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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Going Faster: Autumn Solemn Ember Day of Prayer and Fasting Two

Autumn Solemn Ember Day of Prayer and Fasting two, but not really because it is bumped by the Feast Day of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist—I’m going to treat it as Solemn Ember anyway because of my devotional OCD-ness. And since I know that Jesus said when I fast I’m not to look gloomy or disfigure my face, or, presumably, draw attention to myself so that my (extremely spiritual) fasting may be seen or known about by others like you, dear reader, I’d better not refer to it lest I lose my reward (Mt6.16-18). 

I don’t like it. Fasting, I mean. I usually feel a bit of a fraud with my not-quite-24-hour-Solemn-Ember-Day efforts during which I forgo just breakfast and lunch. Judy, my wife, says it would be more meaningful for me to give up coffee than food for the day. Sigh. I felt convicted, so today I’m drinking it without milk or cream. Black (like my spirit-of-religion heart, no doubt). 

Oops. There goes my reward. O well, there’s always tomorrow (did I just lose it again?)…

But then, I’m not supposed to like it. I afflicted myself with fasting wrote King David in Psalm 35.13. Afflicted—to cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble. Perhaps my self-imposed version of affliction is too light and momentary (2Cor4.17). LORD, have mercy. But it does remind me of what I’m about on these Ember Days. Every hunger pang reminds me to pray, of what I’m asking God to do and that I’m totally and absolutely dependent on Him for help. 

Why bother? Because the Church is beleaguered without and within. There are scandals from the Roman Catholics to Willow Creek. Our Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) is in numerical decline in attendance and finances. In just ten months General Synod 2019 will vote on a momentous doctrinal change to our marriage canon. Earnest, heart-felt, prayer (and fasting) is vital and much needed. 

Please join us. 

Gene+

Bible Prayer Points for Lenten Ember Day Three: ARM Canada Call to Prayer

Thanks to the Prayer Book Society of Canada for this image. 

That it is St Matthias Day today in the BCP calendar caught me by surprise this morning having already posted the Ember Day readings from the Daily Office in both BCP and BAS lectionaries earlier. Not to worry, they’re all good and profitable and for training in righteousness (1 Tim 3.16). 

I believe it is no accident that these readings are presented before us at this particular time. In particular this morning I was struck by the following: 

1 Cor 4.1-7 or 8. 

This reading appears for today both in Morning Prayer in the BAS lectionary and for Evening Prayer on the feast day of St Matthias the Apostle in the BCP. Two things lit up for me to pray: 

1. Paul calls us to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God (vv1&2). Marriage between a man and a woman is one of those mysteries, a profound mystery, in fact (Eph 5.31-32). Lord, may we be faithful stewards of your gift of marriage, that profound mystery. 
2. We are also not to go beyond what is written (1 Cor 4.6). Lord, may we resist the temptation to go beyond your Word in Holy Scripture in any of our Church’s teaching and doctrine. 

Mt 7.15-27

This is for St Matthias’ Morning Prayer. The following points prompted my prayers: 

1. Beware of false prophets (v15) and apostles (see the petition in the Collect for St Matthais above). LORD, help us by Your Holy Spirit to recognize false prophecy and apostles and to avoid being led astray by them. 
2. Not everyone who says, “‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (V21). It is vitally important that we discern what the true will of the Father is for our Church. LORD, Your will be done in Your Church as it is in heaven. 
3. Building our house on the rock rather than on the sand (vv 24-27). LORD, may all our building be on the rock of properly hearing Your Words and doing them well and faithfully. 

Amen!

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+

Getting Back to Basics: an Excerpt from the Winter 2017 Issue of Anglicans for Renewal

From the ARM Chair

Since the last issue, I have enjoyed opportunities to share some time with the Calgary Chapter of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, and the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca. It was delightful and encouraging. Anglicans are alive and well and open to the Holy Spirit! They are hungry and thirsty for more of The LORD. I know, that sounds like a cliché, but it’s true! I was impressed by the commitment to prayer in both gatherings. I enjoyed seeing ARM Canada’s Episcopal Visitor, Bishop Fraser Lawton, minister so gracefully among his clergy and people. I got to meet many faithful, salt-of-the-earth Anglican lay and clergy folk, an Anglican bishop from South Sudan, a priest from Iran, two priests from Zimbabwe and one from the Philippines. It was grand!

