Prayer and Fasting for GAFCON - Day 24

Theme
God is our Savior.

Opening Verse
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil. i. 2.

A Psalm of Ascent
WHEN the LORD turned again the captivity of Sion, * then were we like unto them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with joy.
Then said they among the heathen, * The LORD hath done great things for them.
Yea, the LORD hath done great things for us already; * whereof we rejoice.
Turn our captivity, O LORD, * as the rivers in the south.
They that sow in tears * shall reap in joy.
He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed, * shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him.
The One Hundred Twenty Sixth Psalm, 1928 BCP (USA)

The First Lesson
16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' "
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.
Judges 7, NIV

The Second Lesson
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 7, NIV

From the Penitential Office (1928 BCP, USA)

v/O Lord, save thy servants;
r/That put their trust in thee.
v/Send unto them help from above.
r/And evermore mightily defend them.
v/Help us, O God our Saviour.
r/And for the glory of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners,for thy Name's sake.
v/O Lord, hear our prayer.
r/And let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

O LORD, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O MOST mighty God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his sin, and be saved; Mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into judgment with thy servants; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our transgressions, and truly repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A GAFCON Pilgrim's Perspective
I hope and pray that:
GAFCon will be a time of prayer and witness of the unity and belief of the Global Orthodox Anglicans in the uniqueness of Christ Jesus the only Saviour.
Our pilgrimage will bring to life the events of the Bible and bolster our faith in Christ bringing about an even closer relationship with our God and with one another.
The Conference will discern and set “concrete actions” to take to ensure our Anglican future and mission both in the world and in our parishes
Each delegate attending will be set on fire and that they will bring that fire back to their parishes and places of ministry and that each member of the people they minister to will catch that fire from them and pass is on.
Rev. Simon C. V. Chin
St. Matthias and St. Luke Anglican Church
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada