Upcoming Blogging Focus: Global Day of Prayer / Missions & Persecuted Church

Hi friends,

Apologies that the Easter Devotional posts have dried up.  We hope to continue fairly regular devotional blogging here even as we move into “Ordinary Time” and are not in a special liturgical season.

However, beyond devotional blogging, one thing that we increasingly hope to focus on is prayer for unreached nations and peoples.  A great opportunity for praying for the nations is the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday: May 27. In addition to the Global Day of Prayer itself, many intercessors will also be taking part in 10 days of prayer leading up to the Global Day of Prayer, from May 17 – 26.

Here’s the website for information about and prayer resources for the Global Day of Prayer.

We’re hoping that here at Lent & Beyond we can focus prayer on 10 different unreached countries, or countries in which Christians face serious persecution, during each of the 10 days prior to the Global Day of Prayer. Here are the 10 countries I am thinking we will pray for:

• Afghanistan
• Egypt
• Libya
• Mauritania
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

If anyone can direct us to prayer resources for these specific countries, or would like to volunteer to write a post with prayer requests for these countries, we”d welcome the help.  Please leave a comment and we will email you.  (email addresses are only visible to the blog owners).  Thanks.

Please join us in prayer for the nations and the increase of Christ’s Kingdom in the days prior to Pentecost!  Stay tuned for more information…!

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Here’s the link for all entries for the Global Day of Prayer Series

Praying for the election of a new bishop in the Diocese of Singapore

Thanks to David Ould at Stand Firm for posting this news about the upcoming election in Singapore as a reminder for prayer:

The 2012 synod of the Diocese of Singapore meets later this week on Friday and Saturday 11&12 May. While there’s obviously lots to do, the main item of interest will be the election of a new bishop, replacing John Chew [wiki] who has served in that capacity (and, more recently, as Primate of SE Asia). It’s a key appointment, not only as leader of a wonderfully missionary diocese (Singapore diocese is active in Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Nepal) but also in terms of current global Anglicanism.

There’s more at Stand Firm.

Update:  in a revision to the original post at Stand Firm, David O. states that there may not be an election, merely the announcement of the new appointment as bishop.  But still be praying!

Anglican Intercession – Upcoming Anglican Events for the Prayer Calendar

We’ve gotten away somewhat in recent years from a focus on intercessory prayers for upcoming Anglican / Episcopal events, but there is a lot going on in coming months, so, perhaps it is a season to refocus on such intercession.

Below are some topics / events that come to mind.  For now I’m just going to post bullet points and dates, and then perhaps we’ll be posting prayers here as God leads and brings these events to mind.

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April 2012 events:

The first event is in just a few days:  APRIL 21:  The election of a bishop in the Diocese of W. Louisiana (one of the few remaining quite strong orthodox dioceses within TEC). (details).  Please be praying for God to raise up a Godly and strong bishop to lead this diocese.

GAFCON/FCA Leadership Conference, London.  April 23 – 27 (details)

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June  & July 2012 events

ACNA Assembly and Youth Gathering, June 7 – 9  (details)

PEARUSA Open Forum with Abp Rwaje.  June 11-13 (details)

Episcopal Church General Convention. July 5 – 12, Indianapolis.  (details)

Note:  we hope to help facilitate some special intercessory prayer for the Episcopal Church General Convention, if you’re interested in learning more or being part of this, please leave a comment, making sure a valid email address is entered in the comment box. (Your address will only be visible to the L&B admin, not to other commenters).

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Later in the Year:

Of course, later in the year is the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury.  (procedures for his appointment) (related Thinking Anglicans thread,  the related T19 thread)

Also, The Anglican Consultative Council will be meeting in Auckland, NZ from 27 October – 7 November

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If you know of an event / issue that affects many Anglicans and Episcopalians and for which we should be praying, please leave a comment with details.  Thanks!

Spring calendar

The next few months will be a whirlwind of diocesan conventions, provincial synods in preparation for General Convention, a bishop election and a primate election, the Anglican Consultative Council meeting, and Lent. Please make additions or corrections in the comments.

February calendar

The website that lists diocesan conventions is currently unavailable, but I’m posting what little I have and will update later. Please add or change dates in the comments. Thanks.

January calendar

We’re constantly updating the calendar for tracking Anglican events. Please put any changes or additions in the comments. Thanks for your help.–JW

Calendar

Constantly being updated. If you know of an addition or correction, please post a comment. Thanks.

Calendar

I try to track Anglican and other events for prayer cover. This is a current working draft. I’m sure it is incomplete. Please make any additions or corrections in the comments.

