Advent, the Holy Spirit, and Fire—for The Saskatchewan Anglican

 

Wind and Fire: Encounters With The Holy Spirit

Jesus breathed on his disciples saying receive the Holy Spirit (John20.22)—Wind—and is the one, Matthew tells us, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with Fire (Mt3.11). To each is given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good (1Cor12.7), The Father empowering and apportioning as he wills (1Cor12.110—sometimes gently, almost imperceptibly—sometimes dramatically.  At Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) Canada, as Eastertide flows on to Pentecost, we thought it would be helpful to collect share some Baptism in The Holy Spirit stories as an encouragement and show the range of the Holy Spirit’s workings. 

The series so far—latest at the top: 

Pastor Kevin Johnson

Rodrick Gilbert

The Rev Mike Flynn

Janice Renee Ng

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson

Janice Renee Ng

John Roddam

Holly Roddam

Daniel Joseph—Part 3

Daniel Joseph—Part 2

Daniel Joseph—Part 1

Alison Stortz

The Rev Geoffrey Dixon

Dianne Trinder

Series Introduction—The Rev Gene Packwood—Chairman, ARM Canada

Corona Light-Walkers

Almighty God, 

through the waters of baptism 

your Son has made us children of light. 

May we ever walk in his light 

and show forth your glory in the world; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and for ever. (BAS p291)

…the Collect (or prayer of the day/week) for the Fourth Sunday of Lent in most Canadian Anglican Churches. It is one of the Collects featured in “A Collection of Disciplines for Lent,” a “devotional” I prepared for the current issue of Taste and See…, Anglican Renewal Ministries Canada’s quarterly magazine (to subscribe go to www.armcanada.org). 

Having written it, I feel obliged to follow it. Following it forces me to ask myself some demanding questions about how I am living my life. When I do these things certain phrases light up for me. For example, “May we ever walk in his light” brought the idea of being a Light-Walker into my mind. Which, in turn, conjured up a bit of a jumble of rather grandiose Star Wars and Lord of the Rings imagery and with that, of course, St Paul: 

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (1Thes5.5)

We are Light-Walkers all: illumined by, bathed in, refracting and reflecting the lovely Light of Jesus, the LIght of the World and bravely showing forth his glory all around. 

When I wrote the “Collection of Disciplines” the coronavirus was not the thing that it has become. As I pondered Light-Walking I remembered that a corona is much more than just a virus. A corona is the glowing envelope of light which surrounds the sun, the moon and the stars but which is only visible during an eclipse. We Light-Walkers are to be the glowing corona-like light of Jesus enveloping and warming all who live in fear and are suffering because of the viral, crepuscular eclipse of normal life and freedom visited on us in the pandemic. 

And not only that, a corona is also a crown. Not only are we Light-Walkers showing forth the glories of the life-giving corona light of Jesus, but we are to worship and proclaim him as our heaven crowned King of kings and LORD of Lords (Rev19.16) before whom no mere virus, or anything else, can stand. 

Love in Jesus,

Gene+

Advent Anticipation

So here we are. Black Friday o’er. It’s Advent Sunday and we enter our annual spiritual and liturgical waiting room—in which we’re encouraged to pause and be reminded that, not only did Jesus come to save us the first time, he is also coming again and for keeps one day. So, stay awake, Jesus says, be ready. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. For example, since it’s Advent, make sure all your waiting room “magazines” are appropriate and up to date. 

Waiting isn’t easy but when what is coming is as good as what the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is offering in the power of the Holy Spirit, it’s worth it. I always think of the old Heinz Ketchup television commercial at this time of year—so thick and good that it takes a long, long time to come out of the bottle. We see the bottle poised over the plate full of promise as we hear Carly Simon singing her song, Anticipation. The first verse goes: 

We can never know about the days to come

But we think about them anyway

And I wonder if I'm really with you now

Or just chasin' after some finer day.

She wasn’t singing about Jesus, of course, or ketchup, for that matter. We can never know about the days to come, either, except that Holy Scripture has given us some solid hints. Enough to think and pray about—to anticipate and prepare ourselves and stay awake as we wait. And another difference is that we don’t have to wonder if we’re really with Jesus now. He has promised that he is with us now in our Advent waiting rooms and not just on some “finer day” in the future—now, for ever and always. And whenever Jesus is present things taste better. 

