Come, Holy Spirit! You Are Welcome Here!

This image was captured while driving though the Siksika community on our way home from Okotoks a few days ago. It has stirred up this Anglican’s charismatic heart. What a wonderful sight it was! I wonder if the Anglicans there had anything to do with it. I hope so. He is welcome where I live and in my church, too. Some praying along these lines would be appropriate, methinks, so I thought I’d share my latest Holy Spirit in the prayer books piece from the latest issue of ARM Canada’s magazine, Taste and See…

Did you know that there is a whole litany dedicated to invoking the presence of the Holy Spirit in The Book of Alternative Services? It’s on page 123. As I look at it again, I wonder why, if I take being charismatic seriously, I wouldn’t be praying this daily—perhaps even hourly! It would be as easy as 1-2-3, wouldn’t it? 

“Come, Holy Spirit” it says. Repeatedly. Ten times! Amen to that. 

In each petition, it describes one of the Holy Spirit’s activities or properties: creator (Gen1.2), counsellor or helper (John14.16, 26, 15.26, 16.7), power from on high (Lk1.35, 24.49, Acts1.8), breath of God (Job33.4, John20.22), wisdom and truth (Eph1.17, John14.17, 26, 15.26, 16.7 & 13). Come, Holy Spirit, with all those attributes, indeed!

Here are the five petitions associated with these:

1. Renew the face of the earth

When I pray this I think of revival and all the great awakenings The LORD has wrought through the ages—of hearts strangely warmed, repentance, lives lived in Scriptural holiness, justice in the marketplace and full churches. Thoroughly prayer-worthy. 

2. Touch our lips that we may proclaim your word

Most of us Anglicans need to be a little touched in this way—considerably more than we are, actually. I know, I know; St Francis said share the gospel always and in every way—if necessary, use words. Well, words, I suspect, are necessary more often than we would like (Ro10.14). Try this prayer and as the Holy Spirit touches your lips write down and memorize a simple, Christian-ese free statement of why Jesus and your church is important to you then pray and watch for opportunities to share it (1Pet3.15) with the people in your life who have not yet tasted and seen how good The LORD is. It doesn’t have to be theological or literary. Just something honest and in your own words, using the word “Jesus” at least once, describing how you have been blessed and the hope you enjoy because of his presence in your life. 

3. Make us agents of peace and ministers of wholeness

Being Spirit-filled certainly helps with this (Gal5.22-23). Agents of peace and ministers of wholeness are agents of reconciliation (2Cor5.18-20). By the way they behave, they encourage and help people to be reconciled with God and with one another. 

4. Give life to the dry bones of this exiled age, and make us a living people, holy and free

The truth is, “this fragile earth, our island home” (Eucharistic Prayer 4, BAS, p201) is a temporary one. We are away from The LORD (2Cor5.6-10), exiled for now and so our bones dry out and we die. But resurrection is coming—a home-coming (John14.1-6, Heb11.14-16) and a new city (Heb11.10). There is Holy “sauce” for these dry bones of ours that enliven us, sanctify us and set us free from sin and death. Only Jesus has the recipe. 

5. Strengthen us in the risk of faith

R-I-S-K is how faith is spelled someone said. R-I-S-K Is the only way to experience any assurance of things hoped for and to be convinced of things I haven’t yet seen with my own eyes. 

Goethe, the 18th century German writer, once wrote: “The dangers of life are many and safety is one of them.” This prayer will help us to avoid playing it safe. Aslan, wrote CS Lewis, is good, but he is not safe. Neither should we be. Ours is to step out in faith and let the Holy Spirited winds of God blow through our hair. 

In his book, Seeking Spirituality: Guidelines for Christian Spirituality for the Twenty-First Century (Hodder & Stoughton: 1998), Fr Ronald Rolheiser wrote about how Paul, after he had been knocked over and heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus,

Got up off the ground and walked into his ecclesial future “with his eyes open, seeing nothing” (Acts9.8)—which is a marvelous description of all of us on the day when we made our commitments in marriage, parenthood, priesthood, religious life, or any other deep vocation, we stared ahead into the future with our eyes wide open, seeing nothing, and walked, probably with some enthusiasm, into that future. (pp118-119)

And May The LORD so strengthen me and you that we may forgo mere safety and set out on the R-I-S-K-y road with our eyes front, wide open and looking for adventure. 

O, and one more thing. I’d add the following petition: 

Come, Holy Spirit, gift giver, may we earnestly desire the manifestation of your Spirit in all your spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy. 

Come, Holy Spirit, come. 

R-I-S-K. Easy as 1-2-3. Amen and amen!

Gene+

PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS

The latest in The Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books series for Taste and See… magazine. 

There is a rich selection of PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS in The Book of Common Prayer beginning on page 37. Praying through them one a day is a good way to familiarize yourself with them. You’ll find prayers and phrases which will help and inform your daily prayers and you’ll pray for things you might not have thought to pray as you go. We continue our survey of references to the Holy Spirit in our prayer books in this section of the BCP. 

6. For Missionary Societies

When was the last time you prayed for a Missionary Society, or for a Synod, or Theological Students? Have you ever prayed for any of them in your personal prayers? I’ve prayed for Synods because I’ve been involved in many of them. But I have to confess, I haven’t prayed for Missionary Societies since the last time I worked through the PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p37. Which is one of the good things about using a prayer bookt in ten  to pray. One is led to pray for things one might neglect otherwise. Things like Missionary Societies in prayer number six on page 42: 

Send down the grace of thy Holy Spirit upon thy people, and grant that they may give cheerfully of their substance for the evangelizing of the world.

What is the grace of the Holy Spirit? The grace He sends is in all He provides—the Gifts, the Fruits and always the Truth in Jesus. Although the Holy Spirit is The Comforter, His grace brings more than just comfort. As James Ryle says, grace is God’s empowering presence to be who He made us to be, and to do what He calls us to do. Dallas Willard describes grace as that which empowers us to be able to do what we are unable to do on our own. 

And what will this grace empower us to do in particular? “Give cheerfully of my substance for the evangelizing of the world.” Give cheerfully? Oh. A great prayer for “they” who are not me. But in praying it, I am forced to face up to the fact that “they” includes me. Sigh. So having the Holy Spirit sent down upon me is not just about speaking in tongues and prophesying and falling over and all that fun stuff. It’s also about giving cheerfully of my substance—who I am and what holds me together and makes me me, what I earn and have been given. Things easily thought of as mine. That doesn’t sound very charismatic!

And here’s another disturbing thought. This Holy Spirit prompted cheerful giving is from my substance, not God’s. In other words, the way the Holy Spirit has convicted me, is that my tithe is God’s in the first place. Not mine, His. So the giving in this prayer must come from my substance after the tithe and cheerfully! It is an offering over and above my tithe “for the evangelizing of the world”! As I pray through this prayer and write I realize that, at the moment, none of my regular offerings go specifically to missionary societies and evangelization. Things that make me go, “Hmmm!?!?”

7. For General, Provincial or Diocesan Synods

We have most significant Synod coming up in July next year. General Synod 2019 will include second reading of the resolution to change the Anglican Church of Canada’s doctrine on marriage. Prayer number seven, which also begins on page 42, For General, Provincial or Diocesan Synods is another excellent BCP Holy Ghost prayer for such a gathering. 

Save its members from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe so to direct, govern, and sanctify them in their deliberations by thy Holy Spirit, that through thy blessing the Gospel of Christ may be faithfully preached and obeyed, the order and discipline of thy Church maintained, and the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour enlarged and extended.

If ever there was a time when our Church needed to be directed, governed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit as synod members deliberate, it will be in Vancouver in July 2019. 

As you pray this prayer, consider how and where the Holy Spirit always directs God’s people—always to the Truth that is found in Jesus (John 14.17, 15.26, 16.13, 17.17, Eph 4.21) and never away from Jesus, his teaching and example. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct synod members ever and only to Jesus and his teaching on marriage and all other matters before General Synod 2019. 

Pray that the Holy Spirit will also govern us all—the synod members in their deliberation and all of us in our behavior and response to their decisions. Examples of the Holy Spirit’s governance are the commandments Jesus made through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.2) and Paul being prevented from doing certain things by the Holy Spirit. For example, he was forbidden to speak in Asia and not allowed to go to Bithynia (Acts 16.6-7) and he was “constrained by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem even when he was anxious as to what might happen to him there (Acts 20.22-23). The Holy Spirit guides and governs by saying go ahead, go here or go there and by saying don’t go. 

Pray also that the Holy Spirit will sanctify—set apart as holy—the synod members for their task. That their motives and decisions will be holy and pure and “sanctified in the truth” of God’s word (John 17.17) which is, of course, the work of “the Spirit of truth” (John14.17, 15.26, 16.13) and that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we do not “ordain” in our “Rites or Ceremonies” any thing that is “contrary to God’s Word written” (Article XX. Of the Authority of the Church, BCP p706). 

A Note on Praying Out of Books

I have heard some say that praying “in The Spirit” can’t be done from books. I used to think it myself. I am now convinced that praying “in The Spirit” can be done with and without books. I also believe there is a fair amount of praying with and without books which is not “in the Spirit.” It is a matter of the heart and of The LORD’s leading. Sometimes one of my spontaneous prayers for someone or something is enriched by a phrase or an idea which comes from a Prayer Book prayer I use regularly. For example, I will often pray that The LORD will “visit their homes and drive from them all the snares of the enemy” and “preserve us in peace” (from COMPLINE, BCP 726) and that The LORD “will give thine angels charge over them, and defend them from all dangers of body and soul” (from a Prayer for Home and Loved Ones, BCP 633). I don’t see how I could improve on those Intercessory sentiments. It’s exactly what I would like The LORD to do from the heart and earnestly. 

