Scripture Prayer

Psalm 92: 1-4

 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

 

In this last scripture prayer of 2013, Father God we thank You for every good gift You have bestowed.  We especially thank You that You sent your only Son, Jesus Christ, to become man, born in a lowly manger, but later to be exalted.  Thank You for loving us so.  You so loved this world that You sent your Son so that all who believe in Him may not perish but have eternal life.

 

So Lord, we give thanks to You and sing praises to your name.  Thank You for steadfast love and faithfulness.  Thank You for all your work that makes us glad and ready to sing for joy.

 

We thank You. Lord, for your blessings on Father Shaw Mudge and his teaching mission in Belize.  Continue to be with him in 2014.  May your Holy Spirit provide every need of the faculty, family, finances, plans programs, diocesan plans and parish visits.  Especially, Lord, please bless his travels to Belize in January, March, May and October.  And give him some guidance about your will in regards to a program in Tanzania.

 

Thank You, Lord.  Amen.

Prayer Mail Dec 24

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) Merry Christmas!

2) It has been a busy week preparing for the New Year.

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) Pray for special Christmas blessings for everyone involved with our ministries and mission work.

 

2) Continue to pray for upcoming visits for Belize in January, March, May, and October.

 

3) Continue to pray in good times and lean times during the Christmas season, that the Holy Spirit would supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

 

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

 

Disciples Making Disciples. 

Mudge Scripture Prayer Dec 21

Hebrews 11:1

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

1John 4: 15-17

 

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

 

Faith, hope and love are such powerful themes of the Christmas season.  We pray Lord for an abundance of these spiritual gifts for the Mudges, their students and all their intercessors.  May our faith grow, may our hope be reflected to those to whom we minister, and may we abide in and reflect God’s perfect love to the world.  As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we pray to be like Him.  As He is, so also are we in this world.  Amen.

Prayer Mail Dec 16

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) This week, I added several hundred course-related video links to our public seminary Web-site on a variety of subjects, in addition to attending to other matters such as preparing with other faculty for the Spring 2014 courses and helping candidates with their ordination questions.

2) I added tracking to the main page of our seminary course Web site in Moodle, in addition to the tracking that I previously set up for our public Library Web site in Google. I am pleasantly surprised by the number of individual users as well as the number of hits at both locations.

3) A meeting set up with people in the ordination process in Belize did not happen for some reason, as far as I can tell. Some things are a mystery.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the monthly gatherings of those in the ordination process. It is new for the Diocese of Belize, at the Bishop's request.

2) Continue to pray for upcoming visits for Belize in January, March, May, and October.

3) Continue to pray in good times and lean times, that the Holy Spirit would guide: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Scripture Prayer Dec 14

Romans 15:5-6

 

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Lord, we pray this prayer for all the people in Belize who are part of Father Mudge’s on-line theological program, for all of those in the ordination process, and Bishop Philip and all the clergy in the diocese of Belize.  May the God of endurance grant them to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus that together they may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Romans 15: 13

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 

Lord, we pray this prayer for all the people in Belize who are part of Father Mudge’s on-line theological program, for all of those in the ordination process, and Bishop Philip and all the clergy in the diocese of Belize. May the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope.  Amen.

 

Romans 15:14

 

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

 

As Paul was satisfied with his brothers in Rome, we pray that You, Father, are satisfied with Father Shaw and Bishop Philip and all involved with Father Shaw’s mission, that they are filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another and also to instruct the people that are seeking You.  Amen.

Christmas Newsletter

Vision.

.

 

 

 

One of our missionary goals is to help Bishop Philip of Belize implement his diocesan vision of the work for the Kingdom of God, a task he has assigned to Shaw in various ways over recent months.

Among the ways he is doing this are: 1) as an advisor to Bishop Philip, 2) helping people with the ordination process, 3) as a retreat leader for the diocesan clergy and staff, and 4) in my role as Director of the ATI online program (the ATI online program is the theological college of the Diocese of Belize).

Because Belize is a pastoral size diocese, "how many" people go through the ordination process is not as important as "who" is going through the ordination process. The process is based on diocesan need, great or small, and every candidate has an important potential contribution to make to mission and ministry in the Diocese of Belize.

