Rowan Williams

And a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Luke 13:11-13

Lord, we see through a glass darkly. Our thoughts are not Your thoughts, and our vision is obscured by our sins.
But You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. We entrust Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury, to You–to Your judgment, Your mercies, and Your providence. If he is oppressed and bent over by spirits of infirmity and evil, generational curses, or satanic spells, call him forward and say to him, “You are set free.” Place Your hands upon him, align his mind with the mind of Christ, and surround him with a mantle of praise. All of this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Zimbabwe

Allafrica.com have set up a Zimbabwe page. The US government played a role in the establishment of Mugabe’s government. A black majority rule transitional government was in place, but two Soviet-sponsored Marxist groups warred against it. The US and the UK set up a “peace agreement” to include the two Marxist groups. New elections were held in 1980 which, after some “campaigning” (e.g., intimidations, beatings, killings), Robert Mugabe, head of one of the Marxist groups, won. Mugabe hasn’t lost since.

O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear our prayers for the people of Zimbabwe.
We confess the sins that the United Kingdom and the United States have committed in the development of this crisis. In colonization, we exploited the people and the resources of this abundant land. We did not do unto our brothers and sisters as we would have them do unto us. In post-colonial times, we turned a blind eye to violence and evil and allowed it to hold this nation in its claws.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We have acted very wickedly toward You and toward our brothers and sisters. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws which You have given us.
Death has come upon this land through our sins and the sins of the Zimbabwean people. A curse has fallen upon this nation. The only thing that can overcome this curse is Your blessing. Your life always overpowers death. Your blessing always overpowers curses.
We pray for the outpouring of God’s blessings of life to overcome the effects of these sins. We come together in the Name of Jesus to pray for the Light of Christ, the Blessing of the Almighty Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit to shine brightly where once darkness reigned.
In the words of Jesus (Matthew 6:14): “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Therefore, today we will also choose to forgive those in the UK, the US, and Zimbabwe who gave themselves over to the enemy and brought such despair upon this land. We will leave their sins to You and to Your judgment, but we will forgive those who committed the sins, so that our unforgiveness does not keep the effects of their sins bound to this nation.
In Ezekiel 36, You promise: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”
Cleanse this land. Drive out any remaining darkness, the memories of death and destruction, the power of evil, and the residue of grief, sorrow and despair. We ask Your divine Light to overcome any darkness and bring Blessing and Hope to all who may walk upon this place from this time forth. Amen.

Reference: Portions of this prayer came from liturgies for the deliverance and cleansing of families and for the cleansing of a genocide site developed by Rev. and Mrs. Conlee Bodishbaugh.

GAFCON Primates’ Council

The primates’ council will initially be formed by the six Anglican primates participating in the GAFCON from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Cone, Uganda and West Africa. Also the Anglican Church of Tanzania delegation to GAFCON is in agreement with the statement but will need the endorsement of their House of Bishops before their archbishop join the council.

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. You change times and seasons; You set up kings and depose them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. You reveal deep and hidden things; You know what lies in darkness, and light dwells with You. We thank and praise You, O God of our fathers.
We desire Your mercies, O God of heaven, for Benjamin, Peter, Emmanuel, Gregory, Henry, Justice, and Valentino. Grant them wisdom and might. Make known to them the desires of Your heart for the Anglican Communion. May they help to establish Your kingdom and Your will in the Communion as it is in heaven. Amen.
Daniel 2:17-23

Psalm 145:4-9

One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)
      Holy Spirit, please guide us in speaking to the next generation of God’s mighty acts. We long to see a new Pentecost in our generation.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works. (Psalm 145:5)
      Jesus, please restore meditation on your character and your works to your people.

Men shall speak of the might of your awesome acts, and I will declare your greatness. (Psalm 145:6)
      Father, we pray for the fathers of this diocese, that they would speak of your awesome acts and your greatness to their children.

They shall utter the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7)
      Father, please bless the witness of the men of this diocese — help them speak of your great goodness and your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. (Psalm 145:8 )
      Thank you, LORD, for your goodness to us.

The LORD is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9)
      LORD, thank you for your tender mercies toward us.

Sunday: 145; Numbers 21:4-9,21-35; Acts 17:(12-21)22-34 Luke 13:10-17
Monday: 106:19-48; Numbers 22:1-21; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 21:12-22

Albany Intercessor

Final Day of GAFCON

We pray for those pilgrims in Jerusalem as they return to the Lord’s table for a final time together and prepare to return home.

ACTS 17: 26-28

And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Father, your church is scattered throughout the earth, but we are all your children.  Be with our Jerusalem pilgrims as they worship together, dine together, and say good-bye to one another.  May they show the face of Jesus to one another.  May the Holy Spirit fill their hearts.  May they be joyful at the outcome of this meeting.  May they continue to seek you.  May they continue to seek your honor and glory. 

Thank you, Father, for this conference.  Thank you for the hope it has provided to those of us at home.  May we never forget that you are sovereign, and that all that occurs is part of your divine plan.

Amen.