Using the Prayer Books systematically in as tools for prayer will have praying for things you wouldn’t necessarily have thought of on your own and will improve your prayer vocabulary. 

Gene+

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Something to Cling To: the Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books Part 10

The following was published in the Spring 2018 edition of Anglicans for Renewal magazine. To subscribe visit http://armcanada.org/.

This is number ten in our Anglicans for Renewal Holy Spirit in our Prayer Books series. The more I dig into these brilliant tools for prayer discovering and enjoying their Holy Ghost references the more I am convinced that, if you and I would just take them up and wield them faith, our strength in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Eph 6.10) would increase exponentially. We need that kind of strength because the fact is we “do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6.12). This wrestling goes on in our relationships, how we entertain ourselves, what we do with our money, how we do church—in our worship, vestries, councils, synods and pastoral care—in every aspect of our parish and personal lives. 

To pray the Daily Offices is to put on the whole armour of God. As I simply “take them up and wield them in faith” the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, does his supernatural thing enabling me to fasten the belt of truth around myself securely and properly. The righteousness which becomes a truly protective spiritual breastplate becomes clear. He provides me with the sensible shoes of the Holy Ghost, the shield of faith, the ultimate and eternal safety helmet, and the lectionary has me reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting the word of God, which is “the sword of the Spirit.” Praying the Daily Office keeps me “praying at all times in the Spirit” (Eph 6.14-18). 

The Canadian Book of Common Prayer was my introduction to Anglican daily prayer back in the 80s. I prayed through it thoroughly. THE ORDER FOR MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER DAILY TO BE SAID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PRAYERS AT MID-DAY, THE LITANY, the PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, the FORMS OF PRAYER TO BE USED IN FAMILIES. I prayed them all. Systematically. All 46+9 of the PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. I read through the lectionary. I loved it. As a result, I got to know it pretty well. So can you, and as you do, you will find it a rich Spirit filled source of prayer for all circumstances. 

When The Book of Alternative Services came on the scene, I explored the Offices and prayers in it, too. Back then I was an ordinary, if new, Anglican with a family and a job. I don’t remember it being particularly difficult to find the time to pray. I suspect that, with the Lord’s help, we are all able to find time for what is important to us. 

When I do make the time to pray and make the effort to pay attention during Sunday liturgies charismatic treats pop up when I least expect them. For example, Litany 7 in The Book of Alternative Services in which one of the petitions is this: 

For all who have consecrated their lives to the kingdom of God, and for all struggling to follow the way of Christ, let us ask the gifts of the Spirit.

Lord, hear and have mercy. 

It is all too easy to breeze on past this charismatic treat. Let’s take a moment here to unpack it. If we were baptised as infants, our parents first consecrated our lives to the kingdom of God. We then consecrated them ourselves when we were confirmed. We continue to consecrate and re-consecrate ourselves day by day, Sunday by Sunday, as we struggle (wrestle) to follow the way of Christ as we live our lives and as we pray, read and listen to Scripture and as we enjoy the feeding our souls in the Holy Eucharist. What do we need so we might succeed in the struggle according to this petition? The charismatic gifts of the Spirit—manifestations of the Spirit given to each of us for the common good (1 Cor 12.7). Here they are again: 

🔥Words of wisdom

 🔥Words of knowledge

 🔥Faith

 🔥Gifts of healing

 🔥The working of miracles

 🔥Prophecy

 🔥The ability to distinguish between spirits

 🔥Various kinds of tongues

 🔥The interpretation of tongues

Not many Anglicans, or Christians of other denominations, are experiencing any of those very often, if ever. Our devotional lives and our worship are the poorer for it. So pray. Pray asking for the Lord to release the gifts of the Spirit anew. Pray that these gifts will become an obvious and vibrant part of our worship and devotional landscape. Use Litany 7 (BAS p116), or this particular petition, in your daily prayers. Work through all the Litanies every now and then. Not only will they help you focus your prayers as you pray through the things you are particularly concerned about, but I find they also remind me of things I’d forgotten to pray about. 

I’m fond of one of Sister Monica Joan’s sayings in Call the Midwife as she struggled with her dementia, 

It doesn’t matter how arrayed my mind is, or how spiritually dry I am feeling. If I just take hold of the rope, the Daily Office rites will pick me up and carry me along. As I surrender myself to the words of the liturgy and the Scriptures, they will accomplish in me what the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ purposes. They will succeed in the things for which he sent them (Isa 55.11). I don’t have to be holy, or clever, or erudite or eloquent, all I have to do is take hold of the rope. 

I cling happily still. I hope you can take a hold of the rope, too. 

