Commemoration of the Holy Innocents has been transferred to Wednesday, December 29 this year. On that day, our parish is having a prayer vigil for the upcoming January 9 election in Sudan. The (uncannily appropriate) readings assigned for Morning Prayer are Psalm 2, 26; Isaiah 49:13-23; Matthew 18:1-14. The rubrics allow for intercessions after the collects and before the general thanksgiving. The following prayers are based on the readings.–JW
Father,
You rule in heaven and laugh at the futile plans of Your enemies. You scoff at them because everything serves Your plans. You even redeemed the world through the crucifixion of Your Son.
We give to You the disrupted governance of Sudan. Take it, Father, and work it for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose. Use anything that might have been intended for harm for the saving of many souls.
We lean on You, Lord, and not on our own understanding. Amen.
Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28, Acts 2:22-23, Psalm 2:4
O God in heaven,
Look at all the government leaders in Khartoum that deny You and defy the Messiah. They try to shut Jesus out of Sudan, and they devise mean plots against the Christians.
You laugh at them in derision.
Your sons and daughters in Southern Sudan are not slaves. They are Your heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus. You bless their obedience.
We ask You, Lord, for their inheritance. We ask You to bless those who hearken to Your voice–overtake them with blessings. Bless their land. Bless the spiritual realm over the land. Bless the soil and the water. Bless their families and churches. Bless their businesses. Bless this election and the government of Southern Sudan. Bless them with long life, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 2 MSG, Romans 8:15-17, Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Sovereign Lord,
Your children in Sudan come to your altar singing songs of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders. They love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glorious presence dwells. Do not gather their souls with sinners, nor their lives with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.
Guide their feet in paths of integrity, and guard their hands from shedding innocent blood. Redeem them and be merciful to them.
Establish their government in uprightness. Let the atmosphere over Southern Sudan be filled with Your praise. Amen.
Psalm 26:6-12
Sing, O heavens, and joy, O earth! Mont Abourassein, Jebel Barkal, Jebel Dair, Gebel Elba, Kinyeti, Marrah Mountains, Nuba Mountains, and Jebel Weinat, break forth into song! Encompass Sudan with praise for the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion upon His afflicted. Rejoice! We say, Rejoice!
Isaiah 49:13
Father in heaven, You cannot forget Your children in Sudan. Their names are written on the palms of Your hands.
Isaiah 49:16
Holy God, high and lifted up,
You inhabit eternity. You dwell in the high and holy place and with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. You revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite.
Revive Your servants in Sudan. They are trusting, lowly, loving and forgiving. Bring new life to Southern Sudan. Bring Your kingdom to Southern Sudan. We stand with Your Son and say, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done in Southern Sudan as it is in heaven.’ Amen.
Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 18:3-4
Father,
The angels look upon Your glory. In adoration we bow down before You and say, Holy is the Lord God of hosts. Holy is His name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Commission Your holy angels and let Your glory come near to the suffering children in Southern Sudan. Amen.
Matthew 18:10
