XVI Pentecost

Let Us Pray For...
Mid-Atlantic Region, FiFNA

Mid Atlantic Network, AMiA
The Rev. Dr. Steven Breedlove

Mid-Atlantic Convocation, ACN
The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey



From the Scriptures
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:24-34 (NIV)

A Guiding Prayer
Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“He therefore that hath given the greater, how shall He not give the less? He that hath fashioned the flesh that is fed, how shall He not bestow the food?”

St. John Chrysostom (347-407)
Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew

Urgent: Please pray for Canadian Anglicans under attack

Received by email:

Diocese moves to seize control of ANiC parishes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 27 August 2008

Vancouver - On August 26, 2008, the Anglican diocese of New Westminster informed St. Matthew’s in Abbotsford and St Matthias and St Luke’s in Vancouver that the bishop had dismissed the parish Wardens and other officers (Trustees) that were duly elected by the congregation and appointed new Wardens who are more “loyal” to the bishop. According to their press release, these actions were taken to regain “control of the parishes”, which includes control of the properties and buildings.
Both parishes voted in February this year to realign with the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), under the Episcopal authority of Bishop Donald Harvey and the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone – one of the 38 Provinces in the global Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church of Canada is also one of these 38 Provinces.
“Whether the Diocese of New Westminster has the right to unilaterally replace these duly elected trustees, and move to seize control of the parishes’ assets is in dispute,” says Cheryl Chang, ANiC Chancellor.
The elected Trustees of the parish believe the parish properties are held in trust for the benefit of the current congregation who have paid for and maintained these properties, and who are upholding traditional Anglican ministry in accordance with the founding principles of the Anglican Church of Canada (contained in the Solemn Declaration 1893), and the current doctrine of the global Anglican Communion. The Diocese of New Westminster, which has acted unilaterally and contrary to those principles, asserts the property is held in trust for the diocese. Various actions are currently in the Canadian courts to determine who is the rightful beneficiary of such trusts in light of the growing divisions in the global Anglican Communion.
“The trustees of both St Matthew’s and St Matthias and St Luke are meeting and seeking legal advice regarding their response to the Diocese,” Mrs Chang adds. “However, we note with interest that the Diocese has chosen to act only against the two smaller parishes and not the larger ANiC parishes, St. John’s (Shaughnessy) and Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver. Another concern is that the notice alleging a ‘crisis’ was signed by the bishop on July 10th, but not served on the parishes for six weeks, after the Lambeth Conference had concluded.”
The four congregations have been in “serious theological dispute” with the Diocese of New Westminster since June 2002, when the diocese unilaterally proceeded with same sex blessings in clear defiance of leaders of the Anglican Communion and the beliefs of the overwhelming majority of the Anglicans worldwide that such action is contrary to scripture.
Since 2003, the Primates of the Anglican Communion have repeatedly asked the Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of New Westminster to return to biblically faithful Anglican practice and teaching and to provide adequate episcopal oversight for dissenting parishes, but to no avail. In fact, the communion-breaking actions of the Diocese of New Westminster sparked the current crisis and the global realignment which is now taking place in the Anglican Communion.
Members of the Anglican Network in Canada are committed to remaining faithful to Holy Scripture and established Anglican doctrine and to ensuring that orthodox Canadian Anglicans are able to remain in full communion with their Anglican brothers and sisters around the world.
Since it launched its ecclesial structure last November under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, ANiC has received two bishops – Donald Harvey and Malcolm Harding – and 18 parishes.
Contact:
Marilyn Jacobson
Communications, Anglican Network in Canada
604 929-0369
604 788-4222 cell
mjacobson@anglicannetwork.ca
www.anglicannetwork.ca

Please pray for all North American Anglicans who are under legal and financial attack by apostate religious organizations.

• Give thanks for successful defenses in recent Virginia cases, and for the judge's favorable narrowing of issues under consideration. Pray for continued successful defense against the TEC/Diocese of Virginia lawsuits.
• Pray for the hearing before the California Supreme Court coming up in October.
• Pray for Anglican churches in Ohio, who are being threatened.
• Pray for Church of the Good Shepherd, Binghamton, NY, giving thanks that a judge recently extened their time in the sanctuary and rectory.
• Pray for all the attorneys who are representing faithful Anglicans.
• Pray for fair minded judges to hear the cases.
• Pray for TEC and its Diocesan representatives - "Bless and do not curse."

Week of XV Pentecost

Let Us Continue in Prayer For...

Diocese of South Carolina, ACN
The Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence

Eastern North Carolina Network, AMiA
The Rev. H. G. Miller III

Diocese of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, REC
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Bishop Ordinary)
The Rt. Rev. David Hicks (Bishop Co-Adjutor)

Prayer
Bless, O Lord, these faithful Anglicans within and outside of The Episcopal Church. Give them both hope and opportunities for common witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in whose Name we pray. Amen.

XV Pentecost

Let Us Pray For...
Diocese of South Carolina, ACN
The Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence

Eastern North Carolina Network, AMiA
The Rev. H. G. Miller III

Diocese of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, REC
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Bishop Ordinary)
The Rt. Rev. David Hicks (Bishop Co-Adjutor)



From the Scriptures
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:16-26 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“Far from being discouraged by the trials which befall him, the true minister is disposed in such circumstances to pray with the greater fervency; and according to the ardour and constancy of his prayers, such are the degrees of fortitude and patience to which he attains.”

Rev. John Fletcher (1729-1785)
The Portrait of St. Paul

CANA Council 2008

Please pray for the CANA Council 2008 meeting August 20-23:

“At Council 2008, we look forward to sharing first-hand accounts about GAFCON, assessments of Lambeth, a report on the phenomenal growth recently of the Church of Nigeria, and an update on the progress of Common Cause.