Gene+

The Litany: the Holy Spirit in the Prayer Book—Part 9

From the Fall 2017 edition of Anglicans for Renewal Canada magazine. Subscribe to a print or digital version here. 

On page 30 of our Book of Common Prayer (BCP) you will find THE LITANY which is five pages of prayerful goodness. If ever there was a prayer that covers all the bases, that prays up one side and down the other of the Christian life, it is THE LITANY, “Which may be sung or said before the Holy Communion;” according to the BCP rubrics, “or after the Creed at Morning or Evening Prayer, instead of the remaining part of the Service; or as a separate service, with Hymns, a Psalm, a Lesson, the Creed, and a Sermon, at the discretion of the Minister.” I’m sad to say, other than using it (there is a Book of Alternative Services version, too—p138) as the Intercessions or Prayers of the People on the First Sundays of Lent and Advent on a few occasions, I’ve never experienced or used THE LITANY in that way, or as the rubrics also require, “The Litany should always be used at least once a month on a Sunday, and is commended for use on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Rogation Days.”

SANCTIFIER OF THE FAITHFUL 

The first reference to the Holy Ghost in THE LITANY comes in the opening thoroughly Trinitarian invocation of Divine Mercy upon us all. 

O God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful: have mercy upon us.

Indeed! It is the Holy Spirit, the promised Helper, Comforter, Advocate and Guide who sanctifies—sets apart, makes holy—and is an agent of God’s great mercy. How does he sanctify us? He teaches us all things and brings to our remembrance all that Jesus said (John 14.26) The more we learn and remember, the holier we can be. 

We do need to engage, however. Some people can do it extemporaneously. They are able to worship, read Scripture daily and to pray, Holy Spirit led, in such a way as to cover all the necessary bases and without focussing too much on their own concerns and biases. I’m not one of them. I need some form of Prayer Book and lectionary framework to take me out of myself and into the vast and divine reaches of the sanctification that only comes from the barely apprehensible mystery who is the Triune God. Using that framework the Holy Spirit exposes me to all of Scripture, not just the pieces I enjoy and he teaches me and brings Jesus to my remembrance throughout because there is the reading from one of the gospels every single day. I know how easy it would be for me to miss him if I were to run down the bunny trails of my own self absorption. 

GOOD LORD, DELIVER US

And so, having invoked the glorious Trinity, we pray that God will not remember our sins, nor those of our forefathers, and that we will be spared their toxic effects. It would be easy to slide on by the reference to our forefathers as being a mere antiquated formality. But it is one of the many brilliant details to be found in Prayer Book prayer and very much worth a pause. Almost all of us labour to some extent under the toxic effects of the sin of our families of origin—generational sin, some call it—such as idolatry, sexual sin, rebellion, addictions, broken relationships. I know I do. And I know that I, unwittingly, have passed that toxicity on to my children. THE LITANY reminds me to pray for The LORD, in his mercy, to defuse any sinful effects coming down through my family which entangle me and that I may be passing on to my children—thus enabling the Holy Spirit's sanctifying and life-giving work.  

SENT

We then prayerfully recite the things that The Father did to deliver us (p31) including 

By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; by thy sending of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was sent to fill us with all the fullness of God as he teaches and reminds us of Jesus and as he helps and empowers us to be faithful, effective witnesses of the Resurrection. The Holy Spirit was sent by The Father and so are we. In THE LITANY we also pray:

To send forth labourers into thy harvest; to prosper their work by thy Holy Spirit; to make thy saving health known unto all nations; and to hasten thy kingdom, 

We beseech thee, good Lord. (BCP, p32)

Be honest. Who still prays that regularly? Yet Jesus himself  exhorts his disciples to pray it and to pray it earnestly (Mt 9.37, Lk 10.2). There is work to be done and a key component of that work is to pray a prayer that Jesus specifically called his disciples to pray. The faithful, regular and frequent use of such tools for prayer provided by the Prayer Books as THE LITANY is a good way of getting the job done. And if we pray what Jesus asks us to pray in this way, will our Heavenly Father not give the Holy Spirit to prosper our work, make his saving health and faith known to the nations and hasten the coming of his kingdom (Lk 11.13)? 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The good news is that LORD promises not to leave us helpless orphans in this endeavour. THE LITANY invokes his good grace:

To give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, 

We beseech thee, good Lord. (BCP, p33)

“Thy people” is us. His Church. God’s grace, says James Ryle, is his empowering presence to be who he made us to be and to do what he calls us to do. Dallas Willard writes that God’s grace enables us to do things that we are not able to do on our own—things like pray and read the Scriptures every day, to hear them with the ears of our hearts, receive them with that pure affection (a lovely prayer book phrase), and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5.22)—surely the very best way to make the Father’s saving health known to all nations and to hasten the coming of his kingdom!

TRUE REPENTANCE

As THE LITANY draws to a close we ask The LORD to forgive those who wish us harm and, 

To give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligence, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy Word.