The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer theme for the day was The Spirit Helps: the Holy Spirit in Our Prayers (Rom. 8:26) and for the Athabasca Synod, Renewal in Mission, both good grist for the Holy Ghost mill. Jesus was our host and the Holy Spirit was our guide into the truth He represents.

I’m writing this on All Hallow’s Eve — Saints of the Reformation Era day, according to the Anglican Church of Canada’s lectionary page. As you may have heard, this is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. At the Athabasca synod, I spoke about how, just as many people think that we need to get back to the “three R’s” of the good, old-fashioned basics in our school system, there are some R’s we would also profit from getting back to in our faith lives.

Repent is the first one that comes to mind: the first word of the Gospel according to Jesus (Mk 1:15). Peter calls us to Repent so that times of Refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19-20). Renewal is another R word that’s dear to our hearts. As the Holy Spirit moves among us, keeps us aligned with Jesus and keeps us Refreshed, Reformation continues.

As I was looking through an old notebook, I came across this by Catherine Marshall in her book, Christy:

When your heart is ablaze with the love of God, when you love other people—especially the rip-snorting sinners—so much that you dare to tell them about Jesus with no apologies, then never fear, there will be results. One of two things will happen. Either there’ll be persecutions, or the fire will leap from your heart to catch and blaze in the depths of other men’s beings…And then when the blaze starts, the reforms will follow as surely as the flower follows the bud, or the fruit comes after the blossom on the tree. (New York: Avon, 1967, p341)

Let’s pray for hearts ablaze with Jesus and for Results and Reforms following!

In my notebook, I also came across this item that I’d copied out from the Summer 1992 issue of Anglicans for Renewal:

We today must not offer a sort of Christian icing on the unchanged cake of many of the idols people worship. Jesus Christ is not the sugar for the coffee of your life. Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life and without it people are starving! He is the Light of Life and without him people are stumbling in the dark.

We need to come out of our holes and courteously, humorously, firmly and intelligently commend the faith.

Renowned Anglican evangelist, Michael Green, wrote that. He and Catherine Marshall both give us a timely Reminder that the charismatic Gifts of the Spirit are all given to build up the church by bringing people to Jesus.

Gene+

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

Putting On the Armour of Light: Advent Ember Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Anglican Church—Prayers at Mid-Day

One of them in the BCP is this:

And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.
BLESSED Saviour, who at this hour didst hang upon the cross stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (p16)

Saving faith for all is the goal. Pray for our church to be a fruitful part of that.

Gene+

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

Well this will reveal the super spiritual saints among us! Who fasts two days from Christmas? And the awful thing is, even if we we are feeling a little full of ourselves because we do, we can’t tell anyone lest we lose our reward! (Mt 6.16-18) Sigh.

Fasting, or not, do take some time—at least a moment—to pray for the Anglican Church of Canada today—it’s people, its leaders—present and future, its Synods and councils. Pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to reign over us with truth and grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

For readings and other resources see yesterday’s post.

May your Advent waiting and Ember Days Prayer (and Fasting) be rewarded with the renewed presence of Jesus himself—extra bright, palpable and unmistakable—in your Christmas worship and in your celebrations with family and friends.

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 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+

From the ARM Chair in the Fall 2016 issue of Anglicans for Renewal magazine

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General Synod 2016

If ever there was time when Anglicans needed the  manifestations of the Spirit given to each of us for the common good (1 Cor 12.7), it is now. That a two thirds majority of General Synod (GS) of the church we serve made the first step towards amending our Marriage Canon to open the way for The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage to include people of the same sex is a momentous and divisive move. We will need the full complement of Gifts (1 Cor 12.8-11) and Fruits (Gal 5.22-23) of the Holy Spirit in action as we worship, pray and act through the years to come.

ARM Canada was there in Toronto for GS 2106. Board members Jane Jones, Roger Spack and I took turns hosting our display table (although Roger did the lion's share as well as coordinating with Alison Stortz, ARM Canada's most excellent Administrator and Editor of this publication, to pick up and drop off our attractive and informative display board as he passed through the railway station in Ottawa). We also helped the Anglican Communion Alliance team. ARM Canada Board Members, the Ven Perry Cooper, and new ARM Family Ministries coordinator, the Rev John VanStone, were also present as members of Synod.

