South Carolina: A prayer of spiritual protection for intercessors

One of the good friends of Lent & Beyond, Fr. Rob Eaton in San Joaquin who has a strong intercessory prayer ministry, has reminded those of us praying for the Diocese of  South Carolina of the need to pray for protection in the midst of this spiritual battle.  He sent the following prayer to a number of intercessors by email:

Almighty God, Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name and authority, I apply the Blood of Jesus upon each and every intercessor for this time of discernment for the diocese of South Carolina.  Protect them and keep them; let your light shine upon them.  As well, reveal the darkness by your Light, and give us strength to lift up the Name of Jesus, that the Enemy must flee.   By the gifts of your Holy Spirit, let us see the root of this darkness, so that we might rebuke it and defeat it, and then pray for the turning of the hearts of your enemies.  All glory to you, O Father, now and forever.  Amen.

If you are committed to intercession on behalf of +Mark Lawrence and the diocese of South Carolina, please ensure you have strong prayer cover, and please also be praying for spiritual and physical protection for those on the frontlines of the battle in South Carolina.

Title IV disciplinary board

Father,

You know their needs far better than we.  Please bless Ian, Victor, Robert, Dena, Christopher, Dorsey, Herman, Scott, Marjorie, Josephine, Jesus, Diane, Thomas, Angela, Prince, Robert, James, and Catherine.  Amen.

Prayer for South Carolina – Praying for the TitleIV Disciplinary Board (updated)

I’m not a canon lawyer, nor do I play one on TV nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express any time recently , so I claim no special knowledge or understanding of the Title IV disciplinary process that Bp. Mark Lawrence is about to endure.

However, I’d like to suggest we pray for the Title IV disciplinary process, for truth to be heard and honored, for light to shine, for hard hearts to be softened, for God’s glory and Name to be exalted.

There is a memo at Stand Firm from the President of the Title IV Disciplinary Board, Bp. Dorsey Henderson, formerly the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, which gives a glimpse of the process.  [update: the official copy of the memo from Bp. Henderson is here, just for the record.]

Also, a helpful commenter on that thread at Stand Firm has noted the names of the members of that committee (as of June 30, 2011):

The clergy and lay members were appointed by President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson for an interim basis until the House of Deputies can elect regular members at the next meeting of General Convention in 2012. The members and their dioceses are:

Bishop Ian T. Douglas of Connecticut;
Victor Feliberty-Ruberte of Puerto Rico;
Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick of Hawaii;
Suffragan Bishop Dena Harrison of Texas;
Christopher Hayes of California;
Retired Bishop Dorsey Henderson of Upper South Carolina;
Bishop Herman Hollerith of Southern Virginia;
Bishop J. Scott Mayer of Northwest Texas;
the Rev. Marjorie Menaul of Central Pennsylvania;
Josephine Powell of Michigan;
the Rev. Jesus Reyes of El Camino Real;
Diane Sammons of Newark;
Bishop Thomas Shaw of Massachusetts;
the Rev. Canon Angela Shepherd of Maryland;
Bishop Prince Singh of Rochester;
the Rev. Robert Two Bulls Jr. of Los Angeles;
Bishop James Waggoner of Spokane and
Bishop Catherine Waynick of Indianapolis.

Let’s be keeping these bishops, clergy and lay men & women in prayer.  The verse I find coming to mind to pray, and which encourages me is from Phil 2:13

” for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

May God be at work accomplishing His purposes.  He is sovereign.  May this committee acknowledge His rule and reign and submit their wills, their judgment and decisions to Him and serve to please Him alone, rather than serving themselves.

-Karen

UPDATE OCTOBER 12:
There appears to be some confusion today over the exact roster of the Disciplinary Board. While the original mandate and ENS article announcing the composition of the Board cite 18 members (per the list we published above), the current official roster lists 20 individuals:
17 “members,” plus 3 additional individuals:
the President – Bp. Dorsey Henderson,
the Clerk – Bp. Fitzpatrick,
and “Other” – Intake Officer Bp. Clayton Matthews.

The new names not listed above are Josephine Hicks, the Church Attorney and lay member from North Carolina, and Bp. Clayton Matthews.
Hopefully clarity will be forthcoming as to who among these 20 individuals are voting members. Stay tuned. Please be praying for the LIGHT & TRUTH of Christ to pierce all the murkiness surrounding the composition of this crucial Board.

Three verses I have in mind:
Ps 43:3
Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; …

John 3:21
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Eph 5:9
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Lord Jesus, Your light shines in the darkness and darkness cannot overcome it. May Your light reveal truth about the Title IV Disciplinary Board and it’s members. Amen.

Matthew 9:18-26

While he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” (Matthew 9:18 )
      Holy Spirit, give such faith in Jesus to those rule over us. Transform the life of this nation and your church by giving such a gift of faith to our rulers.

So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples. (Matthew 9:19)
      Jesus, please help us daily be disciples who follow where you lead.

