John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

      Jesus, let your light shine forth in our lives and in the life of our parishes and diocese. Give your light to the shepherds who lead this diocese and the parishes in it. Lord, you word is a lamp unto our feet and light for our path. Thank you.

      Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts for the Parish Leadership Conferences and the Diocesan Convention.

      Father, thank you for giving us light to see by in your word.

      I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
      And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
      From the Watch Night Service by John Wesley.

A word received: Call my people to me. Pray they will refresh the weary with the good news of the gospel.

Dec. 31: 46, 48 * –; Isaiah 26:1-9; 2 Cor. 5:16-6:2; John 8:12-19
Eve of Holy Name: — * 90; Isaiah 65:15b-25; Rev. 21:1-6
Holy Name: 103 * 148; Gen. 17:1-12a, 15-16; Col. 2:6-12; John 16:23b-30
      HC: Holy Name January 1: 8; Exodus 34:1-8; Romans 1:1-7 or Philippians 2:9-13; Luke 2:15-21

      Notes from the Front Line

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST by Donald Fishel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyKuGvwO50&feature=related
Don Moen – The Light of Christ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZYr0D7_GWs&feature=related

Albany Intercessor

Sudan’s gates

Some observers believe that Islamists in Khartoum supported and funded by the Arab world consider South Sudan the “gateway” to the Islamization and Arabization of all of Africa.

Song of Solomon 7:13 (New King James Version)
The mandrakes give off a fragrance,
And at our gates are pleasant fruits,
All manner, new and old,
Which I have laid up for you, my beloved.

O Father,
We claim the Blood of the Lamb over the lintel and side posts of the spiritual gateways to Southern Sudan. She is Your beloved. Let death pass her by.
We proclaim the fruit of Your Holy Spirit at the spiritual gateways–pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old. Let there be a profusion of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
We call on the wind of Your Holy Spirit to continuously blow the fragrance of new life over every spiritual gate. New life! New life! New life! New life! Amen.
Exodus 12, Song of Solomon 7:13

A previous prayer on the gates of Sudan may be found here.

Hawaii

This is the last of a prayer series for our nation. Last January, we prayed for the federal government, and commenced praying for the states one at a time. Every state was prayed for. Thank you, dear readers.

From Hawaii Revised Statutes:

§5-9 State motto. The motto “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” is adopted, established, and designated as the official motto of the State. It is translated into English to mean “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” [L 1959, JR 4, §1; Supp, §14-5.3; HRS §5-9; am L 1979, c 145, §2]

Father, we declare Your righteousness over the land of this beautiful state. Amen.

Isaiah 25:1-9

O LORD, you are my God. I will exalt you, I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things; your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. (Isaiah 25:1)
      LORD, restore to the common life of your church and your people your counsels of old, for they are faithful and true.

For you have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. (Isaiah 25:2)
      Jesus, we see the ruins of much that we thought was secure and strong in your church: repair the breach and restore the streets to dwell in. (See Isaiah 58:12)

Therefore the strong people will glorify you; the city of the terrible nations will fear you. (Isaiah 25:3)
      Holy Spirit, please help us find our strength in you so that we may fear and glorify Jesus and his father (and our father).

For you have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. (Isaiah 25:4)
      Jesus, you will satisfy our soul in drought and strengthen our bones. You will make of us a watered garden and a spring of water whose waters do not fail. (See Isaiah 58:11) Let the Diocesan Convention of 2011 be a watered garden.

You will reduce the noise of aliens, as heat in a dry place; as heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones will be diminished. (Isaiah 25:5)
      Father, shut the lions’ mouths as you did for Daniel and protect us from the strife of tongues (See Psalm 31:20).

      Lord Jesus, stop the accusers of the brethren as you did with the woman caught in adultery (See John 7:53-8:11). Protect Bishop Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina and this diocese.

And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. (Isaiah 25:6)
      LORD, help all of us in this diocese hear your call to come to your banquet table.

And he will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. (Isaiah 25:7)
      Lord Jesus Christ, please remove the veil from our eyes.

He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8 )
      Jesus, thank you for wiping away the tears from our eyes, for sending your comforter, the Holy Spirit.

