Episcopal News Service reports Province I President Marge Burke has announced two initiatives for prayer and dialogue during this summer’s Lambeth Conference of bishops, meeting July 16-August 3 in Canterbury, England. Province I is made up of Episcopal dioceses in the Northeast of the United States.
One initiative is for Province I bishops to hold two gatherings during the Lambeth Conference to introduce New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson to other bishops from around the Anglican Communion and to create a forum for dialogue. These receptions are for bishops only and will not be open to the public.
The other activity will be:
a prayer vigil … to support the 12 bishops in the province’s seven dioceses (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Western Massachusetts and Vermont) while they are at the once-a-decade gathering.
“I feel it is very important that our bishops know their sisters and brothers back home are offering themselves to God through prayer, on their behalf,” Burke said.
The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, retired bishop suffragan of Massachusetts, wrote the prayers, which are available on the Province I website. The prayers are appropriate for use by congregations as well as individuals. Burke said she hopes the prayer will be used in all congregations in the province on the Sundays during Lambeth, and at weekday services, Bible study and prayer groups. Two specific times are suggested to pray each day: 7 a.m. Eastern (12 noon in England) and noon Eastern (5 p.m. in England).
Read it all here.
A reminder to check out the essays on the Covenant on Daily Episcopalian this week here.