“An important action of this Council will be the election of an Executive Committee which will represent Council when it is out of session.

“We will share news about the progress of CANA's Vocations process, Clergy Deployment system, church planting, and mission partnerships. And we will begin to explore the opportunities we have to shape a new American Prayer Book, our Convocation’s constitution and canons, and the next generation of Anglican leaders.”



From the Scriptures
“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

II Corinthians 3:1-6 (ESV)
(from Morning Prayer, Wednesday of this week, Book of Common Prayer, USA, 1928)

XIV Pentecost

Let Us Pray For...
Diocese of Central Florida, ACN
The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe

Note: Although Bishop Howe is no longer affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network, let us keep him in prayer as he continues to work for reform in North American Anglicanism


First Coast Network, AMiA
The Rev. Mark Eldredge

Georgia Chapter, AAC
Mr. Charles C. "Sonny" Schoen III



From the Scriptures
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
For,

"Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him."

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Hebrews 10:35-39 (ESV)
From Morning Prayer for the Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity (BCP, 1928)

A Guiding Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction as which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.”

St. Ignatius (c. 35-110)
Epistle to the Ephesians

GAFCON Quarterly Prayer Request

PRAYER BULLETIN SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2008

Grace and peace from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise and glory be to the One who was, the One who is and the One who sits on the throne for ever and ever. Amen. The Primate of all Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola has been moved in his spirit to call on all intercessors throughout the world to seek God's face fervently, spending nights and days on our knees, praying earnestly for our Anglican Communion.

At his instigation, we therefore bring before you the first of a series of quarterly Prayer Bulletins, and ask that you join us in praying for the following:

1. Pray for a Spirit-led, united leadership for the GAFCON Primates Council, that they may remain faithful to the teachings of the Bible, steadfast in promoting the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and uncompromising in the pursuit of the truth of the word of God and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also pray for the GAFCON Theological Resource Group and the GAFCON Leadership team that they may remain faithful, focused and not distracted.

2. Lift up before the throne of grace the Jerusalem Statement, which represents the collective mind of the participants at GAFCON, as revealed by the Holy Spirit, that this statement may be a guide in the pursuit of the two fundamental resolutions of GAFCON, i.e.:
a. that the Bible be upheld as the final authority for the life, faith and conduct of all believers;
b. that mission and evangelism, saving the lost, bringing life and health to the poor and needy, remain the main tasks of the church.

3. Pray earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit powerfully to
bring about renewal, revival and transformation of lives, communities
and environments.

4. Pray for a clear focus for the Anglican Church to pursue God's agenda from Scripture, God's authority as given by Jesus Christ, and God's mission in saving sinners and turning them to saints through the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray sincerely that all other agendas be lost, and Jesus alone be Lord. We count it a privilege to be called upon for this great task in thevineyard of the Lord.

The Lord be with you,
+Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin A. Kwashi
Archbishop of Jos
Co-ordinator GAFCON Prayer Teams

Week of XIII Pentecost

Let Us Continue in Prayer For...

Southwest Florida Chapter, AAC
Mr. Doug Spangler

Central Florida Chapter, AAC
Ms. Susan Shannon

Florida Chapter, AAC

Prayer intentions

• That the chapters may find effective means to communicate - both among faithful Anglicans and with the communities in which they are located.
• Give thanks for the new initiatives of the Anglican Alliance (North Florida and Georgia), and ask God's blessing on the clergy and congregations involved.

XIII Pentecost

Let Us Pray For...
Southwest Florida Chapter, AAC
Mr. Doug Spangler

Central Florida Chapter, AAC
Ms. Susan Shannon

Florida Chapter, AAC



From the Scriptures
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

II Corinthians 3:4-11 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

“The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“But what reason is there in giving up the place appointed by the Lord for the Spirit, and inventing some other? What reason is there for robbing of His share of glory Him Who is everywhere associated with the Godhead; in the confession of the Faith, in the baptism of redemption, in the working of miracles, in the indwelling of the saints, in the graces bestowed on obedience? For there is not even one single gift which reaches creation without the Holy Ghost; when not even a single word can be spoken in defence of Christ except by them that are aided by the Spirit, as we have learnt in the Gospels from our Lord and Saviour.”

St. Basil the Great (329?-379)
On the Holy Spirit

Week of XII Pentecost & The Transfiguration

Let Us Continue in Prayer For...

Diocese of the Southeast, REC
The Rt. Rev. Alphonza Gadsden, Sr.

Southeastern Region, FiFNA

Southeastern Convocation, ACN
The Rev. James McCaslin

Holy Scripture
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
II Peter 1, assigned for The Transfiguration

Prayer
Heavenly Father, speak and give vision to our Common Cause Partners in the Southeastern United States. Show them your Son as you would have him glorified in their ministry. Bless them as they stand for your truth in the face of cleverly devised myths. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

XII Pentecost

Let Us Pray For...
Diocese of the Southeast, REC
The Rt. Rev. Alphonza Gadsden, Sr.

Southeastern Region, FiFNA

Southeastern Convocation, ACN
The Rev. James McCaslin


From the Scriptures
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

I Corinthians 15:1-11 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“Look to the persons, Adam and Christ: shall Adam, being but a ‘living soul,’ infect us more strongly than Christ, ‘a quickening Spirit’ can heal us again? Nay then, Adam was but ‘from the earth, earthy, Christ the Lord from Heaven.’ Shall earth do that which Heaven cannot undo? Never.”

Bishop Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626)
Sermons (Vol. II)