And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)
      Behold, LORD, you are our God, we have waited for you, and you will save us; we will be glad in you and rejoice in your salvation.

Dec. 30: 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 23, 27; Isaiah 25:1-9; Rev. 1:9-20; John 7:53-8:11
Dec. 31: 46, 48 * –; Isaiah 26:1-9; 2 Cor. 5:16-6:2; John 8:12-19
Eve of Holy Name: — * 90; Isaiah 65:15b-25; Rev. 21:1-6

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Check out http://albanyintercessor.blogspot.com/2010/12/watered-garden-and-loving-god.html

Albany Intercessor

Alaska

In 1939, at the beginning stages of WWII, the U.S. government was considering ways to relax immigration quotas and allow European setters (mostly German Jews) to come to Alaska as a way to develop America’s frontier. At that time a letter arrived in Washington, D.C., from Nazi Germany’s Bruno Rosenthal, the leader of the Jewish community in the town of Neustadt, Germany. He was requesting, on behalf of 30 men, women and children to immigrate to Alaska.
After interviewing a cross section of local leaders, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner printed an article with the conclusion in a headline atop the front page: “German Jews Unsuited For Alaska Settlers Is Prevailing View Here.” Their request was denied. All of these people died in the concentration camps.
In the last few years, there has been much work done in identificational repentance between the church and the Jewish community. Christians United for Israel Alaska has held events over the last three years. In 2009, an event, “A Night to Honor Israel” a pastor read the names of those who made the request and repented that Christians did not stand up. Then governor, Sarah Palin repented to the Jewish Community for the refused request in 1939. Governor Palin declared that Alaska would not close her doors to those needing refuge again and that Alaska would stand with the Nation of Israel. Inroads of communication and trust have been established with the Orthodox and the liberal Synagogues as well as the political lobbyist group, AIPAC.

Genesis 12:3 (Amplified Bible)
And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].

Father,
We thank You for the blood of Your Son that covers the sins of those who fear You. Your unfailing love is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. Bless the state of Alaska, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 103:11-12

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 )

      Jesus, I thirst for more of you, help me come to you and drink.

      Lord Jesus, I believe in you – let your rivers of living water flow out from me.

But this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39)

      Holy Spirit, fall on us — fill us anew with your transforming power.

      Father, help us throughout this diocese to receive all that you want to give us. Thank you.

Dec. 29: 18:1-20 * 18:21-50*; Isaiah 12:1-6; Rev. 1:1-8; John 7:37-52
Dec. 30: 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 23, 27; Isaiah 25:1-9; Rev. 1:9-20; John 7:53-8:11

Albany Intercessor

Eye-in-the-Sky

A human rights project using satellite imagery that the general public can access is being launched to help deter a resumption of war between north and south Sudan linked to a crucial referendum in January. The Satellite Sentinel Project, which is backed by American actor George Clooney, combines satellite imagery analysis and field reports with Google’s Map Maker technology to monitor the area marking the boundary between the nation of Sudan and Southern Sudan, which is expected to become Africa’s 55th country, following the voting that begins on 9 January. The Satellite Sentinel Project will be available on December 29 at www.satsentinel.org.
Interestingly, in the Hebraic calendar, we are in the decade of Ayin. The word “Ayin” means – eye; to see, and by extension, to understand and obey. It also means “Divine Providence”.

Praise God!

Holy Innocents/Sudan

My parish is having a prayer vigil for Sudan today. I wrote prayers using the themes of the stained glass windows, matted them, and placed them in the windowsills, so that people could walk around the nave and read them.
In one of the Mary windows, I requested she join her voice in prayer for Sudan; if your theology does not encompass such a request, just disregard it, please.–JW

Madonna and Child
Our Father in heaven,
Oh, for the mothers and children of Sudan! Smeared and shrugged at, hungry and desolate, the pawns of political violence. Do not let the little ones be abandoned. Keep them safe, we implore You. Amen.

Anunciation
O Theotokos,
Your heart and DNA received God without fully apprehending the mystery of what was happening. Mary, we ask you to pray that the co-heirs of Christ Jesus in Sudan will humbly receive their identity in Him even when they do not fully comprehend the meaning of their call.

