Prayer Resources for those praying for Bishop Mark Lawrence and South Carolina

We expect to be focusing on prayer for Bishop Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina in the days and weeks ahead as the Title IV Disciplinary process goes forward.  This post will stay at the top of the blog with links to all the latest prayer resources.

South Carolina: Praying for the Diocesan Leadership

I’m sure thousands of orthodox Episcopalians & Anglicans around the world are today praying for Bp. Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina by name in the face of the news of the Title IV disciplinary procedures instituted against him.

I’d also urge readers to be praying for the Diocesan Standing Committee:

The Rev. Paul Fuener is the Chair of the Standing Committee.

Other members:

Mr. J. Reid Boylston, III
The Very Rev. John Barr
Mrs. Ann Dennis
The Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence
The Rev. Canon James B Lewis
Mr. Wade H Logan, III
Mr. Ed Mitman
The Rev. Andrew O’Dell
Mrs. Lynda Frenchie – Richards
Mr. Alan Runyan
Mrs. Suzanne Schwank
The Rev. Dr. Greg Snyder
The Very Rev. David Thurlow
Mrs. Ann Hester Willis

You can find the names of the Diocesan Council here.

I believe the Chancellor of the Diocese is Mr. Wade H Logan, III.

Bishop Lawrence will be meeting with the Diocesan Clergy for prayer and discussion on Tuesday October 11.  I would encourage many of our readers to pray and fast on that day.

In thinking and praying about the idea of the Diocesan Leadership gathering to “take counsel” this passage from Isaiah comes to mind:

Isa 45:18-24
18    For this is what the LORD says– he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited– he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
19    I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
20    ”Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
21    Declare what is to be, present it– let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
22    ”Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
23    By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
24    They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
(NIV)

Lord, may the leaders of the Diocese of South Carolina heed Your voice and Your counsel whenever they meet.  May they know and declare that in You alone are righteousness and strength.  Be their confidence, their strong support, we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Note: You can find all our South Carolina-related posts on our special South Carolina menu page.

- Karen

IMPORTANT! Pray for Bp. Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina

Canon Kendall Harmon at TitusOneNine has posted the very sad news of a Title IV disciplinary process being started against Bp. Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina.

Although I’ve not yet had time to read all the documents, and it’s been MANY months since I’ve been engaged in blogging, today I’m feeling strongly compelled to “come out of blogging retirement” and make this matter one of urgent and ongoing prayer.

I was meditating on Psalm 4 in my personal devotional reading last night, and so upon reading the news at T19, that was the first Scripture that came to mind, and it seems very apt:

1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
(NIV)

The Lord will hear and HAS set apart the godly in SC for Himself and WILL keep them safe in His care no matter what damage KJS and TEC manage to do in the short term.

Verse 7 is particularly striking to me in the current context because of +Mark Lawrence’s fantastic reflection on Christian joy, which we have posted here at Lent & Beyond at least twice [most recently here], which I think is one of the most influential short meditations I have ever read. +Mark’s exhortation has stuck with me and challenged me repeatedly ever since I first read his words 5 years ago.

So, go read +Mark’s word’s on Christian joy, and then pray that he and all the Godly in the diocese of SC may receive grace and cultivate true joy in Christ such that they may sing His praises even in these dark days.

Also, the daily prayer that Kendall posted this morning is very timely as well:

Almighty God, whose sovereign power none can make void: Give us faith to stand calm and undismayed amid the tumults of the world, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love thee; through thy beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

AMEN!

-Karen

1 Cor. 11:23-34

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: (1 Corinthians 11:23a)
      Jesus, please help us pass on to others what we have received from you.

that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23b-4)
      Jesus, thank you for feeding us with your body. Thank you for being broken on the cross for us. Thank you for breaking into our lives.

In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
      Jesus, thank you for pouring out your life-blood for us. Wash us and cleanse by your blood — make us clean and whole.

for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the lord’s death till he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
      Holy Spirit, please help us daily proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection until he comes again.

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:27)
      Father, help us make a good confession of sin before we receive the body and blood of your son. Cleanse us of all unrighteousness by your Holy Spirit so that we may receive Jesus into our hearts.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:28 )
      Father, give to your people the gift of self-examination.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (1 Corinthians 11:29)
      Father, none of us are worthy to receive the body and blood of your son Jesus. It is only by receiving his sacrifice into our hearts and minds that we become worthy.

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30)
      Holy Spirit, come with healing and repentance among us.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31)
      Holy Spirit, give us discernment of our true situation so that we can turn to Jesus in humility.

But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)
      Father, you chasten those you love and it is a sign of your love for us when you do that. Help the parents of this diocese know how to rightly discipline and chasten their children so that their love and yours is made manifest (see Hebrews 12:5-11).

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:33-34)
      Jesus, help us wait on one another as you did with your disciples. Keep us from eating and drinking to our own condemnation. Thank you.

A word received: You are in my care — that is sufficient.

Wednesday: 119:145-176 * 128, 129, 130; 2 Kings 22:14-23:3 1 Cor. 11:23-34 Matthew 9:9-17
Thursday: 131, 132, [133] * 134, 135; 2 Kings 23:4-25 1 Cor. 12:1-11 Matthew 9:18-26

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Please pray for David Gough, CMS Ireland as he travels to Egypt, South Sudan and, for the first time with CMS Ireland, to 3 Partner Dioceses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Circle me O God
Keep hope within
Despair without

Circle me O God
Keep peace within
Keep turmoil out

Circle me O God
Keep calm within
Keep storms without

Circle me O God
Keep strength within
Keep weakness out.

5th October, Wednesday      08.00 – 19.30      Sudan Missions Consultation hosted by Bishop Mouneer      Confirmed

Albany Intercessor

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

A letter from International Christian Concern, received via email
Prayer Alert:
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Facing Execution
Dear Friend,

We are asking for your urgent prayer for Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor

Arizona–Francis Sayre

The Very Rev. Francis B. Sayre Jr. (January 17, 1915 — October 3, 2008) was Dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for 27 years.

O God, who hast hid such plentiful treasure in the age-hewn soil of Arizona, and etched the timeless calendar of Thy patience upon her rocks and canyons, liberate now Thy blessing to all who live within the shadow of her grandeur.

Consecrate, O Lord, the phoenix birth of seed from dry suspense,

rain to the yellow flowers,
the fleece of sheep for an Indian’s loom,
and the bread of life to Thy needful people.

By the crowning of the dawn refresh their spirit, in the brightness of the day and the cool of the night let all in peace come to the rising of Thy light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hat tip: The Anglican Digest