Rowan Williams

Regardless of one’s opinions of the Archbishop’s leadership decisions of the past, I think it important to be much in prayer for him this weekend.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please bless Rowan Williams. You know his needs far better than we.
Heal his wounds.
Knock down what needs to be knocked down.
Raise up what needs to be raised up.
Teach him.
Plant what needs to be planted.
Reap the harvest of Your kingdom work in his life and in the Anglican Communion. Amen.

From our archives: A Bidding Prayer for Rowan Williams

As part of our 2007 Prayer Campaign for the Primates Meeting in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, we frequently featured a prayer written by the Rev’d Dr. Peter Toon for Abp. of Canterbury Rowan Williams. With the Lambeth Conference looming, it seems a good time to post it again and import it from our original blog to this site so that it gets more exposure.

***

From Dr. Peter Toon’s Anglicans-at-Prayer website.

A Bidding Prayer.

Petition and Intercession for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams

Let us in all sincerity of spirit fervently pray for the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, the Body of Christ, dispersed throughout the world, that it may please God to confirm and strengthen it in pure faith, holy life and perfect love and to restore to it visible unity at the local and international level.

Lord in thy/your mercy…hear our prayer

Let us also in sincerity of spirit and fervently pray this day for the Anglican Communion of Churches, together with other Anglicans bodies joined in fellowship and service, that all may be true to their calling and seek to know and do God.s will, and to serve and worship him acceptably.

Lord in thy/your mercy…hear our prayer

Let us especially pray for Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his vocation as .first among equals. amongst the bishops of the Anglican family, and in his work as the Primate of all England and bishop of the diocese of Canterbury, that he may be given all the necessary virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit to perform and fulfill his tasks.

Lord in thy/your mercy…hear our prayer

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Dear Heavenly Father, we know the story of Your obedient servants Abram and Sarai. They left the beautiful city of Haran and wandered in the desert. They trusted You to show them the way. They came to Shechem, and they were so grateful that You were with them, they built an altar and gave You thanks. They came to Bethel, and they were so grateful that You were with them, they built an altar and gave You thanks.

They came to Egypt, but Abram was so afraid of the Egyptians, he forgot Your promise to be with him. They built no altar. But You didn’t forget. You kept Abram and Sarai safe, and the Egyptians gave them gifts. They came to Hebron, and they were so grateful that You were with them, they built an altar and gave You thanks.

Your servant Rowan has gone from Oxford to Monmouth to Lambeth to Dromantine to Dar es Salaam. We don’t know if, in his fear, in his despair, in his fatigue, in his distraction, he has built altars of thanksgiving at every stop. Show him how, Lord, if he hasn’t. If he does forget, Lord, we thank You for not forgetting. Teach him what You would have him do, keep him and Jane safe, and give him gifts. You satisfy those who are thirsty and fill the hungry with good things.
Genesis 12, 13 [inspired by a Godly Play presentation], Psalm 107:9

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11

O Lord, we in the Anglican Communion are a double-minded people. Have mercy. Give us one heart and one way. Give us one mind, the mind of Christ. For our own good and the good of our children, may Your name be hallowed in all that we do as a worldwide Communion.

We pray for Rowan to have a teachable spirit, humble before You. May his reverence for Your truth undergird all his decisions in the administration of the Lambeth Palace office and the Anglican Communion Office, in the organization of the Lambeth Conference, and in the invitations to the Lambeth Conference. Help him, Lord. Guide him in every step. Amen.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:36

Lord, we are all prone to wander and leave the God we love. Forgive us. Bind our wandering hearts to You. Intervene and change our wills when we start to love money more than truth. Especially, we lift up Rowan and ask You to seal his will to Yours. May Your name be hallowed in the decisions he makes regarding the Lambeth invitations and agenda. May he seek Your praise rather than the praise of men. Amen.