Two panels–boy Jesus and Jesus as monarch
Christ Jesus,
You are the boy Prince, the Prince of Peace, Faithful and True. The Word of God with head full-crowned, You ride at the head of the angel armies. You are the blessed and only Potentate, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings, dwelling in light unapproachable, dwelling in glory over Sudan. Ride down! Ride down in glory to this land. Amen.
Revelation 19:11-16

The Good Shepherd
Christ Jesus,
You are the Good Shepherd. You know each of Your sheep by name. You go before them. The sheep follow You for they know Your voice.
Go before Your children in Southern Sudan. Speak to them and show them the way forward.
We also beseech You to speak to the intercessors for Sudan and teach them how to pray. Amen.
John 10:2-4

Two panels–A shepherd with a flock of sheep and an angel
Our Father in heaven,
The earth is Yours and the fullness thereof. The beasts of the forest, the fowls of the mountains, and the cattle upon a thousand hills belong to You.
The heavens declare Your righteousness. Angels proclaim Your holiness in neverending chorus. You command the hosts of heaven.
All things in Sudan, the heavens, the earth, and that which is under the earth belong to You. You are sovereign over the land and the heavens above. You are sovereign over its wealth. You are sovereign over its citizens, and You are sovereign over the referendum on January 9.
We cry out for the establishment of Your kingdom in Southern Sudan. Commission Your holy angels to carry out Your will as it is in heaven. Amen.
Psalm 50, Revelation 5:8

Two panels–Jesus knocking at the door and Jesus with children
Christ Jesus,
You said, “Let the children come to me.” We lift up the prayers of the children of Sudan as an invitation. Go to those children, place Your hands on their heads, and bless them. They give You their trust; grant them Your blessings in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Let none be lost. Amen.
Matthew 19:13-14, Luke 6:38

Garden of Gethsemane
Christ Jesus,
The two epoch turns in the history of the free will of mankind—Eve’s defiance by eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and Your obedience by becoming the sacrifice without blemish—took place in a garden. I pray that Southern Sudan will be like a garden—King Solomon’s garden–the hearts of the people like wells of living waters, their souls landscaped with pomegranates, camphire, trees of frankincense, spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, myrrh and aloes. May Southern Sudan be the Holy of Holies, where love for You burns purest and brightest, without wavering, every heart a mercy seat shielded by the wings of angels.
Your children in Sudan are in great peril, Lord. Send Your Holy Spirit to blow through this people and stir a sweet smelling aroma. May their words and actions be a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. Amen.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Song of Solomon 4:12-16

Jesus before Pontius Pilate
Christ Jesus,
Oh, the magnitude of meekness! Bruised and scourged, You suffered for our transgressions, indeed for the transgressions of Sudan. The cross, the cords, the nails, the spear, the myrrh, the gall, the vinegar were endured for this land. You who knew no sin were made to be sin for us all and for the people of Sudan. May Sudan be made the righteousness of God in You. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:11

Mary Magdalene and the resurrected Jesus
Christ Jesus,
For millennia the land of Southern Sudan has known violence, slavery, and paganism. As we look at Your rising from the tomb, witnessed by Mary Magdalene, from whom You cleansed seven demons, we ask for Your perfect cleansing of this land. Amen.
Luke 8:1-2, John 20:17-18

Ascension
Christ Jesus,
Your victory over death has cancelled the legal demands in force against us. You have canceled all the regulations, decrees, and demands against Your children in Sudan. You have triumphed over the principalities and powers that are ranged against Southern Sudan. You have ascended on high and are seated at the right hand of the Father in realms of everlasting day. May the Father’s kingdom come and His will be done in Southern Sudan as it is in heaven. Amen.
Colossians 2:14-15

Matthew 2:13-18

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13)
      Father, send your angels to us to tell us what and when to flee from that would harm our families.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, (Matthew 2:14)
      Holy Spirit, guide us in removing our children and grandchildren from harmful situations.

and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15)
      Jesus, thank you for your words through the prophets — help us heed them day by day.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)
      Father, there is still a daily slaughter of the children by the abortion clinics in this country — have mercy on us. Have mercy on the children that are caught up in the foster care system and are being destroyed by it.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:17-18 )
      Father, help us have your father’s heart towards the children among us and help us grieve over the children who are being destroyed among us. Help us have the mind of your Holy Spirit about this.

