I Advent

Let Us Pray For…

American Anglican Council (AAC)
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson (President and CEO)


Prayer Petitions
May God guide the American Anglican Council as, like a Watchman, it continues to keep the faithful informed about events of interest to the Anglican Communion, so that we may be able to walk properly as in the daytime.

WHS

From the Scriptures
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 13:8-14 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

“The First Sunday in Advent,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“Awake, thou everlasting spirit, out of thy dream of worldly happiness. Did not God create thee for himself? Then thou canst not rest till thou restest in him. Return, thou wanderer. Fly back to thy ark. ‘This is not thy home.’ Think not of building tabernacles here. Thou art but ‘a stranger, a sojourner upon earth;’ a creature of a day, but just launching out into an unchangeable state. Make haste; eternity is at hand. Eternity depends on this moment: an eternity of happiness, or an eternity of misery!”

Rev. Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
“Awake, Thou that Sleepest”

A Church Warden's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Yes, it was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in October, 1863, to a nation still ravaged by Civil War.

But Lincoln staffers later intimated that Secretary of State Seward, an Anglican and a Church Warden, actually wrote the message. Notice the fullness of spirituality imprinted on Seward's soul: the call to begin with praise and thanksgiving, the rightful place of penitence, and a call to intercede for all sorts and conditions of neighbors.

In our own troubled times, let us give thanks for the patterns of prayer imprinted on our souls by the Book of Common Prayer, and remain constant in this heritage of prayer for our national life:

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,Secretary of State

New Interim Prayer Calendar

Those of you that have been following the CCP Cycle of Prayer will have noticed that this is the last week. Our original plan was to release a new calendar starting I Advent that runs for the whole (church) year. However, given that the next couple months may produce some new realities for the Common Cause Partnership, we are publishing an Interim Cycle of Prayer that runs for 10 weeks and covers all of the Partners plus observers. This is essentially the same as the beginning of last year's calendar. We'll publish the remainder of the 2009 Cycle some time in January.

Thanks for your prayers! They appear to be working. :^)

Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

Let Us Pray For…

Reformed Episcopal Seminary
The Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Headman (President)
The Rev. Dr. Jon W. Abboud (Provost)

Trinity School for Ministry
The Very Reverend Dr. Justyn Terry (Dean and President)


Prayer Petitions
May Reformed Episcopal Seminary and Trinity School for Ministry continue to train leaders in the Anglican Tradition who speak the word of God to us, who live lives and hold to a faith worthy of imitation. May they watch over our souls, and never forget that that the Lord is their helper, and they have nothing to fear from the world.

WHS

From the Scriptures
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:1-21 (ESV)

from the readings for Evening Prayer for this day

A Guiding Prayer
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Sunday next before Advent,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“Throughout its fruitful history, the Reformed Episcopal Seminary has distinguished itself as

“Evangelical, proclaiming Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and seeking to build up its students in faith and devotion;

“Catholic, affirming the faith of the apostles and of the early creeds, while also rejoicing with those everywhere who confess Christ Jesus as Lord;

“Protestant, holding to the Reformation doctrines of the primacy and sufficiency of Scripture and justification by grace through faith;

“Ecumenical, welcoming students from a variety of church groups and backgrounds into a community of ministerial training;

“Episcopal, holding to the worship, doctrine, and order of the English Reformation.”

from “Heritage and Purpose”
Reformed Episcopal Seminary

Trinity has always rested upon a commitment to the scriptural vision of holiness and ministry as it has been expressed in the Anglican tradition. In terms of our particular ethos, then, this means:

First, we affirm the authority, trustworthiness, and sufficiency of Scripture as “God’s Word written.” We believe that God gave us Scripture that we might be saved through faith in His Son and transformed by the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that these truths have been faithfully transmitted in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, reliably interpreted in the 39 Articles of the Anglican Reformation, and given liturgical expression in the Book of Common Prayer.

