And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)
      Holy Spirit, please help us recognize and heed all teaching that authentically comes from Jesus. Let the words that he speaks cut us to the heart.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” (Mark 1:23-25)
      Jesus, whenever evil spirits manifest themselves in our lives or in our parishes, rebuke them and cast them out.

And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. (Mark 1:26)
      Father, please help us persevere through to victory in the fight with what is evil in your sight.

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
      Father, help the clergy and people of this diocese recognize and accept the authority with which Jesus speaks to us.

And immediately his fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. (Mark 1:28 )
      Jesus, we pray that the news of what you are doing in our congregations will spread throughout our communities. Thank you.

Sunday: 24, 29 * 8, 84; Gen. 18:16-33: Gal. 5:13-25: Mark 8:22-30
HC: Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111
Monday: 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65; Gen. 19:1-17(18-23)24-29: Heb. 11:1-12: John 6:27-40

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Mark 1:29-39; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; 2 Kings 4:(8-17)18-21(22-31); Psalm 142).

***** Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily Quote…
      Someone once said that if you are right about something; keep quiet about it. On the flip side if you are wrong about something; apologize. This might be a good equation in life within marriage, with friends and family. Jesus said, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Albany Intercessor

Father,
By Your wisdom, the creatures of this world live and move and have their being. By Your provision, the quail flew into Israel’s camp in the wilderness. You instructed Balaam’s donkey to speak and commanded the ravens to feed Elijah and gave Nehemiah’s horse wisdom to travel at night around the walls of Jerusalem.
Your Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, entered Jerusalem in triumph, yet lowly, sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Jesus instructed the disciples to cast their nets on the right side of the boat to bring in a multitude of fish.
We thank You that in their service to man, these animals served You. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in the lives of the animals of Israel today. Establish Your kingdom, Lord, from Dan to Beersheba, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. Amen.

Prayed for a man walking on theother side of the street limping.

+Nancy — She is traveling by bus to Pennsylvania and by plane to California. We prayed for travel mercies and that her “family will keep together.”

+Luke (young man from Haiti) — We prayed for a job and then confessed his sins and once again accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and accepted God’s forgiveness. We also prayed for a wife for him and that he would not make any more “mistakes” about the women he goes out with.

+Thomas — He asked prayer for his daughter Zayana who is 8 months old and has been sick at least half of that time. He said, “It is getting over-whelming.” We prayed he would know how to be the man and the father God is calling him to be.

+Joe — We prayed for him and his girlfriend for good health. He has a job interview this week.

+H Darius — He asked prayer for a new beginning and gave his life to Jesus.

+Christopher — He asked prayer for peace and for a friend who just died.

+HH Gary — He asked prayer for a renewed relationship with his sons.

Joseph — for his daughter Evea

+Christopher — He asked prayer for relaxation. He then gave his burdens to Jesus.

++Eric — He asked prayer for health for him and his family.

Desdemona — She was on her way to the Macedonia 7th Day Adventist Church on Swan St. with her adult son +Louis who goes to a “Sunday” church in New York City. We prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Macedonia and on Christ Church.

++Ethel – She asked prayer for her fianceé and for peace.

+Dale — He asked prayer for his 5 grandchildren.

. . . Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Genesis 30:37-39 (NIV)
Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Triune God,
Our eyes behold the streaked, speckled, spotted dimensions of Your glory.

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

We bow low before You. If we have found favor in Your eyes, do not pass us by.
Jesus is our living water. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is life.
Let us drink deeply of Your goodness that new life may abound. Amen.

The blockquote is a stanza of “Pied Beauty” by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5)
      Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come into my home and dwell there. Do not pass me by.

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14)
      Holy Spirit, help me excamine myself and clear away all doubt about what you can do in my life.

A word received: You are in my care.

Saturday: 55 * 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Gen. 18:1-16: Heb. 10:26-39: John 6:16-27
Sunday: 24, 29 * 8, 84; Gen. 18:16-33: Gal. 5:13-25: Mark 8:22-30
HC: Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday (Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111) so that you can receive all that God has for you.

***** Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily Quote…
      Have “Good grief” in your life. Lucy got it right in Peanuts, as she said, “Good grief Charlie Brown!” Grieve well my friends. Invite Jesus into the grief. Go just a little bit deeper with Him into your grief. He will help you. Blessed are those who grieve for you will be comforted by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 5:4)

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 19:1 (NKJV)
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Father, we give You thanks for the safety of air travelers and the beauty of the auroras. Amen.

O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us the inhabitants of the United States of America belongs open shame because of the treachery that we and our ancestors have committed against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Our nation has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us. We suffered much in the Civil War. The vestiges of slavery are still with us.
And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. We confess that our ancestors introduced slavery to the continent of North America, and we confess our own indifference to the 27 million people enslaved today.
O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from the United States because of our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servants and to our pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your people. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the church that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your people are called by your name.

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:8-9)
      Holy Spirit, help me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and know that he can do what I cannot.

Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. (John 6:10-11)
      Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you have fed and led your people through the years. You gave them manna from heaven, water from the rock, and the food for the five thousand, and you have fed us with your word daily. Thank you.

So when they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” (John 6:12)
      Jesus, gather up the broken fragments of my life so that nothing is lost.

Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:13-14)
      Holy Spirit, please help us see the “signs following” that mark ministry directed sustained by Jesus. (See Mark 16:17)

Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he departed again to the mountain by himself alone. (John 6:15)
      Jesus, please help us accept you for who you are and stop trying to fit you into our agenda. Thank you.

A word received: Pray that my people will thank me.

Friday: 40, 54 * 51; Gen. 17:15-27: Heb. 10:11-25: John 6:1-15
Saturday: 55 * 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Gen. 18:1-16: Heb. 10:26-39: John 6:16-27

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday (Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111) so that you can receive all that God has for you.

***** Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012
From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+
Subject: Daily Quote…
      Strive to live in the present moment. Try not to linger in the past. Hope in the future and live you life to the fullest, now, and with great abundance.! Hebrews 13:8 writes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

***** Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012
From: Bob Downey
Torre,
      Have you heard of the little man from St. George St in Sydney? This is a story about him in case you haven’t heard of him before. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdspKNEzH54

Albany Intercessor

+–indicates received a wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina

Rich (young man) — He asked prayer that he would be God’s man, father, and husband and that he would no longer run from responsibility. His son is Richard Jr. and his wife is Sophia.

Anthony (a regular from the Christ Church prayer table) — “For my family.” He took eight crosses to hand out to other people.

+Kevin — He asked prayer for a job and for a closer walk with Jesus.

+Ron — He asked prayer that communication would be reestablished with his daughter Isabella that he has not seen since Thanksgiving.

+Richard — He asked prayer for his wife +Mary Ellen who has just had major back surgery and is in a lot of pain.

Peter — He asked prayer for a big meeting he has on Wednesday.

+James — “I have lung cancer and my brother died of a heart attack this week.”

Subsequently, Oswald, at the head of a small army . . . met Cadwallon in battle at Heavenfield . . . Before the battle, Oswald had a wooden cross erected; he knelt down, holding the cross in position until enough earth had been thrown in the hole to make it stand firm. He then prayed and asked his army to join in.

Adomnán in his Life of Saint Columba offers a longer account, which Abbot Ségéne had heard from Oswald himself. Oswald, he says, had a vision of Columba the night before the battle, in which he was told:

Be strong and act manfully. Behold, I will be with thee. This coming night go out from your camp into battle, for the Lord has granted me that at this time your foes shall be put to flight and Cadwallon your enemy shall be delivered into your hands and you shall return victorious after battle and reign happily.

Oswald described his vision to his council and all agreed that they would be baptised and accept Christianity after the battle. In the battle that followed, the British were routed despite their superior numbers; Cadwallon himself was killed.

Once king, Oswald requested a missionary bishop be sent to Northumbria. Oswald gave the island of Lindisfarne to Aidan as his episcopal see, and Aidan achieved great success in spreading the Christian faith; Bede mentions that Oswald acted as Aidan’s interpreter when the latter was preaching, since Aidan did not know English well and Oswald had learned Irish during his exile.

Father,
We thank You for the saints before us. May we too plant the cross in the battles of our daily lives and heaven come to the field of our existence. Amen.