Clergy Notes — Sunday, May 28, 2017

Call to Prayer: “Thy Kingdom Come” by the Primate & the Archbishop of Canterbury

St. Luke writes that following the Ascension of the Lord, the disciples were gathered in an upper room “constantly devoting themselves to prayer.” A number of women joined them, including Mary, the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14).

Since those first few days of the church, the time between Ascension Day and the Day of Pentecost has been marked by calls to prayer for strength and wisdom in bearing a faithful witness to the gospel, for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to grace and guide the church in every age.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, invite us to support “Thy Kingdom Come,” a global call to prayer between Ascension Day and the Day of Pentecost, 2017.

Here are this week’s themes in the Call to Prayer:

Sunday, May 28—Seventh Sunday of Easter
Let us pray for all our partnerships in the gospel—within our own church and with other churches; for companion diocese relationships across the world; for our church’s companionship with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

Monday, May 29
Let us pray for healing and reconciliation within our church and our country, for integrity in living out the Primate’s Apology (1993), in honouring the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in responding to the Calls to Action from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Tuesday, May 30
Let us pray for the work of the Anglican Healing Fund and for community-based projects for recovery of language and culture, for celebrating Aboriginal identity.

Wednesday, May 31
Let us pray for all efforts in partnership with Indigenous elders, youth, bishops and clergy in building a truly Indigenous church within the Anglican Church of Canada.

Thursday, June 1
Let us pray for ministries with those caught in the grip of poverty, for programs addressing its systemic causes and for initiatives to eradicate poverty.

Friday, June 2
Let us pray for ministries devoted to addressing violence of every kind—domestic and societal, gender-based, ethnic and religious-based; and for all ministries grounded in commitments to dignity and justice for all people.

Saturday, June 3
Let us pray for ministries focused on the care of creation, for our calling to be healers of the Earth.

Sunday, June 4—The Day of Pentecost
Let us pray for a celebration of the many languages in which the gospel of Christ is proclaimed and the rich diversity of cultures for which our church is known; for the strengthening of our life together in Christ and for our common witness to the gospel.