PRAYER TABLE REPORTS

      PRAYER TABLE REPORT — I
(6-28-08, in front of Christ Church, Schenectady; Torre Bissell and Deacon Alan Hart.)

a– indicates anointed with Holy Oil
t– indicates received one of Torre’s crosses

      Note: An overall mood of grim gloom and of defiance on State Street today. More people than usual passed by looking angrily at us and shaking “No” or acting disinterested in our offers to pray for them.

t–LEROY — Didn’t want any specific prayers; we prayed for provision and protection for him and his family.

t– DONNA — Young mother with two children. She wanted prayers for “Health and Love.” When we asked her if we could pray for her, she smiled widely and answered, “You sure can!”

JAMES — An area minister. Torre prayed that James would get God’s words for his message at his church today.

t–ROBERT — In a hurry, on his way to work. We gave him a blessing for him while he is working.

JOHN — The most disturbing event of the morning for us. John is a young man about 30 years old who stopped by in a friendly manner and wanted prayers “… for the return of my son.” His son, Alex, is 7 months old, and the boy was taken away by social services because the mother is drug-addicted. John refuses any blame in this situation and says he is a good man who works hard 40 hours a week and is trying to get things “worked out” with his girlfriend. After we prayed for the safety of Alex and for God to be in the center of this situation, Torre suggested to John that he ask for forgiveness for his sins and his part in having had 3 children out of wedlock, and John replied that he has no reason to ask for forgiveness. John seems to want forgiveness and God’s intervention, but on John’s own terms. He admitted to having “a few beers” already this morning and having been in a fight with someone. Pray for this man. Deacon Alan suggested to John that he look for signs today that God is working in his life. Pray that Jesus will enter John’s life today and drive away all the anger that is obviously in his heart.

t-ORLANDO — Spanish-speaking young man. Very pleasant; wanted prayers for his mother and his child. He wanted to know what time our services are on Sunday so perhaps he will visit us Sunday. He came by the Table again a second time and we prayed for him again.

a,t — ANDREW — Andrew is an older man, very literate and cerebral. He formulated a long request for us to pray for him for forgiveness for being weak in a situation in which justice must prevail, and the incident in question was his own fault. Feeling very guilty for whatever happened; he did not elaborate and we did not probe. Just pray for this man to let God accept his burden, because it obviously is more than he can bear. Andrew came from the Eastern side of State Street and headed right for the Table when he saw us praying for another visitor.

JIM — Repeat visitor to our Table. Wanted continued blessing on his life.

(Unidentified man) — Man who did not want his name written down simply asked for us to pray for peace in the world. We did, in his presence.

PATRICIA and t-OKAYA — As we were in the process of taking the Table down and putting things away, these two visitors came from different directions. Patricia wanted prayers for ” … a LOT!” We prayed for good health and safety and provision for her family. For Okaya, we prayed for healing and for protection for him and his family.

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      PRAYER TABLE REPORT — II

(6-28-08 in front of St. Andrew’s of Scotia; Deacon Mary Carol Hart and Christine Bissonnette.)

We had one young girl who crossed the street and asked for prayers for her sick aunt, Alyssa. Christine and I laid hands on her and prayed for healing, comfort, peace. At the end of our time, Christine and I prayed for the prayer-table ministry to grow and become stronger to the glory of God.

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 33:1-3

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! for praise from the upright is beautiful. (Psalm 33:1)
      Holy Spirit, please help us come into the presence of the Father with songs and hymns and spiritual songs.

Praise the LORD with the harp; make melody to him with an instrument of ten strings. (Psalm 33:2)
      Holy Spirit, come upon all those who provide music at our services with your anointing so that we may praise worship God the Father, God the Son, and you: God the Holy Spirit.

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. (Psalm 33:3)
      Holy Spirit, please bless the hours of preparation of those who provide music in our service to God of worship.