A word received: Come to me. Make the choice to come to me each day. Listen to me; heed my words to you.

Holy Innocents December 28: 124; Jeremiah 31:15-17; Revelation 21:1-7; Matthew 2:13-18
Dec. 29: 18:1-20 * 18:21-50*; Isaiah 12:1-6; Rev. 1:1-8; John 7:37-52

Albany Intercessor

Arizona

The first secretary of the Arizona Territory, Richard McCormick, who had prior served as the editor for the Young Men’s Christian Association publication in New York, established from the beginning “Ditat Deus”-God Enriches-as the official territorial motto, which has continued to serve as the official state motto centered in the State Seal of Arizona.

Psalm 65:9-13 (New Living Translation)
You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!

May it be so for the state of Arizona, dear Lord. Amen.

Nativity

John Donne (1572-1631)

Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-belov’d imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enough, now into the world to come;
But O, for thee, for Him, hath the inn no room?
Yet lay Him in this stall, and from the Orient,
Stars and wise men will travel to prevent
The effect of Herod’s jealous general doom.
Seest thou, my soul, with thy faith’s eyes, how He
Which fills all place, yet none holds Him, doth lie?
Was not His pity towards thee wondrous high,
That would have need to be pitied by thee?
Kiss Him, and with Him into Egypt go,
With His kind mother, who partakes thy woe.

1 John 1:1-10 and Luke 2:19

This is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
      Holy Father, please help us see by your light — help us take each step by your light and your word of guidance.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6)
      Jesus, my capacity for self-deception is enormous; help me to see myself as you see me.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
      Jesus, wash us and cleanse us with your blood. Please help me enter more into that fellowship of those who walk in the light.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 )
      Holy Spirit, come and help me bring all my sins to Jesus and his cross.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
      Holy Spirit, help me make a good confession of my sins.

      Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness.

      Father, thank you for your mercy in sending Jesus into my life and for baptizing me with your Holy Spirit.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
      Lord Jesus Christ, bring your truth and light to the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church, for they are walking in darkness.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
A word received 12/25/10: Be like Mary: Keep the things you have seen me do in your heart and ponder them.

St. John, December 27: 92; Exodus 33:18-23; 1 John 1:1-9; John 21:19b-24
Holy Innocents December 28: 124; Jeremiah 31:15-17; Revelation 21:1-7; Matthew 2:13-18

Albany Intercessor

New Mexico

The first entrance of the Gospel into lower 48 states in 1598 came to New Mexico by seven Roman Catholic priests. The geography reflects the religious heritage: Sangre de Cristo Mountains – meaning “the blood of Christ”, Santa Fe – meaning “City of Faith.”
The 19 Pueblo tribes are still listed by the U.S. Center for World Missions as “unreached people groups.”

Father, we pray that the 19 Pueblo tribes will embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and become a people of faith. Amen.

While Shepherds Watched their Flocks

By Nahum Tate (1652-1715) and Nicholas Brady (1659-1726)–

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around,
And glory shone around.

“Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind
To you and all mankind.

“To you, in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign,
And this shall be the sign.

“The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid,
And in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God on high,
Who thus addressed their song,
Who thus addressed their song:

“All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from Heaven to men
Begin and never cease,
Begin and never cease!”

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
      Father, please help us begin each day in your word in Scripture and your living word, your son Jesus.

He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
      Jesus, please help us make a new beginning in you.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3)
      Jesus, make us anew into your people — help us to be faithful to you.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
      Holy Spirit, light our way.

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:5)

      Jesus, shine forth in our lives.

First Sunday after Christmas: 93, 96 * 34; Isaiah 62:6-7,10-12; Heb. 2:10-18; Matthew 1:18-25
      HC: 147; Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18
St. Stephen, December 26: 31; Jeremiah 26:1-9,12-15; Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60; Matthew 23:34-39
St. John, December 27: 92; Exodus 33:18-23; 1 John 1:1-9; John 21:19b-24

      Notes from the Front Line

Albany Intercessor