Prayer for Australia's need of rain

[Katherine]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Please forgive my haste of getting right to point of this, without a doubt it is a matter of great urgency. I should have posted this here sooner!

As you are my brothers and sisters in Christ the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, I call upon you, your family and friends, and all Christians to pray to Our Heavenly Father for His mercy, and grant us, 'Australia' true repentance and respite from the Drought. It is the worst we've seen in many, many years - and the whole country now is truly suffering from it.

If you would be willing to participate at the same time, same date, wherever you are, perhaps you could organise a Molieben to be said? If unable to do a Molieben ... simply pray. If we don't ask, it might be a missed opportunity, but prayers said regardless is powerful.

Vladika has blessed us for the following pilgrimage. Please see below the details of where we will be for this service.

Itinerary for Condobolin Pilgrimage
Molieben sung in Time of Drought
Tuesday 21st November, 2006 - Service at 1pm
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and All the Angels

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR), we will be travelling to Condobolin in central New South Wales to serve a molieben especially for times of drought.

Archbishop Hilarion feels this is an important step in supplicating God's Grace at this time for the people who are suffering so greatly in these areas and in turn ourselves. Drought is a devastating occurrence and regrettably there are farmers who are taking their own lives (current figures 1 farmer every 4 days). This is an opportunity for us as Orthodox Christians to show true Christian Love by presenting the Orthodox Faith in its true light.

We hope that we will also do a procession within the township of Condobolin. A distance of approximately 5 km has been mapped out. We would ask that those who intend to come, to fast for 3 days, and if possible, to partake of Communion as close to this date as possible.

This is an ancient Orthodox custom, which was practiced throughout all Christian countries. Wise Fathers of the Church often encouraged their flocks to fast and pray in times of natural disasters and storms, to seek God's forgiveness and mercy. When the people truly repented, God was quick
to withdraw His chastisement. Let us hope that if we too go with repentant hearts He will be quick to forgive and bring swift relief.


Distances from Various Points

* Parramatta to Condobolin - 439 km
Route: Penrith, Katoomba, Lithgow, Orange, Manildra, Parkes, Bogan Gate, Condobolin

* Campbelltown to Condobolin - 483 km
Route: Penrith, Katoomba, Lithgow, Orange, Manildra, Parkes, Bogan Gate, Condobolin

* Gosford to Condobolin - 516 km
Route: Hornsby, Parramatta, Penrith, Katoomba, Lithgow, Orange Manildra, Parkes, Bogan Gate,
Condobolin

* Queanbeyan to Condobolin - 405 km
Route: Yass, Harden, Young, Grenfell, Forbes, Parkes, Bogan Gate, Condobolin

* Moss Vale to Condobolin - 550 km
Route: Goulburn, Yass, Harden, Young, Grenfell, Forbes, Parkes, Bogan Gate, Condobolin

Although I myself, am unable to go, at 1pm (AET), I will be praying along with my brothers and sisters who will be there, and hope you may be able to pray for us Aussies too.

Many thanks!
A Servant in Christ,
Katherine

PS - PLEASE PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO ANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN PRAYING ALONG WITH US ... WHEREVER YOU ARE!

[Paul Cowan]

Hello Katherine,
I have a friend in Perth. I will pass this along to him as well. May God give His grace to forgive all us sinners.
Paul

[Katherine]

Just to update you all briefly on how the pilgrimage went the other day to Condobolin to pray for rain:

My best friend reports that 7 people – 6 women, and a 2 year old boy – drove in two cars to Condobolin, leaving as early as 6.30am, and not arriving home until 11.30pm. It was a long day. As they drove, they read Canons, Akathists, Christian books like “Monastic Wisdom”, Scripture and also prayed. They thought it best to be conscious of the things that they were going to Condobolin to do, so didn’t talk worldly things as they drove.

It took about 7 hours, including stops, until they finally arrived in Condobolin. As they entered the town, they rang a small bell they had brought with them, as it has been said that when you ring a bell, it will call upon the angels for their help. As the tiny hand bell rang, one pilgrim believes out of the corner of her eye, she even saw an angel attend!

Originally they were planning to walk around the town in a procession, but due to the weather being over 40 degrees heat, it was decided to simply cross the bridges. They walked across various bridges leading in and out of the town, making a procession, carrying their icons, singing “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us.” They would stop, bless the river underneath with holy water, read prayers, as the traffic zoomed past them, and then continue on to the next place.

As they stopped for lunch in town, the cashier behind the counter asked if they were tourists. My friend answered, “Yes, we’re from Sydney, and we’ve come here for the day!” He looked at her as if to say, “Why would you come all the way here just for one day! Why would you come here at all!?” Seeing his quizzical look, she smiled and said, “When you see it rain, remember us!” As they sat eating, he continued looking at the group of people. She would turn around, smile and say, “Pray …” to him. Perhaps a seed was sown.

There were many people unable to attend the pilgrimage, but nevertheless prayed along with these seven faithful, who, much like the Hebrew children in the Old Testament were cast into the fire.

As of today, two days later, we still haven’t seen any rain but still fervently pray that God will turn a listening ear and show his mercy on us, a faithless generation of Australians. The heat wave continues …