Prayer Calendar - April 2022
Praise items and prayer requests coming from within ANiC, ACNA and the Anglican Communion for each day of this month.
1. As we continue to watch in a measure of disbelief and sorrow the unfolding events in Ukraine, let us pray for the people of the Ukraine, millions of whom have been forced to make radical decisions for themselves and their families as to whether to flee or not. Pray for the churches in Ukraine and in Russia that they may bring comfort to those who have suffered needless loss of family members and may they share the transforming Gospel of Jesus in a time of desperate circumstances.
*** First Friday: We urge you to set aside the first Friday as a day to pray and fast (if you are able) for our diocese (ANiC), the Anglican Church of North America, and the Anglican Communion worldwide. We live in an age of immense pressure against the Gospel, and a world devastated by COVID-19 and increasing racial and geopolitical conflict including the war in Ukraine. It is critical that we unite together in prayer.
2. Let us continue to pray asking for God's intervention in the spread of Covid and its various strains across North America and all around the world. Ask God to intervene and eradicate this virus. Ask him to help public health officials, doctors, and government officials with wisdom and guidance. Ask him to heal the victims and comfort those who have lost loved-ones.
3. Pray for Bishop Charlie Masters (& Judy) as he leads ANiC. May God grant him all the health, strength, discernment and the passion he needs for this heavy responsibility. Pray for protection for him from illness and fatigue. Grant him Gospel zeal as he cares for the clergy and parishes in Canada and New England, especially as the busy spring season continues.
Pray for All Saints Bridgeland, a new church plant in Calgary, BC, as they have their first ever Sunday service today.
4. Our diocese and province – Pray for the Anglican Network in Canada and all of our parishes across Canada and in New England. Pray for revival in our churches and their neighbourhoods. May great passion for the Gospel be a hallmark of each congregation. Pray for our primate, Archbishop Foley Beach (& Allison), as he gives godly leadership to the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). Ask the Lord for great wisdom as he and the College of Bishops make strategic decisions around the growth of Gospel ministry. Pray also for him in his strategic role as chairman of the Gafcon primates’ council.
5. Pray for our Electoral Nominating Committee (ENC) as they seek the Lord’s will concerning candidates for the office of suffragan bishop serving in western Canada. For more information on this highly important task, see the ANiC website: anglicannetwork.ca/electoral-nominating-committee
Here’s a prayer that can be used either corporately or personally:-
Almighty God, our heavenly Father; You have richly blessed us with such godly leadership throughout the early history of the Anglican Network in Canada, and for that we are profoundly grateful to You.
Now, Father, we pray for the regathered Electoral Nominating Committee, charged now with the task of preparing a slate of nominations for the office of Suffragan Bishop to be elected at Synod 2022. As Archdeacon Paul Charbonneau and his committee members seek Your guidance, may they be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Protect them, O Lord, from all assaults of the enemy, and may the Holy Spirit bring them into that perfect unity that Your Son, our Lord Jesus, prayed for on our behalf. These things we ask in His mighty Name, and to Your honour and glory. Amen
6. Pray for Bishop Stephen Leung (& Nona). Pray for health, protection, wisdom and vision and the ongoing ministry of AMMiC. Pray also for Bishop Dan Gifford (& Cathryn) as he begins to serve as the temporary Bishop of the West, and ultimately to become our next diocesan bishop at Synod in November when Bishop Charlie retires. May the Lord grant both of these men of God the anointing of the Spirit for the fulfilling of their calling.
7. Pray for Bishop Don Harvey (& Trudy) in his roles as ANiC’s episcopal vicar and as senior chaplain to the ACNA College of Bishops. Pray for his continued health and vigour. Pray also for Bishop Ron Ferris (& Jan) as he fulfills his role as Assisting Bishop for Missionary Planning. Pray also for our retired bishops: Bishop Trevor Walters (& Dede) and Bishop Malcolm Harding (& Marylou). Thank God for their fruitful ministries.
8. ANiC’s 5 Ministry Priorities – Pray that God will use these five priorities to transform us and our parishes. Pray also for the leaders and their team around each priority: Bold witnesses (Scott Hunt); Biblically grounded (Canon George Sinclair); Loving children & youth into the Kingdom (Rev. Jeremy & Kimberley Graham); On mission (Canon Brian McVitty); and Planting & Growing Churches (Canon Alastair Sterne).
9. ANiC archdeacons, canons & all clergy – Pray for spiritual and physical protection and renewal as well as God’s blessing upon their ministry. Pray also for their spouses & families that God would grant them safety and health in body, mind and spirit and may the Lord grant them grace upon grace as they pastor those under their care.
Pray for Deacon Paul Simons who is to be ordained to the priesthood (presbyterate) tomorrow evening, April 10th at 5 pm at Celebration Church Barrie. May God anoint his ministry as he begins to serve the people of Celebration Church in this new capacity.
10. ANiC staff & volunteers in Burlington – Pray for strength for the tasks, faithfulness in service, and joy in the Lord. May the Lord grant physical healing to those in need and may God’s blessing rest on ANiC as we seek to know, love and serve Him. Pray for ANiC’s council, chancellor & registrar – Pray for wisdom and servant hearts as they serve ANiC. May they know God’s leading, seek His will, and experience His joy.
***Collect for Palm Sunday: Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the Cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and come to share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
11. Asian & Multicultural Ministries in Canada (AMMiC) – May God bless and prosper their ministry as they reach out to ethnic communities and new immigrants with the transforming Gospel of Jesus, and engage in planting new churches. For further prayer around this important ministry, AMMIC also produces their own monthly prayer calendar available on their website: ammic.ca
12. Pray for all our young church plants and new congregations that are in the process of getting established including: Resurrection in Rigaud, QC led by Jonathan Camiré; Messiah Kanata in Kanata, ON led by Rev. Daniel Avitan; St. Francis in Saskatoon, SK led by Jan Bigland-Pritchard; All Saints in Calgary, AB led by Rev. James Broadhead; St. Thomas in Summerland, BC led by Rev. Lars Nowén; and Highway Northshore in North Vancouver, BC led by Rev. Joe Pienaar.
