Prayer and Fasting for GAFCON - Day 5

The First Sunday After Trinity
Holy Communion

The Collect
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.

From The Epistle
I St. John iv, beginning in the 7th verse
Herein 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 ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Prayer
Father in Heaven, hear the prayers of those preparing for GAFCON. Let the precious blood of Christ bring our stony hearts to life. Pour your love into our hearts by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Give us true bonds of affection, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From The Gospel
St. Luke xvi. beginning in the 19th verse
THERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table...

Prayer
Father, in Jerusalem you placed a House of Prayer for all nations. Jesus, at Jerusalem you made the one, full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for our sins. Holy Spirit, from Jerusalem you sent the church out to preach salvation to the ends of the earth. Holy Trinity, One God, we pray that you will meet every need of the GAFCON pilgrims, and send them out to meet every need of those they lead and serve in your Name. May those who are blessed materially be blessed with generosity and with spiritual treasure in heaven. May those who suffer any need receive your provision and succour. May Anglicans around the world have strength to serve one anothers' weaknesses and weakness to receive the perfect power of Jesus Christ. In His Name we ask. Amen.

A Heritage Reflection
They are to set about this spiritual work not only with energy, but with courtesy: not "snatching as it were a greedy greyhound" at spiritual satisfactions, but gently and joyously pressing toward Him Whom Julian of Norwich called "our most courteous Lord." A glad spirit of dalliance is more becoming to them than the grim determination of the fanatic. "Shall I, a gnat which dances in Thy ray, Dare to be reverent."
Evelyn Underhill, Introduction to "The Cloud of Unknowing", Third Edition (1934)