Heavenly Father,
There is much for which to be thankful.
As we focus in prayer this week for the Dioceses of Albany and Pittsburgh, we especially thank you for the bravery and witness of Bishop Love and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany to the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church, as well as to the watching world of the Anglican Communion.
We thank you also for the ministry and witness of Bishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone and for the faithful in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. We also give you thanks for the welcoming arms of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Province of the Southern Cone.
Empower us all, good Lord, to love and serve you, reminding us that there is still much work to do.
Lo! I come with joy to do
The Master's blessed will;
Him in outward works pursue,
And serve his pleasure still;
Faithful to my Lord's commands,
I still would choose the better part,
Serve with careful Martha’s hands,
And loving Mary’s heart.
Careful without care I am,
Nor feel my happy toil,
Kept in peace by Jesu’s name,
Supported by his smile;
Joyful thus my faith to show,
I find his service my reward;
Every work I do below,
I do it to the Lord.
Thou, O Lord, in tender love
Dost all my burdens bear,
Lift my heart to things above,
And fix it ever there!
Calm on tumult’s wheel I sit,
Midst busy multitudes alone,
Sweetly waiting at thy feet,
Till all thy will be done.
Thou, O Lord, my portion art,
Before I hence remove!
Now my treasure and my heart
Are all laid up above;
Far above all earthly things,
While yet my hands are here employed,
Sees my soul the King of kings,
And freely talks with God.
O that all the art might know
Of living thus to thee!
Find their heaven begun below,
And here thy glory see!
Walk in all the works prepared
By thee, to exercise their grace,
Till they gain their full reward,
And see thy glorious face!
Rev. Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
2 comments:
..Amen...Amen....Amen
Blessings,
kate+
Now there's a song to start this new day! Amen!
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