In the ATI program, itself, we have been assisted by people on the ground in Belize, and people elsewhere in the world. If you have seen the acknowledgements page of our public Web site, you will have noticed a list of about 25 or so individuals and dioceses who have helped make this possible, pro bono. We share a common vision.

But we are also curious about how many people might be taking advantage of what we have to offer on our public Web site. So, about a week ago, we added a counter to that Web site and discovered that 23 unique visitors have been taking a look at the theological library Web site just this week, with 86 hits on the Web site from those 23 visitors. That is very encouraging.

 

You play a part in making this vision for the Kingdom of God happen, as well. We can't thank you enough for your part through prayer, financial support, and/or in other ways.

 

And, looking ahead, 2014 should be another year of adventure. 

 

Ways to support us.

Your prayers and financial partnering with us help make this ministry happen.  

Please make checks out to: "SAMS", and put "Mudge" in the memo space. The mailing address is: SAMS, P. O. Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003-0399.

https://secureq.net/Donations/SAMS/3397

Merry Christmas, and in Jesus' Name, God bless you,

Missionary in Belize. December photo of Fr. Shaw Mudge, taken by Rudolph Gladden of the diocesan office in Belize.

The Revs. Shaw and Julie Mudge Missionaries of SAMS and Albany. 

Prayer Mail Dec 9

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) The trip to Belize was awesome. Words can not really describe it, and thank you for praying. Bishop Philip and I led a retreat for the Diocesan Clergy and then, we led a retreat for the Diocesan staff. The retreats were designed to help the diocese to move forward and make the necessary changes needed, according to God's vision for the Diocese. 

2) The reading that I prepared for Trinity School for Ministry's Advent Devotional (December 3) has been well received by people nearby and by missionaries overseas.

3) I kept track of the number of people using our public Internet theological Web site this week (Google site, including library of theologically related links). Over the first 5 days that I kept track, there were 17 individual users and about 63 hits from those users, accessing the Web site around the world. It was the first time that I kept track.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for upcoming visits to Belize in January, March, May, and October, as well as the monthly vocational meetings and other matters as they arise.

2) Pray for wisdom as we move forward as a diocesan team, attempting to implement Bishop Philip's vision for change in the Diocese of Belize. Pray that people would continue to be inspired by the retreats that were held is week, and motivated to follow and support what the Holy Spirit is doing.

3) Please pray for my role as Examining Chaplain for people in the ordination process and the ordination process itself, that the Holy Trinity would accomplish what He would like done. Pray that we would be alert to spotting people whom the Holy Spirit would consider appropriate candidates for ordained ministry in the Diocese of Belize.

4) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times, that the Holy Spirit would guide: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, and dioceses.   

5) Pray for additional upcoming parish visits in the U.S. and for the mission day presentations in March.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

 

Scripture Prayer Dec 5

2Peter 3:18

 

But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Father God, we thank You for Father Shaw Mudge and his work with theological education in Belize.  We pray that his teaching and his missionary activities leads to many people growing tin grace and knowledge of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We pray for special blessings on the clergy retreat that Father Shaw is helping Bishop Philip with.  May lives be touched and may your Holy Spirit be guiding all activities.  And we ask for travel mercies as Father Shaw comes home again,  Thank You.  Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
Welcome to Advent! 

By the time people receive this on 2 December, I anticipate being on my way to Belize again.

This week's selective overview: 

1) Our Thanksgiving was good in its own way, though we missed our family members in Illinois. Hope yours was good.
 

2) I have been leading services over the past few days, as well as working on course matters and preparing with Julie for family gatherings at the end of December.
 

3) For a relatively low cost per month, I have worked out a new telecommunications network arrangement with Julie for when I travel internationally and not near a computer.  

 

4) The problems that may be associated with the new Yahoo security measure changes may be clearing up. I am still getting some email arrival delays, but more emails seem to be arriving in a much more timely manner. 

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) Pray for my visit in the Diocese of Belize this week. Pray for our family members while I am away.

 

1a) Pray that lives would be touched at the clergy retreat that Bishop Philip and I are leading.

 

1b) Pray for the planning of additional upcoming visits: end of January and first week in Lent.

 

1c) Please pray for my role as Examining Chaplain for people in the ordination process and the ordination process itself, that the Holy Trinity would accomplish what He would like done. 

 

2) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times, that the Holy Spirit would guide: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, and dioceses. 