13. ANiC’s New England congregations:
Holy Trinity (Marlborough, MA)
Christ the True Vine Anglican Mission (Marlborough, MA)
All Saints’ (Rutland, VT)
Christ the Way Anglican Mission (Moosup, CT)
Emmanuel - Chinese (Boston, MA)
14. ANiC congregations in the Atlantic Provinces:
St Stephen the Martyr (St John’s, NL)
Resurrection (Halifax, NS)
Good Samaritan (St John’s, NL)
Christ the King (Sussex, NB)
All Saints (Bonavista, NL)
St. Matthew’s (Gander, NL)
***Collect for Maundy Thursday: Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
15. ANiC congregations in the Ottawa area:
St Luke’s (Pembroke)
Messiah (Ottawa)
St Peter & St Paul’s (Ottawa)
Grace (Mississippi Mills)
Eternal Hope (Carleton Place)
Messiah (Kanata)
***Collect for Good Friday: Almighty God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
16. ANiC congregations in Quebec:
Emmaus (Montreal)
St Timothy’s (Montreal)
St James (Lennoxville)
Resurrection Church (Rigaud) recent
17. ANiC congregations in Ontario:
St Aidan’s (Windsor)
St Aidan’s at River’s Bend (Belle River)
Cornerstone Anglican Church (Sarnia)
New Life (Sturgeon Falls)
The Gate (Iron Bridge)
Church of the Good Shepherd (Sault Ste Marie) church project
***Collect for Easter Sunday: O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to die upon the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the devil and the power of death: Grant us grace to die daily to sin, that we may live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
18. ANiC congregations in Ontario:
St Hilda’s (Oakville)
St Peter by the Park (Hamilton)
St George’s (Burlington)
Epiphany (Hamilton)
Good Shepherd (St Catharines)
St Jude (Guelph)
St Barnabas Anglican Mission ((Wilsonville)
19. ANiC congregations in Greater Toronto and eastern Ontario:
St Chad’s (Toronto)
Celebration Church (Barrie)
Christ the King (Toronto)
New Song (Port Perry)
Living Waters (Kingston)
St James Fellowship (Trenton)
St Stephen Anglican Fellowship (Napanee)
20. ANiC congregations in Saskatchewan & Manitoba:
Resurrection (Brandon, MB)
St Bede’s (Kinosota, MB)
Redeemer (Dauphin, MB)
Saint Saviour’s (Lloydminster SK)
St. Francis Anglican Worship Community (Saskatoon, SK)
21. ANiC congregations in Alberta:
Grace Anglican (Calgary)
Christ the King (Edmonton)
Good Shepherd - Cantonese (Calgary)
Living Water (Athabasca)
All Saints (Calgary) new
22. ANiC congregations in the Fraser Valley & Interior of BC:
Ascension (Langley)
Resurrection (Kelowna)
Saint Matthew’s (Abbotsford)
Christ Church (Kelowna)
Church of the Holy Cross (Abbotsford)
Bulkley River (formerly Houston and Smithers)
St. Thomas (Summerland) new
23. ANiC congregations in the Vancouver area:
St John’s (Vancouver)
St. Thomas Mission (UBC, Vancouver) (merged with Sojourn Church)
St John’s (Richmond)
St Peter’s Fireside (Vancouver)
St Andrew’s (Delta)
24. Anglican Explorers - Pray for the fruitfulness of this ANiC church seeding and planting initiative led by Bishop Ron Ferris and Rev. Geoff Chapman as they seek to match church planters with seed groups and planting opportunities across the country.
25. ANiC congregations in the Vancouver area:
St Matthias and St Luke (Vancouver)
Good Shepherd Richmond – Chinese
All Nations – Japanese
St John’s – Sudanese (Surrey)
Good Shepherd Vancouver – Chinese
St Timothy’s (North Vancouver)
St Simon’s (North Vancouver)
Highway Church (north shore Vancouver) recent
26. ANiC congregations on Vancouver Island & Sunshine Coast:
Open Gate Church (Victoria)
Church of Our Lord (Victoria)
Christ’s Church (Oceanside)
The Table (Victoria, Saanich Peninsula)
Christ the Redeemer (Pender Harbour)
27. Pray for the Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC) and its latest project as it is partnering with the Anglican Church in Cambodia to expand a safe hostel for girls in the suburbs of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
28. Please pray for Gafcon, our global family of authentic Anglicans standing together to retain and restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion. Pray for the fulfillment of their God-given mandate: “Gafcon works to guard and proclaim the unchanging, transforming Gospel through biblically faithful preaching and teaching which frees our churches to make disciples by clear and certain witness to Jesus Christ in all the world.”
29. Pray for the millions of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide. Pray for persecuted Christians, especially in Islamic, communist and war-torn lands. Pray especially for the millions of refugees fleeing from the horror of the war in Ukraine, and for the church and the people of Afghanistan. Pray also for the host nations like Poland who have openly received thousands of refugees. May God grant them compassion and logistical wisdom in handling the inevitable issues raised by such a migration.
30. Our nations are deeply divided internally and increasingly polarized. The Church worldwide needs to reflect on the Scriptural promise below and see the responsibility that we have – “those who are called by My Name” – to seek the Lord, to repent of our wicked ways, asking him to mercifully hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our lands.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV