Saturday, November 30, 2013
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
Monday, November 18, 2013
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
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+
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
I pray for you, everyday.
Friday, November 15, 2013
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.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
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.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's selective overview:
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+
Friday, November 8, 2013
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.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
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+
Friday, November 1, 2013
Scripture Prayer
Psalm 40: 3 and 5
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of
praise to our God. Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
None can compare with You!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
Father God, we thank You
for the blessed time that Father Shaw spent in Belize. Thank You that his travel was safe and on
time. Thank You for the way that You
orchestrated all meetings, talks and events.
Please bless the Skype
meetings between Father Shaw and those on the ordination track. Lord, we pray that Father Shaw’s role may be
according to your strategic plan for the Diocese of Belize.
Lord, You have put a new
song into Father Shaw’s mouth, a song of praise that we, the intercessors, sing
along with. We know that because of his
expanding role in Belize, many more people will see and fear and put their
trust in You. You have multiplied the
possibilities, Lord, and have blessed Fr. Shaw and his family abundantly. May Fr. Shaw and his students proclaim and
tell of your wondrous deeds.
Amen.
Special Update
Dear friends,
I am sending you a special update from my trip in Belize; I am now back.
Despite Yahoo not wanting to recognize me in Belize and the heavy torrential downpours, it was wonderful in the full sense of the word. Thank you for your prayers. In many many deep and meaningful ways, your prayers were critical to the trip. Travel was safe and timely, both on the ground and in the air. Meetings, talks, and events coming together were divinely orchestrated.
Attached is a photo from Belize Cursillo # 10. A truly joyful event with truly awesome people.
This trip, Bishop Philip has made me an advisor to him, concerning people in the ordination track in the Diocese of Belize. He will be sending out a notice about this to the clergy of the Diocese of Belize, shortly.
Your prayers would be appreciated for my following upcoming trips to Belize; most of this has been at the request of Bishop Philip:
a) Clergy retreat in Belize, first week in Advent (this is new for me), 2013
b) SAMS retreat (organized by SAMS) which now may be coupled with a separate Diocese of Belize agenda for myself towards the end of January, 2014 (meeting with the Chair of the Commission on Ministry)
c) Clergy retreat in Belize, after Ash Wednesday (this is new for me), 2014
d) Trip during vocation month, after Ascension Day 2014
Additional meetings (also new): Bishop Philip, those in the ordination track, and myself plan to have monthly meetings relating to clerical vocation (I would be joining them by Skype). The Internet makes this possible.
It is my hope to visit at least one parish in the south of Belize in an upcoming trip. Your prayers for the plans of this trip would be appreciated.
Pray also for those in the ordination process in Belize, as they prepare for their future. Pray that my role in their lives may be according to God's strategic plan for the Diocese of Belize.
There are many people waiting to talk with me or hear from me in the wake of this trip for a number of reasons. Pray that I contact each one in a timely manner, and as appropriate, set up meetings and appointments as the Holy Spirit leads.
God bless you,
Shaw, and on behalf of Julie
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