I'm pleased to share with you a message just received from the Venerable William C. Parnell, Archdeacon for Mission, The Episcopal Diocese of New York.
"This Sunday, January 9, the people of southern Sudan will vote in a referendum on independence. Here are some resources which might be helpful to you as we offer prayers in the coming days along with our sisters and brothers in the Episcopal Church in Sudan:
http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/004796.html. This link to the Thinking Anglicans blog will provide you with links to:
Background material and prayers from the Anglican Communion Office
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/12/21/ACNS4760;
Background on the conflict in Sudan from Trinity Wall Street
http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/articles/sudan-background-on-the-conflict;
The Presiding Bishop's call for a Season of Prayer with Sudan, with suggested prayers
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sudan/;
Other articles from around the Anglican Communion as well as from the secular press -
The Right Rev. David Jones, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia and President of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan (AFRECS - www.afrecs.org ) has written about his recent trip to Sudan in the current issue of The Virginia Episcopalian, available at:
http://www.thediocese.net/Customer-Content/WWW/CMS/files/VEJan11_web.pdf (See page 5);
[I have added this resource] The Diocese of Missouri has had a history of partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Sudan. See the information regarding their history, partnership, missions and cooperation with EDS, please go to:
http://www.diocesemo.org/ministries/dioceseoflui/.
The Diocese of Chicago recently put out two pieces, published by ENS:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126483_ENG_HTM.htm;
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126471_ENG_HTM.htm.
Another post from ENS came through just hours ago:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126500_ENG_HTM.htm
Finally, here is a Litany in Preparation for the Referendum and Future of Sudan, which was distributed at the Sudanese Leadership Summit held last month in Phoenix:
Let us pray for and with the people of the Sudan:
O God, Author of Peace, stir your wisdom in the leaders of all nations that they may be guided towards peace that will grow until the world is filled with the knowledge of your love.
Help us to love peace.
O God, Rock of our salvation, we and the people of Sudan face great evil which cannot be avoided. Keep us steadfast in your love, resisting evil when we sin, to repent and turn to you.
Help us to resist evil.
O God, Compassionate Creator, in the world you wish your children not to use swords but to turn in love towards one another in reconciliation. We pray that in Sudan and throughout the world all people may move through hatred and mistrust and find a common ground in you.
Help us to find the way to reconciliation.
O God, Source of Justice, the children and people of Sudan have suffered long against powers of destruction, intolerance and greed. May the leaders of the north and south strive for justice and peace and may the nations of the world stand steadfast with them in their goal to create a just society founded on the knowledge of your love.
Help us stand together for justice everywhere.
O God, Fount of all Freedom, you created us to be liberated from all oppression and to live with self-determination and peace. Give power to all the people of Sudan to work for justice and security. Give them the tools of patience and understanding and the wisdom to know that greed and deception always will be lurking nearby. May freedom once attained be the bedrock of their new society.
Help us to walk gently with eyes wide open.
O God, you gave us choice at our creation. Each of us must explain our actions to you. Guide the people of south Sudan as the vote for their future. Prepare them for whatever outcome may arise, giving them vigor and astuteness to take what that outcome might be and continue to strive for the highest values that you have planted deep within their hearts.
We pray in Jesus' name, who died and rose again so that when we die we might rise with him.
Amen.
