November 4, 2020

Dear St. Mark’s Church,

Do not be afraid! Whatever the outcome of this election – the Lord is on his throne, and he will guide and protect his Church through the time of our earthly pilgrimage. As the bishop reminded us this past Sunday, God does not always protect us from all suffering and adversity, but he will protect us through it. Do not loose hope! We press on in faith, entrusting ourselves to our loving heavenly Father, through Jesus our Saviour, and in the power of the Holy Ghost. If you are feeling afraid, or anxious – why not do as St. Peter instructs us and:

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are being experienced throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:6-11).

That passage calls us to humbly acknowledge that we are unable to address the concerns for which we are anxious and therefore, we must turn to God in prayer and “cast” our anxieties on him.

The text also speaks of our Enemy, thereby alerting us to the reality that we are engaged in an unseen spiritual warfare. In the midst of the battle it can seem as though the darkness is advancing and swallowing the light, but in reality to Christ belongs the dominion (the rule) and thus we can entrust ourselves to him and press on in confidence that after our suffering he will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us. Thanks be to God for our Saviour and King, Jesus the Messiah.

I’ve compiled a short prayer guide -simple statements of Biblical doctrine, followed by Scripture texts, and collects that I hope will be an aid to you as we pray together in these days ahead. Use this link to download a copy for printing or this link to view it online.

My hope is that these

In Christ,

Fr. Patterson