Morning Prayer 3/20/09

The Third Song of Isaiah Surge, illuminare

Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.

For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.

But over you the Lord will rise, *
and his glory will appear upon you.

Nations will stream to your light, *
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.

Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.

They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.

You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.

The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.

The Lord will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Evening Prayer 3/19/09

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

American Journalists Held by North Korea

Two American journalists and their Korean guide are being detained by North Korean border guards after filming a portion of a report on human trafficking of N. Korean refugees. Via ABC News:

Two American television journalists have been detained by the North Korean army at the Tumen River area near Yanji, China. The State Department confirmed to ABC News that the pair were in China when they were detained and brought into North Korea.

"We are aware through reliable channels on the morning of March 17, that two American citizens were taken into custody across the Tumen River from China into North Korea by what appeared to be North Korean border guards," said State Department spokeswoman Julie Reside.

"We are working with the Chinese government in the area to get information on the whereabouts and welfare of the Americans in question. We have also been in touch with North Korean authorities to express our deep concern about this situation. We have also been in touch with our protecting power, the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang," she said.

[. . .]

The Rev. Chun Ki-Won, a human rights activist leading the Seoul-based Durihana Mission, told ABC News by telephone from New York that three journalists working for Current TV, a cable television network based in California, were in northern China to do a story on human trafficking of North Korean refugees.

He says he was informed that Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, and Euna Lee, a Korean-American, were detained in North Korea with their guide who is ethnic Korean of Chinese nationality. Current TV journalist Mitch Koss is reportedly safe.

"They came to me and I helped them find a group of North Korean refugees who have been kidnapped, enslaved and traded in the notorious black market in China," said Chun, who has helped thousands of North Korean refugees seek asylum in South Korea and the United States.

Prayers for the safe return of the journalists and for the victims of human trafficking they risked their lives to report on.

Morning Prayer: 3/19/09

The First Song of Isaiah Ecce, Deus

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Evening Prayer 3/18/09

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.

Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

Three Red Cross workers kidnapped by Abu-Sayyaf rebels more than two months ago are reportedly unharmed after two days of fighting between Philippine Marines and their captors. Via GMA News:

MANILA, Philippines — Officials said Wednesday that three Red Cross hostages survived two days of fierce jungle clashes that killed three Marines and up to seven al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf captors in the southern Philippines.

Police Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani said the Italian, Swiss and Filipino aid workers, their hands tied, were seen running with their captors toward a mountain after the militants fought with marines near Indanan on southern Jolo Island.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the local Red Cross, said he spoke with Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad by mobile phone and was told the hostages, who have been held for more than two months, were unharmed.

Please pray for the comfort of the families of the three Marines who were killed, and for the protection and rescue of hostages Eugenio Vagni, Andreas Notter, and Mary-Jean Lacaba.

UN Aid Workers Freed in Somalia

Good news from Somalia: four UN employees of the World Food Program were released after being kidnapped Monday. Via AFP:

MOGADISHU (AFP) — Three foreign aid workers and a Somali employed by the United Nations were freed Monday, hours after being kidnapped by local militiamen in southern Somalia, elders and UN staff said.

The four were snatched from their car by armed men on their way to an airstrip in Wajid, a food aid hub 340 kilometres (210 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, early in the morning.

"Efforts to secure their release were conducted by local elders and officials from the Shebab movement. These efforts have finally succeeded and the hostages are free," a local UN employee said on condition of anonymity.

Thank God for this swift and successful resolution to the abduction. Please continue to pray for the many others still held captive in Somalia, including Danka Panchova and her colleagues from Action Against Hunger, who were kidnapped last November; journalists Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan, who were abducted in August 2008; Murray Watson and Patrick Amukhuma, who were kidnapped in April 2008; and for the hundreds of crewmembers of ships hijacked by Somali pirates.

Kidnapped Aid Workers Still Held in Sudan

Despite reports that four aid workers from Doctors Without Borders had been freed yesterday, it appears that they are still in the hands of their captors. Via The Vancouver Sun:

Four kidnapped aid workers - a Canadian nurse, an Italian doctor, a French field worker and a Sudanese staff member - are still being held in Sudan despite earlier reports that the team had been freed, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official said on Saturday.

"They are still not released, the government is making its utmost efforts and is coordinating with the concerned authorities," said Ali Youssef Ahmed, head of protocol at Sudan's Foreign Ministry. "I can assure you that they are well, everybody is safe and sound. We're expecting their release in the next few hours."

Doctors Without Borders - the organization under which the four were working in the African country - said in a statement Friday that it had been informed of the team's possible release. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed such reports.

``We have not yet seen our colleagues, nor have we had a chance to speak with them since we heard that they were being released,'' said the statement.

It is hard to imagine a much more wretched place than Sudan, and it is about to get even worse. Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir expelled 13 humanitarian groups from the country last week and has ordered all remaining organizations out by the end of the year. This is in retaliation for his indictment on war crimes charges stemming from Sudan's genocidal campaign against Darfur.

Please continue to pray for Laura Archer, Raphael Meonier, Mauro D’ascanio, and their unnamed Sudanese colleague, and for the safety of the remaining aid workers who still labor to bring food, water, and hope to the millions of Sudanese people who rely on their help.

Morning Prayer: 3/18/09

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Evening Prayer 3/17/09

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.