II Easter

Let Us Pray For...
Forward in Faith, North America (FiFNA)
The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, SSC, DD (Director)
Fr. William H. Ilgenfritz (Convocational Dean)


Special Prayer Petitions
Please pray for FiFNA's Council:
The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, SSC, DD, President
The Rev. William H. Ilgenfritz, SSC, Vice President
The Rev. Warren V. Tanghe, SSC, Vice President
The Rev. Michael Brooks, Secretary
Mr. Karl O. Sharp, Treasurer
The Rev. Canon Edward den Blaauwen, SSC, Executive Administrator
The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, SSC, Episcopal Member
The Rt. Rev. William C. Watland, Episcopal Member
The Rt. Rev. Donald J. Parsons, Episcopal Member
The Rt. Rev. Richard Boyce, Episcopal Member
The Rev. James Guill, SSC, Clergy Member
The Rev. Lawrence D. Bausch, SSC--Church Office
The Rev. Keith Acker, SSC--Press Officer, Editorial Board
Mr. Robert Shattuck, Lay Member
Mrs. JoAnn Patton, Lay Member
Lt. Col. John F.D. Armstrong, Lay Member
and the many Ex-Officio Adjunct, Episcopal Adjunct, International Adjunct, and Other Adjunct Members.



From the Scriptures
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)

A Guiding Prayer
Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"The First Sunday after Easter," The Book of Common Prayer (1928, USA)

A Heritage Reflection
"May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh--who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar people--grant to every soul that calleth upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honor, both now and for evermore. Amen."

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (c. AD 97)

Easter Wednesday

Let us continue in prayer for
Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA)
The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, Missionary Bishop
The Anglican Church of Nigeria

Please pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance of the 2008 CANA Council, August 21-23 in Akron, OH.

Ask God's blessing on CANA's mission values:

• Radical Inclusion
• Profound Transformation
• Inspired Service

For Clergy

Pray for The Rev'd Alan Crippen II, who will be made a priest at Grace Chruch and St. Stephen's in Colorado Springs on April 13th.

Give thanks and pray for three new deacons ordained this year: Dan Clark and Marge Marcewicz in Wyoming, and Sheri Graham in Texas.

Pray for all CANA clergy and their families.

Easter

Let us pray for

Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA)

The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns (Missionary Bishop)

Anglican Church of Nigeria

Adorations:

Praise God for the celebrations of Holy Week..

Praise God for the conversions, baptisms, and recommitments to JesusChrist of youth and adults in several CANA congregations..

Praise God for the fresh surge of emphasis on healing and the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit in several CANA congregations..

Praise God for the dozens of Burmese immigrants recently confirmed at a church in Tennessee..

Praise God for the courage of a congregation in Texas to help stop a modern child slavery racket.

Confessions:

Sorrow for the slow progress in evangelizing the 10/40 window andunreached people groups in other parts of the world..

Sorrow for the failure of discipleship in the Church at large that has allowed some evangelical Christians in the West to convert to Islam..

Sorrow for the greed that has led to the US economic downturn.

Thanksgivings:

Thanksgiving for the growth of churches in the Majority World, includingthe planting of 300 new churches in the Church of Nigeria in the past year..

Thanksgiving for the effective progress of Anglican ministries in fighting pandemics in the Majority World..

Thanksgiving for the continued leadership of the Church of Nigeria and other provinces in leading a way forward for the future of Anglican Christianity..

Thanksgiving for the straightforward articulations of Bishop Mouneer of Egypt..

Thanksgiving for the life witness of Bishop Cox and Bishop Schofield..

Thanksgiving for the courage and faithfulness of our brothers and sistersin Canada.. Thanksgiving for the emerging ministries of CANA's and AMiA's new bishops..

Thanksgiving for the wisdom and discernment of Virginia Judge Bellows, re the TEC litigation against CANA churches in Virginia..

Praise God for the safe return of Chaplain Rindahl from Iraq.

Supplications:

For peace through Jesus Christ in the Middle East, the Congo, the Sudan,and other places torn by war and corrupt leadership..

For GAFCON: for Godspeed & good health for all participants..

For Common Cause, for wisdom..

For orthodox clergy and congregations discerning the future of their Anglican affiliation..

For the strengthening of clergy marriages and family relationships..

For bi-vocational priests facing difficult decisions about balancing their schedule..

For all clergy and laity who are being pinched by the current state ofthe US economy..

For seminarians seeking open doors to serve God and the Church..

For missionaries having difficulty raising funds; that they may find newopen doors and places to serve.

Scripture, Tradition and Reason:

(Jesus) promised to be not only with these disciples, but also with all who would subsequently believe after them. Jesus speaks to all believers as if to one body. Do not speak to me, he says, of the difficulties you will face, for "I am with you," as the one who makes all things easy. Remember that this is also said repeatedly to the prophets in the Old Testament. Recall Jeremiah objecting that he is too young and Moses and Ezekiel shrinking from the prophetic office. "I am with you" is spoken to all these people.
St. John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 90.2

Maundy Thursday

Let us thank the Lord that
Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations will remain in their churches through Easter!

