Death at St. George's

Many people did not realize that the Church has had a witness in the region known as Iraq for centuries.  Among the people of Christ there is a an Anglican church dedicated to St. George. I will let you read of it's witness, but my post is more concerned with the faithful lay leader who is missing and presumed dead.

As reported by the London Times:

The entire lay leadership team of the main Anglican church in Iraq is presumed to have been killed after they were attacked while returning from a conference in Jordan.

The team of five Iraqi-born Anglicans including the lay pastor and his deputy, should have returned two weeks ago from the onference.

Canon Andrew White, of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East,  is the clergyman in charge of the church, said: "Anglican leaders in Baghdad have been missing for two weeks and they are presumed dead."

Those missing include Maher Dakel, the lay pastor; his wife, Mona, who leads the women's section of the church; their son Yeheya; the church's pianist and music director, Firas Raad; the deputy lay pastor; and their driver, whose name has not been disclosed.

Canon White last heard news of the five on September 13, when he was told that they had been attacked the day before while returning from Jordan on the notoriously dangerous road between Ramadi and Fallujah.

No greater love...

Into Your hands, O merciful Savior,
we commend Your servants,
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech You, sheep of
Your own fold, lambs of Your own flock, sinners of Your
own redeeming. Receive them into the arms of Your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the
glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Fidelium animae † per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace
May the souls † of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace
 

Comments

[Lorna]

so like local preachers (lay speakers) in the methodist church (grin)

prayer:
Lord we thank you for these loving servants, who brought your love and your gospel to a broken and dark land. We ask for your peace and love to minister to their families and friends. Amen

[Karen Lea Siegel]

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

[Monk-in-Training]

Lorna,
Many of the historic Churches with an Ordained Clergy also have lay ministers/pastors. They generally can not grant absolution or make the Sacrifice of the Mass, but are invaluable in working alongside the Holy Orders. My own Parish has them, and is enriched by their presence.

[Bryan]

Amen.

[Lorna]

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

(just an aside but I didn't realise that the Anglican church had lay pastors. how does that affect ministering the sacraments - such as Eucharist?)