Prayers

Please pray for the Daughters and families affected by the recent storms around the United States.

Loving God, we know that our time is in your hands.  Protect now the people of Japan, New Zealand, and Haiti in their time of trial.  Cover them with your loving care and bring them that comfort that comes through you.  Guide and protect those in the Arab nations who now seek a just government.  Lead us all towards systems of governance in which all are safe to live out their lives in search of your will.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Marge Rogers, Worship & Devotions Chair

Dear Partners in Prayer,

I thought the litany and prayer below were especially apt for the people of Haiti, especially after reading about their manifestations of their faith in the news the past couple of days.

“Beni swa l’Eternel” is the Creole spelling of the French “Béni soit l’Eternel.” (As a French teacher, I have to think how the written Creole sounds and then visualize it with the French spelling in order to understand it). The news item the other day was about how the Haitians were singing that over and over again: Blessed be the Eternal One.

Mark 4:35-41 is about Jesus calming the storm (which makes sense here in more ways than one).

–Celinda

Praying for Haiti in the Aftermath of the Earthquake

In grateful memory of Lisa Mbele-Mbong, Port-au-Prince, January 12, 2010

Reading — Mark 4: 35-41

Litany

(after each section of the litany the leader says the response in Creole or English and then the people repeat it)

For the faith of the people of Haiti, singing their hymns even as their hearts are breaking:
Beni swa l’Eternel / Blessed be the Eternal One (repeated by all present)

For their selfless efforts to rescue loved ones and neighbors from the rubble:
Response

For the assurance that the many who have died are not lost for ever but rest in the Lord:
Response

For the God-given capacity to share the sufferings of others and to respond to their needs:
Response

For the nations of the world putting aside their differences to unite in offering assistance:
Response

For doctors and nurses, soldiers and relief workers, bringing help and hope to the needy:
Response

For Episcopal and other relief agencies, gathering contributions and putting them to work:
Response

For the healing and hope offered to all by Jesus Christ the Light of the World:
Response

For “the love of God from which neither life, nor death, nor things present, nor things to come, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us”:
Response

Free Prayer (either spoken or silent)

Concluding Prayer

Jesus, Savior in times of storm, when the waters of the deep are broken up and all the landmarks crumble before our eyes,
come to our aid and hold us up. Support the people of Haiti at this time lest they sink in hopelessness and despair.
Empower those who are responding to their need; uphold the bereaved in their grief; and let your light shine in the present darkness to lead us all to the city securely built on your love; In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

“Our Father...”

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

— Bishop Jeffrey Rowthorn, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
January 15, 2010 (also available for download at http://www.e4gr.org/haiti.html)

Prayer is conversation with God. It is like quietly opening a door and entering into the very presence of God. There, in the stillness we can listen to His voice for guidance and strength and petition Him with our cares. What we have to say matters not... just to be there, in His presence, is prayer.

The Prayer of the Order

O Eternal Father, you have sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your heavenly Kingdom.

Give your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world.

Grant that we, your Daughters, ever may discern your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life.

Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread your Kingdom and to gather your scattered sheep within your fold. Pour out upon us the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is your work we are called to do, that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Judges 3:10, Isaiah 11, Numbers 11:29

Help Us to Pray

Almighty God, help us to pray so faithfully that we may draw near to you and learn your will. Help us to serve so joyfully that others may be drawn to you. May your Holy Spirit guide us each day, that all we think, do, or say may be acceptable to you. We ask all for the sake of Him whose cross we wear, our Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Prayer for the Sevenfold Gift of the Holy Spirit

Almighty and eternal God. Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of all sins, send forth upon us the Sevenfold Gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of council and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. AMEN.