July 16, 2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams opened the Lambeth Conference to the sounds of South African Alleluias and prayers for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He spoke to the gathering of Anglican Bishops from around the world addressing the first plenary session of the Lambeth Conference yesterday (July 16) He stressed that the Conference had a very strong emphasis on drawing together round the Bible and had been designed as a place "in which every voice can be heard and in which we build Christian relationship."

ACNS 4426: http://www.aco.org/daily/news.cfm/2008/7/17/ACNS4426.

The Spouses Conference opens

The Spouses Conference opened today as the delegates gathered for the first time. The 550 or so spouses are meeting in the huge sports hall which has been transformed into an attractive cafE9 style meeting room to facilitate the conversation.

After worship led by the Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin (London diocese) who is chaplain to the Spouses Conference, Mrs Jane Williams greeted the spouses and said how much she was looking forward to the next two weeks. She thanked her international planning group who had been such a help in forming the shape of the spouses' conference, and said that she felt upheld by prayer from all around the world.

ACNS 4427: http://www.aco.org/daily/news.cfm/2008/7/17/ACNS4427.

Bishops' Retreat

The bishops of the Lambeth conference will enter into retreat today, continuing a practice as ancient as Christianity itself.

For the next two days, the bishops will follow perhaps the most common model for retreats. The Archbishop of Canterbury will give several addresses to the bishops. After each address, considerable time will be set aside for silent prayer and reflection. This time is intended to kindle the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of the bishops as they begin the decennial Lambeth Conference.

ACNS 4428: http://www.aco.org/daily/news.cfm/2008/7/17/ACNS4428.

Thought for the Day from Bishop Philip Poole
Incredible Hospitality

The laughs and sighs of the many bishops and spouses gathering to register for the Lambeth Conference gave us all a chance to simply relax and be patient, realising God may have some great revelations for us all in the days ahead, starting with the traditional English queue. Old friends embraced, people shook hands and greeted new people with a warmth and sense of solidarity as the queue moved inch by inch. Spouses compared notes, hat boxes were seen in abundance and some just took the opportunity to sit on the grass and wait!

ACNS 4429: http://www.aco.org/daily/news.cfm/2008/7/17/ACNS4429.

Daily Prayer

Father of all, from whom every family on earth takes its name, we give you thanks and praise for calling us from every nation and language into one people.

As we meet together as Spouses at the Lambeth Conference, fill us with awe at the privilege you give us of belonging together and learning from each other. As we share the news of your saving work in all our lives, equip us, teach us and us inspire us, we pray, and make us ready to be your servants in the world you love.

May we who have been most wonderfully called into the Body of Christ be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we may preach the good news of your kingdom to the ends of the earth.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Jane Williams, Convenor of the Spouses' Conference.

ACNS 4430: http://www.aco.org/daily/news.cfm/2008/7/17/ACNS4430.

Anglican Communion News Service, London