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of his garment. (Matthew 9:20)
      Father, we cry out to you for all those who have been afflicted with long-term illness. Help them reach out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.

For she said to herself, “If only I may touch his garment, I shall be made well.” (Matthew 9:21)
      Father we pray for all your little ones that they will become giants of faith as this poor woman was.

But Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. (Matthew 9:22)
      Holy Spirit, bring us all to such healing faith. We hold up all those who have been afflicted with long-term illness or affliction or Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder — that Jesus will heal them.

When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, (Matthew 9:23)
      Jesus, show us how to reach out to those who are afflicted and in grief.

He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. (Matthew 9:24)
      Jesus, help us in ministering to the illness of others and in receiving ministry for our own illness — to behold the possibility of healing at your hands.

But when the crowd was put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. (Matthew 9:25)
      Father, bless all those that Jesus puts out his hand to through the healing ministry in this diocese and the Welcome Home Initiative.

And the report of this went out into all that land. (Matthew 9:26)
      Jesus, we pray that the good news of what you are doing among us will spread far and wide throughout this land. Thank you.

A word received: Look to me — I AM your strength.

Thursday: 131, 132, [133] * 134, 135; 2 Kings 23:4-25 1 Cor. 12:1-11 Matthew 9:18-26
Friday: 140, 142 * 141, 143:1-11(12); 2 Kings 23:36-24:17 1 Cor. 12:12-26 Matthew 9:27-34

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2011
From: Hilda Hardy
Prayer table at Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, Wednesday, Oct. 5 Deacon Sue Plaske and Beth Collum, 12:00-12:30; Linda Davis and Hilda Hardy, 12:30-1:00.

A beautiful, sunny, windy day in downtown Albany. The prayer table was very busy!

George: Answer to prayers for his wedding at Niagara Falls. All went well.

Dave: Giving thanks for this beautiful day.

Alba: Still working on house damage from Irene; things are coming. Her husband went back to work.

+Kurt: Pray for his mother, who passed away last year, that she rest in peace.

Man walking by: World peace, racial reconciliation, acceptance of immigrants.

+Raymond: Prayers for his brother Larry, who is having physical challenges. Raymond said, “I think God made me come here. I always walk at lunchtime, but I don’t usually walk this way.”

+Mike: Prayers for Mike and his wife, Rose, who is in the hospital.

Sharad: Prayers for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Fr. Richard Lehmann: Pray for St. Matthew’s in Latham. God knows the details.

+++Doris: Doris works in Linda’s building across the street and often walks around the neighborhood praying during lunchtime. Pray for her goddaughter Lauren, a teenager who is struggling.

+Paula: Pray for Kathy, to forgive her soon-to-be-ex-husband, and for Kathy’s 4-year-old daughter.

Bishop Love and Canon Haskell stopped to greet us; Linda prayed for the bishop. Please continue to remember our bishops, priests and deacons in your prayers.

– Hilda

***** 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.
6th October Thursday      08.00      Sudan Missions Consultation hosted by Bishop Mouneer      Confirmed

Albany Intercessor

New Mexico–Francis Sayre

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

May glory gild the unspoiled land where Thou dost divide the waters of a continent; where man walks alone by the desert willows or climbs the cool glades of western pine, and ponders Thy blessing measureless and his tiny part in it.

Nourish, God, by Thy silent gift the manhood of Thy people, that they may seek to match Thy splendor with beauty of their own, and braveness and peace. So may our life mingle with Thine beside the turquoise canyons, the tawny mesas and verdant grasslands; and Thy presence abide in the hallowed pueblos of New Mexico; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hat tip: The Anglican Digest

Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina

Revelation 5:8 (NLT)
And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in thanksgiving for the Lamb that was slain and say to Him

“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God.  And they will reign on the earth.”

We humbly request that Your glory be poured over the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. 
Clothe Your children in light.  Let their eyes and ears and mouths be gates of praise and the walls of their being, in every dimension, be salvation and healing.  May they arise with rays of light flashing from their hands—miracles, Lord, miracles of healing.  Let living water flow out of their spirits and become the shield of faith that stops the fiery darts of the devil.  Let righteousness roll down from Your throne like a river. 
Pour out Your glory and cover them with the Blood of the Lamb.  Amen.

–Jill

South Carolina: Praying Psalm 5 for the Bishop and others in the eye of the storm

I am currently reading a Psalm each evening.  Having just rebegun the Psalms on October 1, my reading tonight was Psalm 5.  Verses 11 and 12 encouraged me deeply with their truth, and they make a wonderful prayer for all the leaders in the Diocese of South Carolina tonight, especially Bp. Mark Lawrence:

Ps 5:11-12
11    But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12    For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
(NIV)

May Bp. Mark and all the leaders in the diocese find MUCH joy in Christ as they take refuge in Him in these days.  May the Lord increase their love for His name.  May He empower them to sing for joy - yes even in “dark cages!”  – and may He grant them confidence in all His promises.

- Karen