Please pray for...
Victims and survivors of a fire at Buddo Girls' School, Province of Uganda
Message from Anglican Communion Network (ACN) Communications Office:
"there was a fire last night at the Buddo Girls' School in Kampala [Anglican Province of Uganda] where 19 girls and 2 adults died. The fire appears to have been deliberately set. Mama Phoebe (Orombi) and Rev. Helen are presently in Virginia, leaving tonight from D.C. with a 12 hour layover in London. Please pray for the families of the victims, for Mama Phoebe and Rev. Helen, for Archbishop Henry and for all those involved."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 15, 2008
Please pray for...
Church of the Good Shepherd, Binghamton, NY
Anglican Province of Kenya
Special Prayer Need
A press release indicates that the parish is being sued by the Diocese of Central New York (TEC). In obedience to Christ, please pray for the parish and for those who are attacking it.
Holy Scripture
Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said. Luke 12:10-12, NLT
Church of the Good Shepherd, Binghamton, NY
Anglican Province of Kenya
Special Prayer Need
A press release indicates that the parish is being sued by the Diocese of Central New York (TEC). In obedience to Christ, please pray for the parish and for those who are attacking it.
Holy Scripture
Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said. Luke 12:10-12, NLT
Week of IV Easter
Let Us Continue in Prayer For...
Common Cause Observers
Anglican Province of America (APA)
Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC)
Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA)
Special Prayer Petitions
Let us give thanks and intercede for Continuing Anglicans, who maintain sacred wisdom and traditions amidst great change and hostility.
Holy Scripture
Psalm 12
1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.
4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
6 The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
7 Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
Psalm 13
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
New Living Translation
Common Cause Observers
Anglican Province of America (APA)
Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC)
Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA)
Special Prayer Petitions
Let us give thanks and intercede for Continuing Anglicans, who maintain sacred wisdom and traditions amidst great change and hostility.
Holy Scripture
Psalm 12
1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.
4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
6 The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
7 Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
Psalm 13
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
New Living Translation
Saturday, April 12, 2008
IV Easter
Let Us Pray For...
Common Cause Observers
Anglican Province of America (APA)
Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC)
Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA)
Special Prayer Petitions
Please continue to pray for The APA Bishops, who, along with the REC Bishops, will be meeting with the gathering of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas. FACA is an attempt to bring together the Continuing Anglican churches. The latter meeting will be concerned primarily with the final vote to join the Common Cause Partners.
Please pray for the Anglican Province in America Provincial Synod at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL, July 23-25. Please also pray for the current members of FACA: The Anglican Church in America, The Anglican Mission in the Americas, The Anglican Province in America, the Diocese of the Holy Cross, Episcopal Missionary Church, and the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Please pray for “Compelled by Christ's Love,” the Anglican Network in Canada national conference, April 25-26. Anglican Essentials Canada and the Network will gather in the Vancouver area, in South Delta Baptist Church - where many of us have gathered for important ACiNW (now ANiC BC) and Essentials events in the past. The conference will be a time to celebrate God’s provision and leading, a time for rich Bible ministry, and a time to refocus on the mission Christ gave His Church. Please plan to join us--and Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone!
From the Scriptures
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
A Guiding Prayer
THIS is indeed the first and great command, to love Thee, O God, with all our heart: for on this depends our salvation. But even this must be the gift of Thy grace: for this grace I now apply to Thee, to make my love and fear of Thee the governing principle of my whole life; that I may always do what I believe will please Thee; that I may carefully avoid what I know will offend Thee; and that I may live as having Thee the constant witness of my thoughts, words, and actions.
Give me a steadfast faith in Thy word and promise; a firm trust in Thy power. Let the fear of Thy justice keep me from presumption, and a sense of Thy goodness from despair. Defend me from all those bewitching snares which destroy our love of Thee: from worldly cares; from all sensual and sinful pleasures; from evil company; from foolish diversions; and from every thing that may make me forget, that Thou alone art worthy to be feared and loved. Grant me these mercies for Thy Son Jesus Christ and His sake; whose love and death we are going to commemorate. Amen.
