Saturday, May 24, 2008

II Pentecost (for the ordinary CCP prayer cycle)

Let Us Pray For...

Heart of North America Network, AMiA

The Rev. Doc Loomis

Diocese of Mid-America, REC
The Rt. Rev. Royal V. Grote, Jr. (Bishop Ordinary)
The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse (Bishop Co-Adjutor)
The Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton (Bishop Suffragan)
The Rt. Rev. George B. Fincke (Assistant Bishop)



Special Prayer Petitions
The Heart of North America Network (AMiA) has about 8-10 network clerics who are preparing for ordination or reception. They have asked Bishop Sandy Greene to visit them the week of July 21st in Toledo, OH for a celebration of these new ministries and for a HONA/Lighthouse Network strategy meeting (Lighthouse is the new Michigan/Ontario network family name).



From the Scriptures
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

I John 4:7-21 (NKJV)



A Guiding Prayer
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"The First Sunday after Trinity," The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)



A Heritage Reflection
“Thus of true charity Christ taught, that every man is bound to love God above all things, and to love every man, friend and foe. And thus likewise he did use himself, exhorting his adversaries, rebuking the faults of his adversaries, and, when he could not amend them, yet he prayed for them. First he loved God his Father above all things, so much that he sought not his own glory and will, but the glory and will of his Father….He loved also not only his friends, but also his enemies; which in their hearts bare exceeding great hatred against him, and in their tongues spake all evil of him, and in their acts and deeds pursued him with all their might and power even unto death. Yet, all this notwithstanding, he withdrew not his favour from them; but still loved them, preached unto them, of love rebuked their false doctrine, their wicked living, and did good unto them, patiently taking whatsoever they spake or did against him. When they gave him evil words, he gave none evil again; when they did strike him, he did not smite again, and when he suffered death, he did not slay them, nor threaten them, but prayed for them, and did put all things to his Father’s will.”

“A Sermon Of Christian Love and Charity,” The First Book of Homilies (1547)

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elderchild said...
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