Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:3-4
Ayad Tarik (2006)
Christian Identity
On 21 October 2006, Iraqi teenager Ayad Tarik was added to the country’s long list of Christian martyrs.
The 14-year-old was at his work place in Baqubah, north east of Baghdad, maintaining an electric generator when a group of Muslim insurgents entered the building and asked for his identity card. When they saw that it stated that he was a Christian, they asked him if he really was a “Christian sinner”. Ayad answered that he was a Christian but not a sinner. The insurgents then called him a “dirty Christian sinner”, and beheaded him, pulling his limbs and shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“god is great”).
Lord, help us every hour
Thy cleansing grace to claim;
In life to glorify Thy power,
In death to praise Thy Name.
Emma Leslie Toke (1812-1878)
Blessed art thou, O Lord God Almighty, the Ancient of Days, who has set thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord upon the glorious throne of thy kingdom, exalted far above all peoples, all places, all times, eternally; that he who hath worn out flesh, and borne our manhood into the holy of holies, should henceforth pour down heavenly gifts upon his brethren, and be both our righteous judge and most merciful intercessor; to whom with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Spirit, one God, be ascribed all might, majesty, dominion, and praise, now and for ever.
Parish Prayers (no. 360)