So here we are: faithfully anticipating, hoping, waiting and expecting by observing an holy Advent and, in the meantime, as we wait for another Christmas. 

This an extract from from the Winter issue of Taste and See…, Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) Canada’s quarterly magazine. You can subscribe here. 

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+

For the Common Good Part II—an Exploration and Study of 1 Corinthians for “Anglicans for Renewal” Magazine

This appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of Anglicans for Renewal magazine. Both digital and print subscriptions are available here. 

I hope you were able to take some time to read 1 Corinthians and to ponder the outline included in the first installment of this series. It’s rich fare for all Christians, but especially for those interested in the work of the Holy Ghost. 

1 Cor 1.1-9

First, it is instructive and significant that Paul begins with Jesus in his opening greeting and thanksgivings. Not only are his credentials as an Apostle called by the will of God in Christ Jesus, but he refers to Jesus seven more times in just the first nine verses of the letter.

According to Paul in these verses, Spirit-filled Christians are saints called by the will of God to be followers of Christ Jesus, to be sanctified (set apart and holy) in Christ Jesus, to call on his Name as our Lord as we enjoy his grace and peace, to await his revealing, sustained, guiltless and in full fellowship with him. 

Jesus is our distinctive. He is the reason for all our seasons. Jesus is The One about whom the Holy Spirit teaches us, reminds us of what he said (John 14.26) and bears witness (John 15.26). Jesus is also The One who gives the Spirit without measure (John 3.34). Through us, as we open ourselves to the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit in our lives, the Holy Spirit also teaches, reminds and bears witness to Jesus for others. 

FOR REFLECTION

How does Jesus sanctify us? (1 Cor 1.2)

Paul writes that the Corinthians were “not lacking in any gift” (1 Cor 1.7). How true is that for Christians today? What gifts do you feel you lack?What spiritual gifts do you have, or would you like to have, in order to reveal Jesus to others? 

How might you make yourself available for the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus as he is described in John 1.1-5; Heb 1.1-4 and Col 1.15-20 through you? 

1 Cor 1.10-17

Although the years in which Paul journeyed and wrote were golden years for the Christian Church it does not mean they were conflict and division free. On the contrary. Just as Jesus faced a great deal of it, so did his followers. He said himself that he came not to bring peace, but division (Lk 12.51). The disciples squabbled about which was the greatest of them (Lk 9.46). Even after Jesus rose from the dead and the amazing wonders of Pentecost—conflict with the rulers, elders and scribes continued, Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead for lying to the Holy Spirit and there was conflict between the Hellenist and Hebrew disciples over whose widows were getting more than their fair share of things. And we’re only up to Acts, Chapter 6!

The fact is that charismatic renewal, too, has brought about considerable controversy, disagreement, division and conflict throughout the history of the Church. Many priests, pastors and ministers have lost their jobs over it—Dennis Bennett, for example (whose books, by the way, are still a good read and very helpful and encouraging for those interested in things charismatic). Congregations have split. People have been hurt. Many have shut themselves off from anything to do with renewal because of things they’ve experienced or heard about. 

So, I believe that the way Paul, immediately after placing his message in the context of Jesus, gets down to divisions and quarreling among the saints is inspired. There’s nothing in the Scripture by accident and there’s nothing out of order. When people open themselves to the Holy Spirit of God, his Gifts and fruit—when people stand up straight in the faith so the winds of God can whip through their hair—it can be noisy and perplexing. There can be consternation, fear, even ridicule. Consider Pentecost (Acts 2.1-21). But remember, whenever God or his messenger shows up in Scripture, what is the first thing said? “Don’t be afraid.” So if something disturbs or frightens us it does not necessarily mean God is absent. Quite the opposite, in fact. I suggest that if there isn’t at least a little apprehension, it’s probably not God at all. 

Paul goes from Jesus to trouble because he’s being real and telling it like it is. Besides, as Michael Marshall wrote in his excellent book, The Church at the Crossroads (San Fransisco: Harper & Row, 1988), 

Conflict and tension lie at the very heart of life an there will always be plenty of it at the heart of a living and lively church. (p34)

Marshall goes on to quote Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie: 

We are not here to avoid conflict, but to redeem it. At the heart of our faith is a cross and not, as in some religions, an eternal calm. (p130)

Paul knew that Christians need to be aware of real life with all its challenges and that because we are not lacking in any gift we need not avoid conflict because we are anointed and equipped to redeem it—along with misunderstandings, fear and ridicule—by the power of the Holy Spirit and the cross of Jesus (1 Cor 1.17) working through us. 