 

3) Prayer for additional upcoming parish visits and the presentation at the mission day in March.

 

In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Prayer Mail November 26

 

Dear partners in prayer, This is our weekly public prayer mail.   This week's selective overview:  1) I had a great time at the Diocese of Albany retreat this week. The Spiritual Life Center now has a considerable amount of new paving (various roads were paved during the retreat). 2) In the midst of the week, I discovered that Bp. Philip of Belize and I will be leading the retreat for the clergy in the Diocese of Belize, next week. I have been preparing. 3) A great parish visit in the Diocese of Connecticut this week.   Prayer requests: 1) Pray that I would listen to the Holy Spirit while I am with Bishop Philip in the Diocese of Belize next week. 2) Prayer that the Holy Spirit would move powerfully at services on Thanksgiving and this coming Sunday which I will be leading, in the U.S. 3) Pray for the upcoming visits to Belize: 1st week in Advent, end of January visit, 1 week in Lent. Please pray for my role as Examining Chaplain for people in the ordination process and the ordination process itself, that the Holy Spirit would accomplish in Belize what he would like done.  4) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times for the online program: faculty, family, finances, plans, students, and courses.   5) Prayer for additional upcoming parish visits and the presentation at the Diocese of Connecticut mission day in March. In Christ, Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+  I pray for you, every day.

jeannegizara@aol.com

Scripture Prayer Nov 23

Psalm 105: 1-4

 

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

     Make known his deeds among the people!

Sing to him, sing praises to him;

     Tell all the people of his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

 

Lord, we seek your strength for Father Shaw Mudge and may he feel your presence continually.  Be with him as he prepares to go back to Belize.  May his travels be safe and timely.  Guide him as he prepares to lead part of the clergy retreat.

 

During this week leading up to our feast of thanksgiving, we give special thanks to You, Lord, for all that You have done for the Mudge Mission.  Thank You for the students in Belize.  May Father Shaw’s work lead to many more people knowing your deeds, your wondrous works.  Glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  May many more souls seek You and rejoice.

 

We offer up a special prayer for Lydia as she searches for employment and for Mother Julie in all her endeavors as well. 

 

We give thanks to You, Lord, with grateful hearts.  Amen

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.  

This week's selective overview: 

1) I plan to be attending the clergy retreat in Belize at the beginning of December, and Bishop Philip sent me a notice (that I saw yesterday) that he is looking forward to my leading part of it. I learn many things by email. 

2) I redesigned the online curriculum this past week, adjusting for the way matters unfolded on my trip to Belize at the end of October. Also, our third additional online faculty member has begun officially to prepare for teaching in 2014.

 

Prayer requests:

1) Pray that I would listen to the Holy Spirit while I am at the clergy retreat in the Diocese of Albany this week.

2) Pray for the upcoming visits to Belize: 1st week in Advent, end of January visit, 1 week in Lent. Please pray for my role as Examining Chaplain for people in the ordination process and the ordination process itself, that the Holy Spirit would accomplish in Belize what he would like done. 

 

3) I am praying about an upcoming visit to Tanzania. Your prayers about timing and content of that visit would be appreciated. I am getting a better idea on the course of action to take.

4) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times for the online program: faculty, family, finances, plans, students, and courses.  

 

5) Prayer for upcoming parish visits and the presentation at the Diocese of Connecticut mission day in March.

6) Prayer for Lydia in her job search. 

In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Scripture Prayer

Psalm27: 13-14

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall rise up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

We thank You Lord that Fr. Shaw Mudge waits upon You and that You reward him by providing for his needs and sending your Holy Spirit for inspiration.  Thank You for that faith that Father Shaw and all his intercessors will look upon your goodness and all the wonderful things that You do for us, in this land of the living.  Thank You for the strength that You have given to Father Shaw and for his good heart and all his courage in exploring your plans for him.

We continue to pray for the on-line teaching program and the ordination process in Belize.  And we pray for some advances in Tanzania, although we know that good things will happen in your time, Lord.  Thank You.  Amen.

 

November Newsletter

 

Giving Thanks

.

 

Palm before the storm, Belize City, Belize, Central America.

 

Thanksgiving is almost upon us in the United States. But, pilgrims and turkeys do not exist as iconic symbols in other parts of the world. In Belize and Tanzania, Thanksgiving Day itself does not even exist, but it is a cultural holiday for us. On the other hand, in the U.S. we do not nationally celebrate holidays such as Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19 (Belize) or Independence Day on December 9 (Tanzania).