A Heritage Reflection
"If you believe Him to be the fountain of all good, you will pray to Him daily. And if you put your whole trust in God, as it is your duty to do, you will endeavour to be pleased with all His dealings with you, you will never murmur at the ways of His providence, not suffer your heart to fret against the Lord. And especially you will never attempt to better or secure your condition by evil ways: believing assuredly, that God can and will make you full amends in the next life, for what you want or suffer in this in submission to His will."
Common Cause Observers
Anglican Province of America (APA)
Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC)
Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA)
Special Prayer Petitions
Please continue to pray for The APA Bishops, who, along with the REC Bishops, will be meeting with the gathering of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas. FACA is an attempt to bring together the Continuing Anglican churches. The latter meeting will be concerned primarily with the final vote to join the Common Cause Partners.
Please pray for the Anglican Province in America Provincial Synod at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL, July 23-25. Please also pray for the current members of FACA: The Anglican Church in America, The Anglican Mission in the Americas, The Anglican Province in America, the Diocese of the Holy Cross, Episcopal Missionary Church, and the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Please pray for “Compelled by Christ's Love,” the Anglican Network in Canada national conference, April 25-26. Anglican Essentials Canada and the Network will gather in the Vancouver area, in South Delta Baptist Church - where many of us have gathered for important ACiNW (now ANiC BC) and Essentials events in the past. The conference will be a time to celebrate God’s provision and leading, a time for rich Bible ministry, and a time to refocus on the mission Christ gave His Church. Please plan to join us--and Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone!
From the Scriptures
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:3-11 (NIV)
A Guiding Prayer
THIS is indeed the first and great command, to love Thee, O God, with all our heart: for on this depends our salvation. But even this must be the gift of Thy grace: for this grace I now apply to Thee, to make my love and fear of Thee the governing principle of my whole life; that I may always do what I believe will please Thee; that I may carefully avoid what I know will offend Thee; and that I may live as having Thee the constant witness of my thoughts, words, and actions.
Give me a steadfast faith in Thy word and promise; a firm trust in Thy power. Let the fear of Thy justice keep me from presumption, and a sense of Thy goodness from despair. Defend me from all those bewitching snares which destroy our love of Thee: from worldly cares; from all sensual and sinful pleasures; from evil company; from foolish diversions; and from every thing that may make me forget, that Thou alone art worthy to be feared and loved. Grant me these mercies for Thy Son Jesus Christ and His sake; whose love and death we are going to commemorate. Amen.
Bishop Thomas Wilson (1698-1755)
"A Further Instruction for Such As Have Learned the Church Catechism," Works (Vol. IV)
A Heritage Reflection
"If you believe Him to be the fountain of all good, you will pray to Him daily. And if you put your whole trust in God, as it is your duty to do, you will endeavour to be pleased with all His dealings with you, you will never murmur at the ways of His providence, not suffer your heart to fret against the Lord. And especially you will never attempt to better or secure your condition by evil ways: believing assuredly, that God can and will make you full amends in the next life, for what you want or suffer in this in submission to His will."
Bishop Thomas Wilson (1698-1755)
"A Further Instruction for Such As Have Learned the Church Catechism," Works (Vol. IV)
"A Further Instruction for Such As Have Learned the Church Catechism," Works (Vol. IV)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Commemoration of William Law
William Law (ordained 1761), a Priest of the Church of England, endured loss of income and other indignities due to the church politics of his time - yet left a legacy of devotional insight and spiritual renewal for the church.
Let Us Pray For...
All Common Cause Partners enduring hostility.
Let Us Pray For...
All Common Cause Partners enduring hostility.