FOR REFLECTION

From what fears do you need to be delivered concerning charismatic renewal? 

Read Gal 5.16-21. Are there any particular works of the flesh which might be keeping you stuck in conflict while inhibiting your availability to walk and be led by the Spirit? 

What Gifts (1 Cor 12.7-10) and Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5.22) are of help to you in dealing with the conflicts in your life? 

Gene+

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+

Lenten Ember Day One: Wednesday—Anglican Renewal Ministries Canada Call to Prayer

It begins again. Wednesday, the first of the Lenten Ember Days. The morning Book of Common Prayer readings include the final verses of Matthew 26 where Peter denies Jesus. Uncomfortable on any day, but especially on an Ember Day when I’m really trying to be faithful and to seek The LORD’s face.

Does the way I live my life make my Christianity obvious enough that no one would have to ask whether or not I am “with Jesus” (Mt26.69)? And if anyone does ask, will I have the courage to say Yes, I’m with Jesus, I know him, I believe in him and what he teaches in the Holy Scriptures?

Pray for that courage when the opportunity comes, and to answer without compromise, yet with gentleness and respect (1Peter3.15).

Gene+

Putting On the Armour of Light: Advent Ember Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Anglican Church—Day Two of Three

Today is the second of the three Advent Ember Days of Solemn prayer and fasting for the Church (See the post on the first day here). 

The rubrics for THE ADVENT EMBER DAYS BEING THE WEDNESDAY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AFTER THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT state the following: 

On Ember Days the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, page 210, shall always be used first. (BCP p100)

This is the Collect to which they refer: 

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and to the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p210)

For the purposes of our vigil for the Church, this is an excellent prayer, not only for those “called to any office and administration,” but we can also use it for those who presently hold such offices—our bishops, priests, deacons and lay folk, especially when they are called together as members of synods. Doctrinal truth and innocency of life would be of great help in keeping us safely in God’s will. 

The Collect for Advent (BCP p95, BAS p268) is also a good classic prayer for the Church for such a time as this. We need to be both alert enough to identify the works of darkness which threaten to lead us astray and which need to be cast away, and to be awake enough to recognize the armour of light which is available to us. 

Add to that, the PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH, number 7, For General, Provincial, or Diocesan Synods (BCP p42—if you don’t have a BCP, you can download it by following the link here: http://www.anglican.ca/about/liturgicaltexts/). 

Assigned readings for these Ember Days can be found here. Note the link to BCP readings also. Pray and not lose heart!(Lk 18.1)

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+

Praying the Ember Day Collects and More

The Anglican Collects, or prayers of the day, are very helpful in giving shape and focus to our prayers. They can take us out of ourselves and too much emphasis on our own desires. They can also provided the perfect words when we're struggling with what exactly we want to say. They can express and articulate those sighs which have been too deep for words (Ro 8.26). The Ember Day Collects are no exception. 

Here are some Collects to pray on these Lenten Ember Days—today, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday—if you're feeling called to join ARM Canada in our Ember Days of fasting and prayer for our Church. Pray them however you feel led—slowly, silently, out loud, over and over, morning, noon, evening and night—with the Anglican Church of Canada, General Synod 2019 and the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in mind.  

First, to prepare our souls for Ember Day prayer, the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which, according to The Book of Common Prayer  "is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the day until Holy Week."

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (BCP, p138)

Then, the Ember Day Collect "To be used at times of prayer for the whole ministry of the Church": 

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and to the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

…may it be so, indeed, for all in the Anglican Church of Canada who lead us and will be members of General Synod 2019. 

Pray the Ember Day Collect in The Book of Alternative Services: 

Almighty God, by your grace alone we are accepted and called to your service. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit and make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. (p395)

In addition, we have the Collects for the First Sunday in Lent, which are usually prayed through the following week: 

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights: Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness, to thy honour and glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. (BCP, p140)  

Almighty God,
whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are but did not sin,
give us grace to discipline ourselves
in submission to your Spirit,
that as you know our weakness,
so we may know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  (BAS, p286)

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