II Advent

Let Us Pray For…

Anglican Communion Network (ACN)
The Rt. Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan (Moderator)



Prayer Petitions
Let us give thanks to God for the way he used the Anglican Communion Network to bring together separated brethren as an authentic witness to our one Lord. Let us pray that, as the work of the Network ends and the mission of the Anglican Church in North America commences, that the ministers and stewards of his mysteries may turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and that they will continue to be satisfied to present the Christ of the scriptures and not be offended by the real Jesus.

WHS

From the Scriptures
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’”

Matthew 11:2-10 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so pre pare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

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

A Heritage Reflection
“He made us in order to use us, and use us in the most profitable way; for His purpose, not ours. To live a spiritual life means subordinating all other interests to that single fact.”

Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941)
The Spiritual Life

Week of Advent 2

Please pray and give thanks for...

New directions and endeavors in CCP ministry

The Reverend Canon Julian Dobbs
New Canon Missioner, Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA)

HERNDON, Va. (December 8, 2008) ­

The Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) has appointed the Rev'd Canon Julian Dobbs to the position of Canon Missioner. In this position, Mr. Dobbs will work to establish a CANA Clergy Deployment Office, help Anglicans in North America to understand and engage with the challenges posed by the rise of Islam, and develop a mission partnership with West Africa for the development of Anglican clergy and lay leaders.

"We are excited that Julian has accepted this position and we believe that his talents and dedication to preaching and teaching the Gospel will advance the Kingdom of Christ. The job description of Canon Missioner is largely shaped by the gifts and experiences that the individual brings to the position and what the needs of the church body are. Julian is well suited to assist CANA and the recently announced Anglican Church of North America," said CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns.

An ordained Anglican priest, Mr. Dobbs was most recently the U.S. executive director for the Barnabas Fund, at which he developed awareness for the persecuted church and this growing ministry across the U.S. He has traveled internationally and ministered with the Suffering Church across six continents including; Laos, Malaysia, Syria, Egypt, and North Korea. Following the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Julian's work in Aceh, Indonesia was recognized by the New Zealand Government who awarded him with the New Zealand Special Services Medal. Julian presented a weekly 60 minute Christian television program for nine years in Nelson, New Zealand.

"I am glad to join CANA at this critical juncture in the history of the Anglican Communion. As Christians, we face many challenges towards spreading the Gospel, and I am dedicated to finding ways to meet these challenges. One way to do this is to find and develop clergy who will stand for Biblical truth. Anglican Christians have great opportunities to spread the Gospel and CANA is leading the way," said Mr. Dobbs.


For the completion of ministry by the Anglican Communion Network (ACN) and its entry into the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)

Delegates to the Anglican Communion Network’s fifth annual council meeting in Overland Park, Kansas, voted today to begin handing over ministries as well as financial and administrative support services to the forming Anglican Church in North America.

Network members spoke of how much the organization has meant to them since its founding in 2004. “This has been my lifeline. Without the Anglican Communion Network and you all, I don’t know what would have happened,” said Episcopal Church Bishop Jim Adams of Western Kansas.

During the approximately six months the hand over is expected to take, the Network office will continue to provide key organizational, administrative and other services for Network members and the Common Cause Partnership as it completes the creation of the Anglican Church in North America.

The hand over will not be complete until the summer of 2009. When it is complete, the Network as it is currently configured will cease operation.

“God did not use the Network to change the direction of The Episcopal Church as we had originally hoped. He has used it and us to create a Biblical, missionary and united Anglican province-in-waiting here in North America. We are deeply thankful to Him and to all who have supported its work,” said Bishop Duncan.

Many ministries of the Network are already positioned to successfully continue supporting Anglicans in North America. The Anglican Relief and Development Fund will continue as the relief agency for the Anglican Church in North America. Since its founding, it has funded more than 80 projects, distributing more than $3.5 million to support the work of Anglicans to meet the physical and spiritual needs of millions of people. The Anglican Global Mission Partners, also a Network initiative, will continue to draw together more than 30 Anglican organizations committed to mission. The Young Anglicans Project will continue work on a proposed Anglican Catechism in outline. The Titus Institute for Church Planting is established as an independent body and continues its work. The Common Cause Partnership, also a Network supported initiative, is the primary body responsible for creating The Anglican Church in North America.

Acknowledging the need for fellowship and support felt particularly by those in the Network who are remaining within The Episcopal Church, Bishop Duncan said, “We remain sisters and brothers in Christ, regardless of our way forward. We will certainly be looking at ways we can continue to support each other as the Network transitions over the next few months” said Bishop Duncan.

Prayer for Missions
O GOD, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh; Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Bring the nations into thy fold, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II Advent

Let Us Pray For…

Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC)
The Rt. Rev. Alexander Green (Bishop)

The Rev. Barclay Mayo (Network Leader)

Prayer Petitions
May God show favor upon the Anglican Coalition in Canada. May they reach out to like-minded Anglicans and bring new believers into the fold of Christ’s church. May God bless their witness to his grace.

WHS

From the Scriptures
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”

And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”

And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:4-13 (ESV)

A Guiding Prayer
BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

A Heritage Reflection
“For as that sheep that will not follow its good shepherd is exposed to the wolves, to its destruction; so that which follows a bad shepherd is also exposed to unavoidable death, since his shepherd will devour him. Wherefore care must be had to avoid destructive shepherds.”

Apostolic Constitutions
(4th Century)

For this Week's North American Anglican Gathering

Please pray for the Common Cause Partners meeting in Wheaton, Illinois. This Wednesday, December 3rd, they will make public a draft Constitution for a North American Anglican Province, as well as make formal endorsement of the Jerusalem Declaration of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

From Holy Scripture
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings! “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question. “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. Acts 15:23-35

From Church Tradition
St. Nicholas (Feast Day Dec. 6th): The Council of Nicaea agreed with Nicholas' views... The work of the Council produced the Nicene Creed which to this day many Christians repeat weekly when they stand to say what they believe.

From the Articles of Religion
XIX. Of the Church.The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.

Prayer
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst preside in the Council of the blessed Apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world; We beseech thee to be with the Council of thy Church here assembled in thy Name and Presence. Save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, Satan, and death; till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life; through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. BCP 1928

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. :^)