Saturday: 33; Numbers 20:14-29; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 21:1-11
Sunday: 145; Numbers 21:4-9,21-35; Acts 17:(12-21)22-34 Luke 13:10-17

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:53:19 -0400
From: Sister Mary Elizabeth
Subject: Prayers to Albany Intercessors for the Welcome Home Initiative
*      The upcoming Welcome Home Initiative, July 28-30, is almost a month away. We ask all our Diocese of Albany Intercessors to intensify their prayers for this Healing Retreat for combat veterans of all wars and their families.
*      There is still space July 28-30 for warriors and their families. Pray that the Holy Spirit will draw men and women for whom this WHI retreat is the right time and the right place to receive Christ’s healing for the wounds of war.
*       Pray for preparation of the several ministry groups for the upcoming Retreat: for Fr. Nigel, Bp. Dave and Noel heading up the Ministry Team, for Tina coordinating ministry to youth, for the Intercessors Team (on and off-site), for development of a “caregivers component” for spouses who bear much of the burden of a combatant’s reintegration back into family and civilian life, and for Sandra and Lynn, tying it all together in the office.
*      Because of the generosity of so many, the Welcome Home Retreat is free to combat veterans, their spouses and children, but participants must pay travel costs to Christ the King Center. We know of veterans from across the U.S. who have expressed interest but may be deterred by these costs. Pray for wisdom in how to respond to this issue and possibly for donations to specifically help with travel costs.
*      This spring Fr. Nigel and Noel have been active in making contact about WHI with military groups across the country and in the local area. Pray for ongoing contacts with Regular Army and National Guard Units at Ft. Drum and for continuing interest in replicating WHI in Britain. Pray also for new contacts with Air Force and Navy Chaplains, with the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade and with various military-based Alpha groups across the country.
*       Pray especially that the Lord will keep WHI on the “front burner” of interest with those individuals and groups who can connect us with wounded soldiers in need of the kind of community we form on this Retreat to bring healing in Christ’s name.
*      Do you know a veteran who might benefit in joining in healing prayer with other military men and women who share the burden of the memories of combat? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage to approach that warrior in Christ’s name with the opportunity of the Welcome Home Initiative Healing Retreat at Christ the King Center. And join us in honoring these men and women who have sacrificed so much for us at the Welcome Home Ceremony for this retreat on Wednesday, July 30, gathering in the Great Hall at CtK at 11:30 a.m.
*      For more information, to make a donation or to sign up for the July retreat, contact Sandra Lester at (518 ) 692-9550, X202. The Welcome Home Initiative Brochure is available for download at http://www.christ-the-king-center.org/Resources/welcome-home-brochure.pdf.
*      “There is an appointed time for everything…a time for every event under heaven… a time to kill, and a time to heal… a time to tear down and a time to build up… a time to weep, and a time to laughh… a time to mourn and a time to dance… a time to be silent and a time to speak… a time to love and a time to hate… a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1ff)
*       May the upcoming Welcome Home Initiative be a time to heal….
Sister Mary Elizabeth, CSM, for the Oratory of Christ the Healer at Christ the King Center, Greenwich, NY

Albany Intercessor

GAFCON

Pray for those praising the Lord in Jersusalem.

Matthew 21: 9-11

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Father, bless those who have come in the name of Jesus.  May they sing hosannas.  May they shout for joy.  May they answer your further call with boldness knowing that they can rely on your strength.  Bless them Lord.  Guide their deliberations as this conference winds down.  Be a part of their sessions.  And, please, Father, prepare them to leave the mountaintop and return to the demon-infested valley to continue your work.  Arm them with spiritual weapons, Father.  Grant them courage.  Grant them wisdom.  Grant them purity.  Let the light of Jesus shine in their faces.  Make them your instruments of peace.  Make them your instruments of salvation. 

All honor, praise, and glory are due you, Father.  May we seek not our own glory, but instead seek only to one day see your glory.  Amen.