Pirates Seize Ship With American Crew

Update III: Four pirates continue to hold Capt. Richard Phillips (above) hostage in a lifeboat.
Update II: Captain of Hijacked Cargo Ship Reportedly Being Held Hostage by Somali Pirates
Update I: Crew Regains Control of Hijacked Ship

After hijacking five ships over the weekend, Somali pirates today seized an American cargo ship with 20 crewmembers aboard. Via CNN:

It is believed that the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama then was hijacked, according to a statement from Maersk Line Ltd. If so, it would be the sixth hijacking over the past week.

The vessel was en route to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was attacked about 310 miles (500 kilometers) off Somalia's coast, the statement said.

U.S. government sources said the attack happened at about 7:30 a.m. local time. The nearest U.S. Navy warship was about 300 nautical miles, or 345 miles, away at the time, they said. The U.S. Navy issued another notice Tuesday warning mariners that the Somali piracy activity was extending hundreds of miles offshore.

A Maersk subsidiary in Norfolk, Virginia, owns and operates the cargo ship, Maersk spokesman Michael Storgaard said. He would not provide any details about the security arrangements on board the Maersk Alabama.

"We have very strict policies on the vessel. ... Crews are trained to handle these types of situations," Storgaard said from Maersk's headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He said the company is in the process of contacting the crew members' relatives and setting up assistance for them.

"That is at this moment our primary concern," Storgaard said.

The Maersk Line is one of the U.S. Department of Defense's primary shipping contractors. But Storgaard said the Maersk Alabama was carrying "general cargo," most likely including aid supplies to East Africa.

Prayers for the protection and rescue of the crew. Please continue praying for the other captured ships and their crewmembers as well.

Morning Prayer 4/8/09

Psalm 55

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;

2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

3 at the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering upon me
and revile me in their anger.

4 My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me.

5 Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.

6 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest-

7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
Selah

8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm."

9 Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.

11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me,
I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,

14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the grave,
for evil finds lodging among them.

16 But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.

17 Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.

18 He ransoms me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.

19 God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear them and afflict them—
Selah
men who never change their ways
and have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.

21 His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.

22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

23 But you, O God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of corruption;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.

Evening Prayer 4/07/09

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Morning Prayer 4/6/09

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Prayer 4/4/09

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Evening Prayer 4/3/09

Psalm 138

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.

5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Morning Prayer 4/3/09

The Second Song of Isaiah Quaerite Dominum

Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; *
call upon him when he draws near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways *
and the evil ones their thoughts;

And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, *
and to our God, for he will richly pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, *
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, *
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as rain and snow fall from the heavens *
and return not again, but water the earth,

Bringing forth life and giving growth, *
seed for sowing and bread for eating,

So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; *
it will not return to me empty;

But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, *
and prosper in that for which I sent it.

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 4/2/09

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people 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.

One Red Cross Hostage Freed in Philippines

The Abu Sayyaf rebels holding three Red Cross workers hostage since January have released one, but continue to threaten to behead the others. Via Bloomberg News:

April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Abu Sayyaf militants freed the Filipino Red Cross worker they kidnapped more than two months ago in the southern Philippines. They still hold an Italian and a Swiss national from the charity who were seized with her.

Mary Jean Lacaba was released today at around 8:30 p.m. local time after negotiations led by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, said Colonel Eugenio Clemen, deputy commander of the anti- terrorism task force in the southern province, in a phone interview. She was taken to a military base on Jolo, Sulu’s main island, about 970 kilometers (600 miles) south of Manila, the capital, said Sulu Public Information Officer Sonny Abing.

Lacaba was seized Jan. 15 on Jolo island together with Red Cross staff members Eugenio Vagni, from Italy, and Andreas Notter, who is Swiss. Abu Sayyaf last week threatened to behead one of the three if authorities didn’t break the cordon they had formed around the kidnappers. The government refused, saying complying would amount to surrendering Jolo to the group.

Prayers of thanks for Ms. Lacaba's release. Please continue to pray for Eugenio Vagni and Andreas Notter, and for the Philippine soldiers who stand ready to carry out a rescue operation if necessary.

Previous:
Philippine Military Prepares to Rescue Hostages
Philippine Rebels Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostages
Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

Evening Prayer 4/1/09

Almighty and most merciful God, kindle within us the fire of love, that by its leansing flame we may be purged of all our sins and made worthy to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.