When we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S., around the world U.S. expatriates in various countries gather together in small huddles to observe what appears to be a curious holiday to most people in other countries, celebrating on a day when the vast majority of the local culture is having a regular workday. For the expats, however, it is a moment to touch base again with our home culture, even if the temperature is in the 80s in some places, the humidity is 90%, and there are not any turkeys or pumpkins to be seen.

Palm before the storm, Belize City, Belize, Central America.

In the background are dark clouds that foretold of a pending storm, in hurricane season.

Photo provided by Fr. Shaw Mudge.

Yet, wherever we are, we citizens of the U.S. gather to give thanks. We have a lot to thank God for, at least I hope we do. If not, then that is my prayer for you, that you may be blessed by God in some way this Thanksgiving.

In the field, particularly in Belize, I give thanks for: just being alive sometimes, my hosts, the companionship of my brothers and sisters in Christ, good food and Belizean hot sauce, the people who help me move from place to place, the students in our program, the people in the ordination process, jets that land right-side up, Bishop Philip, and those who serve in the diocesan office.

And, there are special moments that I give thanks for, such as the fact that the bridge we needed to cross when returning from the Cursillo weekend did not get washed out. But most of all, I give thanks for salvation through Jesus Christ and for my family, friends, supporters like you, and SAMS. 

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.  

This week's selective overview: 

1) Happy Veterans Day to all our veterans.
 

2) The entire ordination process in Belize has moved forward at long last. For many people in the United States this announcement might solicit a yawn, but for the Diocese of Belize, this was really good news. In part, this happened because of my new responsibilities as a kind of catalyst, and at the same time my role is part of a much larger team effort. A lot of hard work by many people made it happen.

3) The online program continues moving ahead, helping people prepare for lay vocations and clerical ministries.

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) Pray for the upcoming visits to Belize: 1st week in Advent, end of January visit, 1 week in Lent. Pray for the monthly Skype meetings with people in the ordination process. Please pray for my role as Examining Chaplain for people in the ordination process, and the ordination process itself, that the Holy Spirit would accomplish in Belize what he would like done there. 

2) I am also praying about an upcoming visit to Tanzania. Your prayers about timing and content of that visit would be appreciated.

 

3) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times for the online program: faculty, family, finances, plans, students, and courses.  

 

4) Prayer for parish visits in November, as well as opportunities in December and into 2014. I have been asked to make a short presentation at the Diocese of Connecticut mission day in March.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Scripture Prayer

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.

Lord, You are responsible for all of creation, the physical world as well as the spiritual.  We thank You for all the sprouting growth around us, for the food that nourishes our bodies and for Your Word which nourishes our souls.  We praise You, Father God.

We thank You for the work of Father Shaw Mudge and we ask that You help him with his new responsibilities in Belize.  Because of his ministry, and that of the students whom he is training, may their be more righteousness and service to You in Belize and may all the nations more heartily praise your Holy Name.

Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.  

This week's selective overview: 
 

I came back from Belize. All went very well. Torrential downpours during the Cursillo weekend, threatened to wash away a bridge which was on our way home. But the rain lessened, the bridge remained intact, and the waters receded.

 

This week the time change went into effect in the U.S., but there is not a time change in Belize.

 

My mission in Belize has expanded. In addition to our online studies, I am now Examining Chaplain for the ordination process, which means that I notify the Bishop Diocesan of Belize as to whether I believe a student is ready for ordination or not.

 

It also means that I have become a kind of advocate and vocational counselor for people in the ordination process. Our students are only one part of this larger group. As a result of my new responsibilities, my visits to Belize and my contacts with Belize will increase significantly.

Prayer requests:

1) Continue to pray for the January visit to Belize, for safe and timely travel, and that all would be done to God's glory. 

2) Pray for the new visits to Belize: 1st week in Advent, 1 week in Lent, monthly Skype meetings with people in the ordination process. Please pray for my role as advocate and vocational counselor for people in the ordination process, that the Holy Spirit would accomplish in Belize what he would like done there. 

3) Continuing prayer in good times and lean times for faculty, family, finances, plans, students, the ordination process, and courses.  

4) Prayer for parish visits in November.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+