Second, we seek to be shaped by the example of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus came into the world to minister and to give of Himself. This determines both how we live with each other and what sort of graduates we seek to form. We are committed to training both lay and ordained ministers, believing that the whole people of God are called to witness to Him and serve God's creation.

Third, we are committed to holiness, to being increasingly conformed to His image as individuals and as a community. We seek to be devoted to the Lord and to live in accordance with His character and purpose, and to this end we search the Scriptures and freely make use of the devotional and spiritual classics of Christian history. Only students who have a personal commitment to Christ are accepted for the degree and diploma programs.

Fourth, we welcome students from the “three streams” (evangelical, Anglo-Catholic, and charismatic), as well as from other Christian traditions. We are committed to our Anglican and Episcopal identity and confident in our Scriptural and evangelical roots. We rejoice in our Church’s liturgical life, concern for the balance of Word and Sacrament, respect for tradition, openness to all of God’s truth, power, and episcopal order.

Finally, our life together is dedicated to mission and evangelism. We believe mission originates in the heart of God. We pray for a passion not just to know the Lord ourselves but to bring others within the reach of His saving embrace. We are committed to help lead and encourage the Church in evangelism and mission. We are a Great Commission fellowship.

“Trinity’s Ethos”
Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

Week of XXVII Pentecost

Let us pray for...

The December 3rd Meeting of the CCP
For preparation of the draft North American Anglican Constitution

XXVII Pentecost

Let Us Pray For…

Cranmer House
The Rt. Rev. Royal U. Grote, Jr. (President)
The Very Rev. Dr. Curtis Crenshaw (Dean)

Nashotah House
The Very Rev. Dr. Robert S. Munday (Dean and President)


Prayer Petitions
May Cranmer House and Nashotah House continue to produce godly people to serve Christ in his Church. May these leaders save us from false christs and false prophets. May they teach us and guide us so that we are not swayed by the signs, wonders, and guidance of false gospels, and that we may at last be gathered from the four winds on that Great Day.

WHS

From the Scriptures
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Matthew 24:23-31 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

“The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“We are distinguished by our strong commitment to the Holy Scriptures as God’s infallible Word, our adherence to the theology of the English Reformation as expressed in the historic Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, and our commitment to the worship and polity of the greater Anglican tradition.

“We strive to produce Biblically grounded, orthodox, and successful priests who are excellent pastors and exceptional preachers. This emphasis is reflected in the heavy concentration in Scripture, pastoral theology, and homiletic instruction. We are also committed to the equipping of lay leaders for Kingdom work.”

from the Mission statement of Cranmer House

“Nashotah has given the Church in American some of the finest scholars and teachers in the Episcopal Church, and at the present time is sending out priests who know the deep things of Christian orthodoxy and at the same time are sensitive to the contemporary world and its needs.”

Archbishop Michael Ramsey (1904-1988)
100th Archbishop of Canterbury
1967

For the Diocese of Fort Worth, Realigned with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

Good Christian People, I bid your prayers for Christ’s holy Catholic Church, the blessed company of all faithful people; that it may please God to confirm and strengthen it in purity of faith, in holiness of life, and in perfectness of love, and to restore to it the witness of visible unity; and more especially for that branch of the same planted by God in this land, whereof we are members; that in all things it may work according to God’s will, serve him faithfully, and worship him acceptably.

Ye shall pray for the President of these United States, and for the Governor of this State, and for all that are in authority; that all, and every one of them, may serve truly in their several callings to the glory of God, and the edifying and well-governing of the people, remembering the account they shall be called upon to give at the last great day.

Ye shall also pray for the ministers of God’s Holy Word and Sacraments; for Bishops (and herein more especially for the Bishop of this Diocese), that they may minister faithfully and wisely the discipline of Christ; likewise for all Priests and Deacons (and herein more especially for the Clergy here residing), that they may shine as lights in the world, and in all things may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

And ye shall pray for a due supply of persons fitted to serve God in the Ministry and in the State; and to that end, as well as for the good education of all the youth of this land, ye shall pray for all schools, colleges, and seminaries of sound and godly learning, and for all whose hands are open for their maintenance; that whatsoever tends to the advancement of true religion and useful learning may for ever flourish and abound.