We beseech thee, good Lord. (BCP, p34)

Sin, negligence and ignorances—not much can escape that matrix. More grace. More Holy Spirit. To amend our lives according to God’s living-and-active (Heb 4.12), not-going-back-to-him-empty, accomplishing-his-purpose, succeeding-in-the-things-for-which-he-sent-it (Isa 55.11) and holy Word. 

FOR BUILDING UP THE CHURCH

What we’re praying for in all the above is for the Holy Spirit to be made manifest—made obvious, demonstrated—as the faithful are sanctified; as all come to know that the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father; as the work of the harvest labourers prospers; and as the fruit of the Spirit and grace abound. 

And all for building up the church (1 Cor 14.12). Amen. 

Gene+

The Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books: Part 6—The Benedictus

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Luke's Gospel is especially rich with references to the Holy Spirit particularly in the story of the miraculous events leading to Jesus' birth. The very first one is about John the Baptist being filled with the Holy Spirit before he was even born (Lk 1.15). The second is about another baby. The angel Gabriel tells the young woman, Mary, that she was about to be miraculously pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Lk 1.35). The third is to do with John's mother, Elizabeth, also miraculously pregnant, but in her old age and filled with the Holy Spirit, as she greeted Mary, the mother of Jesus, after Spirit-filled as yet unborn John leaped in her womb (Lk 1.41). The fourth reference is to John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, also filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk 1.67) who prompts him to prophesy over his newborn son. 

Prophecy is one of the charismatic, manifestation Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12.10) and the higher, spiritual Gift which, according to Paul, ought to be "earnestly" and "especially" desired (1 Cor 12.31, 14.1, 39). Zechariah' inspired utterance is now known as the Benedictus (Benedictus, is simply the first word of the passage, "Blessed," in Latin), or Song of Zechariah, which features in Morning Prayer after the second reading every day in The Book of Common Prayer (p9) and is one of the optional canticles which may follow the readings in The Book of Alternative Service version of Morning Prayer (p88). Here is the BAS version: 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * 

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, * 

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old, 

that he would save us from our enemies, * 

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers * 

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *

to set us free from the hands of our enemies, 

free to worship him without fear, * 

holy and righteous in his sight 

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet 

of the Most High, * 

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, 

to give his people knowledge of salvation * 

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *

the dawn from on high shall break upon us, 

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow 

of death, * 

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

(Luke 1.68–79)

I suspect that those who pray the morning office frequently, especially the BCP version, can develop such a comfortable familiarity with this canticle that its truly "charismatic" nature is lost. These are Zechariah's very first words after having been rendered mute for more than nine months because he failed to believe the angel Gabriel's foretelling of John's birth (Lk 1.20). 

The Benedictus is an amazing, miraculous Holy Ghost inspired utterance. God himself is glorified in the very first words. Holy Scripture, God's promises and the history of salvation are affirmed in the references to Abraham, David, the holy prophets and God's holy covenant with his people. It has been a part of the Church's prayer for nearly two thousand years. There is no question that the Church has been built up (1 Cor 14.5) by Zechariah's utterance. 

"The one who prophesies," writes Paul, "speaks to people for their upbuilding (strengthening) and encouragement and consolation (comfort)" (1 Cor 14.3). The Holy Spirit spoke through Zechariah to bless those who heard him that joyful day and to bless the Church ever since. There are, indeed, strengthening, encouraging and comforting words of blessing here. We are reminded that we have been set free, given a mighty Saviour, saved from our enemies and the hands of all who hate us, freed to worship without fear, made holy and righteous, as the dawn from on high breaks upon us and guides us into the way of peace. The Benedictus clearly meets Paul's 1 Corinthians 14 strengthening, encouraging and comforting criteria for trustworthy prophecy.

There is a forthtelling word about John, Zechariah and Elizabeth's miraculous new baby son, too. He will be a prophet of the Most High, going before the Lord to prepare his way and giving people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. A true and God-breathed word for baby John and a point of application for you and me, too. I believe that, as witnesses of the Resurrection, you and I are called to do the same—to prepare the way of the Lord into the hearts of those who have not yet come to saving faith in Jesus by loving them with the tender compassion of God. Praying for them systematically, repeatedly and without losing heart will also prepare the Lord's way into their hearts so they, too, may gain knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, as in God's tender compassion, the dawn from on high breaks upon them, shining on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and guiding their feet into the way of peace. What a wonderful thing to pray for someone, what a wonderful task, what a wonderful, fruitful and Holy Spirited prophetic utterance. 

The Benedictus, a true Holy Spirit inspired prothetic word, is a key part of Anglican Morning Prayer. It has become a rich, evocative spoken song of praise and worship, a powerful prayer, and is very much worth repeating daily in Morning Prayer. 

