jesus, please teach us the true value of our souls.

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 )
      Holy Spirit, please help us learn the true value of knowing Jesus; help us daily make him our Lord, whatever the cost.

And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” (Mark 9:1)
      Father, help us see your kingdom and the power of your Holy Spirit made visible among us in this diocese. Thank you.

      A word received (3/18/10): Tell them I am asking them to join me in my work of intercession.

Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he ever lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
      A word received (3/18/10): Pray for my people to desire my work.

Saturday: 33; Exodus 2:23-3:15; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Mark 9:14-29
Sunday: 145; Exodus 3:16-4:12; Romans 12:1-21; John 8:46-59

Albany Intercessor

Lent Prayers: Call Us to Humility

O God, rich in mercy, you so loved the world that, when we were dead in our sins, you sent your only Son for our deliverance. Help us in this Lenten journey to embrace your truth and salvation. Call us to humility and gentleness so that we may we embrace the Easter proclamation. We ask this through Christ, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God, for ever and for ever. Amen.

– from one of the recent Lenten devotionals at Anglican Mainstream

Sudanese bishops

Compiled from the AC provincial directory and from George Conger’s website.

Primate:The Most Revd Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Bishop of Juba
Provincial Treasurer: Dr Abraham Matok Dhal
Bishop of Akot: Rt Revd Isaac Dhieu
Bishop of Bor: The Rt Revd Nathaniel Garang Angieth
Bishop of Cueibet: The Rt Revd Reuben Maciir Makoi
Bishop of El-Obeid: The Rt Revd Ismail Abudigin Kawo Gibreil
Bishop of Ezo: The Rt Revd John Kereboro Zawo
Bishop of Ibba: The Rt Revd Levi Hassan Nzakara
Bishop of Kadugli Nuba Mountains: The Rt Revd Andudu Adam Elnail
Bishop of Kajo Keji: The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo
Bishop of Khartoum: The Rt Revd Ezekiel Kondo
Bishop of Lainya: The Rt Revd Peter Amidi
Bishop of Lui: The Rt Revd Bullen A Dolli
Bishop of Malakal: The Rt Revd Hilary Garang
Bishop of Maridi: The Rt Revd Justin Badi Arama
Bishop of Mundri: The Rt Revd Bismark Monday
Bishop of Nzara: Rt Revd Samuel Enosa Peni
Bishop of Pakong: Rt Revd Joseph Maker
Bishop of Port Sudan: The Rt Revd Yousif Abdalla Kuku
Bishop of Rejaf: The Rt Revd Enock Tombe
Bishop of Rokon: The Rt Revd Francis Loyo
Bishop of Rumbek: The Rt Revd Alapayo Manyang Kuctiel
Bishop of Terekeka: Rt Revd Micah Leila
Bishop of Torit: The Rt Revd Bernard Oringa Balmoi
Bishop of Twic East: The Rt Revd Ezekiel Diing
Bishop of Wau: The Rt Revd Moses Deng Bol
Bishop of Yambio: The Rt Revd Peter Munde Yacoub
Bishop of Yei: The Rt Revd Hilary Luate Adeba
Bishop of Yirol: The Rt Revd Benjamin Mangar Mamur

O Lord,
You are the Most High. May each and every one dwell in Your shelter. Amen.

Prayer of protection: Psalm 91

Virginia

From the state constitution:

Article 1, Section 17:
That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence;

Ephesians 1:17-19 MSG

I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

Oh, make it so in the state of Virginia, Lord.  Send forth Your spirit of revelation upon this people.  Amen.

The gospel seed

Dear Heavenly Father,
Your children in Sudan carry the seed of the gospel in their spirits. Keep the fowls of the air, the predators of the unseen realm, from devouring Your children. We declare life in the seed of the gospel in Sudan. May it germinate, prosper, and yield a harvest, thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and a hundred-fold. Amen.
Matthew 13:3-8

Lent Quotes: Jesus embraced the cross with His whole heart

Last Friday (Mar. 12), Victor Hoagland had an interesting reflection on Mark 12:28-34 (Jesus’ command to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength), and how the Cross was the fulfillment of Christ’s love.  It’s a great reminder as we get closer to Good Friday.

We  should expect to hear about love on a lenten friday. Believers, of course, recall the passion of Jesus on all the fridays of the year, but the lenten fridays are special days to prepare for the Friday called Good.

On this day the great commandment Jesus preached was fulfilled in a striking way. Historians, scholars, artists approach the mystery of his passion and death from so many perspectives. The gospels and Christian tradition dwell on it in great detail. It is a fascinating conclusion to a fascinating life.

But the question Why did Jesus suffer such a death? can only be answered by  recognizing it as his response to the command of love. Jesus accepted the cross with love for his heavenly Father and love for us, who were there when he was crucified.

The cross was not something Jesus endured, he embraced  it with his whole heart, his whole mind and all his strength. At his cross, we stand before Love.

Read the whole post “Love on a Friday” here.