I ask your prayers

O Holy Spirit, by whose breath
life rises vibrant out of death:
Come to create, renew, inspire;
Come kindle in our hearts your fire.

You are the seeker's sure resource,
of burning love and living source,
Protector in the midst of strife,
Thou giver and the Lord of Life.

In you God's energy is shown,
to us your varied gifts made known.
Yours is the tongue and yours the ear.
Teach us to speak, teach us to hear.

Flood our dull senses with your light;
in mutual love our hearts unite.
Your power the whole creation fills;
confirm our weak, uncertain wills.

From inner strife grant us release;
turn nations to the ways of peace.
To fuller life your people bring
that as one body we may sing:

Praise to the Father, Christ the Word,
and to the Spirit: God the Lord,
to whom all honor, glory be
both now and for eternity.
--Attributed to Rabanus Maurus (776-856)
Hymn 502 in The Hymnal 1982

Following is the agenda for the Electing Convention, April 24, 2010 to be held at the Cathedral of St. John:

PROPOSED AGENDA
ELECTING CONVENTION
Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande
Cathedral of St. John
Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 24, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Noon – 7:00 p.m.

Convention Registration Opens (Cathedral Gallery)
Delegate certification, Distribution of badges

Saturday, April 24, 2010

7:00 a.m. Convention Registration Continues (Cathedral Gallery)
8:00 a.m. Convention Convenes with seating of delegates (Cathedral Nave)
Introduction and Explanations of procedures
Quorum Report
8:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, beginning with Confession and Absolution (Cathedral Nave)
9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word (Cathedral Nave)
Collect and Prayer for discernment
First Ballot, followed by hymn
9:45 a.m. Report of First Ballot (Cathedral Nave)
Break/Prayerful Discerning Conversation
Reading of the First Lesson and Psalm
Prayer for discernment, Second Ballot
10:30 a.m. Report of Second Ballot (Cathedral Nave)
Break/ Prayerful Discerning Conversation
Reading of the Epistle and the Gospel
Prayer for discernment, Third Ballot
11:15 a.m. Report of the Third Ballot (Cathedral Nave)
Break/Prayerful Discerning Conversation
Nicene Creed and Prayers of the People
Prayer for discernment, Fourth Ballot
12:00 p.m. The Peace (Cathedral Nave)
Break for Lunch
1:00 p.m. Report of Fourth Ballot (Cathedral Nave)
Balloting Continues, as needed
The Holy Eucharist begins at the election of a Bishop.

The signing of acclamation documentation occurs during communion as electors come forward to receive communion.

May the grace and mercy of the Holy and Lifegiving Trinity descend upon the clergy and delegates of the Diocese of the Rio Grande as they prayerfully elect a new bishop. May God the Father, Wellspring of life and goodness, sustain and uphold them. May God the Son, Word and Wisdom, illumine them and draw their hearts together in charity. May God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, purify their passions and turn their hearts to seeking the divine will. May their thoughts be of the reign of God, the mission of the Church, and the suffering world beloved of God and in need of Good News and healing. May the diocese love, support, and pray for the new bishop and may the next Bishop of the Rio Grande be attuned to the heart of God, the health of the Church, and the sanctification of all things. Amen.

--the BB