Prayers for the month of July and August
For Lundi-Lambeth prayers from March to June, click here.
Final Lundi-Lambeth offering for 1998
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Dear Lundi-Lambeth intercessors,
The Lambeth Conference concludes, and with it a personal note to you all. Many of you have been praying since the beginning of March
... others have joined us recently. Together, we have formed a circle of prayer around the Lambeth Conference that has widened to
encompass the worldwide Anglican Communion, people of other denominations and faith traditions. "Thank you" to each of
you who has been part of this unique prayer group that began in cyberspace and extended to prayer groups, parishes, offices, individuals.
As Lambeth draws to a close, I hear myself asking God:
- What will happen as a result of this Lambeth? Are we on the verge of a split?
- What will happen to our church in the coming years between this and the next Lambeth in 2008? Will our church
be able to be reconciled?
- Will the issue of sexuality that predominated this Lambeth be the dominating issue of Lambeth 2008?
- Will issues of poverty, world debt, malnourishment, displaced persons/refugees, racism, the environmnet, rape,
child pornography and prostitituion etc. cause the Church gathered at Lambeth (whatever shape that becomes at the time) to prayerfully
reflect on its role in the world and act?
The changing face of this year's Lambeth, with the presence of eleven women bishops, points to an ever-changing
face in 2008. There will likely be more women bishops. But further questions arise:
- Will Lambeth become a Conference where the whole people of God (laity, priest, bishop - youth and elders) ...
not just one Order ... modeling the baptismal ministry of us all, gather to deliberate on matters of importance to the Church?
- Will the 2008 Lambeth Planners model "circular leadership" as they design the next Lambeth Conference?
These are my prayers and hopes. This is my vision. Scripture challenges us to be "dreamers" and "visionaries".
Let us dare to "dream of a new church" (Bishop Wesley Friesdorff, Diocese of Nevada).
Let us remember to uphold in prayer, our bishops in the coming weeks, months and years. The deliberations at Lambeth caused much
pain. Bishops around the Communion are polarized. The people they shephed share that pain and polarity. Ours is a hurting church.
What the weekly formal "Lundi-Lambeth" prayer offereings now draw to a close as this Lambeth Conference draws to a close,
let us in our own ways, connect in prayer each Monday (Lundi), for the bishops of our chruch. That way, "Lundi-Lambeth"
prayer offerings will continue for the next decade. And, when God willing the Lambeth Conference returns in 2008, I will sit at
my laptop (come to think of it, in ten years from now, the laptop could easily
be obsolete) or whatever is the current communication link of the time, and offer weekly "Lundi-Lambeth" prayer offerings.
Until 2008 then, may you and this Church we love, be held "in the palm of God's Hand."
Blessings. June Maffin, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Weeping God,
How you must ache for your Church which now faces an uncertain future. How you must ache for your children, our bishops, who debated at
such length at Lambeth, some speaking words of judgment, malice and scorn. How you must ache for your children who remained at home and
read press releases, personal reflections, editorials, pastoral letters from their bishops, etc., with an ever-increasing sense of anxiety
about the future of their Church.
Many have been praying, O God--praying for your peace to permeate the discussions; praying that rhetoric would be set aside and compassion,
openness and reconciliation would happen; praying that whatever the outcome of the deliberations, the world would look and marvel at the
ability of our bishops to love one another.
Some of us have cried "How long, O Lord, how long." Some what whispered "Let this cup be taken from me." Some continue
to remember, though dimly, that You are with us, even "in the valley of the shadow of death." Help us to be a people of hope,
O God. Help us to be a peole who continue to look to You for direction. Help us to be a people who are faithful to your call to "love
one another."
There is a kaleidoscopice tumbling of emotions that many are feeling at this time. May your Holy Spirit bring healing, bring reconciliation,
bring peace to your Church. Equip us to bear no resentment, exhibit no triumphalistic behavior, manifest no superiority. Enable us to wrok
through our pain, move beyond our woundedness and become the people You would have us be.
May we remember to pray for all bishops, regardless of their position on the divisive issue of sexuality. As they depart Lambeth, may each
return home safely, may they be renewed in their call to the episcopate, be restored in their hope for the Anglican Communion and energized
for the ministry that will be awaiting them on their return. And, in the struggle, may they find your giftrs of courage, strength and joy.
Dear Patient God, the Church will survive--through us. May we have the desire to work together; may we have the tenacity to endure; may
we have the love of Christ to bind us together.
When we gather again in ten years, may your Church be stronger than it now is; may we be a Church that expresses itself as an embodiment
of your love; and may we be seen by the world around us as a peopl who not only speak words of forgiveness and reconciliation, but truly
are people who forgive and reconcile. All this we ask in the name of your precious Son. Amen.
3 August 1998
| A silent all-night vigil let by Jean Vanier this past Thursday offered bishops, spouses and staff of
the Lambeth Conference a recess from their busy-ness. Powerfully understated, the Vigil with its service of foot-washing, served as
a God-given opportunity at a critical moment of the Conference just before issues that are anticipated to cause the most controversy
and dissension will be addressed. Today's Lundi-Lambeth prayer offering draws upon the foot-washing image of the Vigil. |
Reconciling God,
As bishops enter into the issue-oriented, final phase of the Lambeth Conference, bring to mind faces, the faces of those whose feet they
washed, the faces of those who washed their feet in Thursday's Vigil, the faces of those they have encountered in the past two and a half
weeks.
May these faces be remembered as bishops speak to the pressing issues. May they remember the example Jesus set for disciples (of long-ago
and of today) in the humble and simple act of footwashing, embracing the conviction that 'strength and growth in the life of the kingdom
of God come not by power, authority or even miracle, but by such lowly service.'
May there be no posturing, no grandstanding, no guilt-laden pronouncements, no defensiveness, no disrespect, no impoliteness, no condescension,
no passive-aggressive behavior, no judgment and no biting comments in the discussions.
Instead, may there be moments of holy listening, grace-filled comments, expressions of love and prayerful posture throughout the deliberations
as each remembers whose servant they are by following the example of Christ in their actions, thoughts and spoken words.
May your Love so permeate the discussions, that the bishops experience your reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing, becoming your channel
of hope among the people You have called them to serve in their home dioceses. For this, and all things O God, we give you thanks. Amen.
[Quote: Book of Alternative Services - Maundy Thursday liturgy]
27 July 1998
As I sit before the computer listening for God's Voice to help with the creation of this week's Lundi-Lambeth
prayer, I see the image of a mirror--a mirror that reflects what is happening at La mbeth to the rest of the world.
I wonder what is being seen beyond the boundaries of Lambeth as the world looks at the happenings of this Conference. Is the Face
of God seen? Does the world-other-than-Lambeth see the face of divine Love in action?
There's a little song I've taught children in the Children's Time over the years called "Day by Day" (author unknown). It,
and the mirror image, provide the basis for today's Lundi-Lambeth prayer. |
"Mirroring God, in Whose Face we see pure forgiveness, holy compassion, unconditional love, infinite patience,
Empower the bishops gathered at Lambeth to see that their words and actions reflect You to the rest of the world. In their verbal expressions,
gestures and activities, may they mirror your loving concern for all persons: the homeless, the marginalized, the poor, the fearful, the
homosexual, the doubter, the lonely, the persecuted, the isolated, the rejected, the burdened, the sick, the aged, the young, the dying,
and those in pain.
As each bishop looks at the face of their brother and sister bishops--may they see your Face reflected back to them. As the world looks
at Lambeth--may it see the Face of God. Guide, O God, these your servants, so that In the coming weeks, their words and actions expressed
at Lambeth (with one another, with the media, with the Secretariat, with the ACO staff members, with their own staff, with the translators
and with the tourists) will be your mirror beyond Lambeth so that the world may "see You more clearly, follow more nearly, love You
more dearly, day by day." Amen.