UPDATED WITH INFO FROM COMMENTS
August 18-19 Common Cause bishops in Akron, OH

August 19-24 CANA council meets in Akron, OH

August 20-24 GAFCON primates meet in Europe

August 24 – August 30: Democratic Convention, Colorado

August 31 – September 6: Republican Convention, Minnesota

Sept 3-4 CAPA standing committee and primates meet

Sept 4-6 Christchurch New Zealand diocesan synod

Sept 5 Rio Grande bishop search committee and transition committee meet

Sept 12-13 New Life Healing and Reconciliation Retreat, Rio Grande

Sept 15 Nominees for bishop of Northwest Texas should be announced by this date

Sept 17-19 TEC HoB meets, Salt Lake City

Sept 24-Nov 2 40 days for life prayer campaign

Sept 25 Communion-wide vigil for MDGs, UN meeting

Sept 27 Southern Virginia bishop election

October 3-5 Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota diocesan conventions

October 4 Pittsburgh diocesan convention

October 4 Day of Repentance for the sin of slavery

October 8 California Supreme Court hears Episcopal Church property dispute cases in Palm Desert

October 10-12 Eastern Oregon diocesan conventions

October 13-17 last meeting of the Standing Commission on Liturgy & Music before the Blue Book is released—Ashland, Nebraska

October 17-19 Dallas, Eastern Michigan, Northern Michigan, Fon du Lac, Southwest Florida diocesan conventions

October 20-23 TEC Executive Council, Helena, MT

October 21-23 Anglican Awakening, Great Lakes Anglican Network, Akron

October 22-24 – REC General Council, Victoria, BC

October 24-25 Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern Indiana, West Virginia, Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin diocesan conventions

Oct 31-Nov 2 Northwest Texas diocesan convention

November 2 – November 4: Week of the Election, National Call to Prayer

November 7-9 El Camino Real, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Quincy diocesan conventions

November 13-15 Long Island, Fort Worth, New York, Northern California diocesan conventions

November 13-15 Anglican Awakening, New England Network Convocation, Amesbury, MA

November 17-19 – General Synod of the Church of England, London

December 1-3 Common Cause Partnership Council

January 28-31, 2009 – AMiA Winter Conference, Greensboro, NC

For the Prayer Calendar

(posted by KB)

BabyBlue very helpfully reminds us of a number of upcoming events we should be praying for. I note especially tomorrow’s gathering at All Souls Langham Place in London, which will be a key gathering of evangelical CoE clergy and laity in followup to GAFCON.

GAFCON Watch: Timeline of Upcoming Events

GAFCON Primates Council meets in a few weeks – TBA

July 1 – Global Anglicanism Briefing Conference, All Souls Langham Place, London

July 4-8 – General Synod of the Church of England, York

July 21-August 3- Lambeth Conference, Canterbury

August 21-23 – CANA Convocation, Akron, Ohio

Sept. 17-19 – TEC House of Bishops, Salt Lake City, Utah

Oct. 4 – Diocese of Pittsburgh Annual Convention, Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Oct. 22-24 – REC General Council, Victoria, BC

Nov. 17-19 – General Synod of the Church of England, London

Jan. 28-31, 2009 – AMiA Winter Conference, Greensboro, NC

Calendar of events

Part of the behind-the-scenes work of Lent & Beyond is tracking the events to pray for. I do this as best as I can, given the limitations on my time. I’ve surely missed some events, small and large. Anyway, a friend of this blog suggested I post my working calendar because it might be of benefit to others as well. If any of you know of something to be added or corrected, please leave a comment. We welcome the help.

2008 calendar of events

?Jan 24-Feb 3 Covenant Design Group, England

Jan 25-26 Central Florida, Mississippi, Newark, Southwestern Virginia, Virginia, Washington DC, Florida diocesan conventions

Jan 26 Moving Forward Welcoming All

Jan 26 Mark Lawrence consecration

Jan 31-Feb 2 East Carolina diocesan convention

??Feb election of primate of Sudan and Tanzania

Feb 7-9 Georgia, Texas, San Diego diocesan conventions

Feb 11-14 CoE General Synod

Feb 21-23 Central Gulf Coast, Arkansas, Easton, Kentucky diocesan conventions

Feb 29-Mar 1 New Jersey, Louisiana diocesan conventions

Mar 1- nominees for Northwest Texas bishop announced

Mar 7-12 HoB, Camp Allen

April 11 Delaware diocesan convention

April 13 enthronement of Bishop elect, Rev Fr DIBO THOMAS-BABYNTON ELANGO of St John’s Anglican Church Yaounde, Anglican Church of Cameroon, Province of West Africa

May 2-3 Maryland diocesan convention

May 3 bishop election, Northwest Texas

May 16-17 Honduras diocesan convention

May 24 Texas bishop election

June 6-8 Albany diocesan convention

June 15-22 GAFCON, Holy Land

June 28 Idaho bishop election, Boise

July 5 Rev Dr Ann Redding’s year-long inhibition comes to an end

July 16-Aug 3 Lambeth Conference

Sept 27 Southern Virginia bishop election

October 3-5 Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota diocesan conventions

October 10-12 Eastern Oregon diocesan conventions

October 17-19 Dallas, Eastern Michigan, Northern Michigan, Fon du Lac diocesan conventions

October 24-25 Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern Indiana diocesan conventions

Oct 31-Nov 2 Northwest Texas diocesan convention

November 7-9 El Camino Real, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska diocesan conventions

November 13-15 Long Island, Fort Worth, New York diocesan conventions

2009

Jan 10 Northern Michigan bishop affirmation