Gene+

The Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books: Part 5 in the Fall 2016 issue of Anglicans for Renewal

Getting good at something means being prepared to do it over and over again, to the point of boredom and then beyond. Practice makes perfect, the saying goes. Musicians do it. Dancers, basketball players and golfers do it. Olympians do it—endlessly (as I write they are competing in Rio). Practising the faith is no exception.

Praying needs repetition. Holy Scripture requires it. Jesus told the parable of the Persistent Widow to the effect that we ought always to pray and not lose heart (Lk 18.1). Be constant in prayer (Ro 12.12), Paul adds, continuing steadfastly (Col 4.2), without ceasing (1 Thes 5.17) and at all times in the Spirit (Eph 6.18). This is exactly what our prayer books are designed to do for us. Praying the offices keeps our praying constant, continuing, ceaseless, repeatedly and in the Spirit.

Needing It

Consider this versicle (isn’t that a lovely word—like something tasty and on a stick) and response in The Book of Common Prayer, THE ORDER FOR MORNING and EVENING PRAYER DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR both, for example:

O God, make clean our hearts within us; And take not thy Holy Spirit from us (p11 & 23).

Two things to note about this prayer. First, I am reminded that God can take and has taken his Spirit away from someone with whom he is displeased; King Saul for example (1 Sam 16.14). If Saul, the Lord's anointed, was capable of acting in ways that brought about such dire consequences, so am I.

Second, I need the Holy Spirit. So do you. The Prayer Books turn our need into a prayer. So I pray, earnestly, and ask God not to take the Holy Spirit from me so that he will keep me on track and warn me when I'm following too much the devices and desires of my own heart (BCP, p4 & 19).

A Prayer for the Queen’ s Majesty

King Saul needed the Holy Spirit, you and I need the Holy Spirit, so does the Queen. "Replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit," we pray, "that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts" (BCP, p12).

What is the grace of the Holy Spirit and why would Queen Elizabeth need it? Grace is God’s empowering presence to be who he made her to be and to do what he calls her to do. Queen Elizabeth has been a royal and faithful witness for God and the Church throughout her long reign. By association, we can pray the same Holy Spirit replenishment for our federal, provincial and local governments, all of whom govern on her behalf.

I like and frequently pray the alternative Prayer for the Queen and the Commonwealth that follows. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned, I can add my heartfelt “Amen!” to the prayer for those “set in authority under her; that they may order all things in wisdom, righteousness, and peace, to the honour of thy holy Name, and the good of thy Church and people.” It covers all the bases. When God’s holy Name is honoured, good things happen for the Church and all people, whoever they are and whatever they believe, whether they know it, or not.

And speaking of people…

A Prayer for the Clergy and People

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our Bishops and Clergy, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ (BCP, p13).

There it is again. The healthful Spirit of grace which empowers you along with the Bishops and Clergy to be who he made us to be and to do what he calls us to do. That healthful Spirit comes with Gifts and Fruit—Gifts which empower us to be more than we know how to be and do more than we know how to do, and Fruit for the good of all.

A Prayer for all Conditions of Men (and Women)

More especially we pray for the good estate of the Catholic Church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. (BCP, p14)

If we want our Church to enjoy a “good estate” it needs to be guided and governed by the good and Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, remind us of all that Jesus said (John 14.26), bear witness about Jesus (John 15.26) and convict us concerning sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16.8). The Holy Spirit will guide and govern us as to what’s what with Jesus.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not only, or even mainly, about spectacular manifestations of the Spirit—miracles, signs and wonders—although they can be fun and fruitful, it is about ordinary Christians (including Anglican ones) like you and me just knuckling down in worship, prayer and service to be who God made us to be and to do what he calls us to do. Day after day after day. Amen.

I write what I write in the spirit of the following:

A General Thanksgiving 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, To whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. (BCP, p15)

2 Corinthians 13. 14.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. (BCP, p15)

Gene+

The Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books: Part 4

This was published in the Summer 2016 issue of Anglicans for Renewal, the Anglican Renewal Ministries Canada magazine—follow the link the ARM Office to subscribe here. 

So far we have seen that the Holy Spirit is truly present and recorded in our foundation documents, in daily prayer, Baptism and Confirmation in both The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and The Book of Alternative Services (BAS). The Holy Spirit brings us God’s love and power. He also sanctifies, regenerates, strengthens, fills, sustains, seals and renews us, more and more, and daily.

Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) Canada promotes the Anglican Prayer Book tradition of prayer, both private and corporate. Holy Spirit filled prayer books ensure that all the important devotional bases are covered: confession, worship, intercession, petition and Scripture reading. Holy Spirit filled people, even introverted Anglicans, faithfully and systematically praying the words in Holy Spirit filled and inspired prayer books cannot but be a powerful, spiritual force to be reckoned with. They are The Church of Jesus Christ at prayer.

