...Pray for the World....

The Prayers of the People are part of every Eucharist...an integral part. We pray for countries in war and strife - the ones we hear about or read about. There are countries in this world that churn in turmoil, violence and chaos that we rarely, if ever, learn about.

Here is the first-hand account of one of those countries which was sent to Barbara that bears posting here.


This came via Ted Witham, TSSF [The Society of Saint Francis] Provincial ....

Letter from Zimbabwe sent in by John Winter

I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.

We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK47's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was 'too close to the airport', so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.

You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help -but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.

I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.

To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone is in denial).

If you don't want me to tell you these things-how bad it is-then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa

This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water.

How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?

I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.

Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don't ignore or deny what's happening.
Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way'.

[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]

For now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can't fight for my rights.

Censorship!----We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be 'illegal' but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.

Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.

'I am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God,
I will do.'
Edward Everett Hale



We don't get told this on the news in South Africa, we only get told what they want us to hear. We all have a chance to do something, even though the something is by pressing forward to as many people as possible. Let's stop talking and let's start doing! There is power in prayer, there is also power in more people knowing about this. This is going to America , Dubai , Australia , France , South Africans all over South Africa , the UK . Spread the word. The world needs to know what is going on.

Episcopal Church A's

As promised, let's start with the A B C's... which apply to many Christian churches, not exclusively the Episcopal Church:


Ablution(s): A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite; the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels [from the Middle English ablucioun, from Latin ablti, abltin-, from abltus, past participle of abluere, to wash away : ab-, away; see ab-1 + -luere, to wash; see leu()- in Indo-European roots.]


Absolution: The condition of being formally forgiven by a priest in the sacrament of the Reconciliation of a Penitent;
the act of absolving or remitting; formal redemption as pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of Reconciliation of a Penitent; General Absolution refers to the pronouncement by a priest of God's forgiveness of sins during the service of Morning or Eventing Prayer, or the Eucharist [from the 12th Century French absolution, Latin absolutio (accusative absolūtiōnem) (acquittal), from absolvere to absolve].

Advent: The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important; The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence [Middle English, the Advent season, from Old French, from Latin adventus, arrival, from past participle of advenre, to come to : ad-, ad- + venre, to come; see gw- in Indo-European roots.]

Apse: A usually semicircular or polygonal, often vaulted recess, especially the termination of the sanctuary end of a church; An arched or domed recess at the east end of a church; a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building, especially the east end of a church, which usually contains the altar [from Greek apsis a fitting together].

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N.B. All of the definitions used in this series are drawn from: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved;
WordNet 3.0. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.;
Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006

A Quote for Daily Living

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness. - Albert Einstein