Personally, I found the GS decision very disappointing although I was not surprised. It would be easy to be discouraged, but then I remind myself that Jesus promised not to leave us orphaned and to send a Helper (no less than the mighty Holy Spirit we ARM Canada people are always banging on about) to be with us forever, "even the Spirit of truth" (John 14.16-18). I take hope in that.

So we at ARM Canada will continue to to offer times of refreshing so God’s people may be empowered by the Holy Spirit through teaching, equipping and fellowship in the love of Jesus. (Acts 3:19-21) as we pray for God’s truth to prevail in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Fruitfulness Following

I am also encouraged to hear what the Lord is doing among our Lutheran brothers and sisters. The ARM Canada board connected with Oasis Canada (formerly Lutheran Renewal Canada) during our prayer retreat last January. Medicine Hat Pastor and Oasis Canada Director, Jim Bredeson, has recently returned from renewal meetings in Sweden where the Oasis Movement “seeks to promote healthy spiritual renewal rooted in the Word as well as being balanced and sensitive to the Holy Spirit with fruitfulness following.” I was delighted to see that there was an Anglican connection there, too. Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford in England, was one of the key speakers at the conference.

ARM Canada promotes healthy spiritual renewal rooted in the Word, too. We look forward to praying and working with our Lutheran friends to bring it about in Canada.  I hope you will find Pastor Jim’s recap on the Swedish meeting as encouraging as I did.

Gene+

FIVE ALIVE Part I: Not Lacking

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. 

This is the first of Five Alive: a series of short articles on five of Paul’s key points on the who, how and why of the Gifts of the Spirit in his first letter to the Corinthians. I’m calling them

1. Not Lacking
2. To Each
3. The Importance of Being Earnest
4. Church Building
5. A More Excellent Way

Not lacking

We begin in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians which looks to me like his commentary and operating manual based on the events at Pentecost in Acts 2 and how the Holy Spirit filled the church afterwards. In particular, in the seventh verse of the first chapter, this:

you are not lacking in any gift.

If any gift is not lacking, that means it must be present, plentiful and perfect. The church must be full of them.

The Name

Not lacking in any gift comes from the grace of God that was given us in Jesus (1 Cor 1.4). Paul uses Jesus' name five times before verse seven and five more times after. Christ, his title, is used seventeen times. Paul makes it clear that the Holy Spirit and his Gifts do not exist just for wild eyed charismatic fun. They have another vital abundant life giving purpose which is all about Jesus.

The setting of Paul's Holy Spirit inspired declaration, "you are not lacking in any gift," reminds me of that wonderful hymn to Jesus in verse six of St Patrick's Breastplate (812 in the Blue Hymnal):

Christ be with me, 


Christ within me,


Christ behind me,


Christ before me,


Christ beside me,


Christ to win me,


Christ to comfort 
and restore me.


Christ beneath me,


Christ above me,


Christ in quiet,


Christ in danger,


Christ in hearts of
 all that love me,


Christ in mouth of 
friend and stranger.

We do not lack the Holy Spirit and his Gifts because Jesus sent him to us to bear witness about him (John 15.26), to remind us of all that he said (John 14.26) and that he is all around, enveloping us with the Father's love, always.

Always

Just as Paul always gave thanks to God for the Corinthian disciples (1 Cor 1.4), God's promises always find their Yes in Jesus (2 Cor 1.20) and in Him

always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2Cor 2.14) 

The Gifts we are not lacking and which you and I need are available always.

Lacking Not

I believe this is literally true. Although no individual (other than Jesus) has them all, worshipping Christian communities do, if only in a latent waiting-to-be-released state. All the gifts are available. There are three kinds.

The Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:6-8)

Prophecy

Service

Teaching

Encouraging

Giving

Leadership

The Manifestation Gifts (1 Cor 12:7-10)

Word of wisdom

Word of knowledge

Faith

Healing

Miracles

Prophecy

Discernment

Tongues

Interpretation

The Equipping Gifts (Eph 4:11-13) 

The Apostle

The Prophet

The Evangelist

The Pastor

  The Teacher

How many of those have you seen operating in your parish? Are you aware of any active in your own life? Notice the gifts that occur in more than one list. The only one which appears in all three is prophecy. Paul calls us to earnestly the desire the gifts, especially that we may prophecy (1 Cor 14.1). I don’t hear much about it these days. Sadly, the word of the Lord seems to be as rare now as it was in Samuel’s boyhood (1 Sam 3.1). But it’s out there. Prophecy is practiced decently and in order to strengthen, encourage and comfort at most ARM events. So are various kinds of tongues if you listen carefully. Words of knowledge and wisdom are common. There is good teaching and encouragement.