Ye shall pray for all the people of these United States, that they may live in the true faith and fear of God, and in brotherly charity one towards another.

Ye shall pray also for all who travel by land or sea; for all prisoners and captives; for all who are in sickness or in sorrow; for all who have fallen into grievous sin; for all who, through temptation, ignorance, helplessness, grief, trouble, dread, or the near approach of death, especially need our prayers.

Ye shall also praise God for rain and sunshine; for the fruits of the earth; for the products of all honest industry; and for all his good gifts, temporal and spiritual, to us and to all men.

Finally, ye shall yield unto God most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all his saints, who have been the choice vessels of his grace and the lights of the world in their several generations; and pray unto God, that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good examples; that, this life ended, we may be made partakers with them of the glorious resurrection, and the life everlasting.

And now, brethren, summing up all our petitions, and all our thanksgivings, in the words which Christ hath taught us, we make bold to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

“A Bidding Prayer,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

Veterans' Day

Please pray for all CCP church members serving in the armed forces, and for their families.

Please pray for all CCP clergy serving as military and Veterans' Administration chaplains.

XXVI Pentecost

Let Us Pray For…

Church Army USA
Captain Steve Brightwell (National Director)

Anglican Initiative for Mission
The Rev. Nancy Scammacca (Acting Director)

Titus Institute for Church Planting
The Rev. Tom Herrick (Director)


From the Scriptures
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
O LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“The Church’s witness and service minister to people’s deepest spiritual, physical and social needs. But in carrying out this mission the Church’s stance should be one of continual vigilance, as it lives ‘in the world’, but is ‘not of the world’ (John 17.11-16) and as it seeks to be faithful to Christ the true witness and servant.”

Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue: The Dublin Agreed Statement (1984)

For the Diocese of Quincy, Realigned with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

And accept, O Lord, our intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations; and may as many as have received it, live as becomes it. Be gracious unto thy Church; and grant that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may serve thee faithfully. Bless all in authority over us; and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain thy true religion and virtue. Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, upon all our relations, friends, and neighbours. Reward all who have done us good, and pardon all those who have done or wish us evil, and give them repentance and better minds. Be merciful to all who are in any trouble; and do thou, the God of pity, administer to them according to their several necessities; for his sake who went about doing good, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

“The Intercession,” from Family Prayer, The Book of Common Prayer (1928, USA)

Please pray for the United States - for those elected to office and for the public witness of CCP members in the USA

Scripture
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4

Prayer
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Our Country (BCP 1928, USA)

XXV Pentecost: All Saints' Sunday

Let Us Pray For…

Anglican Relief and Development Fund
Canon Nancy Norton (Director)

Board of Foreign Missions, REC
The Rt. Rev. Royal V. Grote, Jr. (President)

Christian Formation Ministries
The Rev. Canon William E. Blewett
Canon Carolyn C. Fouse

Special Prayer Petitions
from Nancy Norton of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund

Please pray for our upcoming Trustees meeting November 10-12 in Vero Beach, Florida, for the Holy Spirit's presence to guide us in our decisions for the future of ARDF.


From the Scriptures
Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel….

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“All Saints’ Day,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)

A Heritage Reflection
“As there is a perfect union betwixt the glorious Saints in heaven, and an union, though imperfect, betwixt the Saints on earth, so there is an union, partly perfect and partly imperfect, between the Saints in heaven and the Saints below upon earth, perfect in respect of those glorified Saints above, imperfect in respect of the weak returns we are able to make to them again.”

Bishop Joseph Hall (1574-1656)
A Treatise of Christ Mystical; or the Blessed Union of Christ and His Members