- Bishop Edward MacBurney (FiFNA/Southern Cone), for comfort at the death of his son, and for the Holy Spirit's strength and words as he faces accusations from The Episcopal Church
- Bishop Robert Duncan (ACN) for strength and wisdom in leadership and to endure hostility in the service of Christ
- Bishop John David Schofield (ACN/Southern Cone) for good health and the Spirit's guidance for leadership and to endure hostility
- Bishop William Cox (ACN/Southern Cone) for the Spirit's guidance
- Give thanks for the trial court decision favoring the CANA congregations in Virginia. Pray for God's help with appelate cases, and for the people to follow the Godly counsel of their Bishops in responding to enemies.
- Pray for the CANA congregations in Ohio, facing legal attacks mounted by TEC. Pray for the protection of Bishop Ames and his people, and pray that their hosting of this Summer's CANA gathering be a source of inspiration and joy.
- Give thanks for the recent favorable court decisions allowing Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations to continue use of their facilities. Pray for their continued protection and for strength and guidance for their clergy, especially those facing discipline.
- In obedience to our Lord's command and in faithfulness to his example, let us pray for those who are hostile to CCP and are attacking its members.
From William Law:
Poor Sinner! consider the Treasure thou hast within Thee, the Saviour of the World, the eternal Word of God lies hid in Thee, as a Spark of the Divine Nature, which is to overcome Sin and Death, and Hell within Thee, and generate the Life of Heaven again in thy Soul. Turn to thy Heart, and thy Heart will find its Saviour, its God within itself. Thou seest, hearest, and feelest nothing of God, because thou seekest for Him abroad with thy outward Eyes, thou seekest for Him in Books, in Controversies, in the Church, and outward Exercises, but there thou wilt not find him, till thou hast first found Him in thy Heart. Seek for Him in thy Heart, and thou wilt never seek in vain, for there He dwelleth, there is the Seat of his Light and Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of Prayer, Book II (1750)
Please use the comments feature of this blog to update or correct any of the above requests, and especially to add the prayer needs of any other CCP members who are under attack.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Week of III Easter
Let Us Continue in Prayer For...
The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Presiding Bishop)
The Reformed Episcopal Church Mission Statement
Adopted by the Bishops of this ChurchDecember 3, 1992
Revised by the Council of Bishops, October 2, 2003
Built upon the foundation of the authoritative Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Reformed Episcopal Church sets her highest priority on biblical worship and declares her commitment to the work of evangelism, the bold and unadulterated proclamation of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:4). In keeping the faith once delivered to the saints, the Reformed Episcopal Church, however, does not believe evangelism to be the end, but rather the beginning of her divinely given vocation.
In addition to being evangelical, she is deeply committed to discipleship, the work of training evangelized men and women in Christian living (St. Matthew 28:20). When the Gospel is truly proclaimed and the mercies of God are made known, redeemed men and women must be led to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is their spiritual service (Romans 12:1). Thus, the Reformed Episcopal Church understands the Christian life to be necessarily corporate. The Gospel call of salvation is not only to a savior, but also to a visible communion (I Cor.12:27) which, being indwelt by Christ's Spirit, transcends both temporal and geographic bounds.
Therefore, the Reformed Episcopal Church is creedal, following the historic catholic faith as it was confessed by the early undivided Church in the Apostles' (A.D. 150), Nicene (A.D. 325) and Athanasian Creeds (circa. A.D. 401); sacramental, practicing the divinely ordained sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as outward and visible signs of His inward and spiritual grace; liturgical, using the historic Book of Common Prayer; and Episcopal, finding unity with the Church of the earliest Christian eras through submission to the government of godly bishops.
In this fashion, by embracing the broad base of doctrine and practice inherent in apostolic Christianity received by the Church of the English Reformation and expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the Reformed Episcopal Church has a foundation for effective ministry in the name of Christ to a world which is lost and dying without Him.