There is usually some asking, seeking, knocking, identifying and discerning needed to find out how the Father has chosen to distribute them (1 Cor 12.11) among the people we meet, but lacking they are not. There’s nothing we enjoy more than helping ordinary Anglicans discover and unwrap the Father’s promised Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The Promise

Just before he ascended into heaven Jesus said to his disciples,

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24.49)

The promise of his Father is the Holy Spirit, the Helper. That promise continues to find it's Yes in Jesus without fail. We wear power suits from on high. There is no lack.

ARM Canada offers a comprehensive survey of the Gifts of the Spirit in it’s Discovering Your Gifts day. If you would like to explore the possibility of having such a day in your parish, deanery or diocese email our office by following the link here.

Gene+

Bright Wings—from Anglicans for Renewal

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. 

This is my first “post” from the ARM Chair. As I write I am gratefully conscious of the faithful chairmen who have gone before; all of whom have led wisely and served well; most recently The Venerable Perry Cooper from Central Newfoundland. The seat has been well warmed.

ARM Board Prayer Retreat

We’ve just finished our second annual ARM Board prayer retreat in Okotoks, Alberta, at which we welcomed our newest member, The Reverend Robert Porter, from the Diocese of Ontario. His arrival dropped the average age of ARM board members by a gratifying decade, or two. Welcome Robert.

Both prayer retreats have been valuable opportunities for the Board to focus on the LORD’s promptings and direction for ARM without having to do any “business.” We deal with that at our monthly board meetings and at our Annual General Meeting, which this year will take place in Miramichi, NB, on Friday, May 13, 2015. This time Board Prayer Co-ordinator, Jane Jones, reminded us that at our last retreat we were given the necessary “keys” (Isa 22.22; Mt 16.19; Rev 3.7) for our ministry, now we need to learn how to use and develop them well so the necessary doors will be opened.

Those keys for ARM are three:

1. Schools of Renewal Ministry—with Jane Jones responsible for content and curriculum
2. Missionary Outreach Family Nights—an exciting new intergenerational initiative headed up by ARM Board member, The Reverend John VanStone
3. Social Media and OnLine Presence—the development of which I am responsible.

We enjoyed two special visits during this retreat. The Reverend Chris Nojonen, of Oasis, formerly Lutheran Renewal Canada, joined us for a few hours to share what they’re up to, pray and talk about ways in which we might work together. The Most Reverend Greg Kerr-Wilson, Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land and Archbishop of Calgary also joined us over a meal. He and our Episcopal Visitor, The Right Reverend Fraser Lawton, Bishop of Athabasca, gave us some valuable insights on how ARM might serve dioceses and parishes better.

Bright Wings

Personally, apart from the rich time in prayerful and worshipful community, two things have stuck in my mind. One from the day before the retreat, the other, a phrase from a Gerald Manley Hopkins poem that came to mind a few days after. The first, a passage of Scripture from Morning Prayer on the Sunday before the retreat—The Baptism of the Lord—Acts 19.1-7 in which Paul found some disciples in Ephesus, ‘And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”’ (Acts 19:2 (ESV) We Anglicans say the words Holy Spirit repeatedly during Sunday worship. But saying it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re hearing what we’re saying and who he is. Holy Spirit can all too easily become liturgical background noise as we follow our habitual well-worn path through the familiar words. ARM exists to help open the ears of Anglican hearts so the Holy Spirit can reclaim his rightful place in the foreground, with the two other persons of the Holy Trinity, so we can be reminded of who the Holy Spirit really is and what he is saying to the church. We want every Anglican to hear clearly that there is, indeed, a Holy Spirit, and to be refreshed and empowered by his presence,

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

We came away from this retreat Holy Spirit refreshed, encouraged and with new God-given avenues to explore.

As we continue to seek new opportunities for refreshing, Holy Spirit filling ministry, we’d like to hear from you. What can we do to help you to hear anew that there is a Holy Spirit who helps, comforts, empowers, guides us into all truth and always glorifies Jesus? We’d like to help you experience the refreshing, bright-winged Holy Spirit in your parish, district, deanery or diocese in a new way. Please email me (kiwirev@gmail.com) with any requests or ideas and we’ll do our best to help.

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+