20 July 1998
Welcoming God,
Through the waters of holy baptism, You welcome each one of us, precious in
your sight, to 'live in the power of (your) resurrection'.
We thank you, O God, for this holy welcome which unites sisters and brothers in Christ and brings bishops in your Church together at Lambeth
in conversation, in fellowship, in worship, in study and in prayer.
May our bishops be reminded of your welcome to the 'new life of grace' through baptism, and be renewed with the 'gift of joy and wonder
in all your works' ... through the laughter and smile of a child ... the brilliant colours of a peacock's tail, the industriousness of an
ant ... the grace of a butterfly ... the agility of a gymnast ... the speed of cyberspace communication ... the unconditional love of a
family pet ... the gentleness of lovers ... the subtle fragrance of a rose ... the miracle of birth ... and in this gathering of bishops
at Lambeth from all parts of the Anglican
Communion.
May their hearts welcome those who are 'other'. May their bodies express
'welcome' with wide-open smiles, warm embraces, respectful bows from the
waist and outstretched hands of greeting. And may they experience your
'welcome' in the eyes of those they meet.
Blessed are You, our strength, our song, our joy and our salvation. Amen.
13 July 1998
Life-Giving God,
Our individual prayers may not seem like much in the scheme of your Plan. Then again, neither does one little drop
of water, seem like much, by itself. But we know that when droplets of water are put together, great things can happen--parched dry crops
become nourished by life-giving rain, flowing rivers abound with salmon, glistening snowflakes remind us of our individual uniquenesses,
magnificent waterfalls bring forth powerful energy, new life emerges from the waters of baptism.
If these can result when tiny droplets of water come together, it is awe-inspiring to realize what You, O God, can do with tiny droplets
of prayers offered by those around the globe who are praying for the Lambeth Conference which begins this Saturday.
We, your daughters and sons living in various parts of this planet, ask you to transform our individual prayers into cascading waterfalls
of healing for the Anglican Communion.
May parched and dry theological discussions be watered by your living Word.
May rivers of conversation flow freely, gently and lovingly among the Bishops gathered at Lambeth.
May your servant, Archbishop Carey, be sustained with waters of life-giving energy as he leads the Conference.
May we, your Church, anticipate great and wonderful (wonder-filled) results of this gathering of women and men bishops and not focus on
the controversies, friction and divisions.
May our bishops be blessed with traveling mercies and be brought safely to the shores of the UK.
May all involved in the Lambeth Conference--participants, volunteers, staff, visitors, intercessors--drink from the well of your love which sustains, encourages,
comforts and connects us in the Spirit.
And may 'new life' emerge from the waters of Lambeth for us all.
'Glory to God, whose power working in us, can do more than we can ask or imagine!' Amen.
6 July 1998
| The Lambeth Conference begins in just thirteen days. In less than two weeks, bishops from every part
of the Anglican worldwide Communion will gather in the UK to pray, debate, listen, share in Biblical study and network. Lots of words
will be spoken in the open forums, in small group discussions and in one-on-one-conversations. How will the Bishops speak? Will it
be from the depth of their soul? Will it be from a sense of what their home diocese would have them say? Will it be what they think
they "should" say? Will their words be loving and grace-filled? |
Loving and Listening God, we know only too well from personal experience in our daily lives and from the history of
the Church
- that words can wound
- that words can bring division
- that words can cause confusion
But we also know
- that words can heal
- that words can bring reconciliation
- that your Word can breathe hope into seemingly-hopeless situations.
Enable, O God, the conversations of our bishops to be gracious, loving and life-giving. Encourage each bishop to listen with openness to
your Word beneath the words. May the thoughts and words of our bishops be holy and acceptable in Your sight.
And may we who participate in the Lambeth Conference from afar by our prayers likewise think and speak words that are holy and acceptable
in your sight This we ask in the precious name of the One who came as Word amongst us. Amen. |
