As the guest speaker at a synod in Canada, which included the vast northern diocese of the Arctic, I met many first nations people, who have suffered horrifying persecution, often supported, even perpetrated by the Church. One evening they invited us to join their worship but it wasn’t what I was used to. They sang slowly, really slowly. Familiar Anglican hymns took on whole new meanings and values and became a plaintive, heartfelt cry to God, an embodiment of those words from the first letter of Peter, ‘Cast your cares on him.’ Now, the devil hates music. In fact, the devil hates anything that's beautiful or heartfelt. Ugliness and cynicism are his currency, but that evening, I experienced something astonishingly beautiful and deeply felt. And like the prophet Habakkuk dancing on the hills even though there was desolation everywhere, and just as African American spirituals rejoiced in the final victory even though the oppressive conditions they lived in spoke only of defeat, so this slow singing bore witness to the astonishing power of the Christian faith to sustain people through oppression, find resources of hopefulness, and challenge injustice. And so we pray – Holy God, help us to speak about and confront the racism that still exists in our churches and in our world. Teach us to slow down, even to sing and pray more slowly, so that we can really take hold of the amazing grace that, in Christ and through Christ, can set us free. Amen.
As well as the bishops and spouses attending, the conference will involve a number of different teams that have been planning and preparing for the conference for a long time.Please pray for the volunteers and stewards that are sharing their time to supportthe event; the chaplaincy and worship teams who will provide spiritual guidance and pastoral support throughout the conference; the speakers and contributors that will deliver sessions and the wider conference staff.Here is a prayer written by The Church Mission Society. Church of England – working with partners across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.Lord, as you have entered into our life and death and in all the world you call us into your death and risen life. Forgive us our sins; and draw us we pray, by the power and encouragement of your Spirit, into an exchange of gifts and needs, joys and sorrows, strength and weakness with your people everywhere; that with them we may have grace to break through every barrier, to make disciples of all peoples and to share your love with everyone for your glory’s sake. Amen.
The Calls which will be discussed by bishops from around the world at the Lambeth Conference 2022, which begins in Canterbury this week, have been published.The document Lambeth Calls includes revisions to a number of draft Lambeth Calls which were released last week as part of Lambeth Calls: Guidance and Study Documents.It includes revisions to the Call on Human Dignity, agreed by the drafting group following consideration of widespread responses from bishops and others.There are also revisions to the draft Calls on Discipleship, Mission and Evangelism and Inter Faith Relations.Bishop Tim Thornton (see photo), Chair of the Lambeth Conference’s Lambeth Calls Subgroup, said:“We have listened carefully and prayerfully to what bishops and many others have said in response to the draft Calls, especially that on Human Dignity. Archbishop Justin has invited the bishops of the Anglican Communion to come together as a family to listen, pray and discern – sometimes across deeply-held differences.It is our prayer that these Calls can offer a basis for those conversations – and that all of our discussions will be marked by the grace and love of Jesus Christ.Please continue to pray for us that we may continue to listen, walk and witness together.”