Approved, General Committee, October 5, 2003
The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Presiding Bishop)
The Reformed Episcopal Church Mission Statement
Adopted by the Bishops of this ChurchDecember 3, 1992
Revised by the Council of Bishops, October 2, 2003
Built upon the foundation of the authoritative Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Reformed Episcopal Church sets her highest priority on biblical worship and declares her commitment to the work of evangelism, the bold and unadulterated proclamation of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:4). In keeping the faith once delivered to the saints, the Reformed Episcopal Church, however, does not believe evangelism to be the end, but rather the beginning of her divinely given vocation.
In addition to being evangelical, she is deeply committed to discipleship, the work of training evangelized men and women in Christian living (St. Matthew 28:20). When the Gospel is truly proclaimed and the mercies of God are made known, redeemed men and women must be led to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is their spiritual service (Romans 12:1). Thus, the Reformed Episcopal Church understands the Christian life to be necessarily corporate. The Gospel call of salvation is not only to a savior, but also to a visible communion (I Cor.12:27) which, being indwelt by Christ's Spirit, transcends both temporal and geographic bounds.
Therefore, the Reformed Episcopal Church is creedal, following the historic catholic faith as it was confessed by the early undivided Church in the Apostles' (A.D. 150), Nicene (A.D. 325) and Athanasian Creeds (circa. A.D. 401); sacramental, practicing the divinely ordained sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as outward and visible signs of His inward and spiritual grace; liturgical, using the historic Book of Common Prayer; and Episcopal, finding unity with the Church of the earliest Christian eras through submission to the government of godly bishops.
In this fashion, by embracing the broad base of doctrine and practice inherent in apostolic Christianity received by the Church of the English Reformation and expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the Reformed Episcopal Church has a foundation for effective ministry in the name of Christ to a world which is lost and dying without Him.
Approved, General Committee, October 5, 2003
Saturday, April 5, 2008
III Easter
Let Us Pray For...
The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Presiding Bishop)
Special Prayer Petitions
The upcoming spring Council (House) of Bishops meeting in Charleston, SC. We need prayer for finalizing plans for our upcoming triennial General Council (Convention) this fall in Victoria. In addition, both REC and APA Bishops will be present for the spring Council of Bishops meeting. Pray that the REC and the APA would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to complete merger plans.
The REC/APA Bishops will be meeting also with the gathering of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas. FACA is an attempt to bring together the Continuing Anglican churches. The latter meeting will be concerned primarily with the final vote to join the Common Cause Partners.
Third, please pray for our fundraising efforts to send our bishops to the GAFCON meeting in Jerusalem. We are all so very encouraged and excited about meeting numerous other orthodox Anglican Bishops from the Global South and around the world. Finally, we are seeing the faithful come together. We rejoice to be part of it.
From the Scriptures
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)
The Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches (Presiding Bishop)
Special Prayer Petitions
The upcoming spring Council (House) of Bishops meeting in Charleston, SC. We need prayer for finalizing plans for our upcoming triennial General Council (Convention) this fall in Victoria. In addition, both REC and APA Bishops will be present for the spring Council of Bishops meeting. Pray that the REC and the APA would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to complete merger plans.
The REC/APA Bishops will be meeting also with the gathering of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas. FACA is an attempt to bring together the Continuing Anglican churches. The latter meeting will be concerned primarily with the final vote to join the Common Cause Partners.
Third, please pray for our fundraising efforts to send our bishops to the GAFCON meeting in Jerusalem. We are all so very encouraged and excited about meeting numerous other orthodox Anglican Bishops from the Global South and around the world. Finally, we are seeing the faithful come together. We rejoice to be part of it.
From the Scriptures
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 3:20-4:6 (NIV)
A Guiding Prayer
Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Heritage Reflection
"For preservation of Christianity there is not any thing more needful, than that such as are of the visible Church have mutual fellowship and society one with another."
Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"The Second Sunday After Easter," The Book of Common Prayer (According to the Use of The Reformed Episcopal Church in North America)
A Heritage Reflection
"For preservation of Christianity there is not any thing more needful, than that such as are of the visible Church have mutual fellowship and society one with another."
Richard Hooker (1554?-1600)
The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (Book III)
The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (Book III)
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