"A judge in the Ontario Superior Court in Hamilton, Madam Justice Milanetti, reserved her decision today on whether the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) parishes of St George's Lowville (Milton, Ontario), St Hilda's (Oakville, Ontario) and Church of the Good Shepherd (St Catharines, Ontario) will retain exclusive use of their church facilities while the bigger legal issues of who owns the buildings are sorted out." (ANiC News Release)
Let us continue to pray

for these and all parishes now in dispute with their former diocese regarding property ownership. Pray that this will not distract from their ministries and that they will know God's direction in this matter.

Pray for all ANiC clergy facing canonical charges, and most of all for the spiritual wellbeing of all ANiC members in this time of conflict. As Christ teaches, pray also for those who are set against them.

Scripture:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32, NLT

Holy Wednesday

Please keep up intercession for a special need of
The Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC)

Pray specifically for a court case on March 20 [Maundy Thursday] in Southern Ontario that could be precedent setting. Please pray for the two churches involved - St George's Lowville (Milton) and St Hilda's (Oakville) - and the clergy who must prepare affidavits for this court appearance - the Rev Canon Charlie Masters (also General Secretary of the Common Cause Partnership) and the Rev Paul Charbonneau. Please pray for an unbiased judge; for clarity of thought and presentation for our legal representatives and witnesses; that God would be honoured in all we do; and that the outcome would be to His glory and the building of His Kingdom.

Scripture

The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens--
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord GOD who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Isaiah 50:4-9a

Holy Week

Let us pray for
Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC)
The Rt. Rev. Donald Harvey (Moderator and Chair)
Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

Prayer and praise items for Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC)

· Praise God for the 15 churches now under the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey and the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

· Pray for the clergy of those parishes who are now facing various canonical charges – this includes charges of Abandonment of Ministry for a number of clergy, including the Rev Dr J I Packer.

· Pray for those parishes now in dispute with their former diocese regarding property ownership. Pray that this will not distract from their ministries and that they will know God's direction in this matter.

· Pray specifically for a court case on March 20 in Southern Ontario that could be precedent setting. Please pray for the two churches involved - St George's Lowville (Milton) and St Hilda's (Oakville) - and the clergy who must prepare affidavits for this court appearance - the Rev Canon Charlie Masters (also General Secretary of the Common Cause Partnership) and the Rev Paul Charbonneau. Please pray for an unbiased judge; for clarity of thought and presentation for our legal representatives and witnesses; that God would be honoured in all we do; and that the outcome would be to His glory and the building of His Kingdom.

· Praise God for a favourable earlier interim court decision on February 29 that allowed these two parishes to remain in their buildings until March 20.

· Praise God for a more amicable approach to ANiC parishes in one diocese.

· Despite the numerous legal and canonical attacks, the real battle is spiritual, so please pray for spiritual protection for our clergy and leadership and their families – as well as for good health. Pray specifically for our bishops, Bishop Don Harvey and Bishop Malcolm Harding.

· Pray for unity in the parishes; pray that satan will not be able to drive in any wedges.

· Finally, please pray for orthodox Canadian Anglicans who remain in the Anglican Church of Canada. Pray for wisdom and courage as they continue to stand for Truth and against the moral and theological decay of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Scripture

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:18

Tradition

'Twas I that shed that sacred Blood,I nailed him to the Tree,I crucified the Christ of God,I joined the mockery.Yet not the less that Blood avails to cleanse me from sin,and not the less that Cross prevails to give me peace within. Horatius Bonar, 1856. #135 in The Book of Common Praise, 1938 (Canada)

Reason

...what Christ bore on the cross was the Godforsakenness of penal judgment, which we shall never have to bear because he accepted it in our place. The appropriate formulation is that on the cross Jesus’ representative relation to us, as the last Adam whose image we are to bear, took the form of substituting for us under judgment, as the suffering servant of God on whom the Lord ‘laid the iniquity of us all’. The two ideas, representation and substitution, are complementary, not alternatives, and both are needed here. J.I. Packer, What Did the Cross Achieve?

Week of V Lent

Let us continue in prayer for
The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA)
The reclamation of Anglicanism's missionary heritage

The Venerable Bede: The Arrival in Kent of the missionaries sent By Gregory the Great (597)
As soon as they entered the dwelling place assigned them, they began to imitate the course of life practiced in the primitive church : applying themselves to frequent prayer, watching, and fasting; preaching the word of life to as many as they could; despising all worldly things, as not belonging to them; receiving only their necessary food from those they taught; living in all respects conformably to what they prescribed to others, and being always disposed to suffer any adversity, and even to die for that truth which they preached. In short, several believed and were baptized, admiring the simplicity of their innocent life and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine.
There was on the east side of the city a church dedicated to St. Martin, built whilst the Romans were still in the island, wherein the queen, who, as has been said before, was a Christian, used to pray. In this they first began to meet, to sing, to pray, to say mass, to preach and to baptize, till the king, being converted to the faith, allowed them to preach openly and to build or repair churches in all places.
When he among the rest, induced by the unspotted life of these holy men and their delightful promises, which, by many miracles, they proved to be most certain, believed and was baptized, greater numbers began daily to flock together to hear the word and, forsaking their heathen rites. to associate themselves, by believing, to the unity of the Church of Christ.