Absolutely

The Holy Spirit’s power and presence are consistently invoked. Even, for example, in the Prayer of Absolution, in the Orders for Morning and Evening Prayer “DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR” the priest prays that Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, would “grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord” (The Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Book Centre, 1962, pp 5 & 20). The benefits of true repentance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives are amazing: the things we do please God, our lives become pure and holy and our final destination is “his eternal joy.” What could be better?

Glory Be…

Then we pray the Lord's Prayer, ask the Lord to open our lips so we can praise him, and to save and help us before giving God glory in a brief declarative statement of worship—a worship “capsule” that can be used anywhere, no matter whether you’re alone or with someone else, even when you don’t have a band or organ handy. It’s like a mini hymn or worship song, only without music:

GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (BCP, p6)

This deceptively short, but profound, hymn is then repeated after the VENITE and BENEDICTUS in MORNING PRAYER and the MAGNIFICAT and NUNC DIMITTIS in EVENING PRAYER. We respond to inspired words of Holy Scripture with properly Trinitarian worship. The Holy Ghost/Spirit is worshipped and glorified along with the Father and the Son.

It is all too easy to say it routinely and without thinking, of course, just as I am likely to do with my prayer ending amens. It’s one of the dangers of liturgical worship. The words become familiar as we wear our habitual path through them day by day or week by week. They become part of what critics call “empty ritual.” The solution is to fill them by applying my heart every time I read, say or sing them. Worship can be hearty even with no music or in silence. The Helper (John 14.16) himself helps with that.

The BAS has these worship capsules, too. I prefer the BCP version with its “world without end.” It just seems to roll off the tongue more smoothly, but either works. God is verbally worshipped and glorified in Three Persons.

Te Deum 

As we continue through THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR in the BCP, we come to TE DEUM LAUDAMUS and

The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee, The Father, of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true, and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. (BCP, p8)

Not Scripture, but inspired nonetheless. Sound Trinitarian worship in prose from the fourth century reminding us of how Jesus described the Holy Spirit as Comforter (John 14.16, KJV)—rendered as Advocate, Counsellor or Helper in later translations. This is The One who, indeed,

over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
(Gerald Manley Hopkins, God’s Grandeur) 

AB Simpson, Canadian preacher, author and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Benjamin_Simpson) described the Holy Spirit as the “mother heart of God.” “I will not leave you as orphans,” Jesus said, “I will come to you” (John 14.18). Every morning TE DEUM LAUDAMAS reminds me that he didn’t and he has.

Believing It

Among others, the Apostle’s Creed (BCP, pp 10 & 22) calls for two key tenets of belief about the Holy Ghost/Spirit: that Jesus was conceived by him and that we believe in him as the Third Person of the Holy and Eternal Trinity—One God. Again, I prefer the BCP version because it comes every day; rain or shine, feeling spiritual or not, without options, for ever and ever. Amen. I believe it does my soul good to repeat the words so I confess my faith over and over again. What I believe gets into my bones and helps my unbelief (Mk 9.24).

Can it be monotonous? Yes, but monotony has benefits. In “Knit Your Way to a More Prayerful Life,” a wonderful Her.menuetics blog post for Christianity Today magazine, Rachel Marie Stone quotes GK Chesterton who explains why:

Children have abounding vitality… they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. 

But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. 

It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. 

Just so, the offices and the liturgy, including The Creed, bear repeating. Lots of it.

Gene+

Taking It Between the Shoulders: The Holy Spirit in the Prayer Books: Part Three

This was published in the Spring 2016 issue of Anglicans for Renewal, the Anglican Renewal Ministries magazine—follow the link the ARM Office to subscribe here. 

In his farewell blessing to the tribe of Benjamin, Moses said,

The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders. (Dt 33.12)

That the High God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ dwells between their shoulders struck me between the eyes when I read it in Morning Prayer the other day. I’d not noticed it before. I hope he dwells between mine, too.

A good way to remind myself of holy possibilities like that is to pray the Anglican daily offices of morning, evening and night prayer (midday, too, if I’m especially keen). It’s also a good way to keep my heart, soul, mind and body (head, heart and shoulders) centred in the crosshairs of God’s amazing grace and empowering Holy Spirit.

Consider THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) (Anglican Book Centre, 1962) for example. The opening sentences for Whitsunday and Embertide are:

The love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. (Romans 5.5) 

and

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1.8) (p2)

Wonderful reminders with which to begin a day. The love of God has been “poured into our hearts” (ESV), in other words, right between our shoulders through the working of the given Holy Spirit. What a gift! Love and The Comforter shed abroad, poured and given. And not only that, power was received when the Holy Spirit came upon us.

