Sudanese Episcopal bishop Samuel Peni had one request for central Iowans he met with this week: Pray for us.
Peni told people gathered during two nights last week at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines that a vote on Jan. 9 could split his native Sudan, Africa’s largest nation, in two. He hopes for an independent southern Sudan as a result.
Getting that message out is why Peni left his ailing, pregnant wife behind to attend a summit of Sudanese refugees in Phoenix, Ariz., earlier in the week. He came to Iowa to visit the home of a local priest who befriended him during his studies at Wartburg Seminary in 2008.
The Episcopal Church’s [url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sudan/]prayer page for Sudan[/url] is worthwhile. Our parish is designating the commemoration of the Holy Innocents (transferred to Dec 29) as a day of prayer for Sudan. Prayers based on the readings for Morning Prayer can be found [url=http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/the-holy-innocentssudan/]here[/url] and for Holy Eucharist [url=http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/holy-innocentssudan/]here[/url]. Lent & Beyond will be doing more.
I think it important to emphasize the role of high praise. Jesus’ triumphant entry is followed by the overthrow of the moneychangers. Paul and Silas praise God in shackles, and God broke the power of the enemy. The book of Revelation displays an unmistakable pattern of exuberant worship followed by God’s governance.
If you have Sudanese neighbors, consider offering rides or organizing car pools to help them vote. Expatriates are able to vote at various regional sites.
We will be offering special prayer at our Epiphany service.
This recent IRD [url=http://www.theird.org/Page.aspx?pid=1709]article[/url] regarding a Khartoum memo on plans for the Nuba Mountains is chilling.