When did the Holy Spirit come upon us? For most of you who are vintage BCP Anglicans, it was before you knew it. Just before you were baptized the Priest prayed that you would be baptized and sanctified with the Holy Spirit (BCP, p523), that the Holy Spirit would be given to you (BCP, p525) and that you would be regenerate with the Holy Spirit (BCP, p529). And power was received, whether you knew or not. Then, with Confirmation, came the Bishop’s prayers that you would be strengthened by and daily increase in the Holy Spirit more and more (BCP, p560).

Or, for those baptized and confirmed according to the BAS rites, “Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit,” the celebrant prayed, and “Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit” (BAS, p155), “Anoint them” (BAS, p157) and “Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit” (BAS, p160). The bishop then confirmed it all when s/he prayed,

by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at their baptism. Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before them. 

The bishop also prayed that we would be strengthened, empowered, sustained and would

daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more (BAS, p628). 

Empty prayers? I suppose they could be if we let them be. I say, fill them! Why not follow Epaphras’ example and so some struggling in our prayers (Col 4.12) for the Holy Spirit to come upon us all, right between the shoulders, and fill us so that all those prayers prayed over us when we were Baptized and Confirmed would come true to the honour of God’s holy Name, and the good of his Church and people. After all, if we who are so scattered, careless, sinful and easily offended,

know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Lk 11.13)

Gene+

The Holy Spirit in the Anglican Prayer Books: Part Two

This was published in the Winter 2015 issue of Anglicans for Renewal, the Anglican Renewal Ministries magazine.

Last time I began working through our prayer books looking for references to the Holy Spirit in our foundational documents, rubrics and liturgies. If those of us who are interested in charismatic renewal were to pay closer attention to them and to pray into them, I wonder if The LORD might bless us with an awakening and some times of refreshing?

The first appearance in The Book of Alternative Services is in the Gloria at the beginning of Morning Prayer: "Lord, open our lips," we pray as the scene is set for worship, "And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen." (p47) It's a fitting start. God, the Holy Spirit, is glorified and our worship is well directed as we open our lips and proclaim his praise. As often as possible, I like to make words like those among the first I utter each day. 

Decently and In Order

Some think prayer for the Holy Spirit's activity and presence needs to be extemporaneous and loud with wind and fire. That's good for extroverted folk and those who feel called to pray that way, but there are Spirit filled introverts (like me) who want to see the Church revived, too. 

I fear many of us have come to consider the Anglican daily prayer liturgies as spiritless prayer—routine, dry, by rote and empty. Not so. If they feel empty, it's because we are, not the liturgy. Our job is fill them by praying them anyway, at whatever volume, without losing heart (Lk18.1).

Whatever our style, the Biblical call is to pray without ceasing (1The5.17) which the daily offices encourage and for which they provide a trustworthy framework allowing things to "be done decently and in order." (1Co14.40)

Day by day we bless you

We praise your name for ever
(Te Deum Laudamus—A Song of the Church)

Learning the Ropes

Morning, Midday, Evening, Night prayer, Compline and all our liturgies are the Holy Scriptures set to prayer; living, active and sharp (Hebrews 4.12). Why not pray them as prayer to the Holy Spirit for the revival of the Church? Who knows? Might the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be moved in his grace and mercy to pour out his Spirit again if ordinary Anglicans like you and me were to faithfully, consistently and systematically pray the offices with revival in mind? If nothing else it would focus us.

My mind is often disarrayed with concerns for all manner of issues and tragedies. All I have to do is take hold of the rope, watch for the Holy Spirit in the service (and in the lectionary readings of the day), pause when I notice them, pray into the reference or verse and let it take me to the place where I "daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more" (The Book of Alternative Services, p628). You can do it, too. We don't have to be clever, articulate, creative or feel particularly holy. All we have to do is take hold of the rope. 

Alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth: 

O come, let us worship.
(Pentecost Invitatory, BAS, p48)

Believing

The next reference to the Holy Spirit in the BAS comes in The Apostles Creed for Morning Prayer. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit 

and born of the Virgin Mary. 

…

I believe in the Holy Spirit. (p52)

Jesus was conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. This is a basic tenet of our faith. We are to believe it. Believing that the Holy Spirit is who the Bible says he is, did what the Bible says he did and does what the Bible says he is still able to do is an important part of life and ministry in the Spirit. 

"Do not fear, only believe," Jesus said just before he took the little dead girl by the hand and said, "Child arise!" (Lk8.50-56) And she did. Believe. Pray that The LORD will take you and me and our church by the hand, too, saying, "Child arise!" so we will. 

Fellowship

Finally Morning (and Evening) Prayer comes to a close with reference to the Holy Spirit in the Grace. Our farewell to The LORD and to one another comes with these words: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen." (BAS, p55)

God's grace, that is his empowering presence to be who he made us to be and to do what he calls us to do, comes through Jesus. So does his love. The warm comfort, fire and power of the Holy Spirit comes in fellowship, that is, in a holy and friendly association with him. Those who share his interests grow from glory to glory through daily, systematic, unceasing prayer. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing 

through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (BAS, p55)